I woke up the next morning with a knot in my back, not feeling rested at all. Someone had come in every few hours to run tests on the baby, and I’d woken up every single time. When I fully came to life, Gibson was gone. Guess I’d finally slipped into a deep sleep early this morning, if she’d been removed without me knowing. While I was pretty sure Gibson couldn’t be taken out of the hospital without someone noticing—much like expensive merchandise, the babies all had bracelets around their ankles that sounded an alarm if they passed through the front doors—a slice of fear shot up my spine anyway.
Anna was gone too, so I figured she was with her daughter. Slipping on my shoes, I debated scouring the hospital room by room to find my niece. That was panic talking, though. The more rational part of me knew I could simply ask a nurse where she was. When I stepped into the hallway, I saw that it was completely unnecessary. Anna was walking toward me, dressed in a hospital gown, cooing to Gibson as she cradled her in her arms. Relief instantly replaced my fears. Then amusement swept over me. A male nurse was walking a few paces behind Anna, and he had his arms weighed down with a car seat, flowers, and two bulging duffel bags. Even hours past delivering a baby, my sister could still get men to do anything she wanted.
Smiling as she walked past me, Anna chirped, “Gibson just had her hearing tested. She’s perfect, of course.” Giggling at her daughter, Anna instructed the nurse to put the things on her bed. He looked quite happy to do so, and even asked Anna if she needed anything else. She shook her head, her eyes never leaving Gibson.
After the nurse reluctantly left, I twisted to Anna and pointed at her supplies. “You, uh, go shopping this morning?” We’d left for the hospital with only the clothes on our backs.
Anna kissed Gibson’s cheek. “No, Sienna sent it by. She knew I ran out of there and probably didn’t have anything . . . and figured none of the boys would think of those kinds of details.” Anna laughed; her face was completely worry free.
I blinked as I examined Sienna’s gifts. That really was very thoughtful of her. I hoped there were toiletries in the bag; I would do just about anything for a toothbrush. “That was nice of her,” I said.
Anna nuzzled her face against Gibson, then set her in her clear plastic bassinet. “Yeah, she even had a car and driver stay behind, so they can take us back to the tour when Gibson and I are cleared to leave.” Walking over to the bags, she started removing clothes for her, clothes for the baby, and surprisingly, an outfit for me.
Disbelief washed over my curiosity. “You know, when she’s not trying to manipulate the public into believing that she has a steamy, album-selling relationship with my husband, she’s actually pretty considerate.”
Anna paused in her clothes sorting. “You still think she’s after Kellan?”
I frowned. “I don’t think she’s actively pursuing him, but I don’t think she’d turn him away either.”
Not worried, Anna sat on the bed and resumed emptying the bag; she cringed a bit when she sat down, and I figured she was still sore. “Would anyone turn him away, Kiera?”
Grabbing the smallest pink and white onesie I’d ever seen, I told her, “Well, I hope you would.”
Anna snorted as she rubbed a soft pink blanket against her cheek. “That’s a given . . . same goes for you too, you know.” She raised an eyebrow, her expression completely serious.
I choked on my own saliva and started coughing. “Griffin? You’re worried about me and Griffin?”
Anna started laughing so hard she had to wipe tears from her eyes. “No, not at all. I just wanted to see that look on your face.” Sighing, she shook her head in amusement. “That was priceless.”
A pediatrician from the hospital came in after lunch to give Gibson a thorough physical examination. Slinging his stethoscope around his neck when he was finished, he told Anna, “Your daughter looks perfect, and every test has come back within normal ranges. She seems well-fed, but are you having any problems with breastfeeding?”
My mind replayed earlier this morning, when Anna had sworn like a sailor while trying to get Gibson to latch on. Apparently, it’s not as seamless a process as you would think. But Anna had successfully attached her daughter . . . eventually. Anna didn’t mention any of that though. She also didn’t mention that she’d be raising the baby on a tour bus filled with rock stars. The doctors would probably put her up on the pysch ward if they found out about that little detail. “Nope, we got it.”
The doctor smiled and nodded. “Then I see no problem with the two of you being discharged today.”