“They’re going to help your mom,” he said gently, though his heart pounded.
The ambulance arrived quickly. Paramedics confirmed severe dehydration and exhaustion. Lily was lifted onto a stretcher.
“I’m coming with you,” Nathan said without hesitation.
He carried the twins to his car. They clung to him instinctively, their tiny arms wrapping around his neck. The weight of them felt both light and overwhelming.
At the hospital, hours dragged by. The twins—now calmer—sat quietly with juice and crackers provided by nurses. Their soft laughter cut deeper than their cries had.
A doctor approached. “Lily Harper is stable. Malnourished, dehydrated, but she’ll recover. The children are hers. Are you family?”
Nathan swallowed. “I’m… I might be their father.”
The doctor gave him a measured look. “She’s been through a lot. So have they.”
Later, a nurse allowed him into Lily’s room.
She looked pale against the white sheets. When she saw him, shock crossed her face.
“Nathan?” she whispered.
“I’m here,” he said softly.
“The twins—are they okay?”
“They’re fine. I brought them.”
Tears slid down her cheeks. “Thank you.”
He stepped closer. “Why didn’t you tell me about them?”
Her tired eyes flashed. “I tried.”