As soon as she was sitting they moved the incubators so that they were surrounding the armchair. Jessica looked at them and then to the nurse.
-I know what you are wondering. You can hold your son and your second daughter.
-What about the other two?
-I'm afraid that your first daughter has respiratory problems, and we don't want to take any risks; and your last daughter has heart problems. You see that men outside?-she pointed at a man with brown hair. - He's the cardiologist that is taking care of your daughter. He usually works with adults, but has agreed to work with her.
-Can I…-a few tears fell from her eyes.- can I touch them at least?
-Of course you can. We better move you closer to them so you can see them better.
They moved the incubators closer to her, and she got to see them properly for the first time. They were little, with small tubes on their noses for their feeding, some tubes on their mouths so they could breathe better, and their eyes were covered by a mask; they had small patches on their chests to control their temperature, their blood pressure and their heartbeats, and in their feet they had small neonatal pulse oximeters and IV catheters. More tears started running down her cheeks, as she saw them.
-It's okay Jess.
-Look at them Seth, they are so little, and they are attached to all those machines.
-I know. It's hard to get used to it.
-Our first… our first baby is called… Angela Beatrice.
-Would you like to touch your little Angela?
She nodded at Elfie, who placed the incubator right in front of her. She looked at Angela for a few minutes and then she took both hands inside the incubator by two big holes that where on each side of it. Her hands were shaking, but as soon as she placed a finger on her daughter's hand they stopped.
-She's soft, and warm. - she stroke her little head with the other hand, and started laughing and crying.
-Jess, I could bring the small toys we bought for them. Don't worry Elfie, they are small. And we can give each toy to one of them.
-That would be nice. She's so lovely.-she couldn't take her eyes from her.
-Jessica, we talked with the hospital, and we are preparing a room to which we can move the incubators, and you can stay with them. Usually we don't allow that, but you are Jessica Fletcher, and everyone in the United States knows by now that you had quadruplets, and we wouldn't want you to get stressed because people start asking you questions, that might affect the babies.
-For how long will they have to stay here?
-From six to ten weeks, it depends. But you are staying here with them.
-Staying here for two months?
-Yes, as I told you before usually we don't allow the mothers to stay in the hospital with their babies, but the press as soon as you leave the hospital are going to start asking you questions, and you are going to feel really overwhelmed by all that, after all your mind will be here with the babies, and if you are stressed the babies will feel stressed too.
-I want them to get well, and to be able to take them home.
-You will Jessica. Would you like to hold…?-she pointed at the second incubator.
-Eleanor, Eleanor Rose.
-Would you like to hold little Nellie?-she nodded, taking the hands, a bit reluctantly, out of the incubator.
Elfie opened it and took the baby, really carefully and slowly, out with a blanket around her.
-Would you mind unbuttoning your nightgown? Just the front. When we place the babies in their parent's chests it helps them to hear the heartbeats to control their own and their temperature.
-That really helps them?- she unbuttoned her nightgown, just enough not to show her bosom.
-Yes, your little Nellie is bound to be a very strong woman in the future.
Elfie placed the baby in her chest, covering the baby with the blanket. Jessica looked down at her baby, marveling at the strength she was showing.
-Look Seth, she's so small.
-She's responding quite well to your touch. Look at the monitor.-She looked at them, but didn't understand what they meant- This line is her breathing, and it's really good at the moment.
-That means that she's fine. Look at her Seth.
-Ruth, bring another armchair for Doctor Hazlitt. You would like to hold your son no?
-Of course Elfie. Do I have to take my shirt off?
-You could unbutton it. There's no need for you to take it off.
Ruth brought one and placed it beside Jessica's, and as he sat down she took the baby out of the incubator and placed it on his chest.
-Well, hello young man. Welcome to the world. I hope you like your name, Henry Joseph.
-Henry for Frank's father, and Joseph for Seth's father. They were so lovely. Both.
-Jessica, your last daughter…
-Jane Clarisse.
-Jessica, Jane spent the whole night crying. We tried to calm her by talking to her, singing, but the only thing that works is your voice. One of our nurses has a copy of your book read by you, and she played it last night. It worked. Her heartbeat is stable when she's listening to your voice.
-My daughter survives thanks to my voice.
-Yes. We would like you to talk with them, sing to them, and tell them anything at all. They like listening to their mother.
She approached Jane to her mother and took Angela to Seth's side.
-Now, here you have your family. If you need anything I'll be outside. Congratulations.
Jessica nodded and turned her head to Jane, who was sleeping peacefully. Tears were running down her cheeks. Seth cherished Henry with his finger, marveling at his little son. After a few minutes of silence Jane started crying.
-Shhh honey. Tale as old as time, true as it can be, barely even friends then somebody bends, unexpectedly. Just a little change, small to say the least, both a little scared neither one prepared. Beauty and the Beast.
Ever just the same, ever a surprise, ever as before, ever just a sure as the sun will rise. Tale as old as time; tune as old as song; bittersweet and strange finding you can change learning you were wrong.
Certain as the sun, rising in the East, tale as old as time, song as old as rime. Beauty and the Beast. Tale as old as time, song as old as rime. Beauty and the beast.
Jane stopped crying, and turned her head a bit to her mother, who kept on talking and singing.