AN: I know I have been gone a thousand years and I am so sorry. I had surgery and by the time I fully recovered 2020 Trumped on everything in sight. Thank you to everyone who reached out and re-read, plus all the new readers. This update is based on my real-life experiences as a mother. My children are not biracial, but they are on the light to medium end of the spectrum, and I am not. So, without further ado…an update.
14,400 minutes
Rick pulls the red station wagon around to the side entrance of the neo-natal care unit. He exits the vehicle and opens the left passenger door to re-check the three car seat bases in the back. He chuckles to himself. The Sheriff Department provides car seat installation services to the community. He performed this task hundreds of times but today is the day getting the steps right matters the most. Ten days ago, he picked Michonne up from the hospital; but their children could not be discharged. Despite the steroids and advanced lung development they still required minimal oxygen. Dr. Bennett and Montgomery required they maintain a weight above 5 pounds. Then they all experienced levels of jaundice which required time in special incubators fitted with a light box. Each of their faces were covered by special sleep masks. But today was a new day. The hospital called this morning with a clean bill of health for his babies and the excitement of bringing his family together under one roof made the sunshine brighter to his eyes.
He secures the vehicle and enters his recent home away from home. "Are we ready?"
"Not even close. We have three people to get dressed. Grab a onesie and get to work daddy," Michonne replies with a wide smile.
Rick looks over to his wife expertly lift his daughter dressed in a white t-shirt and lay her within a onesie on the dressing table. She lifts her right leg and places it in one side before repeating the motion with the second. Finally, she repeats the process with each arm before snapping the garment from bottom to top before securing her dark curls with a crotchet cap. He takes a deep breath and steps in front of his son. He gingerly lifts his small body out of the infant bed on to the dressing area. He repeats the steps of his wife and exhales once he begins to snap the garment closed. Once he reaches the collar, he notices the gold sheriff star on left breast of the outfit. "Is that my badge number?"
"Absolutely, what else would your deputies wear." Their conversation is interrupted by the nurse on duty.
"Good morning, I know you are in a hurry to leave so I took the liberty of completed the discharge paperwork. All we need is the parent signature." She attempts to reach across Michonne and hand the clipboard to Rick. He doesn't look up because he is focused on securing each child in their child carrier seat.
"I can take care of the forms. Daddy's hands are full," Michonne reaches for the documents.
"I am sorry but only a parent can sign the documents," she pulls the papers toward her chest.
"Excuse me."
"I am sure you are a competent nanny, but these are legal forms."
"Heifer, did you just call me the nanny?"
"Oh, I am sorry. Are you the surrogate?"
Rick turns and tilts his head. "What did you just ask my wife?"
The nurse turns beet red and begins to stammer, "I'm sorry. I am new to this unit. I didn't mean..."
Her explanation is cut off. "I do not care what you meant. Give me the forms now and get your supervisor." Michonne extends her hand. While the red head nurse scurries out of the room she flips through and reads the pre-printed discharge papers. "No, she did not!"
"'Chonne, what's wrong now?"
"Well, according to Florence Know Nothing…are children are white if I am reading this demographic form correctly. The only positive is the birth certificates are correct."
Rick snatches the top paper off the clipboard and rips it in half. The supervisor enters the room with the terrified nurse on her heels. "Mr. and Mrs. Grimes, I want to apologize. We can alter the papers in which ever way you see fit."
"Correcting the documents is the least of our concerns. How in the 21st century do you have staff who are not culturally proficient enough to work with diverse families? I am not the first African American woman to give birth in this hospital. I am not the first to give birth to biracial children. How is your staff not aware of the varying skin phenotypes?"
Both women bow their heads in shame. "Ma'am I can assure you she did not mean any harm. She is new. This really was an honest mistake."
"Assuming my wife who earned a law degree from one of the country's finest schools is the nanny is not an honest mistake. That is a long held racist assumption. I am not even going to try and understand the surrogate comment," Rick snarls.
"Oh my," the supervisor responds with her hand over her mouth. She turns to woman behind her, "Ashley, you are excused for the day." She turns back to the outraged couple before her. "Here are blank forms…and again I am sorry."
Michonne removes a pen from her purse on the table and quickly checks the appropriate boxes for gender, ethnicity, language and religion. She hands the documents back to the shaking women. "Do not think for one moment this is over. The board will hear from us in a formal complaint." She turns gathering her purse and lifting the first carrier while Rick gathers the other two as they make their way out the door.
The normal twenty-minute drive home takes thirty minutes. Rick refuses to drive faster than 40 miles per hour and spends a significant amount of time checking the rearview mirror to make sure his children are secure. "Ok Team Grimes…we're home," he announces after turning off the engine.
They both exit the car and open the passenger doors. "I got him," she releases the carrier from the base. "You get the girls."
He releases the first, "C'mon Sweetheart," he places the first seat on the driveway. "You are next," he releases the second seat and closes the door with his butt. He makes his way through the front door with a seat held in each hand and closes the door with his booted foot.
"We're in the family room."
He watches his wife kneeling on the floor lifting his son from his carrier to place him in his Fisher-Price deluxe seat and swing. His son blinks his soft brown eyes which appear to be watching the mobile animals above his head. He kneels on one knee to move his daughter into her matching seat. The parents remain seated on the floor after securing the children, "I cannot believe they are home."
"I know. I do not think I have had a decent night sleep in forever."
"Yeah…they are fighters. They got their weight up; their lungs are good. We are blessed."
"We are. Do you mind if we hold off on calling the Grands until later this afternoon? I would like to enjoy them for a little while," she rests her head on his shoulder.
"Absolutely," he wraps his arm around her shoulder.
Jeffrey and Jolene Grimes make their way up the brick walkway. Andre is waiting to ring the doorbell. "Wait, you don't want to wake the babies if they are sleeping. I can send a text," Jolene explains. She looks up from her phone as the door opens.
"Hey Folks," Rick opens the door.
The trio moves past him in a rush to the family room. Michonne rises from the couch, "Everyone take a seat," she greets.
Jolene forces Purell into each of their hands, "Ok, now we are ready."
Michonne reaches down to pick up her daughter, "Uncle Andre, I would like you to meet your great-niece who shares my mother, your sister's middle name…Heaven Leigh Grimes."
His smile splits his entire face, "Welcome to the family Pretty Girl." She blinks her hazel eyes at the new face.
"Ma," he gently places the small bundle in her arms. "I would like you to meet your namesake…Grace Anne Grimes."
"Oh, you are going to be just as smart as you are beautiful."
"And finally," Michonne leans down to place her son in his grandfather's outstretched arms. "Say hello to Richard Michael Jeffrey Grimes. We are probably going to call him RJ."
Jeffrey chokes out a sob, "Thank you…just thank you."
Michonne melts against Rick's chest. He wraps both arms around her shoulders and kisses her temple. "How did we get so lucky?"
"Love makes good things happen," she smiles up at her husband.