What could Katelyn say when Herman went to check on his daughter? All she could do was grumble under her breath, "You young folks just don''t have the experience. You don''t know the first thing about taking care of babies." Feiman tried to calm her, "Ease up a bit, will you?"
Katelyn ignored Feiman. Their marriage was just for show these days, nothing more. She asked, "Herman, how''s Ana doing?"
"She hasn''t woken up yet, but there''s no bleeding. She shoulde around once the anesthesia wears off. Mom, Dad, why don''t you go home and rest? The nanny is here to look after the kids. You can''t keep vigil here." "I''ll let your father head back. I''m staying right here," Katelyn said, her heart too tied to her grandkids to leave. She then turned to Flynn who had just walked in, "Go home and pack me a few changes of clothes, will you?" Flynn looked puzzled.
Herman tried to reassure her, "Mom, you can rest a bit ande back. It won''t take long, no need to go through all this trouble."
Feiman revealed Katelyn''s true intentions, saying, "Your mom, she can''t bear to part with her grandkids. Just let her stay."
Herman couldn''t persuade Katelyn otherwise and let the matter drop.
Anastasia spent a week in the ICU, waking only a few times in a daze, never fully alert.
It was only after a week that she was moved to a regr room.
That week, Herman never left the hospital, fearing the worst for Anastasia.
Giving birth had nearly cost Anastasia her life. When she finally woke, her face pallid and her hair in disarray, Herman had changed her clothes and cleaned her up as best he could, except for her hair.
When Anastasia opened her eyes to the world again, she was fuzzy-headed. "I thought I was going to die," she admitted.
She had been convinced of her demise upon being wheeled into the operating room.
Even in the ICU, she''d been vaguely aware of her critical state, asionally catching snippets of the doctors'' conversations.
"You made it through, sweetheart. You''re the best, and I''m so proud," Herman said, holding her hand tenderly and kissing it. His eyes were red-rimmed and bloodshot from days without sleep. "You''ve been through so much." Anastasia managed a weak smile. "It was all worth it. How are the babies? I want to see them."
"Alright, I''ll have the nanny bring them in."
The kids were in the next room, part of a suite, so even if they were noisy, it wouldn''t disturb Anastasia.
When the nanny brought in the kids, both Katelyn and Salma, upon hearing Anastasia was awake, came over.
Monica, too, sped to the hospital upon hearing the news.
Seeing her babies, Anastasia''s heart filled with warmth, and she felt her efforts had been worthwhile, despite not having the strength to hold them.
The twins had just been fed and were alert, their eyes full of curiosity about the world around them.
Salma, too, was emotional, seeing her daughter awake. "Ana, you scared me to death. But you''re awake now, and that''s all that matters. The best is yet toe."
"I''m sorry, Mom, for worrying you," Anastasia said softly. Noticing Pattie standing beside Salma, she beckoned her closer. "Pattie,e here."
Pattie approached with a smile, touching Anastasia''s hand gently and asking in gestures if she was in pain.
"Not at all," Anastasia reassured her with a shake of her head and a gentle smile. "Pattie, have you seen your little brother and sister? Look, these are your siblings. You''ll need to love and care for each other, you know." She didn''t burden Pattie with the responsibility of looking after her younger siblings. All three were her children, and Pattie was still just a kid herself.
Pattie looked at her siblings with a smile, wanting to touch them but remembering how Katelyn had stopped her before, she hesitated.
Anastasia didn''t notice anything amiss, thinking Pattie was just being cautious around the newborns. "Go on, touch their hands. It''s okay; you were once as small as they are," she encouraged warmly.