As bad as she felt about cutting off Syd’s calls these last couple of days, and only responding to his texts, there was so much more at stake now. The baby clasped his tiny little hand around her finger making her even more emotional. There was no way she was jinxing this.

~*~

As much as Angel hated knowing that Sydney had his own way of making Sarah happy, he hated seeing her sad even more. Their bond was something he’d never understand and probably never really be comfortable with but he’d do anything to see her happy. He almost hated telling her Sofia had had her baby. And he knew when Sofia had come by to visit them and see baby Angel before she went home with her baby just a day after delivering, had to be heart wrenching.

If talking or texting Sydney made her feel a little better or even distracted her for just a little while, Angel was more than willing to deal with it. But she was so obsessed with counting down the hours and the days the baby went without bradys for even Syd. So when Sydney finally showed up at the hospital days later Angel was strangely relieved to see him. “Hey, man. Thanks for coming.”

Sydney shook his hand and slapped him on the shoulder. “You kidding me? I’m dying to meet little Angel. I hear he’s almost ready to go.”

“Yeah, he’s gone five days now without his heart rate slowing down. If he can go five more, he’s out of here.”

Sarah was even more of mess now. Every day that went by she worried it would happen again and they’d have to start the countdown all over again. Though she’d also confessed that she was a little afraid of being home alone with him but the day they could take him home would be the happiest of her life. Just that morning she sort of snapped at him when he saw her massaging the baby’s chest and he happened to comment that she didn’t need to do that unless his heartbeat slowed. “It’s not hurting him if I do. And there’s nothing wrong with making sure he stays stimulated.”

It wasn’t necessarily a snap but he’d certainly heard the attitude. He knew she was just on edge and he wanted nothing more than to find a way to help her relax.

He walked Syd through the motions of scrubbing down before entering the NICU. Since little Angel was breathing on his own and feeding regularly on his own he no longer had as many tubes on him. Except for the wires monitoring his breathing he was almost wire free.

Isabel was holding the baby when they walked in. Romero knelt down next to her smiling as the baby squeezed his fingers. To say Sarah was surprised to see Sydney when they walked in was an understatement. Angel didn’t now what to make of it. At first she looked almost horrified then she brought her hands to her face and finally she did was he was hoping Sydney’s presence would do, she smiled.

“Hey, Lynni.”

She glanced at Angel a little hesitantly but Angel smiled and she hugged him. Romero gave Angel a look. Angel didn’t expect Romero to understand although he was sure if Romero was in his position he just might do the same. Sarah’s happiness came before anything to him. Even if it meant him having to endure seeing her happy to see another man. So be it. He knew what he and Sarah had and he was done feeling insecure about Syd. He knew now no matter how long he and Sarah were married he’d never like her relationship with Syd, but he could deal with it—for Sarah.

Syd was only able to stay for the day and left the next afternoon. Not that Angel was too broken up about it, especially after that first night he said he was beat and was going to bed and Sarah stayed up chatting with Sydney for another hour. Angel didn’t even know why he’d gone to bed. It’s not he slept a wink until he had her safely in his arms.

Three days later the baby had gone eight full days without a brady. The morning after day eight Angels heart dropped when his phone rang and he saw it was the hospital. They’d just finished having breakfast and were getting ready to head out to the hospital again as was their regular routine now.

Sarah stared at him, looking as terrified as he felt. The cheery voice on the other end confused him. “Are you ready to come pick up a little boy who’s asking about his mommy and daddy?”

“What?” he glanced at Sarah who hung on his every word. “I don’t understand. It hasn’t been—”

“Oh well, the doctor was just here and after a thorough exam he was so impressed he signed off on letting him go home a couple of days early.” The emotion overtook him. It felt like they’d waited an eternity for this.

The tears flooded his eyes and Sarah grabbed at his shirt. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong. Sarah… we get to bring him home today.”

Her hands flew to her mouth and just like that she was crying, too. “Really?”

Angel let the hospital know they were on their way and hung up. He was done holding it in. “Really.” He hugged her, picking her up and spinning her around, burying his face in her neck.

The second her feet hit the floor she was moving. “Lets go!”

CHAPTER 6

Welcome home

Sarah at in the back seat gazing at her beautiful baby boy, snug in his car seat. He was perfect. She could hardly believe he was coming home.

Angel was still muttering up front in the driver seat. “Does every one have to drive like idiots damn it?

Sarah giggled, caressing her baby’s cheek. “Too many whippersnappers for you, honey?”

She watched as her usual lead-foot husband who drove like an old man now, glare out the window at the car passing them up. “The speed limit is fifty-five, ass**le!”