Chapter 15
DARCY
“Her lungs are much clearer, and her heart rate is within normal range,” Amethyst explained as she bounced a stuffed rabbit up Rev’s leg.
Rev giggled and reached for it, so Amethyst gave it to her before she mussed her hair and said, “Obviously, she’s still very restless and isn’t sleeping well, but it can be hard for anyone to relax in a hospital environment.
My hope is that she’ll sleep more soundly once you get her home and she gets acclimated to her new surroundings.
With some fresh air and sunshine and a lot of running around, I’d imagine she’ll start eating more too. ”
“She’s definitely going to get plenty of exercise. Griffin is excited to have a little sister like Koda and Scoot. I’ve already heard him bragging to them that his new sister can already walk.”
“That’s hilarious. Playing with the other kids will also help her adjust to her new environment.”
“What else can we do?” Crow asked as he held out his hand with snacks for Rev to choose from.
She took all three of the protein balls and stuffed them in her mouth, and Crow smiled as he watched her chew before he said, “Other than feed her because the women in the family obviously have that covered.”
“What are those?” Amethyst asked as she peered down into the plastic container Jonas and Lawson’s mom had brought earlier.
“I have no idea, but Maria said that they’re full of good fats and protein and to tell her if Rev liked them so she could make more.”
Amethyst leaned down and asked, “Can I have a bite?” Rev picked another treat out of Crow’s hand and put it in Amethyst’s mouth, and I watched her brow furrow as she chewed it. “I don’t know what that is, but I love it.”
“Maria said they have dates, oats, hemp, flaxseed, peanut butter, and pumpkin seeds with some chocolate chips thrown in for good measure.”
“They’re delicious.”
“Brighten said True’s mom came over earlier today and filled the freezer with pouches of protein shakes for her,” I explained.
“I hope Aunt Izzy brought some of the ones that taste like s’mores. She used to make them for us when we went to the gym with my dad.”
“Her peanut butter and banana shakes were always my favorite,” Amethyst said before she smacked her lips.
“So, as far as this little one goes, it’s good that she’s eating now.
When she first got here, she wasn’t really interested in food at all, but she’s already gained a pound. That’s a good start.”
I opened the notebook I’d brought up to help keep all of the information about Rev organized.
I found the pages with notes from the dietician and scanned them before I said, “We’ll be feeding her small nutrient-dense foods throughout the day, and she’ll have those special milk drinks at least three times a day, five if she’s extra thirsty. ”
“She’ll have a lot of appointments coming up to assess how she’s doing, and I’ll want to see her often to track her growth, among other things,” Amethyst warned.
I flipped to a different section of the notebook and announced, “We’ve got an appointment with a dietician, ophthalmologist, ENT . . . Hold on. I should have spelled that out.”
“Ear, nose, and throat - he’ll do a thorough exam and some testing to determine if she needs to see an audiologist.”
“We’ve already got one of those,” I said as I flipped the page. “Umm . . .”
“Kate, I’m sure,” Crow told me.
“Dr. Bartlett?”
“Yeah, that’s Lowry, Zinny, and Shelby’s mom. She’s an old friend of Kale’s, and we grew up with her kids.”
“She’s Scoot’s doctor,” Amethyst added. “Since Rev has been here, she hasn’t even tried to speak, so I’d like for her to get an assessment.
It might just be environmental, and if that’s the case, she’ll learn from listening to all of the chatter around her.
Encourage that when you’re playing with her at home.
The ENT and Dr. Bartlett will have other ideas that may help. ”
“Darcy brought a book to help keep everything straight,” Crow explained as I took more notes. He held the container out for Rev, and she took another before he said, “Griffin didn’t come with an instruction manual, but Rev has her own.”
“You’re doing a great job,” Amethyst said as she put her hand on my shoulder. “I live right up the street, so if you need anything or just have a question, you can always give me a call, okay?”
“I’m really nervous. I don’t want to screw anything up.”
“Love her, feed her, keep her safe. As long as you take care of those basics, we’ll take care of the rest,” Amethyst assured me. She looked over at Crow before she said, “And don’t feed her any more of that crap you eat.”
“It was one oatmeal creme pie, Amy.”
“Don’t even get me started on how bad those things are for you, and especially for her. She’s got enough toxic chemicals in her already, Crow, and your friend Little Debbie won’t help that.”
“She’s not my friend, she’s my mistress. I have to keep her hidden because everyone tries to take her away.”
I burst out laughing and asked, “Are you serious?”
