His Bundle of Love
His Bundle of Love
Patricia Davids
Stay with Beth. Watch over her for me.
Mick patted her hand. Okay. Ill be back soon.
Nodding, Caitlin whispered, Thank you, and watched him hurry out the door.
The nurse beside her claimed her attention. Are you allergic to any medication? Caitlin shook her head at each question the nurse fired at her. The room grew dark around the edges.
So this was what it was like to die. She wanted to cry because she knew what would happen to her daughtershed be thrust into the foster-care system as shed been. It wasnt fair.
Is the man who came in with you the babys father?
Would Mick see that her daughter was taken care of? She could say he was the father, then hed have the right to look after her. Would he understand? It didnt mattershe was out of time. She whispered, Yes.
PATRICIA DAVIDS
was born and raised in the farm and ranch country of central Kansas. As a tomboy with four brothers, Pat spent an idyllic childhood where horses, softball, church activities and books formed the foundations of her rich imagination. Today, Pat works as an R.N. in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), spoils her grandkids and tries to find time to write down the stories roaming around in her head. She is president of her local RWA chapter and believes that helping new writers learn the craft is the best way to repay the people who helped her. After seven years of writing, she sold her first book to Steeple Hill in June of 2004. Dreams do come trueas long as you chase after them with hard work, determination and faith.
His Bundle of Love
Patricia Davids
And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me.
Matthew 18:5
For David, who always believed
I could do anything I set my heart on.
And for my mother, Joan.
Look Mom! No sleaze!
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Epilogue
Letter to Reader
Chapter One
Hey, wait! Mister, you gotta help us!
Mick OCallaghan stopped at the sound of the frantic shout. He turned to see a grubby, bearded derelict emerge from the doorway of an abandoned building, one of many that lined the narrow Chicago street. As the man stumbled down the dilapidated steps, Mick recognized Eddy Todd. Eddy, in his stained and tattered overcoat, was a frequent flyer at the Mercy House Shelter where Mick volunteered two days a week.
Staggering up to Mick, Eddy grabbed the front of his brown leather jacket. Please. You gotta help. Shes havin a baby! I dont know what to do. You gotta help her.
Take it easy, Eddy. Slow down and tell me whats wrong.
Eddy squinted up at Micks face, and some of the panic left his watery, gray eyes. That you, Mick?
Yeah, its me. He kept the old fellow from falling by catching his elbows. The sour odors of an unwashed body and cheap whiskey assaulted Mick. No doubt Eddy had been out panhandling, and some well-meaning Samaritan had given him money for a meal, but he had spent it on a bottle instead.
Eddy regained his balance and tugged at Micks arm. Come on. Youre a fireman. You can deliver a baby, cant ya?
Mick cast a doubtful eye at the old tenement. What would a pregnant woman be doing in there? Only broken shards of glass remained in the few windows that werent boarded over. A section of the roof had collapsed, and debris littered the area. The only signs of life were a few weeds that had sprouted in the sidewalk cracks and struggled to survive in the weak April sunshine. It wasnt the kind of place he wanted to go searching throughespecially for an old drunks hallucinations.
With a gentle tug, Mick tried to coax Eddy away. Why dont you come down to the mission. Pastor Frank can get you a hot meal. Its meat loaf tonight. You like meat loaf, dont you?
Sure, sure, I like meat loaf. Eddy allowed himself to be led for a few steps, then he stopped. But what about the girl? She shouldnt have her baby in there. It aint clean, or nothing. Come on, Ill show ya where she is.
Mick studied the building again. What if Eddy wasnt imagining things? He glanced at his watch. Normally, it didnt matter how he spent his days off, but since his mother had moved in for an extended stay after her accident, he tried to make sure she didnt spend much time alone. Tonight was the nurses night off. Naomi would be leaving in an hour. Perhaps if he hurried, he could check the place out, take Eddy over to the mission and get home before she left.
He turned back to the old man. Ill take a look, but I want you to stay here, he insisted.
Sure, sure. Ill stay ri-right here. Eddy nodded, lost his balance and staggered back a step. He wavered on his feet but stayed upright. You want I should call an ambulance?
Mick shook his head and hid a smile. Ill do that if we need one. You just stay put.
Walking carefully up the broken steps, he ducked under crisscrossed boards someone had nailed over the doorway in a vain attempt to keep people out. It took a few moments for his eyes to adjust in the gloomy interior. He faced a long hall with a dozen doors down its length. The first one stood open, and he looked in.
