Mark pulled into the school parking lot, his hands tightening slightly on the steering wheel as he scanned the crowd of students emerging from the building. Today wasn't an ordinary day. Instead of their usual driver, Paul, it was Mark who had come to pick up his triplets—Lily, Emily, and Ethan. It was a decision he hadn't made lightly. With Clara still in the hospital after the delivery of the nonuplets, their family's life had been turned upside down. His presence at the hospital had been a constant, but today, he needed to be with his older children. As the school bell rang, signaling the end of the day, a flood of students poured out. Mark spotted his three children—Lily, Emily, and Ethan—walking out together, their backpacks slung over their shoulders. They were chatting, seemingly lost in conversation, but when their eyes fell on the family car and saw their father behind the wheel instead of Paul, confusion washed over their faces. "Dad?" Ethan said as they approached the car, raising an eyebrow. "Where's Paul?" "Dad?" Ethan was the first to notice, his brows furrowing in surprise. Lily and Emily exchanged glances before running up to Mark, their father, standing casually beside the sleek, black SUV. He waved at them with a broad smile on his face. "Hey, kiddos," he greeted, opening the car door for them. "Why are you here, Dad?" Lily asked, her curiosity getting the best of her as she climbed into the back seat. "Yeah, where's Paul?" Emily added, sliding in next to her. Mark smiled as they climbed into the backseat. "Paul has the day off. I thought I'd pick you up myself for a change." Ethan, the eldest by only a few minutes, looked concerned as he buckled her seatbelt. "But… why aren't you at the hospital with Mom? Is everything okay?" Mark glanced at him in the rearview mirror, his heart squeezing at the worry etched across his young face. He was always amazed by how mature they had become, especially with everything going on in their family. He sighed gently, trying to put their minds at ease. "Everything's fine with your mom. I just wanted to spend some time with you three. I figured we could all go to the hospital together and visit your siblings." A brief silence filled the car as they digested his words. Emily, the quietest of the trio, piped up softly, "Are they doing okay? The babies, I mean." "They're doing well," Mark reassured her. "Still in the incubators for now, but they're strong. You'll get to see them today." Ethan, ever the optimist, grinned. "Nine brothers and sisters… It's gonna be pretty wild when they come home, huh?" Mark chuckled as he pulled away from the school, steering the car toward the hospital. "Wild might be an understatement. But it'll be amazing."
———
When they arrived at the hospital, the sterile smell of antiseptic and the beeping of machines filled the air. Mark led the triplets through the halls, their footsteps quiet on the gleaming floors. As they reached Clara's room, Mark hesitated for a moment, sensing something off. He pushed open the door gently, revealing Clara sitting upright in her bed, her gaze unfocused and distant.Her hands rested on her now flat belly,but her mind was elsewhere—lost in thoughts she couldn't quite pin down.
The sight of her like this made Mark's heart twist. She hadn't been herself since the nonuplets were born. She was struggling to adapt, to understand this new reality, and he didn't know how to help her.
The soft shuffle of feet brought her back to the present. She blinked, her eyes focusing as she saw Mark and the triplets enter the room. Their familiar faces, filled with love and concern, were a welcome sight, grounding her in the reality of now. "Mom!" Lily exclaimed, rushing to her side. "You look tired. Are you okay?" Clara managed a small, reassuring smile. "I'm fine, sweetheart. Just… a little lost in thought." Emily, always perceptive, squeezed her mother's hand gently. "We missed you, Mom. But we're so excited to meet the babies." "They're doing well," Clara said, her voice soft but filled with warmth as she glanced at Mark. "Your dad's been amazing. I couldn't have done this without him." Ethan grinned, his excitement bubbling over. "Can we go see the babies now? I want to tell them how much fun we're going to have when they come home." Mark smiled and nodded, motioning toward the door that led to the NICU. "Come on, let's go meet your new siblings."
———
The NICU was quiet, the dim lighting and soft beeping of monitors giving the space an almost serene feeling. The triplets stood before the row of incubators, peering in at the tiny, fragile babies that lay inside. Each baby was swaddled, connected to monitors and machines, their tiny chests rising and falling with each delicate breath. "They're so small," Emily whispered, her eyes wide with wonder. Lily pressed her hand to the glass, staring at the babies with a mix of awe and protectiveness. "I can't believe we have nine more siblings. It's like a whole new army." Ethan chuckled, leaning in close. "We'll be the best big brother and sisters ever. I just wish they could come home already." "I know," Mark said softly, his voice full of emotion. "But they need a little more time. They'll come home when they're strong enough." The triplets nodded, understanding but still impatient to meet their new family members properly. They leaned in closer, talking quietly to their siblings through the incubator glass, as if their words alone could coax the babies to grow faster, to come home sooner. "We'll play with you every day," Lily promised. "And teach you all the cool stuff," Ethan added, grinning. "We'll take care of you," Emily whispered, her voice soft and full of love. Clara watched from a distance, tears filling her eyes. It was overwhelming to see her older children so excited, so ready to welcome these new lives into their family. She hadn't been sure how they would react, whether they would feel jealous or distant, but seeing them here, full of love and hope, reassured her in a way she hadn't expected.
©Beersheba