Standing Still - Chapter Twelve
Now that Ana is out of the ICU we both decide it's time for her and the children to be reunited. My Mom and Taylor are picking them up from the house and bringing them to the hospital this morning.
Waiting for them to arrive I look over at Ana and can tell she's anxious about seeing the children. She's sitting up in bed, propped up with pillows and tapping her fingers nervously on the bed.
"It's going to be fine," I tell her.
"I can't even hold them," she says sadly.
"I'm going to help you, Ana they just need to see you."
"I need to see them too, but I'm just not the same Mommy they remember."
"Your exactly the same and they will see that."
We're interrupted by a light knock on the door and then as it opens I see Teddy march inside. He's followed by my mother holding Phoebe in her arms and I can see Taylor standing outside not choosing to come in.
Teddy darts to the bed the second he sees Ana and tries to climb up by pulling on the sheets. I quickly reach for him and pick him up then settle him on the bed beside Ana.
"Remember Mommy is sore so be gentle with her," I tell him.
Teddy looks at Ana closely as he shifts his body nearer. He stares at the IV in her hand then using his fingers he softly traces the small cuts and bruises on Ana's face.
"Mommy," he sobs sadly.
"It's alright sweetheart, Mommy's feeling a lot better now that your here," says Ana.
"Mommy has lots of boo-boos," he says solemnly.
"Mommy does but they are getting better," I tell my son.
Teddy leans into Ana's side and wraps his chubby hands around her waist. I watch Ana try to move her arms but all she manages to do is stroke Teddy's foot with her hand.
I sit behind her and move her arms so that they're wrapped around our son. Ana then rests her head on Teddy's and together they close their eyes.
"I missed you Teddy bear," says Ana sadly.
"Missed Mommy," says Teddy's in a plaintive little voice.
Ana's fingers can just reach Teddy's head and she's stroking his curly hair rhythmically. A tear falls from her cheek and not able to wipe it away I watch my mother gently dab Ana's eyes with a tissue.
"I have someone else here who wants to say hello," says my Mom.
Teddy shifts and sits up then reaches towards Phoebe. "Look Fee-bee Mommy," says Teddy smiling for the first time in days as he points at Ana.
Phoebe looks at Ana as she sucks on her fingers, I think she maybe teething again.
"Hey baby girl," Ana says smiling as my Mom places her beside Teddy. I reach around and hold her in place while still keeping hold of Teddy.
Phoebe just continues to stare at Ana then looks back around for my mother. I see her bottom lip protrude and realise we're probably only seconds away from one of Phoebes rare meltdowns.
"Oh baby girl don't cry," says Ana sadly.
But before the words have even left her mouth Phoebe's eyes fill with tears. I try to jiggle her but she moves away from me and screams for my mother. Unsure what to do my Mom looks over sadly and I nod my head allowing her to take back my daughter.
Mom bounces her on her hip and eventually she stops crying but every now and then she lets out a heartbreaking sob.
"Do you think she's forgotten me," asks Ana softly.
"Not possible, its only been eight days. Maybe she's just crabby and she's teething," I point out.
"Phoebe's never crabby, she's the most even-tempered baby there is. Do I not look like myself, maybe I don't look the same," Ana contemplates.
"You look as good as anyone can after such a terrible accident. Your beautiful Ana," I say firmly.
"Boot-e-ful," says Teddy and I can't hide my smile at my little echo.
Ana smiles too at our son and encouraged by his audience he starts chatting away at a mile a minute. Teddy certainly is a chatter box but he hasn't been lately and I realise that without Ana he has been an usually quiet little boy.
He keeps us entertained as my Mom sits down on the chair beside the bed and holds Phoebe on her knee. Every now and then Phoebe looks over thoughtfully but sadly her usually smiling face remains solemn.
After a short while as Teddy is regaling us with his rendition of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, Phoebe starts to look a bit more alert.
Then it happens, Ana bursts out laughing and we all join in at Teddy's altered lyrics. Phoebe smiles as she hears Ana giggle then without warning throws herself forward towards the bed. Luckily my Mom catches her before she falls but she continues to reach for the bed.
"Mama," she shouts out making us all jump. "Mama, Mama," she repeats, her tiny hands reaching out for Ana.
Mom places her back on the bed and together we position her in Ana's waiting arms.
"There's my angel," says Ana ecstatically. Phoebe smiles as she grabs hold of Ana's gown then rests her head on my wife's shoulder.
She calls for Ana several more times then settles against her eventually falling asleep. Ana keeps stroking the little wisps of hair at the nape of her neck and kissing her as often as she is able.
"I think she knows who are," I joke.
"It took her some time though."
"She got there in the end. It's that giggle of yours, it's very memorable."
Grace's POV
Poor Ana she really looks broken hearted when Phoebe starts to cry. I'm not sure what's upsetting my granddaughter but the hospital is certainly a strange environment. Ana may not look the same to her lying in a hospital bed or she may not smell the way Phoebe remembers.
Infants see the world so differently from us that there could be a myriad of changes that we just don't notice. I'll ask Gail when I take the children home if Phoebe has been acting any differently, it maybe just bad timing taking her to the hospital today.
