Chapter 6
SIX
MELISSA
Troy and Olivia arrive shortly after Luke leaves, looking well-rested and bright-eyed after their night at the Marriott. I try to hide my envy at the sight of their takeout coffee cups, but I must not succeed, because Olivia holds hers out to me.
“For you,” she says cheerfully.
“Oh, no thanks, I’m fine.”
“No, it’s for you,” she insists. “I don’t drink coffee. Troy said you take cream and sugar, right?”
“That’s right.” Part of me wants to decline on principle, but I don’t have the willpower. I take the coffee and force a smile. “Thanks.”
Olivia reaches into a chic leather shoulder bag and pulls out a bottle of apple juice and a granola bar.
“For Liam,” she explains. “Is that okay?”
I nod again, and Liam grabs the granola bar like he’s starving.
Troy takes the armchair next to Claire’s bed. “How are you feeling, Claire?”
“Pretty good. The doctor said I could go home tomorrow.”
Troy turns to me. “Dr. Carlton’s already been in?”
“Yeah, but you didn’t miss anything. Everything’s going well.” There’s no point telling Troy about Liam’s nosebleed, or my idiotic comment about abs of steel.
I notice Troy staring at the bloodstain on my shirt, but fortunately, he doesn’t ask about it. “I thought Olivia and I might take Liam out for breakfast,” he suggests. “If that’s okay with you, Melissa?”
There’s an edge to his tone that I try to ignore.
Troy and Olivia offered to take Liam to their hotel last night, but I wanted to keep him with me.
I could tell Troy was frustrated that I wouldn’t let him help with childcare after he dropped everything to come to Somerset.
After all, he’s missing work to be here.
But I wanted Liam with me; it was as simple as that.
Even though Claire’s illness is relatively minor, I still feel unsettled, and having to look after Liam has been a welcome distraction.
One of the nurses offered to find him a crib, but she must have forgotten, so I let him sleep in my arms. I think he gave me as much comfort as I gave him.
But now it’s morning, Claire’s on the mend, and Liam needs to get out of the hospital room.
“I think that’s a great idea,” I tell Troy cheerfully. “And when you come back, I might pop home for half an hour to get some fresh clothes.”
“Sure.” Troy looks surprised that I’ve agreed so easily, and that I’d consider leaving the hospital, even for half an hour. But if I don’t get the chance to brush my teeth, change my clothes, and put on some deodorant, I think I might crack up.
And maybe I’m cracking up already, because how else can I explain my abs of steel comment this morning?
Luke looked so guilty about Liam’s nosebleed that I wanted to make a joke, but it must have seemed like I was flirting with him.
Which probably seemed pathetic, since Luke’s out of my league on a good day.
And today, when I haven’t brushed my teeth, my hair’s a rat’s nest, and I’m wearing the scrub top and yoga pants I slept in?
No wonder Luke’s resident laughed so hard.
I resolve to put Luke out of my mind. The important thing is that Claire’s getting better, and she should be able to come home tomorrow. I imagine we’ll have to come back for a follow-up appointment, but once that’s done, I’ll never have to see Luke again.
After Troy and Olivia leave with Liam, Claire turns to me.
“Mom, why did Olivia come with Dad?”
Wow. Million dollar question, right there.
“Because they’re good friends, honey,” I say carefully. “He probably wanted someone to keep him company.”
“Are she and Daddy going to get married?”
Clearly, nothing gets by my nine-year-old daughter. “I don’t know,” I tell her truthfully. “Maybe. How would you feel about that?”
“I don’t know,” Claire admits, chewing her lip nervously. “It would be kinda weird. Like she’s trying to replace you.”
Out of the mouths of babes. I hardly know what to say.
“Daddy and I love you and Liam very much,” I finally tell her. “Nothing’s ever going to change that. Even if he marries Olivia, she’s never going to replace you in his heart. Okay?”
Claire gives me a little nod. “Okay.”
“Want me to read to you?”
She nods again, and I open a copy of Anne of Green Gables that one of the nurses found. After about an hour, Claire starts to doze, and I keep reading Anne, which was one of my favorite books growing up.
Claire wakes up when the nurse brings in a lunch tray. She’s still only allowed to have fluids and jello, and the jello is a really garish shade of green.
“Thanks, Lauren,” Claire tells the nurse politely. I feel a rush of pride for my daughter, who has the manners to remember her nurse’s name and thank her for a truly unappetizing meal.
“The doctor wrote that if you keep that down, you can have real food for dinner,” Lauren says with a wink.
Claire must find this motivating, since she digs into the jello with far more enthusiasm than it deserves. After she finishes the juice, Troy and Olivia return with Liam, who rushes to tell me his news.
“I had banana pancakes!” he says excitedly. “And we went to the park!”
“I thought you might have,” I tease him, glancing down at his clothing. His shirt is stained with a brown substance that I suspect is maple syrup, and the knees of his sweatpants are dirty.
“Do you have a change of clothes for him?” Troy asks.
“No, but I’ll take him home to change while you guys sit with Claire. We’ve been reading Anne of Green Gables together,” I tell him, holding out the book. “In case you want to keep going with that.”
I don’t think Troy recognizes the book, but Olivia’s eyes light up. “That was one of my favorites when I was younger,” she enthuses, taking the book from me. “I can read it to you, Claire.”
“Sure,” Claire agrees half-heartedly, and Olivia sits down next to her with the book.
I drive home with Liam, give him a bath, and then take the world’s fastest shower as he plays with his toy trucks on my bathroom floor.
After I brush my teeth, roll on some deodorant, and slip into a fresh sweater and jeans, I’m feeling significantly more human.
I quickly pack a bag with clothes for the kids and me, my phone charger, the iPad, and a random selection of picture books.
I’m about to head out the door when I realize I still haven’t eaten today, so I head to the kitchen and grab apples, granola bars, and a couple of sleeves of juice boxes. I can always take Liam to the hospital cafeteria for dinner.
When we get back to the hospital, Olivia is still reading to Claire, and Troy’s talking on his phone. He ends the call when he sees me.
“So you think Claire’s going to be released tomorrow?” he asks.
“As far as I know, that’s the plan.”
“Okay. Olivia and I were thinking of heading back to Toronto tonight.”
I take a deep breath to keep from asking Troy how he could consider going back to Toronto while Claire’s still in the hospital. But maybe I’m not being fair. I haven’t exactly welcomed Troy’s help, and the hospital room isn’t big enough for all of us.
“Sure, that makes sense,” I manage.
“If anything changes, we can come right back,” Troy offers.
“Of course.”
“Do you want us to take Liam and bring him back Sunday?”
Shit. I’d forgotten. It’s Friday, and this was supposed to be the kids’ first weekend back in Toronto with Troy.
“You could,” I say reluctantly. “But with all the chaos, it might be easier for him to stay with me this weekend. I’m set with clothes and books for him, and rather than sending him to Toronto without Claire .
. .” I trail off. I know it’s a weak argument, but since one of my kids is sick, I want them both close.
“Fine with me,” Troy says with a shrug, and I let go of a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
After kisses for Claire and Liam, Troy and Olivia head out, and it’s a relief to see them go.