"Breathe deeply," Carson instructed, his stethoscope resting on Nathan's abdomen.
Nathan did as he was told, drawing in as deep a breath as he could before pain stopped him. Carson told him to do it again, and Nathan drew in four more deep breaths before Carson put down his stethoscope.
Nathan watched Carson with bated breath. After the initial three weeks of bedrest were done, Carson had ordered Nathan to stay on bedrest for another week. He hadn't been confident enough in Nathan's recovery to allow him to start moving again, and Nathan had grudgingly complied. Now he studied Carson, hoping for any sign of good news.
"Well?" he asked, eyeing Carson impatiently. "Am I allowed to rejoin the living?"
Carson laughed, packing away his medical supplies. "Yes, you can. No more bedrest for you."
"Oh, thank God!" Nathan exclaimed, pushing himself up into a sitting position.
Raising a brow, Carson crossed his arms. "This does not mean you can do whatever you want, Nathan. There are still strict rules you're going to have to follow."
Nathan swung his legs over the bed, placing them firmly on the floor. It felt good to sit up by himself without worrying about reopening any wounds. "Anything is better than bedrest," he said emphatically, trying to ignore the twinge in his abdomen as he sat up straight.
Carson noticed his slight wince. "You need to take it easy, Nathan. You're still healing. Even though the outside appears to be in good shape, your insides are still needing lots of rest and time to heal. You still can't do any physical activity that would be considered beyond light."
Nathan raised his brows, standing. He swayed slightly on his feet, having been in a bed for over a month. Carson gripped his arm. "And this is why you need to be careful. You also don't have the same strength you had five weeks ago when you got shot. Your muscles have atrophied a little bit, and we need them to get used to standing and walking again." He let go of Nathan, watching as he got his balance and stood up to his full height.
"What is considered light physical activity?" Nathan asked.
"You can walk on your own, and you can drive again. But you can't lift anything more than ten pounds. And I want you to stay home for one more week. After that, you can go back to work." He put a hand on Nathan's shoulder. "As long as it's only a desk job. I need you to promise me you'll be careful, Nathan."
"I will," Nathan said. "Now do you mind following me to the living room so I can see if I can actually walk after being flat on my back for well over a month?"
Carson chuckled. "Of course. Let's go." He stayed near Nathan's side as Nathan concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. He hated to admit it, but he felt wobbly and weak. Somehow, he managed to make it to the living room. With a sigh of relief, he sank carefully onto the couch. "Well, I can walk without being propped up," he said, grinning. "It's surprising just how accomplished I feel from that little venture."
Smiling, Carson nodded. "You'll get stronger each day. Maybe you and Elizabeth can walk the beach in the evenings. Walking on the wet sand will be a good strengthener for your legs."
"Sounds good," Nathan said. "Is there anything else I should know?"
Carson shook his head. "No, that about covers it. I'll be on my way. Glad to see you recovering, my friend."
"Hold on," Nathan said. "Have a seat for a moment."
Carson obliged, looking at Nathan with curious eyes. Nathan leaned back into the couch, taking some of the pressure off his stomach. "How are you doing, Carson? You had quite the bombshell last week."
Nodding slowly, Carson leaned back as well, settling against the couch. "It was a shock," he admitted. "But I told her I would support her through it, and I meant that with all my heart."
"You're a good man, Carson," Nathan said, admiration for his friend sweeping over him. "I get the sense most men wouldn't be strong enough to deal with something like this. But you didn't even think twice."
Carson chuckled lightly. "I don't think it was by my own power, Nathan. It was a supernatural grace."
"What do you mean?" Nathan asked, tilting his head.
Carson smiled, clearly remembering something. "Right as Faith hugged me in that church, I caught sight of the stained glass over her shoulder. It was a picture of Mary and Joseph on their way to Bethlehem. It hit me that Joseph had been through something very similar. I would guess that most people in their town just assumed he was the father of Jesus. The gossip about him and Mary must have been horrible. But he bore it anyways and he raised her child as his own. Somehow, that knowledge gave me more courage than I could have had on my own. So, I know come what may, Faith and I will get through this." He laughed lightly. "And you can bet I'll be asking for St. Joseph's intercession a lot."
Nathan laughed. "You can't go wrong there, that's for sure." He studied Carson. "So you're not nervous at all?"
Carson grunted. "I didn't say that. I'm terrified, Nathan. The woman I love is pregnant because of a man whose sole intention was causing her pain. I am beyond angry about these circumstances and the fact that it has impacted Faith's life so much. She didn't deserve any of that. And I couldn't protect her from that pain." He took a deep breath. "But I can protect her now. I can be there for her in whatever way she needs. We've talked a lot about whether to still have the wedding next month. She was hesitant, and I told her I would marry her tomorrow if that's what she wanted or I would wait until she was ready. We actually came to a decision about that."
He didn't elaborate, and Nathan raised a brow. "Which was…?"
