Lucas.

  I heard footsteps coming closer, but I didn't care about them. My great love and my baby might not be alive anymore. “What if I lose both of them now?” I repeated.

  “That would be justice from the Lord!” I suddenly heard. I shot up. At the other side of the hall stood Sophia's father. He had just been released from prison and was still being treated for delusions. Next to him stood his second oldest son. “My prayers have been answered,” my father-in-law shouted. “You! You are the reason she has fallen out of the Lord's grace. And you are the reason that your child and my child are dying in that room there.” Jonas stepped in front of me. “Calm down!” he shouted.

  “The price of sin is death!” my father-in-law shouted. My brother-in-law fell to his knees and prayed. “Lord. If You take my sister to You, treat her with forgiveness.” My father walked towards them. “This is a moment where families must come together!” he shouted. “Your daughter is possibly fighting for her life there.”

  “Will she be okay?” I heard a girl ask. She stepped into the doorway, she was about sixteen years old. She had the same eyes as Sophia. Red hair, though that of this girl was lighter and tended more towards blond. This had to be Adeline. Sophia's younger sister.

  I shook my head. “I don't know,” I said. I didn't want to admit it, but I was terrified. “Of course it won't be okay, Lientje!” Martin shouted. “Those who do not honor the Lord will be punished,” he said. “I only hope that He punishes Sophia only in life and not in her afterlife.” I had to fight everything in me not to lunge at him.

  Suddenly the door of the room opened. The doctor came out, all attention was on him. “Mr. De Witte?” he asked. I nodded and stepped towards him. Terrified, I waited for his answer. “It was a bit exciting. I won't bore you with medical terms. Your wife had a heavy bleeding. But she is stable. We keep her here for a few days.” I nodded. “The baby?” I asked. The man smiled. “Perfectly healthy. A girl. She is now with the nurse for a bit. You may go to your wife for a moment and then to your baby. Don't worry. Everything is under control.”

  He stepped aside to let me through. I stepped inside. Sophia lay in an apparently clean bed. She seemed to be sleeping. She breathed regularly. I sat down next to her. “You scared me so much, Phietje,” I said stroking her hair. She was still quite pale. But her lips were colored again and a very light color on her cheeks.

  “Don't ever do this to me again,” I said still stroking her hair. A nurse walked in. “We need to take her to the intensive care. Nothing to be afraid of, it's protocol. For observation,” the young man explained. I nodded and followed him out of the room.

  My mother hugged me. “I told you. It will be fine, son,” she said. “I have to ask something we're all terrified about. Your baby.” I looked at her. “The doctor says she is healthy.” My mother's mouth fell open. “She?” she said. “A girl?” I nodded. “Apparently.” It still felt a bit unreal to me.

  The nurse who had supported Sophia came to me. “Come with me, sir.” She took me to a room with all kinds of cribs. She picked up a small bundle from the farthest crib. “This is your girl,” she said. She placed the bundle in my arms. She was beautiful. She had a lightly pale skin. She was sleeping so I couldn't see her eyes. But she had small curls on her head in the same fiery pink color as her mother. She had a beautiful little nose and the smallest hands and feet I had ever seen. She was perfect.

  The nurse took her back. “Does she have a name? Now she's just called baby De Witte.” I nodded. “Lucy. Her name is Lucy Sophie.” The woman nodded. “We'll take care of her tonight.” I looked at my little daughter. “Can't I really take her with me?” I asked. I was already crazy about my little girl now.

  The nurse laughed softly. “No, in a day, maybe two she can go with you,” the woman said. I walked back to the others more calmly. “Everything okay?” my mother asked. I nodded. “She is beautiful, mom,” I said. “Her colored hair. Such tiny fingers.” My mother laughed softly. “And what is my granddaughter's name?” she asked. “Lucy,” I said. “Lucy Sophie De Witte.” I finally felt the tension leave my body.

  “No way!” Alexander suddenly shouted. “Not a girl!” Alexander looked slightly angry. “Sorry, boy,” I said. “Can't you exchange her?” I knelt by my nephew. “Afraid not, kid,” I said. “Girls don't play!” he bit angrily. “They play something else than us, Alex,” I said. “Then you and I will play.” He muttered a few more times that girls were stupid. I could only laugh a little about it.

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  Sophia's family stood a bit disappointed still by the door. Except Peter and now also Adeline. “No biblical name,” my father-in-law shouted and shook his head disapprovingly. “Come on, enough devilish influence.” He snapped and pulled everyone with him.

  Adeline fought herself free. “Will you tell Sophia that I'm glad she's okay?” she asked. “ADELINE!” her father snapped. “This will cost me a fortune again.” Submissively she walked along. I had never seen his upbringing up close. But it seemed so oppressive as Sophia had described it.

