Chapter 144 Part 144
Emerson
She’d woken up during the night, feeling groggy, and sore. She felt relieved when she saw Asher asleep on the rocking chair in her room, but she didn’t remember enough details from the previous day.
The door to her room opened, and the nurse smiled as she pushed a small medical trolley inside. “I’m glad you’re awake.”
“Where’s my baby?” Emerson croaked out.
“He’s fine, Miss Reid. He’s in the nursery,” she said. Emerson let out a breath of relief, and nodded her head. “I’m going to take your vitals.”
“When can I see him?” It was the only thing she cared about now. She had to see her son.
“It’s 5 a.m., Miss Reid. I have a few more patients to check on, then I’ll be back to help you stand, and give you some time to shower. After that, I can bring your baby to your room.
Tears welled up in her eyes, but she nodded her head. The nurse smiled kindly at her, and proceeded to take her blood pressure, and check the wound on her abdomen. She removed the catheter, and Emerson was glad he wasn’t awake to witness that part.
She walked over to the chair where Asher was sleeping, and reached her hand out to his arm. “Don’t touch his arm!” The nurse looked back at Emerson, and Asher shifted, wide awake now.
“I’ll be back in a few minutes,” the nurse said, and left them alone in the room.
“How do you feel?” Asher asked her.
“Like I was hit by a bus.”
Asher cracked a smile, and moved to the side of her bed, sitting down, and taking one of her hands in his own. “You scared me half to death when I found you on the bedroom floor.”
“Have you seen him?” She ignored his earlier statement, not having an answer to that. She couldn’t remember what happened.
Asher pulled his phone from his pocket, and pressed a few buttons before handing her the phone. “He’s perfect, Emerson.”
Her tears from earlier now spilled over her cheeks, and she smiled as she looked at the photos. “He’s okay?”
“He’s perfectly fine,” Asher said.
They sat in silence for a long time as Emerson kept staring at the pictures of her son. Asher didn’t rush her, and for that she was grateful. She wasn’t sure what to say to him.
“The whole family will probably stop in today to see you and Henri.”
Emerson opened her mouth to reply when the same nurse from earlier returned. “Ready to get up?”
“The sooner I get up, the sooner I can see my son,” Emerson said, with a brave smile. Her pain was now a mild ache, but she knew the moment she moved, it would hurt like nothing else had ever hurt in her life.
“Turn onto your side, and move your whole body to the edge of the bed,” the nurse said.
Emerson shifted, gritting her teeth as pain shot through her lower body. The nurse helped her to sit upright on the bed, her legs dangling over the edge. Asher stood next to her, looking worried.
“Now scoot forward slowly until your feet touch the floor, and then I’ll pull you upright,” the nurse said.
Emerson did as she was told. The pain ripped through her but she gritted her teeth. When the nurse pulled her into a standing position, she stifled the scream of pain, and Asher’s arm circled around her waist.
“Should she be in this much pain?” His voice sounded angry, but Emerson also wanted to know.
“It’s normal,” the nurse said. “The more you walk, the quicker you’ll heal. You can’t pick up anything heavier than your own baby for the first six weeks.”
“She won’t,” Asher said, determinedly. Emerson would’ve chuckled if she wasn’t in pain, because Asher had always been over protective.
“Take your time, go shower, and don’t be alarmed. There’s a lot of blood that will pass but it’s normal. When you’re done with your shower, I’ll bring your baby.”
“Okay,” Emerson said, and started shuffling forward.
Asher helped her toward the bathroom, moving slowly. He flipped the lid of the toilet and helped Emerson to sit down. Tears had spilled down her cheeks, and every now and then, she’d grunt in pain.
“I think if you pee then most of the blood will come down,” Asher said.
“Can you leave please?”
“Emerson—”
“Please, Asher. I can do this on my own,” she said.
Asher clenched his jaw. “Fine. Call out if you need help. I’m here to help you, and there’s nothing your body can do, or produce, that I can’t handle.”
“Did you bring my suitcase?”
“No, I didn’t have time to worry about luggage when I found you,” he said. He scratched the back of his head. “I can be back in fifteen minutes.”
Emerson nodded her head, and Asher left quickly. She sighed in relief when the door closed, and felt her body relax a little.
She was still in the shower when the bathroom door opened, and Asher cleared his throat. “I’ll leave your suitcase on the toilet.”
“Thank you,” she said, and switched the water off. She waited until she could hear the door close, and got out of the shower.
The nurse hadn’t lied, even more blood had passed as she showered, but the pain became bearable, and she took her time getting dressed. When she opened the bathroom door, Asher straightened, and put his arm back around her waist.
He led her to the rocking chair just as the door opened again, and little Henri was wheeled inside. She couldn’t stop the tears from flowing when the nurse picked him up, and placed him in her arms.
“He’s so beautiful,” she whispered.
Asher sat on the edge of her bed, and smiled. “He is.”
“When can I go home?” she asked the nurse.
“The doctor will discharge you tomorrow,” she said.
She kissed the top of his head, closed her eyes, and cried. She’d loved him during her pregnancy, but that feeling had amplified, and she made a silent vow to her son to always love him with everything she had.