Page 73 of Derecho

Lachlan didn’t correct the medic. Instead, his smile was cemented in place, and it was the last thing I saw as they carried me out of the house.

Lachlan

This was stupid. She didn’t need me here. She didn’t need me showing up with the small bouquet of wildflowers I’d picked from next to my house this morning. Lainey said she was doing well…that the baby was doing well, too.

I looked down at my phone. Was I about to interrupt her resting? She’d been right there, responding to me before I hopped into the truck, even if it had killed me to wait until the sun was high in the sky to message her.

Sure, she’d messaged me as soon as she got settled in her room, but that had been quick. I knew she was exhausted, but I spent the last few hours wired so hard I couldn’t do anything except worry about how she was.

Hey. You and the newest little Earthling doing okay?

Three dots popped up almost immediately after I hit send.

He’s pissed because they pricked the bottom of his foot for blood work.

Blood work? They think something’s wrong?

Routine for after birth. He’s really okay.

And you?

Jury’s still out. I mean, I’m good according to the doctor, but I’m not sure what normal is supposed to feel like.

How’s your room?

Good. I got put in room 220…maybe it’s a sign from the universe?

220?

That’s my birthday. February 20th.

Definitely feels like a sign from the universe. And it’s telling you what I’ve known all along: you’re gonna be just fine.

Thanks. For the pep talk…and everything else. I feel like I owe you some Earthling tax. Here he is.

*Picture of the baby in her arms, with Lainey smiling*

I immediately hit the download button and saved it to my favorites. She looked exhausted, but she had that new-mom glow. I swallowed past the lump in my throat.

He’s perfect, Lain. Thanks for sending that. I’ll let you rest now. When is the doc saying you can come home?

Three dots had appeared for a long time with that message. I’d paced back and forth around the kitchen waiting for her damn response, lost in every terrified thought that she might not want to come back here, even though I’d made it clear this was where she was meant to be. How the hell would I know she was safe if she didn’t?

Finally, my phone dinged, and as fast as I could get back to where it was laying on the counter, I saw her message come through.

Tomorrow.

Good. I’ll see you then.

That’s where we’d left it. I’d meant to sit down at the table, open my laptop and wait for my appointment to talk to Sloane. About the storm. About Lainey’s labor. About holding her son right after he was born. About how she’d pulled me from a loop of compulsions I thought I might be stuck in forever. My eyes drifted out the window over my sink to the tree line. Just last night, I would have sworn the storm could have flattened them. But there the trees were, providing their shelter to a patch of wildflowers. Wildflowers that, too, had survived the night.

Just like Lainey and I had.

So, instead of sitting down for my session with Sloane, I pulled up her contact information and shot off a text, canceling before I tugged on my boots, grabbed my keys, and headed out the door.

And that’s how I found myself sitting in the parking lot of St. Clare’s, waiting for visiting hours to begin in ten minutes. I looked behind me, at the car seat I’d installed before telling myself it was okay to drive here. What was I⁠—

My phone buzzed on the console. I flipped it over, already reaching to shut the engine off as soon as my eyes landed on the new message from Lainey.