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“They’re twins. A boy and a girl.”
My hands shook. “You need to tell me what’s happening right now.”
Josh took a deep breath. “I went to the hospital this afternoon. My friend Marcus fell off his bike, so I took him to get checked out. While we were waiting in the ER, I saw him.”
“Saw who?”
“Dad.”
The air left my lungs.
“They’re Dad’s babies, Mom.”
I froze, unable to process those words.
“Dad stormed out of one of the maternity wards,” Josh continued. “He looked angry. I didn’t approach him, but I asked around. You know Mrs. Chen, your friend in labor and delivery?”
I nodded numbly.
“She told me Sylvia, Dad’s girlfriend, went into labor last night. She had twins. And Dad just left. He told the nurses he wanted nothing to do with them.”
I felt like I’d been punched. “No. That can’t be right.”
“It’s true. I went to see her. Sylvia was alone in that hospital room with two newborns, crying so hard she could barely breathe. She’s really sick—something went wrong during delivery. The doctors were talking about complications, infections. She could barely hold the babies.”
“Josh, this isn’t our problem…”
“They’re my siblings!” His voice cracked. “They’re my brother and sister, and they have nobody. I told Sylvia I’d bring them home just for a little while, just to show you, and maybe we could help. I couldn’t just leave them.”
I sank onto his bed. “How did they even let you take them? You’re 16.”
“Sylvia signed a temporary release form. She knows who I am. I showed them my ID, proving I was related. Mrs. Chen vouched for me. They said it was irregular, but Sylvia kept crying, saying she didn’t know what else to do.”
I looked at the babies. So small. So fragile.
“You can’t do this. This isn’t your responsibility,” I whispered, tears burning my eyes.
“Then whose is it?” Josh shot back. “Dad’s? He already proved he doesn’t care. What if Sylvia doesn’t make it, Mom? What happens to these babies then?”
“We take them back to the hospital right now. This is too much.”
“Mom, please…”
“No.” My voice was firm. “Get your shoes on. We’re going back.”
The drive to Mercy General was suffocating. Josh sat in the back seat with the twins, one on each side in baskets we’d grabbed from the garage.
Mrs. Chen met us at the entrance, her face tight with concern. “Jennifer, I’m so sorry. Josh just wanted to…”
“It’s okay. Where’s Sylvia?”
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