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My mother was crying, but not interfering, and Remi herself realized it and scrambled off Jensen’s lap and over to my mom.
“Don’t cry, Nana. Are you just being happy, too?”
Mom stroked Remi’s hair a couple of times and wiped away a tear. “Yes,” she answered, gathering Remi into a hug. “Ecstatic! I wish your Grandad were here. He’d want one of these marvelous hugs.” She was concentrating on Remi’s expression and watching her responses closely.
“I can save him one,” she answered simply.
At some point, the nurses must have left, but no one noticed their discrete departure. Dr. Radar cleared his throat. “Remi, are you ready to find your new room?”
Her face fell. “Can’t I go home?”
“In about a week, I think,” he answered. “Remember, we talked about this. I need to run some tests to make sure we’re A-okay.”
“Okay,” she agreed sadly.
“That’s okay, honey. It will give us time to make plans, and we’ll all come see you and stay with you. Just like we have been,” Teagan comforted gently.
“Can I have a cheeseburger?”
“Yes!” Four of us answered at the same time and bust out in a chorus of laughter.
“I’ll go out for it,” Kat murmured, getting up in search of her purse.
“Remi, would it be okay if I stay with you tonight in your new room?” Mom asked. “I’d love to snuggle with you and read you a story. We can call Grandad and tell him the news!”
“Sure, Nana!”
“Daddy has something for you, too, Remi. You and Nana can watch it.”
Within the next thirty minutes, Remi was settled into her new room with her cheeseburger and fries, and we were all saying goodnight, with assurances we’d be back in the morning. Kat decided to drive the two hours back to Greenville to be with her family, so she left before the rest of us.
“Mom, do you need anything?”
“Get out of here, Son. This has been a big day and our Remi needs her rest.”
Jensen was still with us and he and I kissed Remi and waited in the hallway outside the room while Teagan lingered.
“Jensen, I love Arsenal, but I love Remi, more. Don’t worry about not seeing her. I’m doing what you said to do,” I put a hand on his shoulder.
“What do you mean?”
“You told me to do what I would have done six years ago if I’d known about Remi, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
“I don’t understand,” he frowned.
“I’ve been scouted by the USNMT. I’m gonna take it. It’s clear that Remi needs us both.”
Jensen’s head dropped and he fell back against the wall; his emotions making it hard for him to speak. He pinched the bridge of his nose for a good ten seconds, clearly overcome. “I don’t know what to say. Thank you.”
I held out my arms to hug him. “No. Thank you.”
CHASE
We ended up at the shitty apartment.
Teagan and I had been in euphoria about Remi getting out of isolation and the promise of being a real family. It was a sort of unspoken realization that all of it was happening. I had been unable to stop touching her all night and I couldn’t wait to get her alone. I wanted her, no question. There was a sort of visceral hunger between us that was always there, but it wasn’t just about sex; it was about the connection.
I didn’t bother turning on the lights in the apartment. There was enough light filtering in from the streetlight, though the blinds were closed. The room was similar to a blurred black and white photograph and it was easy to maneuver through it.
