Free Gift of Wonder by Lenora Worth Page B

hearing the doctor’s words over and over as she sat outside the emergency room of the regional hospital. Jay had driven Lorene the twenty miles in record time with Alice and Jonah right behind them.
    â€œThank you for coming,” she said to Jonah now. It was late and he looked tired. His eyes were laced with smoky circles of fatigue and his dark hair was messy and wind-blown. He held a plastic cup half-full of cold coffee.
    â€œNot a problem.” He looked down the hall toward the double doors. “So…they’re keeping her overnight?”
    Alice nodded. “Her blood pressure needs to come down and they have to monitor the placenta. If she’s better in a couple of days, she can go home. But she’ll have to stay in bed for the rest of the pregnancy. That won’t be easy for Lorene. She can’t sit still for very long.”
    Jay came through the doors and headed toward them. “They’re moving her to a private room in the maternity ward. She might have to stay in the hospital for the next few weeks. Of course, she’s begging the doctor to let her go home and rest there, but I’m afraid something will happen to her and the baby if she’s not near the hospital.”
    Alice nodded. “We’ll make sure she gets her rest, Jay. Don’t worry.”
    â€œHow can I not worry?” her brother-in-law asked. “What if something goes wrong? What would I do, Alice?”
    â€œWe won’t let anything happen to them,” Alice answered. “You have me, and your parents said they’d help, remember?”
    Jay nodded. “I’m sure glad they live nearby.”
    Alice hugged him close. “They love Lorene as much as you do. We’ll all make sure she’s okay. We have to pray that she’ll be just fine.”
    Jay pulled back. “I’m going to stay here for a while longer, just to make sure she’s settled in. I might stay all night. I don’t want to leave her.”
    â€œWant me to stay, too?” Alice asked.
    â€œNo, no. You go on home and check on the cats. You know the two she leaves food for out in the back garden?”
    â€œI’ll make sure the cats are fed,” Alice said, her heart going out to Jay. He loved her sister so much.
    â€œI can help, too,” Jonah said, shrugging. “With whatever you need, I mean. Anything.”
    She glanced over at Jonah and read something therein his expression. Maybe he felt as she did—a bit envious but also very protective. The love between her sister and Jay was something to behold. Who wouldn’t want that kind of devotion and unity? Alice prayed for the little baby they’d waited so long to have. Please, Lord, keep them in Your heart. Help them.
    Jonah took her by the arm. “You look exhausted. Let’s get you home.”
    â€œMaybe I should stay.” She glanced around at Jay.
    â€œGo on with Jonah, you hear? My mama’s coming back. She just went to get my dad a pack of peanuts from the vending machine. She’ll send him home soon and, knowing her, she’ll stay right here with me.”
    â€œYou’ll call me if anything changes?”
    Jay nodded. “You know I will.”
    She’d talked to Lorene earlier, but Alice wished she could see her again. “Will you tell her…that I love her?”
    â€œI will,” Jay said, grinning. “She knows that, but she’ll want to hear it.”
    Alice turned to Jonah. “I guess I’m ready.” Then she waved to Jay. “I’ll come by first thing tomorrow to check on her, okay?”
    â€œOkay.” Jay sank down on one of the waiting room chairs, his head in his hands.
    â€œI shouldn’t leave him,” she said to Jonah as he escorted her toward the lobby and the parking lot.
    â€œI could stay with you,” Jonah offered, stopping her just outside the doors.
    The night was windy and chilly. Winter was coming soon. Alice