Page 67 of Stone Vows

She nods weakly at me before her eyes can’t stay open any longer.

I watch Elizabeth drift off to sleep. I watch her baby’s little lip quiver in her own slumber. I look up to see my reflection in the dark window of night. The reflection of a man with a family. A family he never knew he wanted. A family that didn’t exist mere weeks ago.

I walk over and carefully put the baby in her bassinet.

Then I head to my locker to get the bottle of champagne so I can chill it.

Dr. Williston was right when he said I’d know for sure when it was time to celebrate that one great thing.

Chapter Thirty

I checked on Elizabeth again after my shift last night, but she was sleeping. I watched her sleep. I read a magazine. I held the baby.

Then I went home and dreamed of birthday parties and vacations to Disney World. Anniversary trips to Paris. Warm family fires on cold nights.

For years—as far back as I can remember—I’ve only dreamed about one thing: medicine. Going to a good college. Scoring high on the MCAT. Getting into a top med school. Matching at a desirable hospital. Running the ER. Opening my own clinic.

I still have those dreams, only now, they include having someone to go home to.Twosomeones.

Today, as I make my way to work with a rather large basket in my hands, I’m taking a rare ride on the subway.

“My, what an interesting bouquet of . . . Jell-O?” a woman standing next to me asks.

I smile and offer her my standard line. “Just doing some research.”

“Oh,” she says, nodding as if she understands.

I had to stop at four grocers last night on my way home to get everything I needed. Who knew there were so many flavors we haven’t tried.

I drop the basket off in Elizabeth’s room before rounds. It’s early. I was hoping to sneak in and out without waking her. But when I get there, she’s not in her bed and the bassinet is gone.

I hear the toilet flush and a minute later, she emerges from the bathroom looking refreshed. Glowing even.

“Oh, hi,” she says, smiling.

“Wow,” I say, staring at her.

She looks down and fixes her robe to make sure everything is covered. “Wow, what?”

“You look incredible,” I say, putting the basket on her side table. “I expected exhausted, drained, emotional. But you look great.”

“Thanks. They kept the baby in the nursery all night, only bringing her to me when she needed to eat. It really helped me get some sleep.”

She slowly makes her way back to bed, slightly hunched over with her hands low on her belly as if to hold it in place. I rush over to help her, but she puts out her hand to stop me.

“No. I can do it,” she says.

“Elizabeth,” I admonish her.

“Kyle, I need to be able to do this on my own. Please let me.”

“You don’t have to, you know. Do it on your own.”

Her eyes close briefly as she makes it to the bed and slowly sits herself down. I can tell she’s struggling to lift her legs up and swing them onto the bed. I don’t care what she says, I’m helping.

I walk over and help her with her legs. Then I go wash my hands and put gloves on.

“As long as I’m here, I’ll check your incision.”

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