“Griffin and the other kids band together to find my stash and wipe me out!”
“I know this solution might sound crazy, but hear me out,” Amethyst insisted. “Stop buying all the junk food, and then all of you will be healthier!”
“But Little Debbie and I have been together for so long! I can’t just give her up,” Crow whined.
Amethyst rolled her eyes and looked at me before she said, “I know that both of you have full-time jobs, so I need to ask if you’ve thought about childcare.”
I looked at Crow and saw him frown before he said, “I’ll get with Brighten and Hawk to see if they can . . .”
“I’ll take care of her while he’s at work,” I interrupted.
“You will?” Crow asked.
“I know we haven’t had much time . . . Maybe we should discuss this before I make a declaration like that, huh?”
“There’s my cutie patootie!” Summer said as she walked through the door.
She, like everyone else who had come to visit, was carrying a bag full of goodies, and when Bird walked in behind her, I saw that he had another of those stuffed toys that looked like pillows and vaguely resembled an animal of some sort.
When Rev saw them, she squealed and held out a bite of her food. Summer dropped her bag and reached out to pick her up before she pretended to eat it and then encouraged her to take the bite herself.
“I don’t know what that is, but I know what it looks like, and there’s not a chance in hell I’m gonna put it in my mouth,” Summer said cheerfully. “This isn’t my first rodeo, Buttercup. You go right ahead.”
Bird wrinkled his nose before he said, “I learned that one the hard way.”
I burst out laughing before I asked “Do I even want to know what you ate?”
Bird gulped before he shook his head. “Nope.”
“I will learn from your mistake, sir,” I vowed, smiling when he shuddered and swallowed hard again. “I will not eat anything a child offers me. Ever.”
“Good call, Darcy. Very good call.” Bird suddenly looked frantic before he insisted, “Don’t drink anything either! Toilet water doesn’t look like toilet water, just FYI.”
“Oh my God,” I whispered in horror.
“Tea party with the girls,” Summer explained with a grimace.
“We were just discussing who will be taking care of Rev while Crow is working,” Amethyst explained as Rev put her arms out for Crow to take her back.
Summer frowned before she said, “Oh! I’m sure that —”
Crow interrupted his mom as he put his hand up and said, “Darcy volunteered to take care of her, but that’s something we’re going to discuss before we make a decision.”
“You can do that at dinner,” Summer suggested.
Crow leaned closer to Rev before he said, “I’m gonna go bye-bye for a bit, Buttercup, but I’ll be back, okay?
” Rev’s bottom lip started to quiver and her eyes filled with tears, so Crow kissed her cheek before he said, “I promise I’ll be back in time to read you a story before we go to sleep, okay?
Can I have a big hug to tide me over until my next one?
” Rev threw her arms around his neck and squeezed him tight as tears trailed down her cheeks.
“Don’t cry, sweetheart. Pap is gonna snuggle you while I’m gone, and Gammy brought you some toys. ”
“Come here, Buttercup. I need some love, too, you know.” Bird rubbed his hand up and down her back a few times, and Rev smiled at him through her tears.
She looked torn but finally let go of Crow and threw herself at Bird before she snuggled up against his neck.
Bird ran his hand over her hair as he murmured, “There’s my sweet girl. ”
“I’m going to go,” Amethyst said as she patted Rev’s shoulder. “I’ll be here first thing in the morning to review her latest round of blood tests. If the results show she’s down to a manageable level, I’ll release her the day after tomorrow.”
“We’re ready for her to come home,” Crow assured her. “The caseworker did a home study this morning, and the house passed with flying colors. I have Mom and the girls to thank for that, of course.”
Summer smirked and asked, “How hard is it to put your clean clothes away? I’ve been asking you and your brothers that question forever, yet you still have a pile of dirty clothes in one corner and a basket of clean clothes in another. It’s not rocket science, Crow.”
“At least they’re not all over the floor, right?” Crow asked with a grin. “I like to call it organized chaos.”
“One of these days, our mothers are going to go on a killing spree, and there’s not a jury in the world that will convict them,” Amethyst warned.
“Y’all go have dinner and enjoy some time away from the hospital before the excitement of having a new baby in your house turns into reality and slaps you in the face. ”
“It’s already smacked me pretty good,” Crow said with a grimace. “No more sleeping in when Griff is at Brighten’s house, no more . . . oh, so many things.”
“She’s worth it, though, right?” I asked, not doubting for a second that he was all in. I just had to wonder if he was really ready.