A tattered mattress surrounded by heaps of cardboard boxes lay in one corner. Old clothes, tin cans and trash covered the floor. The place reeked of stale sweat and rancid garbage. As he stepped back, his foot struck an empty bottle of whiskey and sent it rolling across the warped floorboards. Apparently, Eddy had been holed up in there for some time. At least there was no sign of a pregnant woman. Mick turned to leave, but the sound of a low moan stopped him.
It came again, and he moved down the hall to investigate, skirting a pile of broken furniture and fallen ceiling plaster that all but blocked the dark hall. The last door on the left stood open a crack. He hesitated beside it. Four years as a firefighter had taught him caution. Plenty of unsavory characters inhabited these slums, and some of them could be very unpleasant if hed stumbled onto a meth lab or another equally illegal operation.
Another moan, louder this time, issued from the room. Someone was in pain. He couldnt ignore that. Standing with his back to the wall, he stretched out his arm and eased open the door. From behind, a hand clamped down on his shoulder, and Micks breath froze in his chest.
What ya doin? a slurred voice wheezed.
Relief surged through Mick as his heart began beating again. He turned and whispered, Eddy, you scared the life out of me! Didnt I tell you to stay put?
Yeahyeah, you told me, but shes in here. I found some help, he announced and barged through the door.
Mick followed with more caution. Light poured in from a large, broken window on the back wall. It showed a room surprisingly neat and free of the stench that permeated Eddys lair. It contained little more than a bare mattress where a young woman with short blond hair lay on her side. She wore a simple black skirt and a pale pink sweater with long sleeves. Her splayed fingers covered her small, rounded belly beneath the sweater. A thin wail escaped her clenched lips. This was definitely not a hallucination.
At the sound of voices, Caitlin Williams lifted her head and sighed in relief. Eddy had managed to bring help. She was sorry she had doubted the old guy. The young man with him crossed the room and dropped to one knee beside her.
Can you tell me whats wrong? he asked.
Scared out of her wits but determined not to show it, Caitlin said, I think my babys coming.
His fingers closed around her wrist, and he stared at his watch. How far apart are your contractions?
Right on top of each other, she panted, trying to stifle a groan as another one gripped her. You a doctor?
No, Im an EMT. Dont worry, I know what to do.
He sounded so calm, so confident. Maybe it would be okay. Peering up at him, she realized with a jolt that she knew him.
Shed seen him at the nearby homeless shelter where she got some of her meals. Only last week, she had watched him playing football with some of the kids there. Hed caught a wobbling pass and staggered toward the makeshift goalposts with half a dozen of them hanging on and trying to pull him down. His muscular frame had made light work of the load, but it was his hearty laughter that had truly drawn her interest. His rugged good looks and dark auburn hair made him easy on the eyes. At the time, she had thought his face was more interesting than handsome. It had character.
I know you. At the shelter they called you Mickey O.
A warm smile curved his lips and deepened the crinkles at the corners of his bright, blue eyes. Mick OCallaghan at your service. And you are? A vague trace of Irish brogue lilted through his deep baritone voice.
Caitlin Williams, she supplied through gritted teeth.
Pleased to meet you. He laid a gentle hand on her stomach. When is your baby due?
Not till Pressing her lips together, Caitlin waited for the pains to pass. August, she finished.
His startled gaze flew to her face, and her fears came rushing back to choke her. My baby will be okay, wont it?
Ill do everything I can. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a cell phone. He flipped open the lid, then muttered, Not now.
Caitlin saw the worried look in his eyes. Whats wrong?
The battery is dead. Eddy? he called over his shoulder. I need you to go get that ambulance, now. And hurry!
Ri-right, Mick, sure thing. Umwhere should I go?
Go to Pastor Frank. Tell him Mick OCallaghan says to call an ambulance, then bring him here. Can you do that? Taking off his jacket, Mick spread it over Caitlin and tucked it around her shoulders.
Eddy nodded. Sure, I can do that.
Mick saw the old man stagger as he hurried out the door. Torn between the need to stay with the woman or make sure that help was called he looked at her and said, Maybe I should go.
She grabbed his arm. No, stay, please. Eddy can do it. Stay and take care of my baby.
Okay, Ill stay. He composed his face, determined to keep her calm. He knew a baby born three months early wouldnt survive unless it waited to be born in a hospital.
