Page 136 of Family Bonds- Gabriela & Luca

WHAT WORKS FOR YOU

The next morning, Gabriela was barely functioning. She’d finally fallen asleep around two, got up at six thirty, showered and was at the hospital a little after seven.

Enough time to check in on her patients since she’d seen them not that long ago.

The night was quiet, which was good news.

She needed something good after what happened.

And Luca wanting to be alone. Yeah, not good at all.

It hurt. Hurt deeper than anything she’d experienced before.

By now, she was positive her family knew what happened and would be reaching out to her. Maybe she was glad she was working and wouldn’t have to talk to them.

What was she going to say?

That the man she loved pushed her away?

No one wanted to admit that.

By eight thirty, her patients were seen and she dragged her exhausted body to the maternity ward to check on Taylor. It was still her patient.

She knocked on the door, the teen turned her head, her eyes opened but not really focusing.

“How are you doing this morning?”

“Everything hurts,” Taylor whispered.

“I know. You just had major surgery. You’re going to need months to recover fully from it.”

“Months?”

“Yes. You’re going to have to take it easy. There is a lot going on in your body right now on top of it. Hormones out of control, emotions that you might not understand fully.” She reached for Taylor’s hand. “I want you to know that we are going to get any help you need. Get you in touch with resources.”

“I don’t know what I need. I just want to go home and hide in my room.”

Boy, did she know that feeling well.

“In a few days you can do that,” she said. “You can get under the covers in your bed and you can sleep until you feel strong.”

“Luca said he’s not mad, but I think he is.”

“He’s not,” she said, shaking her head. “He’s sad. Just like you are. Just like I am. But life is sad and things happen. You need to focus on you. That is what is important.”

Taylor’s eyes overflowed with fresh tears.

“I don’t know what to do. They wanted me to name him and I didn’t want to. I told Luca to do it and he said no.”

She hadn’t known any of that, but she understood also.

It wasn’t his child to do that.

He wouldn’t give a name to a child that wasn’t his and have the connection linger on even more.

It wouldn’t be healthy for anyone.

“The baby is still your child, Taylor. I’m sure the hospital or a social worker will walk you through everything.”