Chapter 9 - The Reunion
Three days later, the medical staff at St. Catherine Medical Center formally cleared Claire for discharge.
Her lung infection had cleared completely, her strength had returned remarkably fast with proper nutrition and rest, and her oxygen levels were back to normal.
A private medical transport car arranged by Nathan brought her directly to the downtown penthouse.
Nathan carried Claire into the apartment in his arms, ignoring her soft protests that she was strong enough to walk. He set her down gently onto the wide, plush velvet sofa in the center of the living room, propping soft silk pillows behind her back.
The apartment was filled with the warm scent of fresh lilies and baking vanilla cookies.
From upstairs came the sound of quick, tiny footsteps running down the wooden staircase.
“Mommy!” Sophie’s voice echoed through the foyer.
Claire’s face lit up with immediate, radiant joy. She sat up, opening her arms wide.
All three girls sprinted across the marble floor. Sophie threw herself onto the sofa first, burying her head into Claire’s neck, clutching Mr. Buttons between them. Hannah climbed up on Claire’s right side, wrapping her small arms tightly around her waist, while Ellie climbed up on the left, resting her head against Claire’s shoulder.
“Mommy, Mommy, Mommy!” Hannah chanted, her face buried in Claire’s sweater. “We missed you so much!”
“I missed you more than all the stars in the sky,” Claire wept, kissing the tops of their heads over and over again, hugging them so tightly as if confirming they were real.
Ellie looked up at her mother, her pale blue eyes bright with happy tears. “Mommy, did you know? The prince from the sky is real. He has a castle with hot chocolate and big windows.”
Claire looked up over Ellie’s head to where Nathan stood by the fireplace, watching them with a warm, gentle smile.
“I know, sweetie,” Claire whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. “I always knew he was real.”
Sophie held up her battered rabbit toward Nathan. “And Mr. Buttons likes him too, Mommy! He gave him his own bed!”
Nathan walked over to the sofa, kneeling beside the cushion where Claire sat. He reached out, his large hand resting over Claire’s hand while his other arm wrapped around Ellie and Hannah.
“Your mother is home now,” Nathan said softly to the girls. “And we are never going to be apart again.”
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Ellie looked from Nathan to Claire, a soft, complete sense of peace settling over her serious little face. She reached out her tiny hand and laid it on top of Nathan’s fingers.
“Okay,” Ellie said softly, her chin no longer trembling. “You can stay in our castle.”