Happily once everyone was more settled Phoebe grew more comfortable with Ana and fought to be with her mother.
It's noon now and I really need to get the children home so they can have lunch before their naptime. Phoebe slept for a little while but now she's wide awake and sucking on Ana's fingers. She must be hungry so I start to pack up the toys we brought and get ready to leave.
Sensing what's about to happen Teddy starts to throw the mother of all tantrums. He runs towards Ana and starts to scream at the top of his voice.
"NOT GOING STAY WITH MOMMY," he shouts angrily.
Before we can stop him he's pulled himself onto the bed and leaped on Ana. I see her flinch then wince as his full body weight drops onto her body.
Christian swoops in and pulls him unceremoniously away from Ana. Holding him in his arms he shouts so loudly that Teddy is momentarily subdued.
Ana pales as she watches the scene playing out but sadly is unable to intervene.
"STOP IT NOW," shouts Christian.
"STAY, STAY," begs Teddy, stretching his little arms towards Ana.
Angry and seeing how upset this is making Ana, Christian dashes from the room taking Teddy with him. We hear them shouting out in the corridor and even Taylor can be heard trying to make peace.
"I'm sorry Grace," says Ana as I bounce Phoebe who's looking like she might cry again.
"Sorry?" I question.
"Sorry for the way Teddy and Christian are behaving. You took time from your busy schedule to bring the children for a visit and look what's happened."
"Sweetheart you have nothing to apologies for, I should have explained better to Teddy why we needed to go home. I know my grandson and I should have expected this kind of drama."
"I'm still sorry, I know he should have grown out of this by now."
"Ana he's still only three years old, my sons almost thirty-two and still throwing tantrums."
"He's scared, he thought Teddy hurt me," Ana explains.
"Did he hurt you?" I question.
"Only a little, I'm still quite sore and he caught me off guard."
"Where, are you still in pain. Maybe the nurse could give you something."
"I'm okay, he's only three remember," Ana says echoing what I just said.
"Still sweetheart are you sure I can't get you anything."
"Can you get me my husband and son," asks Ana thoughtfully.
"I'll try, you just try to relax and I'll bring back."
Carrying Phoebe with me I walk outside into the corridor and I'm greeted by a strange eerie silence.
"If your looking for those two men and that little boy I sent them outside, they were upsetting the patients," a nurses explain.
Shaking my head and trying to hide my embarrassment I go outside to look for them. Fortunately I don't have to look far, on a bench not ten feet away sits Christian and Teddy. Neither appear to be speaking and both are looking in opposite directions.
"Christian really, don't you think your being a bit childish," I ask walking towards them.
"He's sulking I'm just waiting for him to calm down," explains my son moodily.
"Fine, well now where's Jason," I ponder.
"I told him to get the car, it's time the children went home. Really is it too much to ask that they visit Ana without starting World War Three."
"Christian really, they are children, they're not perfect."
"Far from it, we'll be lucky if they allow them to visit again."
"You'll be lucky if they let you back in. Shouting in the hospital, the very one I work at young man."
Christian smirks at my admonishment then turns to stare at his son. He's hunched over, intermittently sobbing.
"Teddy, I'm sorry I shouted," he says softly.
Teddy just keeps sobbing so Christian slides closer towards him.
"Daddy was naughty and Grandma Grace just told me off. I shouldn't have shouted but you can't throw a tantrum in the hospital. There are sick people in the hospital and
they don't want to hear you screaming."
Teddy stops and looks over a Christian, his little face red and blotchy.
"Can I give you hug," asks Christian softly.
Teddy nods then climbs onto Christian's knee. They hug it out and eventually everyone seems to be forgiven.
"Okay now it's time for you and Phoebe to go home, I bet Gail has your lunch all ready for you."
"Mommy," says Teddy trying to hold in his tears.
"Okay you can say goodbye to Mommy but you have to promise not to get upset again. Will you promise," asks Christian.
"Promise," Teddy agrees.
Quickly we walk back to Ana's room and enter. Teddy walks to the bed slowly then looks up at Ana with his red rimmed blue eyes.
"Bye-bye Mommy, Pee-bee and me has to go home," he sniffs.
"Okay baby, bye-bye sweetheart," says Ana softly.
Teddy then walks slowly back to door then turns to look back at Ana. Taking pity on him Christian picks him up and gives him another hug.
"Lets kiss Mommy goodbye buddy," he says and Teddy instantly starts to smile.
They walk back to the bed and together bestow Ana with multiple kisses. I take Phoebe to the bed and she too kisses Ana.
We then wave repeatedly and Ana just manages to lift her hand to give us some small waves back. Christian helps me take the children to the waiting car and we strap them into their car seats.
"So will you bring them back tomorrow," he asks amusedly.
"Maybe the day after, I need a day to recover," I joke.
"Thank you for doing this Mom, I'm sorry we misbehaved. It really meant a lot to Ana even with all the mishaps."
"Okay then tomorrow," I say resignedly.
"God bless you."