Carson gave him a half smile. "We're getting married this weekend. Fr. Frank agreed to a small, simple ceremony with just the two of us and any friends we wanted there. You and Elizabeth are invited, as are Rosemary and Lee. We're keeping it between us."
Nathan's mouth fell open. "Wow. I was not expecting that."
Carson chuckled. "Neither was I. But when Faith asked if I meant it about getting married that soon, I said yes. She suggested Saturday, and I agreed. So that's what we're doing."
"And the baby?" Nathan asked. "Has Faith been able to make a decision there?"
Carson shook his head. "She switches between adoption and keeping the baby. I told her she doesn't have to make a decision anytime soon. She has months to figure this out, and I will accept whatever decision she makes."
"Do you have a preference?" Nathan asked, genuinely curious.
Carson paused, thinking for several long moments. "No," he said finally. "I want Faith to be happy, and I want her to make a decision based on that. If she's happy, I'm happy."
They sat in silence for a minute, and then Nathan smiled at him. "You really are an amazing person. I'm glad Faith has you in her life, Carson."
Carson shrugged modestly. "I think I'm the lucky one," he said simply. "Faith is the best thing to have ever happened to me." He smiled. "She makes life feel complete somehow."
"I understand the feeling," Nathan said. "That's how I feel about Elizabeth."
"We're both fortunate men," Carson said.
Nathan smiled. "That we are."
Elizabeth cradled a tiny baby in her arms as he wailed, protesting being taken from his warm incubator. "Sorry, little guy," she murmured, sticking a bottle in his mouth. The wailing stopped immediately, and he started sucking frantically, as if worried it would disappear at any moment.
Molly chuckled as she walked past the rocking chair Elizabeth was sitting in. "Little Benny gives all of us that cry when we take him from the incubator, but he's more than happy to drink his milk when it's given to him. Amazing how fast that crying stops."
Elizabeth smiled down at Benny, loving the feel of a baby in her arms once more. "I've missed this," she said softly. "I loved caring for Nathan, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat, but I've missed these babies."
"Speaking of babies, are you and Nathan planning on having one anytime soon?" Molly asked with a grin.
Elizabeth laughed. "As a matter of fact, yes. We're going to try for one as soon as he's strong enough for that."
"You will both make amazing parents," Molly said. "I remember when my Rosaleen was born; I didn't know how I was going to care for her! Such a tiny human, dependent on you for everything. But I think you have a head start, since you've been working with babies for so long." She smiled. "You were made to be a mother, Elizabeth."
Elizabeth's heart swelled with gratitude. "Thank you, Molly. That's been what I've wanted for years. I was starting to wonder if it would ever happen, but then I met Nathan. Funny how love shows up when you least expect it."
Molly nodded. "That's how it was for me and my Patrick. He thought he didn't want to ever get married, and I didn't either. Then we met each other, and twenty-five years later, here we are! Happily married with wonderful children and a grandchild. I couldn't have asked for a better life."
Elizabeth smiled up at her. "Everyone here thinks you and Patrick are still teenagers with the way you act around each other. It's adorable."
Molly laughed. "Thank you. We just fall more and more in love with each passing day." She patted Elizabeth's shoulder. "You and Nathan will too. That's how it works in a healthy marriage. You might not always feel the same intensity of sparks, but you will feel a deeper love than you can imagine now as you continue to get to know each other through the years. It's beautiful." Her eyes took on a happy, whimsical look. "The best years are still to come." Molly gave her one more smile and then went to an incubator to check on a baby.
Elizabeth thought as she fed Benny. She already loved Nathan more than she thought was humanly possible, and the thought of falling even more in love with him over the years was a heady one. She loved spending time with him. She loved finding out new things about him. She even loved learning about his imperfections. He had tested her patience over the past month as he was on bedrest, but it had also stretched them and helped them grow together as a couple. They had learned how to communicate their needs better, and Elizabeth had been amazed at how much Nathan had humbled himself to ask for her help when he needed it. She knew it wasn't easy for him, but he had learned to do it. And she loved him all the more for it. She couldn't wait to find out how he adapted to being a father someday, hopefully in the near future.
Benny finished his bottle, and Elizabeth placed him gently over her shoulder, patting his back firmly until a burp came from his little body. She carried him back to his warm incubator, where he promptly fell asleep. She chuckled, running a finger softly down his cheek. "Rest well, little Benny. You are getting stronger and should be able to go home soon."
By the time her shift was over, Elizabeth was tired but happy. Several days back at work had been good for her. She missed being with Nathan all the time, but she was also glad to be with her babies again. She drove home, looking forward to telling Nathan about her day. She didn't feel much like cooking, and thought she'd ask him if they could order pizza and watch a movie together.
When she opened the door to their home, the smell of cooking food caught her attention. She placed her purse on a hook behind the door and wandered toward the kitchen. "Nathan?" she asked, seeing him standing at the stove. "What are you doing?"
