Page 24 of Finding Hope

Once Henry was in his carrier, they said their final goodbyes. They were silent as they made their way down the hall and out the hospital doors. It was a little chilly, so Shannon made sure the blanket was covering Henry while Jonathon went to get the car. It was at that moment the reality set in. Their baby boy was coming home. He would depend on them to take care of him. What if she was sleeping, and without her processor, was unable to hear the baby crying?

She didn’t have long to think about it before Jonathon was pulling up. He hopped out of the car and with a big goofy grin on his face, he grabbed the carrier out of her hands and moved toward the car. She watched as he carefully snapped it into the base and then opened the passenger door for her.

They were both quiet on the way home, but Shannon thought it was because they were just enjoying the fact that their son was coming home. They could put the accident behind them. Her hair might never grow back where she hit the back of her head, but it wasn’t noticeable, and she didn’t care.

“What’s this?” Jonathon asked. Cars lined the street in front of his house. Two familiar cars were in his driveway and blue balloons covered the entire front yard.

“Maybe they’re here to welcome him home.”

Jonathon grabbed her hand and pulled it to his mouth where he pressed a kiss to the back of it. They got out and Shannon grabbed the carrier out of the backseat. Jonathon came around and took it from her and they made their way into the house.

Smiling like a loon, she took in their families, all standing in the living room to welcome them home. Josie came running right over, hugging Shannon tight. They had definitely formed a bond over the past almost six months. She wrapped her arms around her before they stepped farther into the house.

After hugs and kisses were exchanged, Shannon’s mom grabbed her and pulled her into the kitchen. The freezer was packed full of prepared meals. The refrigerator was also full of easy stuff to fix and items for Josie’s lunches. “We just didn’t want you to have to worry about cooking or shopping while you adjust to being home with my beautiful grandson.”

“Thank you so much, Mom. I’m scared,” she whispered.

Her mom cupped both of her cheeks and looked her right in the eye. “Honey, that’s normal, and every parent feels that way. You kids are all grown and I’m still scared. You and Jonathon are a team, so be there for each other. Don’t be afraid to ask him for help.” Her mom gave her a squeeze and left her alone to collect herself. Then she went and joined everyone in the living room.

Chapter Twelve

Jonathon

Jonathon dried off after his shower and then wrapped his towel around his waist. After shaving, he made his way out of his en suite into his bedroom. He threw on jeans and a t-shirt and pulled his freshly dry-cleaned uniform out of the closet to take with him to the station. He grabbed his wallet and badge off his dresser and shoved them both into his pockets.

In the dining room, he found Josie eating breakfast. “Good morning, baby girl.”

“Morning, Daddy.”

Jonathon kissed the top of her head and then fixed a cup of coffee and a bowl of cereal.

He was just sitting down when Shannon, with a sleeping Henry in her arms, came into the dining room. They’d had their boy home for a week and they were all still adjusting. Shannon looked utterly exhausted even though she was always smiling. It wasn’t lost on Jonathon that she was wearing makeup to hide the bags and dark circles under her eyes. He’d been trying to think of a way to get her to sleep with him, not intimately, but just because she was sharing a room with Henry and she got up every time he cried.

Jonathon had woken up several times over the past week and found Shannon rocking Henry in the glider. She told him every time that he was either just getting up or she was putting Henry back to sleep, but he was going to have to watch her and make sure she didn’t overdo it. He was on a five-day stretch, so Shannon’s family was going to stop by to see her and make sure she was resting. Tessa would be there after Josie got out of school and she’d stay until he got home.

Ever since Shannon moved in with Jonathon and Josie, he had wanted to talk to her about their future, but it never seemed like the right time. There was no point thinking about it when there was nothing he could do at the moment. He held out his arms and Shannon gently placed Henry in them. His heart warmed at the way she tenderly touched their boy’s head. He didn’t miss how she kissed the top of Josie’s head before she went into the kitchen.

He looked down at his sleeping son and brought him up to his lips, and with a gentle touch he placed them on Henry’s forehead. “Hey, buddy. Are you going to be a good boy for your momma today? Are you going to let her get some sleep?”

Shannon came back in with a thermos and a cooler and set them on the table.

“What’s this?” he asked.

Her cheeks turned the most adorable shade of pink as she looked down. “I…I made you lunch and some coffee for you to take.” She turned to Josie. “I made your lunch too, sweetheart. Are you done?” She grabbed Josie’s empty bowl.

“Shannon makes the best lunches,” Josie said as she got up to go brush her teeth.

“Dad has to go to work, but he’ll see you later,” he called out to his daughter, smiling at her muffled reply of, “Okay, love you.”

***

Two nights ago, Jonathon woke up when he heard Henry fussing a little bit, so he hurried into the nursery to get his boy up, hoping Shannon would keep sleeping. He was too late. He walked in just as she jumped up out of the chair. She’d been losing weight rapidly and was extremely moody, not bothering to hide the bags under her eyes anymore.

“I’m sorry, baby boy. Mommy fell asleep.” She started when he came up behind her, placing his hand on her back.

“Here, let me take him. Lie down. I’ll take him in my room so you can get some sleep,” Jonathon said, scooping Henry into his arms.

“No, I’ve got him. You have to work in the morning.” She tried to take him, but he wouldn’t let her. “Seriously, Jonathon, I’ve got him.” By then, Henry was wailing and Jonathon was worried about Josie waking up.

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