Chapter 2
Otto sighed and sat on the floor, "Und zat's ze last of it. You vvill now spend ze next day und a half living out of a cardboard box."
Nomura slid down the wall to sit next to him, "That's an awful way of saying I have to wait for the moving van to get here."
Otto chuckled and threw one arm around his sister's shoulders, "Ja. Oof. VVhat time is it?"
Nomura looked down at her watch, "Oh god! It's 12:13!"
"Ha! VVhat vvould Mama say!?"
"Uh...We're grown ass adults who can do what we want?"
Otto laughed again and tickled her around the neck.
"Ah! Ack! No! No!" She wiggled away and attacked his ribs.
"Bah!" Otto tried to roll away but to no avail, "Nein! Nein!"
*Prrring! Prrring!*
"Ack! Aufhören! Aufhören! Handy!" Otto shoved her away and pulled out his cell phone, "Hallo!"
"O-Otto?"
"Lorraine?" He sat up, Nomura splayed over his lap.
"Who's Lorraine?" She looked up at him over her shoulder.
Otto waved a hand at his little sister, "VVhat can I do for you?"
"Can...Can you help me make Eli disappear?"
Otto blinked, "I zink I'll need a little more information…"
"I don't know how much I can say over the phone," Lorraine's voice slipped to a whisper.
Otto nodded, though he knew she couldn't see him, "I'll come in as soon as visiting hours begin."
"Thank you…"
"Try und get some sleep," Otto insisted, "I'll see you in a few hours."
"Alright. Thank you."
Otto sighed and closed his phone.
"Is it story time, Grossbrüder?" Nomura bat her eyelashes at him.
"Scheisse Du, Nomura," Otto shoved her off, "I told you what happened yesterday."
"So she's the woman with the preme that you gave our card to? Smart move, considering she actually called."
"Let's just sleep," Otto lay back on the floor and threw one arm over his eyes, "I have to be up soon."
Lorain was waiting by her son's NICU unit when Otto arrived. He went to her side and smiled down at the sleeping baby.
"How has he been?" He asked.
"They put him on the CPap last night," She didn't look at him, "But I've been changing his diapers."
Otto nodded, "Und...How have you been?"
"Fine...Tired mostly. Worried."
"Have you been sleeping?"
"Some."
Otto furrowed his eyebrows, "VVell, would you like to go somewhere more private to talk about vvhy you called?"
Lorain nodde and stroked Eli's forehead gently. Then they went back to her room. Her roommate was still in the NICU room so they were able to have a bit more privacy.
"Before I say anything more," Lorain sat on the edge of her bed, "What is 'Janis Initiative'?"
Otto smiled and pulled up the chair, "It's a long story. My mozer inherited a razer...um...substantial fortune. She used it to travel and set up orphanages and vvomen's shelters around ze vvorld. Along ze vvay, she adopted my brozer, sister, und I. When she passed, vve all inherited the fortune und decided to carry on her vvork. Recently, vve decided to set up a base in the town vvhere my brozer lives. I moved zere last year and I have been helping my sister get ready to join us."
Lorain nodded slowly, "So...can you help me hide Eli?"
"Ah! You vvant to hide him. Of course vve can do zat. Do you vvant to hide vviz him?"
"You can do that?"
"Of course. It would be a bit like being in ze vvitness protection program. You vvould have to change your name und vve vvould put you in one of our halfway houses until you can find a job und a place of your own. VVonce Eli is discharged from ze hospital, of course. I know a place in California zat sounds like a perfect hiding place for ze two of you."
"California might not be safe," She admitted, "I'm from California originally."
Otto scratched his chin, "Hmm...Ze person you are hiding from, vvhat does he know about California? Ze town I am zinking of is very small and very isolated. Very few people even know it exists. It is vvhere vve are setting up Janis Initiative HQ for zat exact reason. My sister-in-law vvorks at Arcadia Oaks hospital so vve could even have a vvitness to say Eli vvas born zere."
"A-Arcadia Oaks? That's where I was heading! Maranda and I moved there when we were children…"
Otto frowned, "Does he know zat?"
"N-No. Arcadia Oaks isn't something you tell just anyone…"
"Alright," Otto visibly relaxed, "In zat case, Nono und I vvill start the process und, by ze time Eli is ready to leave, it vvill be only ze push of a button und he vvill never find you. Not if I can help it."
Loraine leapt from her seat and hugged Otto tightly.
When Otto arrived late the next day Loraine was pacing a hole in the floor around Eli's unit.
"Loraine? VVhat happened? Is Eli alright?"
