You Stayed With Us

A Different Kind of Scared

Lisa's POV

It was quiet for a Saturday, surprisingly so.

No last-minute errands. No forgotten baby bottle runs. No Cooper sprinting through the living room with a missing sock clenched between his teeth—well, not yet anyway.

Just... peace.

At least for now.

I leaned against the doorframe of Ella's room, watching Jennie and her in their own little world as they laughed over a dress-up game earlier. Now that it was early evening, I was finally packing away the rest of the hospital stuff, crossing off the last few things from the list on the fridge. Irene was arriving today to stay over and help watch Ella. We didn't want to be worrying about her when we're at the hospital in just two days.

Two. Days.

I exhaled hard. The thought still hit like a wave.

Jennie was curled up on the bed now, hugging one of Ella's stuffed unicorns while Cooper trotted around excitedly as if he knew what was coming. I had just finished sorting the tiny twin onesies into labeled pouches when I heard the doorbell.

"I got it!" I called out, jogging down and swinging it open.

And there was Irene, suitcase in one hand and a bag of pastries in the other, wearing sunglasses and a smile.

"You're too early," I teased, hugging her.

"Excuse you," she said, pushing past me playfully, "I've been looking forward to this week like it's a vacation. I even left my phone at home."

"You left your—wait, really?"

She grinned. "No. But I thought about it. That counts."

Jennie met her at the bottom of the stairs with a soft smile and a slightly waddled walk. She looked beautiful, even in one of my oversized shirts, her hair tied in a soft bun, eyes tired but happy.

"Irene," Jennie greeted, letting herself get pulled into a hug.

"I swear, you look even more pregnant than yesterday," Irene said, rubbing Jennie's belly gently before Cooper wiggled between them, desperate for attention. "And hi to you too, jealous little beast."

"I'm due in two," Jennie reminded her, still laughing, and then added, "Don't make me cry today, I already cried yesterday."

"Same," I muttered, rubbing my nose.

Ella soon came bounding down from upstairs, her drawing rolled into a piece of cardboard paper like some sort of important scroll. "I made this for you!" she said, shoving it into my hands like a proud artist.

"For us?" I asked, eyebrows raised.

"Mhm," she nodded. "For Mommy and Dada. For the hospital. And for the babies too."

Jennie knelt carefully, one hand on her bump, and helped me unroll the picture.

It was a colorful drawing—us, the five of us. Me, Jennie, Ella in the middle, Cooper next to her with his tongue out, and the twins in Jennie's tummy outlined in dotted hearts.

"You even put freckles on my nose," I smiled.

Ella giggled, bashfully, like she wasn't sure we'd like it. "So you won't forget me when you're with the babies," she mumbled, rubbing her elbow.

Jennie's eyes softened instantly. "Ella," she whispered, pulling her in for a hug so tight I swore I saw tears forming again. "You'll always be our baby too. Always."

Ella beamed. "I know," she whispered. "But you'll be very busy, so I wanted you to bring this."

"I'm putting this in my hospital bag," I said. "Right on top."