Page 2 of Ella’s Data

Holly starts laughing, then she says, “Uh, well, we’ll let you do the new things, Ella, because we’ve already been passing the clothes from Mina, Ruby, and Becca down, even though Cami isn’t old enough for some of them yet.”

I shrug. “Nothing wrong with hand-me-downs, as long as that’s not all they ever have.” I make a mental note to get the sizes for all the little girls, because I can already picture them in some adorable matching outfits, and since I’m going to be the favorite auntie for all five of them, I can get away with that shit!

“Absolutely not,” Holly and Marnie state in unison. “All of the girls get new clothes around their birthdays, and of course, at Christmas, but now that we’ve got five little princesses in the Steel Raiders, we have to adjust accordingly.”

“Because Rebel’s already talking about adding an ammo store to keep them fully loaded, and I think Prophet wants in on it,” Holly confesses. “Bunch of Neanderthals, I swear!”

I look at Phoebe and ask, “How long will you have to be here?”

“God, I hope not for too long. I want to go home, whether that’s our place or the clubhouse, and enjoy not hearing the constant beeping of monitors.”

“How are you feeling physically?” Holly questions.

“Surprisingly enough, I’m hungry,” Phoebe admits. “But the doctor told me that once you give birth, most of the symptoms of HG disappear relatively quickly. Some women experience problems for a little bit longer, but I never had an issue actually eating, it was just retaining my food. I think my doctor has a GI doctor coming in to check me over to make sure I didn’t develop any gastro issues before she’ll discharge me. So, even though I want to go home today, realistically, I’ll probably be stranded here for at least two or three more days.”

I watch as she tries to get comfortable in the bed and jump into action, stating, “Let me help!” Once I have her situated, I exclaim, “Oh! I brought you some padsicles, too!”

“What the hell are those?” Eli asks as he walks into the room just as I finish talking.

“It’s a frozen, medicated sanitary pad,” Fee tells him. “It’ll help alleviate any soreness from having the baby.”

“Guess I need to find out where to get them, so we have plenty on hand for when you come home,” he says.

“I brought a case of them,” I admit. “They’re in a chest freezer in my RV, except for this one.”

“Tell me how to do it and I’ll get her sorted out,” Eli demands.

I explain to him how to attach it, then watch as Holly takes Colleen and places her back in the isolette while Eli helps Phoebe into the bathroom. From everything she’s shared, he’s been hands-on this whole pregnancy and I love that for her. The only shitty part of the whole thing is she’s married to a man who is a club brother to him.

Eddie.

Someone I could’ve seen myself with if not for my past that keeps me bound in fear. Oh, I put up a helluva good front around Phoebe. So good, in fact, she’s never really pried or pushed about him, and she accepted when I told her he was the one who got away. I mean, he did, of course, but that was because I took another assignment and left. But sometimes at night, when I’m lying there trying to fall asleep, I remember how it felt to be held in his arms.

Phoebe and Eli eventually come out of the bathroom and I’m glad she took the time to freshen up because we were able to get her sheets changed for her. “When is Cami coming up to meet her little sister?” I ask, “or are you going to wait until y’all are discharged?”

“We’re going to wait, because it’s the beginning of flu season and the germs are everywhere in a hospital as you well know,” Fee replies. “How long are you able to stay?”

“Well… I have a lot of time saved up, as you know, so I thought I could stay through early November at least. I’d love to be available to help you study so you can knock out your nurse practitioner exam, of course, but I honestly need some downtime.”

“You’ve been going balls to the wall for years now, Ella,” Phoebe replies.

“That’s not on Thelma, though, it’s on me,” I retort. “Why not keep busy and earn the money? That way, I can retire early and travel the world.”

“You don’t even have a passport,” Phoebe reminds me, snickering.

“I can easily get one,” I retort, grinning. Seeing her wince again, I say, “I’m going to find someplace to park my girl and let you get some rest. Eli, if you’ll follow me out to the RV, you can get the cooler with the other padsicles, so she’s got them.”

Leaning in, I hug my bestie and whisper, “You did good, girlie. She’s beautiful and motherhood looks good on you.”

With exhaustion on her face, she asks, “You’ll come back tomorrow?”

“Just tell me what time and if there’s anything you want and I’ll be here,” I reply.

“I’ll text you later,” she declares.

“That works too! Holly, Marnie, I know I’ll see y’all soon, but right now, I need to crash for a good ten to twelve hours.”

“We’ll be having a barbecue when they spring Phoebe,” Holly announces. “Out at the clubhouse, of course.”