Olivia winced in pain. The doctor let her know that she would feel contractions while her uterus shrunk and breastfeeding would be painful while her milk came in. Her legs were still numb from the epidural and her bladder was full. Her husband was watching something on TV and the babies were sleeping.
"Fitz."
"You're awake. I really need to clean the kitchen. The floor is wet and the dishes are dirty."
"I have to pee."
"Okay."
"Help me up or you're going to be cleaning another wet floor."
Fitz pulled her up, and she leaned on his shoulder. Her legs buckled, and she almost fell. "Are you going to be okay?" He asked.
Olivia nodded yes reaching for the support bar in the bathroom.
"Do you want me to leave the kitchen dirty?"
Olivia limped to the bassinets and tried to stand for a few seconds. The room started spinning, and she was hot.
"Fitz, I don't care about the kitchen. I feel really sick. Can you call the nurse?"
The nurse answered in a kind voice. Her smile faded a few minutes later when she saw Olivia.
"Your blood pressure is really high. You shouldn't be doing anything right now."
"Mr. Grant. Do not leave this hospital."
"Livvie..."
"I don't want to fight. Can you please take care of the babies?"
"I am trying to help. Do you want to bring newborns home to a dirty kitchen?"
The nurse was losing her patience with Fitz. She wrote a feeding and changing schedule on the dry erase board.
"Follow the schedule, and call me if you can't calm the babies. Do not stress your wife Mr. Grant. Her blood pressure needs to come down."
"I'm sorry Livvie."
"Don't apologize. Be a husband and a dad. That's what we need."