Please, Heavenly Father, guide me in making the right decisions here.
Her face tightened into a grimace as she curled forward again. Somethings wrong. It hurts.
You need to breathe through your contractions, like this. He demonstrated. Come on, breathe, breathe.
You breathe. Im going to scream.
She didnt and he admired her control. Tell you what, well take turns. Every other contraction, I get to scream, and you breathe.
She uncurled and relaxed back onto the mattress. What have you got to yell about?
He gave a pointed glance to where she gripped his arm. Youre doing a bit of acupuncture with those fingernails.
She jerked away. Im sorry.
Why dont you hold my hand? He offered it, but she ignored him and gripped the edge of the mattress instead, and he regretted saying anything.
He had seen this young woman occasionally at Pastor Franks shelter in the last month. She would show up for the evening meal, but she never stayed long. Like many of the women at Mercy House, she kept to herself. Hed never spoken to her, yet something in her eyes had captured his attention the first time he saw her.
The women who came to Mercy House were mostly single mothers with ragged children in tow or old women alone and without families. Their eyes were dull with hopelessness, desperation and sadness, but life hadnt emptied this girls eyesthey blazed with defiance.
Up close, their unusual color intrigued him. A light golden brown, they held flecks of green that made them seem to change with the light. They reminded him of the eyes of a cougar he had seen in the zoo. Aloof, watchful, wary. Only now, raw fear lurked in their depths.
Come on, Eddy, dont let me down. Get that ambulance here.
Struggling to hide his concerns, Mick searched for a way to establish a rapport and put her at ease. Have you got a name picked out for your baby?
No. I thought I had plenty of time.
He gave her a wry smile. Ive got names picked out for my kids, and Im not even married yet.
She arched an eyebrow. Goody for you.
A kids name is important. Its something you should give a lot of thought. Not that you haventor wouldntI mean, he murmured as he ducked his head.
Caitlin couldnt believe it. This grown man, as big as a house, and probably twenty-five years old was blushing. His neck grew almost as red as his hair. It was sweet, really.
What could she say to someone about to deliver her baby? Things were going to get intimate. Maybe soon. She felt the beginnings of another contraction and reached for his hand. His large fingers engulfed her small ones. Strength and reassurance seem to flow from him into her, easing her fear. Focusing on his face, she followed his instructions to breathe in and blow out. The pain did seem more bearable.
As the contraction faded, she realized he still held her hand. She pulled away and drew his jacket close, relishing the warmth and comforting scent of leather and masculine cologne. The quiet of the old building pressed in around them.
So, tell me what names you got picked out, she said at last. Maybe Ill use one.
He smiled. For a boy, itll be William Perry.
Willie Perry Williams. She tried the name out but shook her head. Not a chance. Why would you do that to a kid?
Are you joking? William The Refrigerator Perry was the greatest football player in the history of the Chicago Bears.
Her husband had liked football. The thought of Vinnie sent a stab of regret through her heart. He would never see his son or daughter. How she had hoped that he would give up his wild ways once he knew they were having a baby. He hadnt. A high-speed chase while trying to outrun the police ended his life when his car veered off the highway and struck a tree. His death that night had started her down the painful path that led to her current desperate situation.
Within days she had discovered that Vinnie had been gambling away the rent money she worked so hard to earn. The landlord didnt want to hear her sob story. He wanted his money. Three months of unpaid rent was more than she could come up with. She was evicted the day after her husbands funeral. With no money and nowhere to go, she soon found herself living on the streets. The one place she swore shed never go back to.
She took a close look at her rescuer. Was he the same kind of man? One who would drink and gamble and then lie to his pregnant wife about it? She didnt believe that. Not a guy who liked kids as much as he did.
Managing a little smile, she said, You dont plan on naming a girl after a football player, do you?
No, he answered quietly. Ill name her after my mother. Elizabeth Anne OCallaghan.
Amazing! If this guy was any sweeter, hed rival a candy bar.
Another contraction hit, and his hand found hers. You got it, thats it. Breathe, he coaxed. Breathe, breathe. Youre doing great.
She curled onto her side and focused on his singsong voice. With his free hand, he began to rub her lower back in slow circles. Okay, she thought, a sweet guy is a good thing to have around just now.
Is there someone I can call once we get to the hospital? he asked. Family? The babys father?