"Cooking," he said, flashing her his crooked smile. "And it's just about ready." He pulled open the oven, removing a glass baking dish and placing it on the stove, next to a pot of boiling water. He started to pick up the pot, then grimaced. "Actually, would you mind emptying this in the colander? I think it might be over the ten pounds Carson told me I could carry."
Elizabeth smiled, doing as he requested. She drained the pasta into the colander, then dumped the pasta back in the pot and carried it back to the stove. Nathan was slicing the chicken he'd roasted and dumping it into the pot with the pasta. Elizabeth peered at the stove and then at a bowl of vegetables that had been sliced and sauteed. "What did you make?" she asked.
"Chicken alfredo," he answered. "I was watching a video on how to make it, and thought it would be fun to give it a try." He gave her a smile. "I figured you'd be tired after a long day, so I wanted to cook for you." He bent to kiss her cheek, then resumed slicing the chicken. "There's a basket of French bread on the counter," he said. "Do you want to put it on the table?"
Elizabeth felt a lump in her throat at his thoughtfulness, and she simply nodded, taking the basket to the table that was already set for dinner. A beautiful salad rested in the middle of the table, and Nathan had lit two small candles on either side of a vase of flowers. She stood for a moment, overcome with emotion. She walked back over to Nathan, longing to wrap her arms around him but knowing he wasn't healed enough yet. She settled for leaning her head against his shoulder. "Thank you, Nathan," she whispered. "This is such a wonderful surprise."
He turned, his eyes light. "You're welcome, sweetheart." Pressing a gentle kiss to her lips, he smiled. "Why don't you go have a seat? I'll toss the sauce and veggies with the pasta, and we'll be ready to eat."
Soon they were chatting and eating. Elizabeth was surprised at how delicious the food was. She eyed Nathan as she took a sip of her wine. "You know, if you're not careful, you'll have to quit being a detective and open your own restaurant. This food is amazing."
Nathan laughed. "It was really easy. I had no idea pasta alfredo could be so simple. I always thought it was a complicated process." He sipped his water. "How was your day?"
"Wonderful," Elizabeth said, a smile lighting her face. "You should see the little boy I've been caring for. His name is Benny, and he's the cutest little guy you've ever seen. He cries his lungs out every time we take him out of the incubator to feed him, but then calms right down as soon as we feed him. It's endearing, for some reason."
Nathan was studying her, a smile on his face. "What?" Elizabeth asked, trying to decipher the look on his face.
He chuckled. "You absolutely light up when you're talking about your babies, Elizabeth. You turn radiant. It's obvious you love what you do."
Elizabeth smiled with a shrug. "I don't know if it's the job or the babies themselves. I love babies."
"That's clear," Nathan said, his laugh light. "And I can't wait until we have one of our own. You are going to be an excellent mother. I'm excited to see that side of you."
A light knock sounded at the door. Elizabeth went to answer it, still glowing from Nathan's compliment. She opened it to find Allie standing there. "Allie!" she exclaimed, pulling her niece into a hug. "Hi!"
Allie returned the hug, smiling up at her. "Hi, Auntie Elizabeth. I was at the beach with some friends, and wanted to come over to say hi. I feel like I haven't seen you or Uncle Nathan in a long time."
"We're just finishing dinner," Elizabeth said, ushering Allie into the dining room. She glanced at Nathan. He read her intent and nodded with a smile. Elizabeth turned her attention back to Allie, who was giving Nathan a careful hug. "If it's okay with your parents, would you like to watch a movie with us?"
Allie's eyes lit up. "Oh, can I?" she asked. "That would be awesome! Let me call my mom." She bounced out of the room, her cell phone already in hand. Within a minute she reappeared, beaming. "Mom said I can stay, as long as one of you drives me home. She doesn't want me walking home in the dark."
"I'll drive you home, Allie," Nathan said, standing to clear the dishes. "That way I can talk with your mom and dad for a bit, and give your Auntie Elizabeth some time to herself."
Elizabeth smiled up at Nathan, cupping his cheek in her hand. "You are the most thoughtful husband ever," she said softly, getting lost in his deep blue eyes.
Allie wrinkled her nose. "Are you two going to get all mushy?" she asked, her tone disgusted.
Nathan and Elizabeth laughed. "No, we're not going to get all mushy," Elizabeth teased. "Not right now, anyways."
"Ick!" Allie said, walking toward the living room. Nathan caught Elizabeth in his arms, careful not to press her to his body. "While I'm not a fan of having space between us, at least I can kind of hold you," he whispered, pressing a kiss to her neck.
Elizabeth felt a light shiver go through her, and she ran a finger down Nathan's cheek. "You hurry up and get better, sweetheart."
He chuckled, releasing her. "Oh, I plan to." They finished clearing the table, then joined Allie in the living room. She had picked out Annie, and Elizabeth slid the movie into the DVD player. The three of them cuddled up together as best they could without harming Nathan, and started the movie. Elizabeth felt content, enjoying the movie with her husband and her niece. It had been a good day, and it felt like life was starting to get back to normal.
