It was around three in the morning when I left the room to go get some coffee. As I was walking through the main area of the floor, I saw Ava coming toward me. I rushed over to her and scooped her into a tight hug. I was so glad she was there, but I was also upset she was up so late.
“You should be resting,” I told her.
She shook her head. “No, I should be here with you. How is everything?”
I gave her the same updates we had gotten and told her Mom was now asleep on the couch in my father’s room. None of us were planning on leaving the hospital that night. Possibly not at all until the end.
“You all need to get some rest,” she said.
“We are,” I said. “There’s a family room just down the hall. It has beds and a refrigerator with drinks and snacks. It’s been assigned to our family, so we can use it as much as we need to. Tyler and Matt are asleep in there right now.”
A little after eight in the morning, the medical team ushered Mom out of Dad’s room so they could do an examination. She came into the family room where Tyler, Jesse, and Ava were sleeping. A moment later, the door opened again, and Tom walked in. Just behind him was Jordan.
I jumped up from my chair and grabbed Jordan in a big hug. “What are you doing here? I thought you were going to get home until next month at the earliest.”
“I explained about Mom and Dad’s health. Since my contract is coming to an end in the next month anyways, they gave me an early discharge. It was supposed to be a surprise,” Jordan said.
“Thank God it came now,” I said.
Ava moaned a little in the chair where she was sleeping. She had been struggling to rest all night, saying she was suffering from heartburn. It wasn’t until she sat down in one of the recliners and kept herself almost all the way upright that she was able to fall asleep. I walked over to her now and gently rubbed her hand until she opened her eyes.
“You should go home and rest in your own bed,” I said. “You’ll get much better sleep there.”
She shook her head. “No. I’m not going anywhere. I want to stay here with you.”
Tom smiled at her from where he was standing. “Congratulations, Ava.”
“Thank you,” she said.
I saw Mom look at each of us. “Congratulations for what? What are you talking about?”
Ava and I looked at each other and exchanged small smiles. We hadn’t told my parents the news yet. Now was as good a time as any.
“Mom,” I said. “Ava is pregnant.”
Mom’s face lit up even as she burst into tears. She came over to us and held us both in a warm hug. I knew the tears that fell came from a blend of emotions, but I focused on the happiness and excitement so I didn’t fall apart.37AvaFour days later, I walked into the bar carrying a large fruit bouquet. Miranda looked at me from behind the bar as I approached, and I held it out to her.
“This is for you,” I said. “To thank you for all the incredible work you’ve been doing. I appreciate you being here for us so much. All the extra hours that you’ve been working, and all the extra responsibilities. It means the world to me, and to Mason. And to the other guys, as well. Thank you so much. I was going to get you flowers, but I can’t bear to face them right now,” I said.
Miranda took the container of shaped and arranged fruit from me and placed it on the counter behind the bar. She gathered me up into a hug and held me for a few quiet seconds.
“You didn’t have to do anything,” she said. “I’m happy to help in any way I possibly can. And if there is anything else I can do, I want you to tell me.”
I stepped back from her and nodded as I brushed tears away from my face.
“Thank you so much. I will,” I said.
“Are you doing okay? Have you had enough to eat today?”
I nodded. “I was at the hospital with them all morning, but I grabbed a sandwich on the way here.”
“Okay. You tell me if you need anything. You can’t wear yourself completely out. You’re sitting here thanking me for how much I’m doing, while you’re running this place, doing the job of at least three people, taking care of Mason and his entire family at the hospital, and growing a baby. You need to make sure you’re taking care of yourself, too,” Miranda said.
There was nothing I could say to her. I knew I was running myself ragged and pushing myself to the limit, but I didn’t have another choice. For the last five days, it had only been the three of us running the bar. I insisted the guys all stay at the hospital and not even think about coming into work. It was the right thing for them to do, but it did place a huge amount of work in my lap.