Chapter 41: Hospital

*Jasmine*

Zain looked down at his niece and smiled. “Well, Munchkin! What would you like to eat?”
Juan had been in the process of fixing her plate when he decided it was time for his wife to go to the hospital.
“Where did Mommy and Daddy go?” she asked, looking up at her uncle as concern filled her eyes.
Zain scooped her up and set her on his lap. “Well, you’re mommy and daddy went to greet your new little brother, Sebastian, into the world.”
“Can I go?” she blinked back tears.
Zain kissed the top of her head. “In a little while. But right now, you need to eat.”
Watching Zain with his niece was adorable. He’d make a great father one day. Jasmine rose to her feet. “I’ll start putting everything away.” She lifted a huge bowl of potato salad, but Zain stopped her.
“Jasmine, why don’t you sit here with Sylvie and Raphael, and I’ll put everything away?”
“My name is Sylvia,” she growled.
“Okay. That’s enough, Munchkin. You know that’s my nickname for you.” Zain stood and lifted the potato salad and the kabobs. Then he leaned in and gave Jasmine a quick kiss. “I’ll be right back.”
“We’ll be here.” Other than babysitting before, Jasmine hadn’t been around kids. “So, what do you like to eat?”
She told her what she wanted as Jasmine finished making her plate, picking up where her father had left off.
Raphael leaned in close from the other side of the table. “Don’t hurt him.”
Jasmine’s smile faded. “I don’t intend to.”
“You don’t intend to what?” Zain asked as he walked back onto the porch.
“Nothing,” Jasmine replied, looking down at Sylvia.
He shot a warning look over to his friend, but luckily, he let it go.
Jasmine sat with Sylvia as Zain and Raphael put everything away. Everyone had left, including Miguel. But Zain was so responsible, they knew he would take care of everything here, along with Sylvia.
“So, what can I do?” Miguel asked, walking back in.
“Oh! I thought you went to the hospital with everyone else.” She made a hot dog for Sylvia and looked down at her. “Would you like ketchup or mustard?”
“Ketchup, please,” she said between bites of potato salad.
“Ladies don’t talk with their mouths full.” Jasmine smiled as she gently rubbed her back. Sylvia nodded and sat up a bit straighter, obviously wanting to be like her Auntie Jasmine.
Miguel chuckled as he leaned in. “Jasmine, you’re going to make a good mother someday.”
She looked up at him and smiled. “Well, that’s a long way off.”
He patted her shoulder and then started helping Zain and Raphael put up the food.
When Zain came out, he turned off the lights and glanced over at Jasmine. “Ready?”
“I can go back home,” she replied. “This is a family event—”
“And you are family,” Zain cut her off. Then he leaned in close. “Besides, you’re not going back there tonight.”
“My father won’t be there. I’ll be fine,” Jasmine replied. “I’ll just get my things and will meet you at the airport tomorrow.”
“No. I’m not letting you out of my sight tonight.” Zain shook his head. “Come to the hospital with me, and we can discuss it there.”
“Zain, I don’t want to intrude—”
“You’re not,” he cut her off. “Trust me.”
She slowly nodded and then turned her attention back to his niece. “Sylvia, are you ready to go?”
She nodded frantically as a huge smile spread across her face. “Yes! I want to see Bash!”
“Now, Sylvia....” Zain gave her a stern look. “You may not be able to see your mommy tonight. Okay?”
She stared at him for a moment and then slowly nodded. “Will Daddy be there?”
“Yes, Munchkin.” Zain ruffled her hair. “He’ll be there.” Then he motioned with his head toward the door. “Let’s go.”
“You all go on,” Miguel pulled Sylvia in for a hug. “I’ll lock everything up and will meet you there.”
Zain nodded and then looked over at Raphael. “Come to the hospital with us, and we can say goodbye there.”
“No, man.” Raphael pulled him in for a one-armed hug. “Be safe, and I’ll see you next year.”
Zain patted his back. “Try and come out to USC to visit when you can this year.”
“You do the same,” he countered. “Come back here when you can, too.”
Raphael went to the University of Miami, while Zain went to the University of Southern California. It was clear that they didn’t get to see each other much until summer.
“I will.” Zain released him, scooped Sylvia into his arms, and then took my hand. “Uncle Miguel, I’ll see you at the hospital.”
After they said their final goodbyes, Zain and Jasmine took Sylvia to his truck. Once Sylvia was strapped in between them, they were on their way.

***
*Zain*

“Daddy!” Sylvia yelled as she ran toward her father in the lobby of the hospital.
He scooped her into his arms and kissed her cheek. “Are you okay, pumpkin?”
She nodded frantically. “Is Bash here yet?”
He laughed, shaking his head. “No, not yet.” He looked over at Zain. “You two can go home if you like. Maria said she would keep Sylvia for us.”
Zain nodded. “How far along is she?”
Juan let out a deep breath as he looked at his daughter. “It’s going to be a while yet. They think sometime early in the morning.”
“Are you sure Maria doesn’t want to stay here with Carmen?” Jasmine asked, her eyes filled with concern. “We can keep Sylvia.”
Juan chuckled, taking a step closer. “To be honest, spending too much time with Maria will drive Carmen crazy.”
We all laughed.
“Zain, would you take Sylvia and Maria home when you go?” Juan’s eyes were hopeful.
“Sure. I’ll be glad to,” he replied. “I’ll call and cancel my flight tomorrow—”
“No, it’ll be fine,” Juan cut him off. “Your flight doesn’t leave until the evening. So, you can come by and see your sister and your new nephew before you leave.”
Zain bit his lower lip and released it. “Are you sure you won’t need me?”
He shook his head. “No, we’ll be fine.” Then he pulled him in for a manly hug. “Thanks for everything, brother.”
“Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.” Zain took Sylvia as she frowned. “We’ll be waiting here in the lobby. When Mama’s ready to go, let me know.”
Juan clutched his arm and nodded, quickly kissed his daughter’s cheek, and then headed back down the hallway.
“I want to go with you!” Tears welled up in Sylvia’s eyes, looking after her father.
“Listen, Sylvia! You wanna see something?” Jasmine asked as she pulled her phone out of her purse. She hit a few buttons as she sat beside her in the waiting room. “This is a game I like! You wanna play?”
Sylvia nodded frantically. “Yes, please!” A moment later, she was playing the game, perfectly content.
“Thanks for that,” Zain said over Sylvia’s head. “I’m sorry you got stuck with me in the hospital lobby tonight.”
“Don’t be sorry at all.” She reached over and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “There’s no other place I’d rather be.”
Just then, her phone beeped, alerting her to a text.
Zain quickly pulled up the game his niece was playing on his phone. “Hey, Munchkin! Why don’t we trade phones? Auntie Jasmine needs her phone for a minute.”
“Okay.” She happily traded and continued playing the game.
But when Zain handed Jasmine her phone, she looked down at the text and frowned. Then she sent a few texts back and forth and sighed as she cut it off. “Mom sent me a text message and said that it’s okay to come back home. Dad’s gone now.”
“Is your mom okay?” Zain didn’t say it in front of Sylvia, but he didn’t want to think that her father had hit her mother after they left.
“Yes, she’s fine.” Jasmine let out a deep breath. “She just wants me to come home tonight.”
His heart sank. If something happened to Jasmine the night before they were going to leave, he’d never forgive himself.
***
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