Steve and Catherine quickly went to talk to the doctor. "What's up, doc? How's my daughter doing?" Steve asked anxiously.
"The surgery went well, as expected. Now we need to wait the next 48 hours," the doctor replied and Steve closed his eyes and breathed a relieved breath. "Thank God."
"Can we see her, doctor?" Catherine asked.
"She's in the Intensive Care Unit, you can't stay there more than five minutes today," the doctor replied and they agreed.
Steve and Catherine went through the procedures necessary to get into the ICU and went to see Lyla who was sound asleep from sedation. "Hi, honey. Mommy and I are here with you " Steve whispered in Lyla's ear.
Catherine saw the little finger of Lyla's hand move subtly as Steve spoke to her. "She's listening to you, Steve." Catherine kissed Lyla's forehead softly. "You did it, my love. We are very happy."
"You will recover and we will travel wherever you want. Daddy loves you very much, daughter." Steve stroked Lyla's hair and let a tear escape.
Catherine saw him cry and stroked his back. She knew that Steve had been suppressing his feelings and worries for a long time and at some point he needed to sit down and cry.
The five minutes passed too quickly and they needed to leave. "I love you, Lyla." Catherine said and kissed her forehead again. "We will be close by, daughter."
"I'm not leaving this hospital until you wake up, honey." Steve said to the girl.
After the five minutes Steve and Catherine left the ICU and went back to the waiting room. Steve looked at Catherine and saw how tired she was. "Cath, go home. Stop by Lou's house and pick up Liz and take her home to sleep. The doctor already said Lyla won't wake up today. Tomorrow you come back here."
"What about you, Steve?" Catherine asked.
"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine," Steve pulled her closer and kissed her.
"I can't leave you alone right now," Catherine snuggled closer into his arms.
"Our daughter needs care too, she doesn't quite understand what's going on," Steve told her. His phone rang and he saw that it was Don who was calling. Steve took a deep breath and placed the phone on the chair beside him. "I'm in no mood to argue with Don."
"I'll talk to him," Catherine picked up the phone and turned away from Steve. "Hello!" she said in an energetic voice.
"Catherine? I wanted to talk to my father," Don replied on the other end.
"Your father is very shaken up about everything that is happening and he is in no condition to take your call. Is there something I can help you with?"
"I just called to see how Lyla is doing," Don replied and Catherine wondered if he was being sincere.
"The doctors said that everything went as expected and that we have to wait the next 48 hours."
"OK. Thanks," Don told her.
"You're welcome. Call your dad tomorrow for more information."
Catherine walked back over to Steve and handed him the phone. "What did he want? Money?" Steve asked her.
"No, he just asked how Lyla was doing."
Steve frowned. "Really?"
"Yes, miracles do happen, don't they? Maybe we can get our hopes up that he'll become a better person."
"Maybe. Now I need to call Margaret and Caroline, " Steve picked up the phone and made a video call to Caroline.
"Have you seen her, Dad?" Caroline asked Steve.
"Yes, Catherine and I were able to stay with her for just five minutes. She's sedated, but she moved her little finger when I talked to her."
"Thank God!" Caroline exclaimed.
"I prayed so hard for her. Thank you for the love you and Catherine have for my granddaughter," Margaret, who was standing next to Caroline, told Steve.
"You don't have to thank me, Margaret. Lyla is my daughter, she chose me as her father."
"And she couldn't have chosen better, " Margaret replied.
"That is true. I love you, Dad." Caroline, despite her defiance, recognized that she was privileged to have a father like Steve.
"I love you too, my daughter. And all I want is for us all to be able to live together in peace," he was referring to him, the three girls, and Catherine.
"Steve, call me if you have any news about Lyla, no matter what time it is," Margaret urged.
"Of course, Margaret. I'll keep you posted, and thanks for taking care of that stubborn one for me."
Caroline grimaced at Steve, and he grimaced back. He ended the call and then made another call to Renee. Liz was sad and curled up on the couch when Renee showed her to Steve and Catherine. "Mommy and Daddy want to talk to you, honey," Renee slipped the phone into Liz's hand.
"Hi, my love!" Catherine smiled at the little girl and it broke her heart to see her daughter so sad.
Liz made a crying face, "Mommy, I miss you."
"I know, my love. I miss you too. "
"Hi, daughter. Mommy will pick you up in a little while, okay?" Steve said and Catherine looked at him. "Steve, I don't want to leave you here alone."
"Go home, Cath," he insisted and was incisive.
Catherine just nodded and told Renee that she would stop by her house to pick up Liz.
" Is the doctor fixing Lyla's heart, Mommy?" Liz asked.
"The doctor has fixed it my love, but we can't take her home yet."
"I want to see Lyla," Liz asked.
"She's not here, dear. She's in another room and we can't go in there right now.
Liz made a sad face and Catherine finished talking to Renee. A minute later she ended the call.
Steve gave Catherine the car keys. She took the keys and hugged him. "See you tomorrow."
"OK," Steve kissed her and then walked her to the hospital door.
"Look who's coming," Catherine said to Steve when she saw Danny approaching the front door. "I'll be reassured knowing that you won't be here alone anymore."
"Hi guys," Danny said as he approached them.
"Hi, Danny. I'm glad you came. I'm going to need to go home for Liz and I was so worried about leaving Steve alone," Catherine gave Danny a hug.
Steve pretended to separate the two. "Don't squeeze her too hard, Danny."
"I see the surgery was a success, you're even in a good mood," Danny told Steve.
"Until the blessed 48 hours pass I won't be quiet, Danny."
Catherine gave Steve a quick kiss and then looked at Danny. "Take care of him for me."
"I will, Catherine. I will."
*Thank you for your review in the previous chapter!