Catherine arrived at Renee's apartment to pick up Liz and take her home. The little girl was overjoyed when she saw her mother."Mommy!"
"She was so sad, Catherine. Didn't even look like that smiling little girl she is," Renee said as Liz ran to Catherine.
"Mommy was really missing you too," Catherine said to Liz and kissed her cheek several times.
Catherine approached Renee and hugged her with just one arm while the other held Liz. "Thank you for taking care of her for me, Renee. I didn't want to bother you, but I have no one to leave her with. I miss my mom so much, I'm sure she would love to help me with Liz if she were still alive."
"I'm sure she would love Liz. It's a pleasure to be able to help you and I love being with Liz. You can bring her again tomorrow."
"Thank you, dear." Catherine smiled at Renee and picked up Liz's backpack. The girl gave her godmother a kiss and left with Catherine.
"Mommy, what about my daddy, what about Lyla?" Liz asked as they stood in the elevator and she curled Catherine's hair with her small fingers.
"Daddy's going to stay at the hospital with Lyla, honey. We can't leave Lyla alone, can we?"
"No, because she'll be scared," Liz replied.
"That's right, that's why it's just you and me today. What do you want mommy to do for you?"
"French fries and juice," Liz said and smiled.
"OK, chips and juice for my baby."
"But don't tell Daddy," Liz asked.
"Daddy doesn't like you to eat potato chips, right?"
"He doesn't like it," Liz confirmed.
"But I think just today is okay, daughter."
Steve spent the night in the hospital waiting room, he napped a few times after Danny left and in the morning he went to the chapel. He felt he had a lot to be thankful for.
Catherine woke up early and prepared breakfast for Liz. She waited until the little one woke up and meanwhile got ready to go back to the hospital, and also put some more clothes in Liz's backpack.
"Mommy!" Liz called her almost an hour later.
Catherine quickly climbed the stairs to go to her room. "Good morning, honey!"
"Good morning, Mommy! How about some hot chocolate for breakfast?" Liz put both hands to her face and looked at Catherine with a pleading look.
Catherine couldn't help but laugh. "But what an actress I have at home, eh?" I already made your hot chocolate."
"Yay!" Liz bounced on the bed twice.
Catherine scooped her up and went downstairs with her. Someone knocked on the door and Catherine wondered who it was. She opened the door and saw a very well dressed and perfectly made up woman. "Can I help you with anything?" Catherine asked.
"I need to talk to Steve," the woman replied as she looked Catherine over from head to toe.
Catherine didn't like being scrutinized like that. "My husband isn't home."
The woman seemed to be surprised. "Your husband? Steve didn't tell me he had remarried."
Jealousy crept up on Catherine and she wanted to throw that woman off her porch, but she held back because of Liz who was on her lap.
"Who is that little doll?" The woman referred to Liz. She wanted to touch Liz's face but Catherine stepped back.
"As I told you, my husband is not home and I was just leaving, I will tell him you were here. Just tell me your name."
"Well, that's not necessary, I'll call him later," the woman said to Catherine and left.
Catherine stood still as a thousand thoughts occupied her mind.
"Mom, what about my hot chocolate?" Liz pulled her out of her thoughts.
"I'm sorry, daughter. Let's have breakfast. " Catherine closed the door and then put Liz in the chair and served her. "Yummy!" Liz exclaimed as she sipped the hot chocolate. Catherine smiled and kissed Liz's head.
An hour later Catherine arrived at the hospital, after leaving Liz with Renee again. She walked slowly down the hospital hallway until she reached Steve. "Hey. Is Lyla awake?"
"Hey Cath! No, the doctor ordered the sedation decreased, but I don't know what time she'll wake up," Steve replied.
"Can we go and see her?"
"Not yet. The nurse said she would call me when it was possible. What about Liz?"
"Liz is fine, she's just missing you and Lyla," Catherine replied but avoided looking at him. Steve noticed this and thought she looked strange. He held her chin gently and made her look at him. "Is something wrong, Cath?"
Catherine looked at him for long seconds. "I have a question."
"Then ask it," Steve answered her.
"Did you marry me just because of Liz?"
Steve looked at her with a confused look. He didn't understand why Catherine wanted to discuss the relationship at that moment, in a hospital. "Are you serious?"
"I am," Catherine crossed her arms and waited for a response from him.
Steve again held her chin with one hand and looked into her eyes. "Liz is the consequence of our relationship, not the cause of it. Never doubt my love because I don't doubt yours."
"Then why was there a woman on our doorstep today looking for you and looking at me like I was the worst person you could have chosen?"
Before Steve could say anything, the nurse called them in saying they could already see Lyla. After following hospital protocol they went in to see the little girl.
"Mommy! Oh, Mommy!" Lyla said very thrilled and in a very weak voice.
"Hi my love!" Catherine hugged her very carefully and was moved along with Lyla.
"I didn't die, Mommy."
Catherine was surprised that Lyla thought she was going to die and she wondered how much the girl must have suffered in silence before the surgery. "But of course not, sweetheart. You're going to be fine, everything worked out."
"Will I be able to run and play, Mommy?"
"Yes, you'll recover and in a few months you and Liz will be running around the house together, the yard, the park, the square, wherever you want."
Steve reached up and kissed Lyla's forehead. "Hey, daughter. I'm so happy for you. I'm proud of your courage, my warrior. Love you."
Steve and Catherine's gazes met and Steve saw that she had not forgotten the subject.
PS: Hi, I want to apologize for taking so long to update. I've been working a lot lately and tiredness takes away the inspiration to write, so I've been trying to write little by little in my spare time. Thanks for understanding.