"Addie, this is amazing. We're already in Manhattan." Derek smiled as they passed by the 59th street Bridge. "Are you feeling groovy?"
Addie laughed. "Yes, that's me, feeling groovy just going from one hospital to another."
"Don't you still like Simon & Garfunkel?"
"Yes, but my favorite is The Sounds of Silence, not the 59th Street Bridge Song."
"Oh, but it's the 59th street bridge that we just passed. It's amazing how fast we're going. Did you see all the cars stuck in traffic on the Long Island Expressway?"
Addie laughed. "Yes, Derek, a helicopter is much faster than a car. I'm sure that's news to a brain surgeon."
Derek was happy to hear Addie laugh. "There's a reason people call the Long Island Expressway a parking lot."
"Yeah. Too bad we never thought of buying a helicopter."
"A helicopter wasn't in my budget. Although you could probably afford to buy one with your trust fund." Derek always enjoyed teasing Addie about her wealth.
"Well, it's not like we had a helipad at the brownstone."
The pilot jumped in, "We're landing now."
As soon as they landed, Addie turned to Derek, "I'd like to hold her again."
"She's sleeping. You know what my mom says."
Addie chuckled. "The words of wisdom of Carolyn Shepherd: Never touch a sleeping baby. But she tells that to your sisters, and they've never been separated from a newborn for days. She'd understand that I want to hold the baby when this is the only time I've seen her."
"I'm sure she would. Okay." Derek picked up the baby, and she woke up immediately. She stared at him. "Here's your mommy, Ella," he said as he placed her on Addie's chest. Just as soon as he put her down, the hospital staff arrived.
Addie ignored the arrival of the hospital staff and stared at her daughter while patting her. "Oh Ella, Mommy loves you."
"Hi Derek, Addie," greeted Manny Hernandez, the head of the neurosurgery unit.
"Manny, what are you doing here on a Sunday?" Derek was surprised to see him.
"I came in just for you and Addie, Derek. I want to examine Addie and make sure she hasn't been injured during the transfer."
"I'm fine, Manny, but thank you."
"Fine?" Manny looked at Addie. His eyes roamed over her, pausing at her bandages.
Addie smiled. "Well, I meant the same as I was before I left the hospital. And I'm happy holding my baby girl. Thank you for your concern."
"No problem. Everyone here is rooting for all of you."
"Thanks."
"Addie, we're going to have to put the baby back in the incubator."
"Can she room with me here?" Addie kissed the top of her baby's head.
"We'll have to see, Addie."
"They wouldn't let me see her. This helicopter ride was the first time I got to see her. I want to be with her. She's my baby." Addie kept stroking her daughter's back.
"Addie, we have to put your health and her health first. You're going to have many years together, so a few days of being separated won't matter."
"It matters to me. I want to bond with my baby."
"Addie, you know that a complete recovery for both of you is most important."
"Being together is what's best for both of us. Ella needs her mom."
"I know that children need their moms, Addie, but Ella is still a preemie, and she belongs in the NICU at least until after your surgery. You know we like to keep babies in the NICU until they hit four pounds. After your surgery, we'll see what she weighs and make a decision accordingly."
"I'm a doctor."
"Here, you're a patient, not a doctor."
"Addie, she'll be okay," said Derek. "I'll stay with her, if you want."
"I want to be with her, Derek."
"I know. I'm second best, if that. But I thought you could rest easier knowing I'll be with her."
Addie sighed. She knew she had no choice. "That would be good. I'm going to text Savvy and let her know I've arrived. She and Weiss are going to visit me, so I'll have company."
"That's a good plan. I'll come visit when Ella is sleeping. I'd like to catch up with Savvy and Weiss."
"I'll text you when you can stop by. I need to talk to them about some stuff."
Derek tried to meet her eyes, but she looked a way.
"Don't worry, Derek. It's just about what we've already agreed."
"You can wait until after the surgery."
"No, Derek, I want everything settled now. I can see that you're falling in love with Ella."
Derek picked up Ella and turned her so she faced him. He looked into her eyes, "So Mommy thinks I'm falling in love you with. Silly Mommy. I fell in love with you the first time I set eyes on you."
"Derek, let's put the baby in the incubator. We've got to bring her to the NICU."
"Okay," said Derek as he gently placed Ella in the incubator and kissed the top of her head. "I'll see you later," he said to Addie, as he went with the nurses to go to the NICU.
"Addie, now we're going to your room," said Manny as he and two residents began to take her to her room. "Maria Ramos and Andy Chin are terrific neurosurgery residents. They'll be following your case this week."
"Good to meet you," remarked Addie. Her mother had drilled into her the importance of being polite. And Addie genuinely liked working with young doctors although she preferred being their boss to being their patient.
As soon as they got to the room, Manny did a quick exam. "Well, Addie, you were right. There's no adverse change in your condition now that you're here."
"But no change for the better either."
"It's not like flying in a helicopter is a magic medical cure."
"I wish it were, Manny."
"You're a surgeon, Addie, so believe in surgery. Your procedure is scheduled for Tuesday."
