Chapter Seventy one

Chapter Seventy-One

Going home was harder than anyone expected.

Not because they didn't want to.

Because they'd gotten used to living minute by minute.

Doctor updates.

NICU visits.

Weight checks.

Feeding schedules.

Every day had revolved around the hospital.

Now suddenly they were being reminded that life still existed outside those walls.

The first few days took some adjusting.

For everyone.

Lillie was delighted.

Absolutely delighted.

Her parents were home.

Actually home.

Not rushing in and out between visits.

Not disappearing for hours.

Home.

By Thursday morning she'd decided this was the greatest thing that had ever happened.

"Dada!"

Roman looked up from his coffee.

Lillie immediately held out a book.

"Again?"

The toddler nodded enthusiastically.

Roman sighed dramatically.

"The bunny has already been on this adventure six times."

Lillie shoved the book into his chest.

Clearly the bunny was going again.

Across the room Daisy laughed.

The sound felt lighter than it had in weeks.

She was curled up on the couch beneath a blanket.

A mug of tea in her hands.

Actually relaxing.

Something she hadn't done in months.

The nanny smiled from the kitchen.

"It's nice hearing laughter again."

Daisy looked around the room.

At Lillie.

At Roman doing ridiculous voices for a rabbit.

At the peaceful house.

"Yeah."

She smiled.

"It really is."

Later that afternoon they visited the hospital.

Spent time holding Violet.

Got a positive update from the doctors.

Then returned home.

And for the first time since Christmas, nobody cried when they left.

Not because they missed Violet any less.

Because they finally trusted that she was where she needed to be.

Growing.

Getting stronger.

Being looked after.

They'd be back tomorrow.

For tonight, they could breathe.

That evening Noah and Harper came over for dinner.

A normal dinner.

Or at least an attempt at one.

Theo spent twenty minutes explaining football statistics nobody understood.

Poppy corrected him repeatedly.

Lillie stole bread from everyone's plate.

Harper laughed so hard she nearly snorted water.

Noah looked exhausted.

"What's funny?"

"Nothing."

"That means it's me."

"It is."

Even Noah started laughing.

The house felt warm.

Comfortable.

Normal.

The kind of normal everyone had been desperate for.

After dinner the children settled in front of a movie.

The adults lingered at the table.

Talking.

Relaxing.

Actually enjoying themselves.

Nobody discussed monitors.

Nobody discussed oxygen levels.

Nobody discussed hospital schedules.

For one evening they simply existed.

Friends.

Family.

People who loved one another.

When Harper and Noah finally left, the house became quiet.

Lillie had fallen asleep halfway through the film.

Roman carried her upstairs.

Carefully settling her into bed.

Pulling the blankets around her.

For a moment he stood there watching her.

Then he smiled.

She looked so peaceful.

So happy.

Downstairs Daisy had changed into comfortable clothes and was curled up on the couch.

The television playing softly in the background.

Roman joined her.

Immediately she tucked her feet beneath his leg.

A habit she'd had forever.

"You look tired."

"I am tired."

"You should sleep."

"So should you."

Neither moved.

The fire flickered softly.

The house quiet around them.

For the first time in weeks there was nowhere they needed to be.

No emergency calls.

No doctors.

No rushing.

Just them.

Roman wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

Pulling her closer.

Daisy rested her head against him.

Comfortable.

Easy.

Home.

After a while she tilted her head up.

Roman looked down.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You've got the face."

"What face?"

"The face."

Daisy smiled.

Then leaned forward and kissed him.

Softly.

Not rushed.

Not emotional.

Not desperate.

Just a kiss.

The kind they'd barely had time for recently.

Roman smiled against her lips.

"I missed that."

Daisy laughed quietly.

"That?"

"Us."

The answer came immediately.

Honest.

Simple.

Daisy's expression softened.

Because she knew exactly what he meant.

The last few weeks had been about surviving.

Getting through.

Holding everything together.

Tonight felt different.

Tonight felt like living again.

Roman kissed her forehead.

Then pulled her closer.

Upstairs Lillie slept peacefully.

Violet was safe in the hospital.

Leo and Ava were getting stronger every day.

And for the first time in a long while, nobody was scared.

Just tired.

Happy.

And looking forward to tomorrow.

❤️📖💕✨🏡👶🌸