Page 99 of Pieces of Us
Chapter Sixty-Seven
Melonie
Linc helps me down the hall. A broken ankle and a c-section a few days ago is a horrible combination, and I’m still awkward on my crutches. He stops us in front of the door to the nursery.
“So, I hope you’re okay with it, but I had everyone help out while you were in the hospital, and we finished the nursery.”
“Oh my god, it’s really done?”
“It is.”
“I want to see it!”
“I made some executive decisions, so I hope you like it.”
“Linc, just open the door.” I grin at him.
He opens the door, and the air is knocked out of me. It’s so pretty; everything is in its place. I hobble to the dresser and open a drawer to see it filled with her onesies, ready to go. There are diapers and wipes on the changing table, books stacked on a table by the glider, a mobile with purple butterflies above the crib.
“It’s purple.”
“Do you like it? I know it’s not really what we had on the registry.”
“I love it. It’s my favorite color.”
“I know.”
I turn to him and wrap my arms around him. “Thank you so much. It’s perfect.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“I think Millie will like it, too.”
“I miss her.” I feel his chest expand with a deep breath.
“Me too. It’s so weird to be separated from her. Like there’s an emptiness inside of me when I’m away from her.”
“We can take a nap and then go back to the hospital.”
We walk out of the nursery, and Linc closes the door. He helps me into bed, placing a pillow under my cast, and climbs in beside me. I turn my head to look at him. He’s lying on his side, and he starts playing with my hair.
“I know the past week has been a lot for you, Linc. Thank you for being by my side, for taking care of Millie, for helping me hobble around. This is a lot more than you signed up for.”
He reaches under the sheets and takes my hand.
“I signed up for it all, Mel—the good days, the rough days, all of it.” He tucks my hand against his chest. “Group project, Mama.”
Chapter Sixty-Eight
Linc
Millie comes home today.
Everyone is waiting at the apartment while Mel and I are at the hospital, signing discharge papers, and setting follow-up appointments.
She’s grown in the past couple of weeks. She’s put on weight and looks like a normal newborn. Her eyes are still blue, and we’re waiting to see if they’ll change. God help me if they stay blue. I already have a blue-eyed woman that can give me one look and get her way. I’ll be screwed if I have two.
But who am I kidding? Millie already has me wrapped around her finger.
