We stood in the hallway getting last minute instructions from the doctor. I held my baby tight and close in my arms. I couldn't believe that after three and a half weeks of being in the hospital Tyler was finally coming home with us. I adjusted the monitor that he still had to wear for another week and rocked him gently back and forth listening.

“Well that's about all,” Doctor Joseph said reaching into his pocket and taking out a pen. “If you will just sign these release papers you can be on your way.” AJ took the pen from him and laying the paper on the counter signed his name.

“Thank you for everything,” I said as AJ grabbed my bag and started for the elevator.
“Just doing my job,” the doctor said stroking Tyler's hand once before walking back to his wing.
We walked to the car and I carefully put Tyler into his car seat making sure his monitor did not get caught in the belt. I hated to put him down, after not being able to hold him for so long it felt good to have him in my arms. When I had checked him 3 times to see if he was strapped in right, I climbed into the front seat and AJ took off towards home.

The trip home was filled with silence. It had been that way ever since the incident with Amanda in the hospital. Even though I had said I'd forgiven him, doubts still plagued me and I couldn't forget. Besides there was something that seemed to be bothering him and whatever it was he wasn't talking to me about it. I had tried to find out what the problem was but after repeatedly being told 'nothing' I had dropped the subject.

“We're here,” he said pulling up into our driveway.
“Yeah…” I said opening up the door and walking over to get Tyler. AJ once again grabbed the bags and we headed into the house.
“WELCOME HOME!” everyone shouted as we walked through the door. I looked around and grinned at all the trouble our friends had gone to. There were balloons and streamers all around the house. Whole meals were scattered around on various tables and in the middle of it all was a huge cake that said “Welcome Home Tyler.”
Denise came over and took her grandson out of my hands. “He's so tiny,” she said her eyes clouding over.
“He's growing,” I said still not liking the fact that I had to let him out of my arms. “He's a lot bigger than he used to be.”
“Don't worry Ma,” AJ said leaning over to give his mother a kiss, “He has my appetite.”
“Then he should be normal size in no time,” my mother joked taking her turn as grandma.
“Momma,” Arrianna yelled coming down the stairs in front of Nick. I knelt down and she ran into my arms her little arms squeezing me hard.
“Hey squeakers have you been a good girl for everybody?” I asked picking her up when she wouldn't let me go. She giggled and shook her head yes. “Come here, I have someone for you to meet.” I carried her over to where Rhonda now sat on the couch holding Tyler. “This is your new brother, Tyler.”
Arrianna looked at the tiny person her eyes wide with wonder. “Wats dat?” she asked pointing to the monitor attached to him.
“That's so that we can tell if his heart is beating good and that he's breathing right,” I said trying my best to explain.
“Hey we're out of ice,” Nick said wandering in from the kitchen where I could only assume there was more food.
“I'll get it!” AJ quickly said and almost as quickly disappeared out the door. Denise and Rhonda looked over at me. All I could do was shrug and turn back to my son and daughter.

Rhonda View

I grabbed Amber and pulled her into the kitchen. “Is everything okay?”
“I'm okay – I'm not sure that AJ is. He isn't dealing with this well,” Amber said as she looked away. I knew that there was more to the story and that Amber would tell me the rest of it when she was ready. “So where's Howie at?”
I just shrugged. “Beats me.”
“Is everything...”
Nick walked into the kitchen and Amber and I stopped talking.
“What?” Nick asked as he headed over and made a plate of food. “This is for Denise!”
“Well that's nice of you to help out. Maybe you could stay at my house for awhile now that I have a newborn,” Amber laughed.
“Don't you take him away from me!” I joked.
“No thanks,” Nick said as he looked over at me. “I'm really happy where I'm at.” Nick finished making a plate for Denise and headed back into the living room.

“What was that all about?” Amber asked.
“What was what about?”
“Nick...the look...the comment?”
“What comment? What look?”
“The comment about him being happy where he's at while he looked you up and down.”
“You are delirious woman – I think you're starting to hallucinate!” I laughed.
“I know what I saw and I definitely saw something!”
“Come on – let's go get your son,” I said pulling Amber out of the kitchen.