"So I get to spend all day tomorrow here without my baby?"
"Maria and Andy, you can take a break now. I want to spend a few minutes chatting with my friend." The two residents left the room.
"Addie, no complaining."
"Why not?"
"Because, Addie, we're all grateful you're alive and Ella's here and in good shape."
"Mark's dead," Addie added mournfully.
"I know," Manny said gently. "But he would be glad that Ella and you survived."
"I know that. But I miss him, Manny. He should be here. It's his baby."
"I thought her name is Ella Shepherd."
"It was Derek's idea. We haven't filed for divorce yet, so he's legally her dad although not her biological dad. And I know that I could die in the surgery. Then she'll at least have one parent, even if he's not her biological dad."
"You're not going to die. And you're lucky to have Derek here. Not many husbands would be there if their wives had babies by other men."
"Well, he and Mark were brothers."
"Not recently. Mark told me that Derek refused to take his calls."
Addie sighed. She knew that Manny was friends with both Derek and Mark, which had been a hard place to be since Derek left for Seattle. That's the way she liked to think of the day that fractured their relationship, not the day Derek discovered her in bed with Mark. Although for all she knew, Derek left for Seattle days later. "That's why I hadn't yet filed for divorce. Well, now Mark is dead, and Ella is all that's left of him."
"Addie, I know you suffered a tremendous loss."
"Poor Ella suffered a big loss. She'll never know her father."
"You'll tell her all about him."
"It's not the same, Manny, and you know it."
"I'm not sure how we got on this topic, Addie. But I know that surgery is more successful when patients are hopeful. You need to focus on the positives. You were in a terrible car accident, and you survived and so did your baby.
"I know, but it's hard to focus on the baby when she's not in my room. She should be with me."
"I'll see what I can do after your surgery."
"Can't I just have a couple of hours with her tomorrow? I have nothing to do."
"I'll check with the head of the NICU."
"What if Derek were here the entire time? He's a doctor, too."
"I'll see what I can do. But you wouldn't be able to have any visitors other than Derek while the baby is with you. We want to protect her from infections."
"That's fine. I don' t need anyone else."
Ironically, that was the moment that Savvy knocked on the door.
"Come in," said Manny. "I'm on my way out."
"Thank you, Manny."
"You're welcome, Addie. Believe me, before long you'll be complaining that the baby's keeping you up all night."
"I may have to go to rehab, Manny."
"I know, but that time will pass quickly and before long Ella will be keeping you up all night."
"I can't wait for that."
"Good-bye."
"Good-bye, Manny." Addie turned to Savvy and Weiss, who had come into the room. Addie smiled when she saw the enormous bouquet of red, pink, and white roses Savvy carried. "What beautiful flowers, Savvy. Thank you so much."
"I figured you were the one who needed the present."
"Savvy, you have already given Ella great gifts at the baby shower."
"That was just a start, Addie."
"Well, you did go to town. I don't think I'm going to need to get her a dress until she's in middle school."
"And by then, she won't let you buy her dresses unless she's there to pick them out."
"I'm sure she'll have a mind of her own when it comes to getting dressed. I used to fight with my nannies because I wanted to wear blue jeans and T-shirts, and my mother wanted the nannies to dress me like a lady."
"Well, I think you'll let your daughter wear what she wants," commented Weiss.
"But not if it is too sexy," added Savvy.
"So you think I'll be an overprotective mom?"
"No, just the right amount of being protective, Addie. Now I expect Derek to be very overprotective."
"That's one reason why I wanted you to come. I want to file for divorce before my operation on Tuesday."
"Are you sure? Why not wait?"
"Derek has a girlfriend, and I loved Mark. I feel that if I've filed for divorce before she's born, I've really shown Mark that I loved him, and that he was the only guy for me."
"Addie, Mark's dead, and Derek has volunteered to be Ella's dad, knowing that Mark is her biological dad. Why not give yourself some time to think about this?"
"I want Ella to know that I loved Mark and that I divorced Derek as soon as I could."
"You know I'm not a family law lawyer, Addie," said Weiss.
"Well, you must have someone who does family law at your firm. What I want is really simple. You can tell someone what I want and they can draft the papers tomorrow. We each keep our own property and assets. I'll keep the Hamptons house because I paid for it with my trust fund, and I'll pay Derek for his share of the brownstone. And he agrees that I get custody of Ella, but that he can have custody when I'm in rehab and that he can have generous visitation. And I can decide where we live."
"That seems pretty straightforward. I'll see if I can get someone to write up an agreement tomorrow."
"Thank you."
"Addie, it must be weird for you to have Derek her," commented Savvy.
"Sure is. But he's been great. He really loves the baby."
"As I recall, he wanted a baby."
"Yeah. And I said no, we need to wait. I think that's when things really staretd to go badly for us."
"And now you have the baby."
"But it's Mark's baby. And I don't love Derek like a wife should."
"Mark wouldn't want you to be alone long-term."
"I'm not taking a vow of chastity for the rest of my life. I just don't think that Derek's the man for me."
"Okay."