Elliot and Sarah got out of the car, having just come back from Emmy's two week check-up.
Elliot carried Emmy up the stairs in her car seat, while Sarah brought up the stroller attachment. She started to go back downstairs for the diaper bag, slipped, and fell down the stairs, landing awkwardly on her foot. Elliot left Emmy in the house in her car seat and hurried down the stairs, where Sarah was sitting at the bottom, holding her lower leg and grimacing. "What happened?" Elliot asked, crouching in front of her.
"I think I broke my foot," Sarah answered.
"Let me help you into the car and then I'll grab Emmy so I can take you back to the hospital. I'm sorry," he added. "This is the absolute last thing you need," he said, concerned about her caring for a newborn while injured.
Elliot helped Sarah back to the car, then strapped in Emmy's car seat. Sarah looked pale and withdrawn. "Are you in a lot of pain?" he asked, concerned.
"Not that much. I don't know how I'll take care of Emmy," Sarah said, bursting into tears. Elliot, who'd been about to start the car, put the keys down and handed Sarah tissues.
"Why don't you stay with us while you're recovering?" Elliot suggested. "Even if it isn't broken, you obviously aren't going to be fully mobile for a while." She hadn't been able to put any weight on her injured foot, and she'd ended up letting him carry her to the car after struggling to hop, even with his support. "Our guest bedroom is on the first floor, so you won't have to deal with stairs. We can bring everything you need over. And that way, Liv and I can be there to help you."
Sarah chewed her lip. "Are you sure?" she asked. "You've done so much already." She felt terrible about needing more help but she couldn't see any way that she'd be able to manage on her own.
"I'm positive," Elliot answered. "And don't forget, I still have time off. We'll figure out a plan for after that. I'm sure Lucy would be open to more hours before picking Noah up. Lizzie has some friends who are nannies. I promise we will figure something out."
Sarah took a deep breath. "The last time I was in the ER was after I was assaulted. I broke my nose and two ribs then, so getting hurt and needing to go to the ER brings it all back."
"I'm sorry. Is there anything that would make it easier?"
Sarah turned to him. "Amita, my friend from medical school who was at the baby-naming, is an orthopedist. Can you call her and see if she's in her office today and has time to see me? That way I wouldn't have to go to the ER." She handed Elliot her cell phone.
Elliot called Amita. "She's in her office and it's almost her lunch break." Elliot told Sarah. "She is going to meet us at the front entrance with a wheelchair. She said to tell you that even if she was in the OR today, she would have gotten one of her partners to see you right away. She's glad she's in the office though."
Amita came back into the room after Sarah's x-ray. "You're right, unfortunately. You broke your fifth metatarsal. Do you want to see the films?" she asked Sarah, who shook her head. "You don't need surgery or a cast, but because of the location of the fracture, you'll need to be in a boot and on crutches for around 6 weeks, depending on how it's healing. I'm sorry."
"I think I convinced Sarah to stay in our guest room while she recovers," Elliot said.
"Good," Amita said. "You're going to need help. Meera is done with school in a few weeks and starting to baby-sit. She'll be home for about a month before she goes to swim camp and could be a mother's helper. Just let me know."
"Thank you," Sarah said, choking up.
Amita came over to her, gestured to ask if it was okay to hug her and embraced Sarah when she nodded. "I'm so sorry, Sarah," she said. "You aren't alone though. We're all here to help you." She rubbed Sarah's back gently while Sarah cried.
"Thank you," Sarah said again, once her crying had subsided. Emmy started to wake up, and Elliot picked her up.
"Look at you, Emmy," Amita cooed. She turned back to Sarah, "if you need to nurse, you can stay in here once we finish. We aren't busy today, so take as much time as you need. I'll be back with the boot and crutches in just a minute. Call me anytime if your pain increases or you have any questions." She looked at Elliot, "you should take my cell phone number too," she said, giving it to him. "And I'm serious about calling anytime. I'm used to answering pages in the middle of the night."
When Olivia came in with Eli and Noah, they found Sarah sitting on the couch, holding Emmy, with her foot propped up on a pillow on the table and her crutches leaning against the side of the couch. Tiger was nestled into Sarah's uninjured leg. "I am so sorry," Olivia said to Sarah immediately. "I can't believe you broke your foot two weeks after Emmy was born."
Olivia and Noah fussed over Sarah and Emmy, while Elliot and Eli went to bring over the bassinet and the portable changing table Sarah used downstairs to turn the guest bedroom into a temporary room for Sarah and Emmy.
"Tiger is so gentle," Sarah remarked. He hasn't left my side since we got here."
"He was really protective when I broke my hand too," Olivia remembered. "He's nurturing," she said, gently rubbing his head. "How is your pain?" She asked Sarah, concerned.
"After the initial pain subsided, it's been fine. It doesn't hurt unless I move it," Sarah said.
"Stay not moving," Olivia told her. "I know how frustrating it is but please tell us what you need us to do for you and Emmy so you can stay off your feet as much as possible."
"I should probably ice it again," Sarah said.
"It's nice to have you both stay here," Liv told her, as she came back with an ice pack for Sarah. "I just wish it wasn't because you were hurt." Emmy woke up and stretched her arms out, and Sarah rubbed her cheek gently with her finger.
"Hi, Emmy Rose," she cooed at her. "I think she needs a diaper change," she told Olivia apologetically. "The diaper bag is in the kitchen." Noah ran to get the diaper bag, and Olivia set out an old towel on the floor, changing Emmy, then spreading one of Emmy's blankets out on the floor and playing gently with her after she was done.
"I'm worried about breast-feeding at night," Sarah brought up.
Olivia thought about it, "I can sleep on the couch and bring her to you, like a night doula would."
"They make bassinets that attach right to the bed, I just didn't need one before," Sarah responded.
"You'll need help changing her in the night anyway," Elliot interjected, as he carried in diapers and clothes for Emmy. "Why don't you let Olivia sleep down here at least for the next few nights. But if you tell me what type of bassinet to get, I can pick one up tomorrow."
"Thank you," Sarah told them all, slightly tearfully. Noah smiled at her. "It's fun to have you and Emmy here," he said. "I wish you didn't get hurt though. I think Tiger is sad you're hurt too," he said, looking at the dog, who was still nestled protectively next to Sarah. "I bet Emmy is too," he said. "When my mom broke her hand, I was really worried. Don't worry, Emmy," he said reassuringly, looking at her. "We'll take care of your mommy." He turned back to Sarah, "when my mom got hurt, we ordered Chinese food and watched movies with her to help her feel better."
Olivia smiled at Noah. "Do you want Chinese food and movies?" she asked Sarah.
"I think that's a perfect idea, Noah," Sarah responded. Noah beamed.
"Do you want to hold Emmy or rest?" Liv asked Sarah.
"Rest, I think. I'm exhausted."
Olivia held Emmy as they settled around Sarah on the couch. Sarah's initial anxiety about her injury was decreasing as she felt the love and support around her, and she drifted off to sleep as the movie started.
