Page 99 of Je T'aime, Actually

Monroe turned to her, smiling. “He’s still asleep, but the doctors are really pleased with how he’s doing. And…” She scooped Kitty off the stool and into her arms. “You and Benji can visit him tomorrow.”

“Really?” Kitty’s eyes went wide, then filled with tears. She burst into sobs, her small arms wrapping tight around Monroe’s neck.

“Oh, sweetheart, it’s okay,” Monroe reassured, while acknowledging the gentle press of a warm palm on her back as Chloé leant in.

“I’ll open wine.”

eighty-four

The car was parked in a quiet bay outside the hospital entrance, engine off but the air still warm inside. Monroe turned in her seat to face the back. Kitty clutched her stuffed rabbit tight, eyes glassy, while Benji sat stiffly, hands in his lap, staring out the window.

Chloé reached back from the passenger seat, gently brushing a strand of hair from Kitty’s face. “You’re both being very brave,” she said softly, her voice calm and reassuring.

Monroe nodded. “Before we go in,” she began, “I want to explain what you’ll see, so it doesn’t feel so scary.”

Benji turned his gaze to her, still silent, but listening. Kitty blinked quickly and sniffed, her arms tightening around the toy.

“Daddy’s still asleep,” Monroe said. “He has some tubes to help him breathe and wires that let the doctors check how he’s doing. It might look a little strange, but it’s just the hospital helping him until he’s strong enough to wake up.”

Kitty’s lip trembled. “Will he look…different?”

Monroe shook her head gently. “He might look tired. A bit pale. But he’s still Daddy. He’s just resting. And he’ll know you’re there, even if he can’t open his eyes yet.”

Chloé turned in her seat, catching Benji’s eye. “You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to. Just being there is enough.”

Benji gave a small nod.

Monroe reached back and gave both their knees a squeeze. “We’ll go in one at a time, remember? Just a few minutes each. Then we can come back out and talk about it, or not talk about it. Whatever you need.”

Kitty wiped her eyes with the edge of her sleeve. “Can I hold his hand?”

“The nurses say it’s okay, yes,” Monroe said gently. “He’d like that.”

Kitty nodded, her voice barely a whisper, “Okay.”

Chloé caught Monroe’s eye and gave a quiet, steady smile. “We’ve got this.”

Outside the room, Poppy was already waiting. She knelt down as they approached, pulling both children into her arms with a flurry of kisses.

“Oh, I missed you so much,” she whispered into Kitty’s hair. “My beautiful girl.” Then to Benji, her voice wobbled with emotion. “My boy. You’ve grown since I saw you last.”

“We saw you two days ago,” Benji muttered, though he didn’t pull away from the hug.

Poppy laughed through a teary smile. “Feels like longer.” She brushed her hands down the sides of their jackets and looked between them. “So…who wants to go first?”

Benji didn’t hesitate. “Kitty should.”

Kitty’s eyes went wide, then she turned towards the door and darted inside without a second thought, clutching her rabbit. “Hi Daddy!” she called as the door clicked shut behind her.

Monroe sat down on one of the chairs lining the wall, patting the empty one beside her for Benji. He sat, his arms folded tight across his chest.

Chloé stayed standing, her back against the wall, arms loose at her sides. Her voice was gentle, “That was kind, letting Kitty go first.”

Benji shrugged, eyes fixed on the door.

Chloé tilted her head slightly. “But you didn’t want to go, did you?”

“I just thought…she’s younger. She should go first.”