And a little after eight o’clock, six bikers walked out of the maternity ward carrying my sister’s newborn daughter.
Moose held the car seat against his chest with both arms. The other five men formed a loose circle around him, watching every direction as they crossed the lobby.
Behind the nurses’ station, several nurses stood up.
Two of them opened the doors.
I followed the men outside.
I couldn’t explain why. Maybe I needed to know where they were taking Lily. Maybe I was afraid that if I let them disappear, I’d never see my sister’s child again.
An old maroon Suburban waited by the curb.
A gray-haired woman got out from behind the wheel as soon as she saw us.
She walked straight to my mother and wrapped her arms around her.
“I’m June,” she said softly. “Ray’s wife.”
Mom looked at her through tear-filled eyes.
“I was a NICU nurse for thirty-one years,” June continued. “I’ve helped take care of a lot of little ones, honey. Lily is going to be loved. I promise you that.”
