Chapter 15 - The Photograph
The next morning, Noah came off the stronger breathing support.
He still received a small amount of oxygen.
But for the first time, his face looked almost free.
Claire cried.
Ben cried.
Evelyn cried.
Sophie announced.
“Everybody is dramatic.”
Then she cried too.
The nurse laughed.
“Would you like a family picture?”
Claire looked around.
“Now?”
“Why not?”
Claire touched her hair.
“I look terrible.”
Ben shrugged.
“So do I.”
Evelyn fixed her cardigan.
“I look fine.”
Sophie nodded.
“Grandma always thinks that.”
Evelyn smiled.
“Confidence is free.”
The nurse positioned them beside the incubator.
Claire stood nearest Noah.
Ben beside her.
Sophie in front.
Evelyn behind them.
Michael arrived just as the picture was being taken.
“Wait.”
He hurried over.
“You can’t do family without me.”
Sophie pointed.
“You get the back.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re tall.”
Michael joined.
The nurse raised the phone.
“Ready?”
No one was.
She took the picture anyway.
Claire’s eyes were red.
Ben’s hair was messy.
Sophie was half laughing.
Evelyn was looking at Noah instead of the camera.
Michael’s head was slightly cut off.
It was perfect.
Claire stared at the photo afterward.
“We look exhausted.”
Ben smiled.
“We look here.”
She looked at him.
The words mattered.
Later, Claire printed the picture at a hospital kiosk.
She taped one copy beside Noah’s incubator.
One copy went into Sophie’s backpack.
One into Evelyn’s purse.
Ben placed one in his wallet.
Michael made it his phone background.
The photograph became proof.
Not that things were fixed.
Not that Noah was safe forever.
Not that Claire and Ben had solved their marriage.
Only that on one difficult morning, every one of them had been present.
That afternoon, a hospital social worker met with Claire and Ben.
They discussed bills.
Support programs.
Follow-up appointments.
Potential equipment Noah might need after discharge.
Claire listened carefully.
Ben took notes.
At the end, the social worker said.
“You two are doing well.”
Claire laughed.
“You should have seen us a month ago.”
Ben smiled.
“Or yesterday.”
The social worker looked between them.
“You don’t have to be perfect.”
“You have to communicate.”
Claire and Ben exchanged a look.
“We’re learning.”
When they returned to the NICU, Sophie was reading to Noah again.
Evelyn sat beside her.
Claire watched from the doorway.
“This is going to be his normal.”
Ben stood beside her.
“What?”
“Her voice.”
“Grandma’s cardigan.”
“Us standing around staring at him.”
Ben smiled.
“Poor kid.”
Claire laughed.
Then she became serious.
“I want to keep the house.”
Ben looked at her.
“I thought you wanted to sell.”
“I thought I wanted security.”
“I still do.”
“But Sophie needs something familiar.”
“And I’m tired of making decisions from panic.”
Ben nodded.
“So we try to keep it.”
“Yes.”
“If we can.”
“If we can.”
“No secrets?”
“No secrets.”
“No retirement account surprises?”
“No secret job offers?”
“No telling my mother before me?”
“Definitely not.”
Evelyn looked over.
“I heard that.”
Claire smiled.
“Good.”
That evening, the doctor discussed discharge milestones.
No date.
Not yet.
But milestones.
Temperature control.
Feeding.
Weight.
Breathing.
Claire wrote them down.
Sophie asked.
“How many?”
“Four big ones.”
Sophie immediately created four boxes on the star chart.
“Then we fill them.”
Claire kissed her forehead.
“Eventually.”
“No.”
Sophie looked at Noah.
May you like
“Soon.”
For once, nobody corrected her.
