struck by the fact that even that first year, when Josh had just been a baby, he and Suzy had rarely shared breakfast.
Maybe an indication their marriage had been doomed from the start.
“If you want to drop me and Josh off at the physical therapy gym, we can start the session while you check on your patient,” she offered.
“That would be great, thanks.” As they finished their meal and then worked together to take care of the dishes, he wondered if this was how other families lived.
Or if this was just another of his fantasies that had no basis in reality?
Dan left Molly and Josh in the therapy gym and headed up to the NNICU to see Erica.
He found Erica’s parents wrapped tightly in each other’s arms, gazing at their tiny daughter in the isolette.
For a moment he had to look away. The love in their gazes was so intensely private, he felt like the worst kind of intruder. But he couldn’t stand here forever, he had to check on their daughter’s progress, so he cleared his throat and stepped forward.
“Dr. Morris,” Jennifer greeted him tearfully, breaking away from her soldier husband. “Thank you for saving our daughter’s life. This is my husband, Sergeant Eric Thompson.”
Her husband was still wearing the fatigues he must have worn on the flight home. Dan stepped forward and offered his hand. “Pleased to meet you, Sergeant.”
“I’m the lucky one,” the young man said, shaking his hand. “I have you to thank for saving my family.”
Uncomfortable with the praise, Dan brushed it aside. “Your daughter is a fighter. She’s doing great. If she stays this good over the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours, we’ll be able to get that breathing tube out.”
“That would be wonderful,” Jennifer said. “I want to hold her in my arms.”
He understood. Obviously putting gloved hands through the windows of the isolette to touch their baby wasn’t nearly as satisfying. “Soon,” he promised. It was on the tip of his tongue to remind them that Erica would need more surgery down the road, but he decided there was plenty of time to broach that subject after they’d successfully gotten through this crisis.
According to the electronic medical record, Erica’s vital signs were stable. She hadn’t lost any more blood and the rest of her labwork was good. He used his pediatric stethoscope and reached through the windows of the isolette to listen to Erica’s heart and lungs.
Satisfied the baby girl was holding her own, he stepped away. “She’s doing fine,” he said to reassure her parents. “I’m going to order some weaning parameters later on this afternoon, to see if we can turn the ventilator down a few notches.”
“Thank you,” Eric murmured, hugging his wife close.
Dan wrote the orders, chatted with Rebecca’s replacement and then looked for Erica’s nurse. He scowled a bit when he didn’t recognize her and glanced at the nametag she wore on her scrubs. “Scarlet?” he asked. “Are you new here?”
“Yes, I’m the new head nurse, but I’m taking care of patients today.” She wore her chocolate-brown hair pulled back from her face, and jutted her chin stubbornly. “Why, do you have a problem with that?”
“Depends on how well you do your job,” he said, refusing to back down. “Marcus is covering for me, but if Erica takes a turn for the worse, I want you to call me directly, okay?”
“No problem. And don’t worry—I have a lot of experience with neonates. I promise Erica is in good hands.”
He gave a terse nod and turned away because he believed her. And it was time to pick up Josh.
As he left he glanced back at the young couple at Erica’s isolette, impressed once again at how they physically and emotionally supported each other through this difficult time.
Would they make it over the long haul? Or would the endless toil and stress of life with a sick child eventually force them to part?
Cynically, he assumed the latter.
Then he stopped and turned back one more time to watch the young couple. Maybe, just maybe he needed to give them the benefit of the doubt. Just because he’d never experienced the type of love that lasted forever, it didn’t mean that type of love didn’t exist.
Molly was just finishing up with Josh’s therapy when Dan arrived. She glanced up at him while she was running the ultrasound machine. “How’s your patient?”
He was touched by her concern. Suzy had resented his pediatric patients, treating them like annoying inconveniences. “Much better. Should be able to start weaning her off the ventilator soon.”
“That’s wonderful. I’m sure her parents are relieved.”
They were, so he nodded, but he didn’t say anything more as he couldn’t really talk about his patients much. All those privacy rules tended to get in the way. “How are you doing, Josh?” he asked, turning his attention to his son.
“We had fun. And I stood up again, right, Molly?”
“Yes, you did,” she agreed with a soft smile. It struck him in that moment how much she’d bonded with his son. “Your muscles are getting stronger every day.”
“I’m glad.” He took a seat on a stool next to Josh. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be here this morning, Josh.”
“That’s okay,” Josh said pragmatically. “Molly told me there’s a baby with a sick heart that you need to take care of. That’s way more important.”
His chest tightened and he slowly shook his head. “No, that’s not true. I do have to take care of kids that have sick hearts, but they’re not more important than you, Josh. You’re the most important thing in my life. But sometimes I do have to take care of sick kids, like today. Especially because I knew that you’d be okay here with Molly for a little while. But I want you to know that I’ll always love you best.”
“All finished,” she said, and then shut off the ultrasound machine. “I, um, have to check on something. Excuse me.” She hurried out of the room, without even wiping the gooey gel off Josh’s legs.
Dan took the towel and did the task himself. “You’re not mad at me, are you, Josh?” he finally asked, breaking the silence.
“No. I think I understand.”
He was tempted to spring the news about the surprise birthday party on Saturday, but forced himself to keep silent. The look on Josh’s face would be well worth the wait.
“What flavor lollipop do you want today?” he asked, reaching for the candy jar.
For a moment Josh simply stared at the various flavors. Then he turned his head up to face him. “What’s your favorite flavor, Daddy?”
He was touched that his son cared enough to ask. “Lime. The green ones are my favorite.”
“Then I’m going to have a green one,” Josh said, digging his little fist in the jar until he grabbed a lime sucker. He ripped off the wrapper and stuck the candy into his mouth.
Dan glanced toward the doorway and saw Molly hovering there. He realized she’d purposefully left them alone to give them time to talk.
“So I’ll see you tomorrow, then,” she said lightly, as Josh levered himself into his wheelchair.
“Don’t forget about Friday night,” Dan said, following her out into the hallway so Josh couldn’t overhear.
She froze and then shook her head. “Look, Dan, I don’t think Friday is a good idea,” she said, avoiding his gaze.
He frowned and glanced back to make sure Josh was still preoccupied. “Why not?”
She took a deep breath. “I came