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“Are you sure?” he asked, raising his brows.
“Of course. You need to eat.”
“Okay,” he said hesitantly. “But make sure you tell her daddy says hi!”
Those words soaked into my heart like a sponge.
Daddy.
I gave him a soft smile and a nod before walking out into the hallway. One of the nurses spotted me and came walking swiftly over.
“Do you need a wheelchair to go visit baby girl?” she asked.
“No, no.” I waved her off. “I’m feeling strong today. Plus, she’s not far.”
The nurse smiled and went back to the nurses’ station. All of the nurses had been so wonderful and helpful, especially in the NICU. I walked down the hallway to the room of incubators where Bridgette was. I checked in with the nurse and washed my hands before I eagerly made my way to her and saw that she was on her back and looking up with curious eyes.
“Hey, baby girl,” I whispered as I sat down in the chair beside her.
Bridgette turned her little head toward me and her grayish-blue eyes found mine. I sucked in a breath as I took her in. Every single time I saw her little rosy cheeks and dark brown hair, I felt completely taken aback. She was so beautiful. So tiny. So perfect in every way. If I had thought I loved her before, then my heart had grown one hundred times since the doctor placed her in my arms.
I didn’t know how long I was staring at her when I heard a voice behind me.
“Ms. Heartly.”
I turned around and saw the same nurse who stopped me in the hallway and offered me a wheelchair.
“Yes?” I asked.
“Your parents are here to see you. They’re in your room.”
“My parents?” I asked in surprise.
“Yes. Would you like me to tell them to wait?” she asked. If she was confused, she didn’t let it show.
I twisted my mouth as I looked from Bridgette to the nurse, debating what I wanted to do. Debating if this was real. My parents?
“I’m coming,” I said.
I followed her down the hallway to my room and heard voices inside. Daniel’s and my father’s. I felt my heart quicken as I stepped inside the room. I saw my mom first, sitting on the couch where Daniel had slept and nervously clutching a familiar little white lamb plush. Dad stood next to Daniel, who was looking at me with a nervous excitement.
“Mom? Dad?” I asked, looking between the two of them.
“I’ll let you all have a moment,” said Daniel, giving me a kiss on the forehead before walking out the door.
I watched him go before turning back to my parents. My mother was now standing and my father had his arm around her. They both looked at me with glossy eyes. My mother spoke first.
“I know earning your forgiveness is a vague possibility after everything we’ve done. EverythingI’vedone. But I owe you an apology. A million apologies.” Her voice broke as a tear rolled down her cheek.
I wanted to go to her and hug her, but it felt like such a foreign thing to do. I couldn’t remember the last time I hugged her. Or saw her cry.
“When Daniel called us to let us know the baby was born…” started my father.
“Wait, hecalledyou?” I sputtered.
Daniel didn’t know much about my parents. He didn’t know their names or where they lived. Didn’t know how truly complicated everything was. Yet, I was completely touched by his gesture and how he had tracked them down to share the news of Bridgette. This man truly cared about me. I suddenly felt overwhelmed with emotion.
My father nodded. “Last night. We took the first flight out. We wanted to see you. Meet our grandbaby.”