"When can I get out of here?" Erin asked impatiently as the nurse wrapped the blood pressure cuff around her arm.
"That will be up to the doctor. Now I need you to remain still and be quiet." Mentally the nurse counted the seconds. Satisfied, she released the air and wrapped the cuff. "Normal."
"Can I at least see my baby?" Erin demanded.
"The doctor will be in with you shortly. You really should try to eat something," the nurse nodded toward the untouched tray.
"Tell me when he will be in."
"I'm sorry, but he's doing his rounds. He will be with you shortly."
"I want to see him now! And I want to see my baby, now!"
"Ma'am, I understand your frustration, but I'm going to have to ask you to calm down..."
"Don't tell me to calm down. I was stranded in a cabin for two days and forced to give birth on a hardwood floor by the light of a fireplace. Now I want to see the doctor."
"Ma'am..."
"Don't 'ma'am', me! Do you know who I am?"
"Honestly, I don't care. But I do know that if you don't calm down, I will have to sedate you. Does that give you an idea who I am? The doctor will be here shortly." The nurse turned on her heel and walked out.
"Son of a bitch." Erin swore when the door snapped closed.
"What did you call me?" Dave asked with a relaxed smile.
She turned towards the familiar voice, he was leaned against the doorway holding a vase of pink and white roses.
"You don't knock?" she huffed.
"Would you like me to go back and try again?" He chided. Handing her a single flower and sitting the vase on the table.
"They're beautiful," she fingered the stem lightly, she had higher priorities than flowers. No matter how kind the gesture was. "But they aren't letting me see Ava until I've seen the doctor. God only knows how long that's going to take." Aggravated, she shoved the flower back in the vase.
"So you're on hunger strike until then?" He plucked the Jello off the tray.
She shot him a dark look and said, " I am not hungry, Dave in fact, if you so much as mention food, I will throw that at you!"
He shook his head and dropped the Jello on the table; the nurse was right to warn him. "Go ahead, throw it." He said shrugging in nonchalance as he peeled the foil back and stuck the plastic spoon inside; before passing it to her.
"Nurse Ratchet already has it out for you."Eat it or throw it, either way is fine," he offered. Opening his chest as her target, "Think about it first, do you want to be sedated when your kids get here?"
"If she would bring me my baby, we wouldn't be having this discussion!" She said through clenched teeth; weighing the plastic container in her hand.
"When was the last time you saw her?" He propped his leg against the mattress. Surveying her face, he memorized every line. While her tired eyes stared back at him.
Erin shrugged, "they took her as soon as the ambulance pulled in and they won't tell me anything."
"They're understaffed." Dave muttered, the storm had done more damage than he anticipated.
"She was fine at that cabin and I don't understand what's taking so long."
"You need to relax, Sweetheart, she's in the right place."
"No. She's not," Erin argued, "The 'right place' is with her mother.
His hand found the back of her neck applying gentle pressure he felt her tender flesh begin to soften under his hand.
She moaned in pleasure as he continued down her neck and around to her shoulders.
"Feeling better?"
"No," she muttered defiantly. "But I'll take that Jello now."
Nonplussed, Dave dipped the spoon into the jello and extracted a generous portion. Spooning the wiggly dessert into his mouth, he chewed and extracted another bite.
"Eat," he commanded, moving the spoon towards her lips.
"I hate lime." She said, around the bite. "What if something's wrong, Dave and they're not telling me."
He sighed, she made a good point. No, he refused to think about it. But what if something is wrong? His conscience needled him. Do you really want the news to come from a nurse? Of course he didn't, he stood and pushed the tray closer. "Look, finish that." He threw a glance at the tray, "And I'll go talk to the nurse."
"Good luck." Erin muttered, unwrapping the plastic fork.
"Difficult women are my stock and trade."
–
"Excuse me, Ma'am..." Dave stopped the nurse in the hallway.
"Yes?" She glanced away from her clipboard.
"Erin Strauss and her newborn were brought in a few hours ago, is there any word on the baby?" He flashed her his most charming smile. "The poor thing had me as her midwife and I'm concerned that something went wrong."
The nurse glanced at her watch and consulted her clipboard. "Let me go check; the pediatrician should be finished with her by now."
"Mind if I come along? I would prefer to see her for myself," Dave threw her a wink.
The nurse giggled slightly, "sure, follow me."
–
"Here she is," The nurse directed him to the crib with the sign- Baby Girl Strauss above it. "And the doctor says she's fine.
The hospital staff had swaddled her in a blanket and her hair was covered with a little pink hat.
"Good," Dave gazed into the plastic crib, he watched her sleep. The crook of his arm called for her, "Can I hold her?"
"Well you delivered her, I don't see why not."
Without trepidation he put his hand under her head and lifted her into his arms; she fit perfectly in the bend of his elbow. "She's tiny..." he said in awe.
"Seven pounds, eight ounces," The nurse supplied.
"Hello, Princess," he murmured holding the tiny baby against his chest. Dave was completely oblivious to the hustle and bustle of the hospital nursery.
"I'm supposed to be taking you to see Momma," he said, taking a seat in one of the hard plastic chairs.
The baby cooed in response.
"But I'm not ready to do that..." Dave let his words trail off.
He bundled her closer, his heart overflowing with love and a knot in his throat, he realized..."I'm not ready to say goodbye."