The Strength of the Pack (Suncoast Society #30)(79)

“You nearly look human again.”

“Thanks.” He pulled his hair back with an elastic band that was actually one of Eva’s but had somehow made it into his pocket the night before.

He made the bed while Tilly showered. When she emerged, she still wore her Crocs, but she’d put on jeans and a tank top under a long-sleeved shirt left unbuttoned and the sleeves rolled up. No makeup, and she’d pulled her wet hair back into a messy bun, and looked nothing like the Tilly he thought he knew.

“Don’t look so shocked,” she teased. “Hey, ask Jesse about the night of Leo’s accident, what I was wearing when I picked him up.”

“Sorry.”

She walked over to where he sat on the end of the bed and pulled him against her for a hug. “Stop that,” she lightly said. “Quit apologizing. Hey, you know I love you guys because very few people get to see me like this. I’m not a ball-busting bitch all the time. Only most of it.” She kissed the top of his head. “You’re speeeecial.”

She repacked some things to take to the hospital with them, including phone chargers, and then led him downstairs. “Oh, here’s your room key.” She handed him one. “We only have the two.”

The place amazed him. She got him seated at a table. “Omelet okay?” she asked.

“Perfect.”

She rummaged through the kitchen and fifteen minutes later, they were both eating. She’d made enough for Cherise as well before cleaning up the dishes and pan they’d used. It was nearly four thirty when a security car from the hospital picked them up and took them back.

Now he could orient himself a little. He recognized a couple of buildings and knew where he was. He could also pay attention and actually read signs in the hallways as Tilly unerringly led him back to the NICU.

After they scrubbed in, they found Cherise in the glider, feet propped up, Kenny tucked against her chest and sleeping, while she had a Kindle lying on her lap.

“Hey,” she whispered. “He just went back to sleep.”

She moved to get up but he stopped her. “No, let him sleep.”

“I really have to pee,” Cherise whispered.

“Oh. Okay.” She handed him the Kindle to tuck into her purse, then she got up, with Tilly and the nurse helping move monitor leads and Kenny’s oxygen tube and IV line, and then a few moments later Nate was sitting there with his son still sleeping.

So tiny. He didn’t even remember Cherise being that small when she was first born.

“How much did he weigh when he was born?” he asked the nurse.

She looked it up. “Five pounds, six ounces. Darned good for a preemie. And his lungs are in good shape, too.”

He smiled. “He would have been a moose at forty weeks.” He looked at his sister. “You weighed over eight pounds.”

Tilly got caught up with the details of Kenny’s condition. This time, Nate actually processed most of what the nurse said.

“So we’re looking probably at a two-week stay,” Tilly guessed.

The nurse nodded. “Depends on how all his results come out, he gains weight as expected, and if he is able to feed without any trouble. No promises, of course, but in my experience that would be about right. Maybe three weeks.”

Perhaps three weeks until they could bring their son home.

He laid his head back. He sat with one arm curled around his son, who lay against his chest. The other hand, he cupped around his son’s back. He felt him breathing, slow and easily, felt his heart beating in his chest.

He felt so tiny, so fragile.

Cherise traded car keys for the room key with Tilly.

“Wait,” Nate said. “Where are you going?”

“Don’t panic, Daddio,” Tilly said. “I’m going to run south and check on Eva, pick up more clothes for us, and make sure Cris and Landry de-crime-scened my car.”

“I thought you said I would have to do that,” he joked.

“Yeah, well, you can wash it a few times. If we’d left it, we’d never get the mess out of it. I’ll be back in a few hours. I want to miss the worst of rush hour.” She leaned in and kissed him. “You’ll be fine for a couple of hours. You’re conscious, vertical, and caffeinated. You got this.” She squeezed his shoulder, gave Cherise a hug, and…

She was gone.

Cherise settled into the other chair to eat. “Wade’s going to come pick me up tonight. I won’t leave until Tilly gets back. I need to notify all your clients for tomorrow and Tuesday, at the very least. I’ll be back tomorrow night for a few hours.”

Work. Oh, yeah. He had that, didn’t he?

“Jesse and Leo are coordinating a schedule down there,” Cherise added. “That way all three of you will be able to work. We’ll play Wednesday by ear, but I’ll move the rest of your morning appointments for the next couple of weeks so you can sleep up here and then drive down.”

“What would I do without you?”

She shrugged. “Let’s not find out.”





Chapter Twenty-Eight


Nate had just finished eating dinner, which he’d picked up from the cafeteria, and swapped out holding Kenny so Cherise could eat. Then he felt his phone ringing in his back pocket, and Cherise had to help him dig it out.