"What?! Oh, yes. Yes, Eli's OK. As ok as he can be right now," She crossed her arms and looked away, "It's just...It's nothing for you to worry about. It's not about him so I don't think it's really your division."
He looked at her over the rim of his glasses, "Loraine. I am here to help you. If not as Janis Initiative zen as your friend. But I can't do zat if you vvon't tell me vvhat's wrong."
She hesitated for a moment and turned back to her son, "Money problems. I've been discharged but I can't afford another motel room. I used the last of my money to buy the plane ticket home. By the time we got everything worked out with Eli...I couldn't get a refund."
"Is zat all?" Otto sighed and put a hand lightly on her shoulder, "Loraine, vve can get you a room if you need vvone. Ze hospital has programs to help as vvell."
"You've done so much already. I didn't want to ask for anything more."
"Zat is vvhat vve do. It is vvhy I am here."
They stood in silence, looking down at the sleeping baby. Neither of them dared to speak.
"How about zis: You can stay vviz me. Just vvhile vve are here. My hotel room is two separate rooms und ze sofa is a hide-a-bed. Und it's only fifteen minutes from ze hospital!"
"But-it-I can't-Are you sure?" She was visibly shaking.
Otto took his hand off her shoulder and gestured to the chair, "Let's sit down and talk about zis."
Once she had sat down he knelt in front of her so that he would have to look up.
"Loraine? VVe can get you a room if you vvant. I just zought zat having a familiar face might help some. It vvas not my intention to-"
She put the tips of her fingers against his lips, "No. It's not that. I just...I'm not used to asking for, or-or accepting help."
Otto nodded slowly, "I understand. I am ze same vvay. I am so used to helping ozers, I never really know vvhen to ask for help myself. Especially vvhere Toby is concerned."
Lorraine tightened her fists around her skirt. Otto gently slipped his fingers into her fists, gently loosening their hold. Then he stood and sat on the arm of the chair. He wrapped one arm around her shoulders. Loraine was still for a moment before she slowly leaned over and lay her head on Otto's shoulder.
"VVe can talk more vvhen vve get zere," he whispered, resting his head on top of her's, "For now, let's just talk about Eli. Oh! Nono made him zis."
Loraine sat up so that Otto could reach into his satchel. He pulled out a small white box tied with a green ribbon and handed it to her. She opened it carefully and held up the soft green sleeper. It was smaller than any she had seen even in the preme section but even had little flaps to cover his tiny hands.
"It's adorable," she cooed, "You said she made this?"
"She even hand stitched it because she already sent her sewing machine to California," Otto confirmed, "She stayed up all night to finish it."
Lorraine smiled and lifted the sleeper to her lips, "I'll have to thank her when I see her. Did she already head to California?"
"Today at noon," Otto said before looking around, "VVhat did I miss vvhile I vvas gone?"
"Not much. They were able to take him off formula and just breast milk this morning. And...and he's gained a whole pound."
"Zat's good!" Otto looked into the unit, "He'll be strong and healzy in no time at zis rate."
Lorraine stood beside him with a small smile, "That's what the nurse said, too."
Her stomach growled loudly. Otto turned.
"Have you eaten today?"
"Yes…"
Otto lifted an eyebrow.
"I did! I just...It was a lite breakfast."
Otto looked down at his watch, "It's almost four now. I'm going to get you a snack."
"But-" He left before she could protest.
Loraine sighed. Eli whimpered and started to fuss.
"Oh! No, baby," Lorraine reached in and struggled to calm her son.
She checked his diaper and his feeding tube then made sure the CPap was still connected. Eli's cries grew louder,
"I'm sorry, Eli. I'm trying," Lorraine bit her lip and took a deep breath, "Mama's trying."
"Try this," Another woman stepped up and guided her hands.
She gently curled Eli up, placing her hands over his legs and chest. He slowly calmed down and curled one hand around her little finger.
"Thank you," Lorraine hated how her voice shook.
"It's ok. I remember how it was the first time."
"The first time?"
"Natasha is our second child in the NICU. I'm Yavaine, by the way."
"Loraine. And this is Elijah. Eli for short," Lorraine nodded towards the door, "And Otto just left."
"I saw that," Stella chuckled, "He really dotes on you two, doesn't he? Always fussing?"
It was Loraine's turn to laugh, "Yes. I don't understand why, though."
"My husband, Tristan, is the same way, "Yavaine looked over, "But, I think he's just trying to make up for the fact that he couldn't make it in time this time."
Loraine followed her gaze to a man at an open top unit. It was another minute before what Yavaine said sunk in.
"Wait! No! Otto's not my husband!"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have assumed. I just didn't think he was your brother."
Lorraine shook her head, "He's not my brother either. He's...a family friend."