  “We're going too, son. Get some rest. You'll need it.” I nodded. “Thank you, mom.” She laughed and hugged me. “I can't wait to spoil my granddaughter.” Then my parents, Jonas and Joyce left.

  I walked to the intensive care for a moment. “May I be with her?” I asked the nurse. “Yes, just a moment. She is awake.” I walked into the ward and sat down next to Sophia. The color was now fully back in her face. “You scared me, you know that?” I said taking her hand. She smiled weakly. “Then we're even,” she said. I looked at her questioningly. “Aruba,” she said weakly. I laughed and kissed her forehead. “Okay, you get that one.”

  “The baby?” she asked. I saw slight fear in her eyes. “Healthy. Beautiful. Oh Sophia, we have such a beautiful girl.” She sighed softly. “Now you'll hear it from Joyce,” she said weakly. “I was right, Phi! It was prophetic.” I stroked her hair. “Not to be underestimated, you,” I said softly.

  “She needs rest now, sir,” the nurse said. “You are welcome to sleep in the family room.” I nodded. I didn't want to leave my entire little family behind. I couldn't sleep very well that night. I suspected the scare and the bad mattress.

  I walked into the IC the next morning. I saw her right away. She was sitting more upright and seemed much stronger. “Hey.” I kissed her. I sat down next to her. “I want to go home,” she said. “I'm bored to death here.” I laughed softly. “As soon as you're allowed to leave, we'll go home.”

  A nurse came our way with a bundle of blankets in her arms. “Good morning,” she said. “I have someone here who wants to meet you properly now.” She placed the bundle in Sophia's waiting arms.

  I stroked my little girl's head. “Red hair,” said Sophia. I nodded. “Just like you.” I now looked at my daughter really well for the first time. “Your nose,” I said. She nodded. “Your chin,” she said with so much love in her eyes. Lucy began to move softly. Tears came into Sophia's eyes. “Are you okay?” I asked. She nodded. “Just a bit emotional. She is so beautiful.” I smiled. Lucy opened her little eyes. Sophia's smile grew bigger. “She has your eyes,” she said. “In one light blue and in the other gray.” She looked at me. “That's the most beautiful thing about you.”

  I kissed her. “Then I'll quickly buy a gun,” I said. She looked at me confused. “I'll have to shoot the boys from the garden. Your beauty. My eyes. That will be something.” The nurse came our way again. “It's time for her to eat. Do you dare to breastfeed her?” Sophia nodded. The nurse helped her latch Lucy on. Soon I saw my little girl drinking greedily. “How does that feel?” I asked. “Strange. But so wonderful.” She laughed broadly. “Are you that hungry?” she said softly. I enjoyed watching my little family.

  After a small forty minutes Lucy let go. And the girl fell asleep immediately. “I hate to do this but I have to take her back,” said the nurse. Sophia pouted her lip. “No. Just a little longer.” The nurse laughed softly. “I'll bring her back in a few hours,” she said. “Rest a bit. We'll take care of her.”

  She took Lucy from Sophia's arms. For a moment it seemed like Lucy wanted to protest. I looked at Sophia who was trying to hold back a tear. “They're not taking her away from you, darling,” I said stroking her hair. “They're just taking care of her. We'll have more than enough time together soon, the three of us,” I said.

  “Rest a bit, my love,” I continued. I kissed her temple and gently pushed her into a lying position. Before I walked out the door, she was already asleep.

  The next day the blood values of both Sophia and Lucy were completely fine. And my girls were allowed to go home. I had cleaned the house all morning and prepared a delicious lunch that I set out.

  Then I went to pick up my little family. The doctors gave me a few things to watch out for and some recommendations on nutrition for Sophia so she would soon be her old self again.

  I quickly brought my family home. When I came in I immediately saw that something had changed. I sighed. “They're here,” I said. Sophia lifted Lucy out of her maxi-cosi. “How do you know?” she asked hugging Lucy. “Because I didn't leave it decorated,” I explained.

  I walked into the kitchen where Jonas, Joyce and my parents were sitting at the table. “And here I thought I had time with my little family,” I said, slightly disappointed. “I just want to meet her, son,” my mother said. “Not too long. Sophia still needs to recover and Lucy is so small.” My mother nodded. “Twenty minutes,” she said. She looked at me with big eyes. “Alright then,” I said. Sophia walked in carrying Lucy.

  “I hardly dare to ask,” my mother said. “But may I?” Sophia smiled. “Of course.” My mother stood up and took Lucy from her. “What a little doll,” she said with tears in her eyes. “Hello little one,” she added rocking Lucy. “God what a beautiful girl,” she said sobbing. Jonas and I both knew she had really wanted a daughter. And now she had a granddaughter.