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I stood up and nodded, walking around the hospital bed to the mauve recliner nearby The nurse had already set a couple of folded blankets and a pillow in a stack on the seat The recliner ainst the floor as I pushed it closer to her bed I sat down and shook out a blanket, pulled the lever, and leaned back

Abby used the rehts, and for a few precious moments, it was quiet Just as I felt myself drift off, the door opened, and I could hear the nurse swishing around the room She turned on the dim overhead laht you " She lifted a small machine with tubes and what looked like a mini air horn

Abby looked horrified "Why?"

"Carter isn’t going to be strong enough to suckle just yet, so we’ll have to feed hih a tube We have a special preemie for you’d like to try?"

"I …" she trailed off, looking at the pun to her She’d breast-fed our twins, but she stayed at home, so she’d never used a pu to pump"

"You’d be surprised," the nurse said "His stomach is smaller than a marble, so he won’t need much"

"And it’s okay with the antibiotics?" she asked, holding up her hand I was so proud of her Even exhausted, Abby thought to ask questions that wouldn’t even cross my mind

"Completely safe," the nurse said

"Oookay," Abby said She listened as the nurse gave her instructions When ere alone again, she looked at the tubes and container with contempt

I sat up "Want me to help?"

"Absolutely not," she said

"I can just--"

"No, Travis If I’ onto watch"

"Baby, it’s not a bad thing You’re doing it for our son"

"It just feels very … personal"

"Okay," I said, leaving the pile of blankets behind in the recliner "You’re sure?"

"I’ before I leave?"

"Nope"

"Good luck, Pidge"

Abby used theto do anything to have a light moment in all of this I closed the curtain and then the door behindroo alone on a bench

"Where is everyone?" I asked

"The nurse brought cots They’re all sleeping in the waiting room except for Dad"

"Where’s he?"