The Resurrection of Wildflowers (Wildflower #2)(62)

“It’s just standard hospital procedure, sir.” The nurse interrupts my line of questioning. “Nothing to worry about.”

In other words, I need to calm my ass down.

Got it.

Salem gets into the wheelchair, and I’m forced to stay behind. Luckily, she isn’t gone more than fifteen minutes.

“A doctor will be in shortly after the images have been reviewed.”

“Thank you,” Salem tells the nurse, settling onto the bed and lying down. When the nurse is gone, she says to me, “I’m so tired now.”

“It’s the adrenaline.” I’m feeling it too, to be honest, but I don’t tell her that because I don’t want her to think I’m trying to lessen how she feels. “Close your eyes and go to sleep. I’ll be right here. I’m not going anywhere.”

“You’re not?”

I take her hand in mine. “I’m going to be right here.”

Despite all the beeping machines, her eyes close a few minutes later, her breaths evening out and I know she’s fallen asleep.

I’m glad she’s able to doze off. The rest will do her body good.

An hour later a doctor finally comes in and I’m forced to wake her up.

He doesn’t waste any time telling her that her arm is broken, but doesn’t need surgery, so they’ll be fitting her into a cast and that the cut by her eye won’t need stiches, but the nurse will apply butterfly bandages. Thank God it doesn’t need stitches since she’s already been here for roughly two hours. If she had needed them, you’d think they would’ve taken care of that already.

When the doctor leaves, Salem says, “I’ve probably missed the baby being born.”

“You don’t know that.”

Her lips pout out. “I feel so bad that I disappointed Georgia.”

“Oh, fuck,” I curse. “I should’ve called her and let her know you were okay.” I yank my phone out of jeans pocket, but I don’t have any cell service. “I’ll go outside and call her.”

She grabs my arm, yanking me back down into the chair. “I had the nurse call her and let her know since I was on the phone with Michael at the time. I didn’t want her in labor and freaking out about me.”

I brush her hair back from her forehead, looking at her in awe. “Do you have any idea how remarkable you are, the way you always put everyone else first?”

She shrugs like it’s no big deal.

Luckily, the wait to get a cast put on isn’t long and she lights up like a little kid when she gets to pick the bandage color. She chooses a light pink, saying that Seda will love it. I don’t think she realizes it but I’m pretty sure pink is her favorite color too.

It’s dark out by the time she gets discharged and we head up in the main elevator to the maternity level.

“Do you think she’s had the baby yet?” Salem looks up at me, eyes wide with excitement.

“I don’t know. I guess we’re about to find out.”

The elevator opens and we step out onto the maternity floor. Salem strides up to the desk, giving her sister’s name.

“Down that hall. Room 216.”

Salem books it in that direction. With my long legs I’m able to keep up with her easily, but I am more than a tad amused at her enthusiasm.

She reaches the door and gives a soft knock. We wait a minute and then Michael eases the door open.

“Hi.” His eyes are lit up with happiness and I already know before he says it that the baby is here. “Do you want to meet the baby?”

Salem jumps up and down excitedly. “Yes!”

“How’s your arm?” He eyes her cast.

“It’s fine, now let me see the baby.”

He chuckles, stepping aside. “You can come in too, man. Everyone’s decent.”

I follow Salem inside, watching her light up when she sees her sister lying in the bed. Tired, but glowing as she holds her sleeping newborn.

“Oh my God.” Salem’s hands go to her chest, her mouth turning down in a frown when she smacks her boob with the fiberglass cast. Undeterred, she goes on, “Look at him and that sweet little face.”

“Her.”

“Her?” Salem reels back, stunned. “What do you mean her?”

Georgia smiles from ear to ear, perhaps the happiest I’ve ever seen her. Michael moves to her side, his chest puffed out with pride. “Apparently the doctors got it wrong. We have a little girl. A daughter.” She smiles up at her husband and he leans down to kiss her.

There’s a pang in my chest. Not exactly jealousy, but I want that. I want this with Salem.

One day, I remind myself. In due time.

“Oh my God.” Salem moves closer to the bed, peering down at the squished face of the newborn, her head covered with a pink and blue hat. “What’s her name?” she asks softly so as not to disturb the sleeping baby.

“Victoria Allison.”

“Oh.” I settle my hand on her back, her eyes filling with tears when she looks up at me. Focusing back on her sister, she whispers, “It’s beautiful. Perfect.”

“Do you want to hold her?”

Salem’s eyes widen with excitement. “Can I?”

Her sister doesn’t say anything more. She lifts the baby up for her to take. Salem cradles baby Victoria carefully in her arms. I don’t think she even realizes it, but she immediately starts rocking her.