Page 69 of This Is Love (The Light to My Darkness 3)

“Yes. She said she had to step out for a few minutes. But that you could text her if you needed anything. I did just hear from Dr. Hughes too. He’s scrubbing off from a delivery. He should be coming up to meet you in about ten minutes. You can feel free to wait in his office.”

“Great. Did Penny mention where she was going?”

She shook her head. “No. I’m sorry, she didn’t say.” She looked back down at her clipboard. “If you’ll excuse me.” She went over to one of the other babies and started to check his vitals.

“It’s going to be good news, Liam,” I said down to him sleeping. “I know it will be.” I went back out into the hall and sent Penny a text letting her know Dr. Hughes would be ready in ten minutes. There was a very real part of me that wanted to freak out. To demand to know where she was so I could come get her. To ask her if she at least took Ian with her.

But I couldn’t afford to do that. Not for at least two days. And if I was being honest with myself, I could never do it again. I was going to be here for my family. Always. I let myself back into Dr. Hughes’ office and sat down where I had earlier this morning.

Instead of getting anxious waiting to hear back from Penny, or waiting for the news of Liam, I closed my eyes and pictured the beach. That perfect scene that Penny had painted for me earlier. Breathe in. Breathe out. I could picture it so clearly.

***

“Did waiting for me put you to sleep?”

I opened my eyes with a start. Dr. Hughes was standing by his desk. I shook my head trying to rid myself of my dreams, even though they had been perfect. It was the first time I’d really been able to picture my life outside the city. It felt right. Away from the people and chaos and stress. I shook my head again, having a hard time coming back to reality and the problems that still loomed before me. “I’m sorry. Yes, I must have fallen asleep.”

“Nonsense, I’m the one that’s sorry to have kept you waiting, Mr. Hunter. But I’m glad to see that you’ve found time to get rested up after your flight.”

“It was a short flight,” I said. “It’s just been a long morning.”

He nodded. “Will your wife be joining us?”

“Yeah, she should be here. One second.” I glanced down at my phone. There was a text from her saying she’d be back soon. But that was from half an hour ago. I had taken quite a nap. And I honestly couldn’t remember the last time I had napped. Dr. Young had somehow taken away all my stress. I yawned. “She’ll be here shortly.”

“Great. Should we wait for her or…”

“How were the test results?” I said at the exact same time.

He chuckled.

“Is Liam going to be okay?” I knew I should wait for Penny, but I had been waiting weeks for good news when it came to my son. I wasn’t sure I could wait any longer.

Dr. Hughes smiled as he sat down behind his desk. “Cutting right to the chase. I like the way you think, Mr. Hunter.” He lifted up a folder and placed it on top of this desk. “The results were good. Very good actually.” He didn’t open up the folder. Like he knew the information forward and backward. Like he had actually taken the time to assess my son’s health.

I had never felt that way in New York. Three doctors had been assigned to Liam in the city. And sometimes their opinions didn’t even align on what steps to take next. It was almost like they had looked to me for the answers. I didn’t have them. How could I possibly have them? I was barely staying afloat. My whole family had been falling apart and I hadn't had my wife by my side.

“What does very good mean, exactly?” I asked. “Do you have a pen and paper so I can write some things down? Penny usually carries those with her.” I patted my pockets like the items I needed would just appear like they had for Dr. Young.

“I don’t think there's anything to write down. I’ve run every test I could possibly think of,” the doctor said. “I haven’t been monitoring him since his birth, but from what I can tell from the documents sent over, he’s making an impressive recovery. And I saw that your wife’s records were sent over this morning. I glanced at them and I believe that she must have suffered most of the consequences from the poison. I don’t see any traces of it in Liam. And it doesn't appear to be affecting his vitals or organs in any way. Yes, he was born early, but many babies are. He only has symptoms related to being born early, not from anything else. He’s going to be alright.”

It sounded too good to be true. How? After everything...how? I shook my head. “But the doctors in New York talked about possible disabilities down the road. That his mental development may be affected. That my son would never have a normal life.”

“I have no reason to see why that would happen. There are zero signs that he’s not developing properly. His lungs are the only issue that I can see, and as I said, that’s only a symptom from his early birth. I’m actually going to advise that we take him off his CPAP machine at the end of the week if he keeps progressing this well.”

“What does that mean?” Penny asked from behind us. “He’s able to breathe on his own now? Without any machines?” She rushed into the room. “I’m sorry I’m late,” she squeezed my shoulder.

“It means you’ll be able to take him home. You’ll be able to take your perfectly healthy baby boy home this weekend.”

A sob escaped from Penny. “There’s nothing wrong with him?”

“I don’t believe there is. As I was telling your husband earlier, we’ve run every test we could think of. I think he’s going to be just fine.”

“Should you check your notes?” She gestured to his unopened notebook. “I don’t…we were told he couldn’t leave the hospital for another month.”

“Besides for those deliveries this morning I’ve been absorbed in this case and only this case since I got your call. Liam has had my full attention. The university appreciates your donations.”

I shook my head. “How could the other doctors have been so wrong? I thought he was going to die. They made me believe he was going to die. I thought we were going to have to say goodbye to him before my wife even came out of her coma.” I felt a tear run down my chee

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