Yavaine nodded, "Alright. I guess that makes sense. Well, in any case, he's certainly a good friend."
"Yeah...Yeah he is…"
"He is vvhat?" Otto walked up and placed one hand on Eli's unit, "Ze most tiny und precious zing in ze vvorld?"
Yavaine chuckled, "I'll leave you two to it, then."
They watched her return to her daughter before turning back to each other.
"I see you have your hands full," Otto set the bag of chips and water bottle in the chair, "I'll leave zese here for you."
"Thank you, Otto."
"Bitte."
He stepped up to the spot Yavaine had abandoned and stroked Eli's forehead gently. The baby cooed and nuzzled into the warmth. Loraine's stomach growled again. Otto chuckled and shook his head. Without a word he slipped his hand under hers and held Eli.
"Eat. I vvill hold him until you finish."
Loraine hesitated. Eli was still holding her finger. She didn't want to disturb him.
"It's alright," Otto assured her, "He's not going anywhere. You vvon't even lose sight of him."
Loraine nodded stiffly and stepped back to grab her snack. Eli whimpered for only a second before settling his arm over Otto's hand. They stood in mutual silence for a moment longer.
"I just want to hold him so bad."
"I know you do. Und you vvill. At ze rate he's going, it vvill probably be soon."
Loraine nodded mutley. She squeezed her eyes shut as she had done many times before. As if she would open them and everything would be ok.
"Schlaf, kindlein, Schlaf,
Der Vater hüt die Schaf,
Die Mutter schüttelts Bäumelein,
Da fällt herab ein Träumelein.
Schlat, kindlein, Schlaf."
Lenora felt her tension melt away as she heard the song. It was quiet, little more than a whisper. And she couldn't help but think she wasn't meant to hear it.
Otto breathed out the lullaby to the sleeping infant in his hands. He felt warmth spread through his body. A feeling he hadn't felt since he left Toby with his brother.
"You're a good singer," Loraine's whisper snapped hi out of his reverie.
"Oh. Um." He felt his cheeks grow warm, "D-Danke."
Loraine washed her hands again before slipping them back into the unit.
The following hours blurred past. They took turns calming Eli and Otto even convinced Loraine to participate in doctor's rounds so she could learn more about how to take care of her son. Before they knew it, visiting hours were ending and it was time to leave.
Loraine hesitated once more. Eyes trained on her sleeping son. Otto put a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Remember, he's getting the best treatment he can. But you need to take care of yourself, too. VVe'll get you some food, a hot shower, und a good night's sleep. Zen you can come back first zing in ze morning."
Loraine nodded and stroked Eli's forehead gently.
"Try to keep pumping, too," Yavaine said, holding the hand of her oldest, William.
Loraine and Otto turned and walked out with her.
"I know it sounds a bit strange," She chuckled, "But it really helps. Even if he can't take a bottle yet. I promise."
Loraine sighed, "Right. Thank you, Yavaine. Otto, would we be able to stop at Target or something?"
"Of course. VVe need to pick up dinner vvhile vve're out, too," Otto assured her, "Gute Nacht, Eli. Wir leib dich."
Loraine forced a smile, "Good night, Baby. I'll be back first thing in the morning."
Then, taking another deep breath, she turned and followed Otto out. They went down to the lobby to wait for their cab.
"Otto?"
"Ja?"
"Can I ask you a question? A-About your language?"
Otto chuckled, "Of course! VVhat do you vvant to know?"
"What did you say to Eli? I know the first part was 'good night' but what is 'veer leiber dick'?"
Otto huffed in amusement, "Vir leib dich. It means vve love you. It is similar to vvhat I tell Toby every night. 'Papa leib dich'. Daddy loves you."
Loraine nodded slowly, "Alright. Thanks again. For the explanation and-and for helping me with Eli."
"Bite schon. It is vvhat friends are for."
When they finally reached the hotel it was nearly midnight. Otto had the grocery bags and Loraine had her suitcase and the thighs they had grabbed for Eli.
"I insist, Loraine."
"But it's your hotel room. You should sleep in the bedroom. I'll be fine on the hide-a-bed."
"Nein! You have been sleeping in a hospital bed ze past zree nights und you didn't sleep vvell ze night before zat. You sleep in ze bed. I am going to be avvake anyvvay."
"Fine! Then we'll alternate," Loraine set down her bags and rolled her wrists, "Please."
"I'll consider it," Otto teased, sliding the key and unlocking the door, "Tonight, vve-"
"Surpriiii…" Nomura jumped up from behind the sofa, trailing off at the sight of the other woman.
Otto and Loraine froze in the doorway.
"Nono...VVhat are you doing here?"