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The night was anything but peaceful. The nurses came and checked on the girls what seemed like every hour on the hour. They weren’t too happy with the fact that they were both in bed with me and not in their own, but I didn’t give a fuck. If the girls wanted to hang from the ceiling because that’s what would have made them feel better, then that’s what was going to happen. They checked Addie more intrusively since her leg was the most concerning. Her pins look good, and her skin isn’t attaching to the hardware too much; that's a good sign.

Today the orthopedic specialist is supposed to be arriving. Hopefully, everything the surgeons did was on point, and nothing more will have to be done. I won’t have Addie feeling like she was less than what she could be. I don’t want her to suffer throughout her life while people might stare and poke fun. Kids can be cruel. I already know they’re going to have a hard time with the way Amanda speaks if the speech therapy doesn’t work. Kids are going to torture her for the things they don’t yet understand. Addie doesn’t need to have anything else thrown at her. I can already see how much Amanda looks up to her, how much Addie protects her. God wouldn’t put another burden on such a sweet angel. I know He wouldn’t.

There’s a knock at the door, and I see Natalie poke her head in. “Hi, Nate. I hope I’m not disturbing you guys.” Both the girls and Laney look at Natalie and then to me for some explanation. I’m still sitting on the bed with both girls tucked in my lap.

“No, not at all, Natalie.” I can see the tension leave Laney at the mention of my sister’s name.

“How did you find me?”

“Well.” She comes into the room and sits on a chair. Her brown hair is pulled up in a ponytail, and her face is free of makeup. “I got a phone call from dad late last night telling me of the newest situation involving you. I have to say, this may push the old man over the edge, which, if I’m honest, I don’t mind a bit.” She looks over to Laney. “I’m Natalie, by the way. Nate’s little sister.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Natalie, that beauty over there is Laney, my wife, and these little stars are Amanda and Addie .” Laney gets up and walks to Natalie, shaking her hand.

“It nice to meet you, Natalie. Nathan has told me a lot about you.” Laney gives a small smile. “Is it all right if I give you a hug?”

“Of course, gosh, Nate, I like her already.”

“Ladies, this is my baby sister, Natalie. Ah, I guess, she’s your aunt.” I tell them as I look down at them. They turn their heads and stare at her. Nat gives a small smile and waves. I see Laney give the girls a nod letting them know it’s all right for them to say something. That she isn’t a stranger.

“Hi.” They say in unison.

“Hi, ladies. My, you’re very pretty. You look just like your mommy. Like little dolls of her. So cute.”

“Thank you,” Addie says.

“Doeth Nafan still call you Nat the Bat?” That question gets me a looks that says she is going to punish me at a later date.

“No, he doesn’t because Nathan knows now that I’m older I can cause him severe pain.”

“Like how?” Addie asks.

“Let’s just keep to the fact that I no longer call her that. She’s all grown up and too pretty to be a bat or to live in a bat’s cave.” The girls laugh at that.

“Nafan thayth you know loth of thuff about printhetheth. He thayth you gonna teach uth to be the betht printhetheth we can be.”

“Oh, did he? He should know. He had to dress up as a prince a time or two when I was little. Do you know how many times he dressed up as the Beast? He always played the perfect Beast for me.” She gives me a wink. Payback for my Nat the Bat story.

“Nathan used to play dress up with you?”

“Oh yes, all the time. Whenever he wasn’t playing with his friends or playing army, he would play with me. We’d play dress up, Barbies, house and tea party.”

“Okay, okay, Nat, that’s enough.” Laney is laughing at her newfound knowledge.

“I knew we liked him for a reason.” Addie says and giggles.

“Yeah, he’th gonna be thuper fun, our new daddy ith gonna play wif us, and make tea wif us, and he’th gonna tell uth printhetheth storieth. All the storieth in the whole wide world.” Amanda waves her hands around getting her point across.

“I’ll try, little one, I’ll always try.”

“Yay, you can and then we can hafe Auntie Nat over and the can play dreth up too. Her and mommy, me and Bug can all be printhetheth and then Nafan and daddy can be the printheth .”

I'm taken aback by the fact that they just called my sister their aunt. I think my sister is too, I can see the effect it had on her by the tear that rolls down her cheek. “I would love that, girls, and you won’t find a better prince than Nathan. They don’t make them like him anymore.” She looks at Laney with her last comment.

“Excuse me.” The nurse comes in holding two small trays. “It’s time for your breakfast. I need you girls back in your own beds so you can eat.” Laney grabs Amanda from my lap and places her back into bed. I slide out of Addie’s bed and stretch my back as the nurse puts the tray of food in front of her. “I’ve got the girls, Mrs. Whitmore, why don’t you head down to the cafe and get some coffee and food.”

“Thank you so much.” Laney turns to the girls. “We’ll be right back. Please finish your plates for me, babies.”

“Okay, Mama.”