She shook her head. Vinnie, my husband, hes dead. Theres nobody.
Im sorry.
She bristled at the pity in his voice. Normally, she would have ignored it, but now she couldnt seem to control the emotions that flared in her.
I dont need your pity. Ive had a little bad luck, thats all. She raised up on her elbow to glare at him. Ill be on my feet again in no time and a lot better off than I was before.
Holding up one hand, he said, Chill, lady. I wasnt feeling sorry for you.
Youd better not. I can take care of myself. And I can take care of my baby, too.
In here? He gestured around the room. The broken window let the wind in, and strips of dingy wallpaper peeling from the stained plaster waved in the breeze that carried the smells of mildew and rotting wood.
Lady, Ive seen kids living in places like this covered with rat bites and worse. If you think you can go it alone, youre crazy. Theres a system to help if youll use it.
Why do you care? You want to name your little girl after your mother, right? You know what I remember about dear old Mom? On my fifth birthday she gave me a Twinkie with a candle in it. Then she left me inside a Dumpster for two days because she was too strung out to remember where shed put me to keep me quiet while some new boyfriend supplied her habit. Your precious system moved me from one foster home to another when it wasnt giving me back to Mom so she could have another go at me. By the time I was sixteen, Id figured out living in a back alley was a better deal. Your system isnt going to get its hands on my baby. Ill make sure of that.
She squeezed her eyes shut, fighting to hold back a scream as the pain overwhelmed her.
Okay, youve had it rough, he said gently. Show me one kid down at the shelter that hasnt. But, if Child Welfare finds out this is where youre living, do you think theyre going to let you bring a baby here? Im just saying stay at a shelter until you find something better. Its not you Im worried about, its the baby.
Everyone whod ever shown her compassion had had their own agenda in mind. Why did she think this guy was any different? Why did she find herself believing he really did care?
How come youre so concerned about someone elses kid?
He stared out the broken window for a long moment without speaking, then he looked at her and said, Maybe because I cant have kids of my own.
She frowned. I dont get it. What about the names?
The smile he tried for was edged with sadness. If I ever marry, Ill adopt children.
You look healthy to me, she said, giving him the once-over. Whats wrong with you?
He hesitated, then admitted, I had a bad case of the mumps when I was a teenager. It left me sterile. He shrugged. Its just one of those things.
But not a little thing, Caitlin thought as she glimpsed the sadness in his eyes.
Mick? Mick OCallaghan? A shout echoed through the building.
Last room on the left, Pastor, Mick shouted back.
The sound of someone clambering past the debris in the hall reached them. A moment later, Pastor Franks bald head appeared in the doorway. Mick, what are you doing in here? Eddy was raving about you delivering a baby.
His eyes, behind silver wire-rimmed glasses, widened as he caught sight of Caitlin. For goodness sake. Are you?
Not yet, but we could be. Did you call for an ambulance?
I did. The sound of a distant siren followed his words.
Mick turned to her and smiled. Everythings going to be all right now.
He gripped her hand again. The warmth and strength of his touch made her believe him. He would take care of her and her baby.
Twenty minutes later, two paramedics loaded the stretcher she lay on into the ambulance. Another contraction hit, stronger this time. As she tried to pant through it, the need to push became uncontrollable. One of the paramedics started to close the door, shutting Mick out.
Wait, she shouted. Hes got to come with me.
She wasnt sure why she needed Mick. Maybe it was because he truly seemed to careabout her, and about her baby.
She stretched her hand out and pleaded, Please, Mick, we need you.
The two paramedics looked at Mick. The older one said, Okay, OCallaghan, come on. Were wasting time. He motioned with his head, and Mick jumped in. Moments later, the ambulance rolled with red lights and siren.
Mick knew hed be late getting home for sure now. He would have to call once he reached the hospital. The last thing he wanted was to worry his mother. Yet, for some reason he knew he couldnt let Caitlin go through this alone.
She didnt have anyone. He couldnt imagine what that must be like. Besides his mother, he had two sisters, a dozen nephews and nieces and more cousins than he could count. There were enough OCallaghans in Chicago to fill the upper deck at Wrigley Field, while this destitute young woman was totally alone.
No, God had set his feet on the path that led to Caitlin today. Mick couldnt believe the Lord wanted him to bail out now. Taking her hand, he smiled at her and said, You got it now. Just breathe.
The siren wailed overhead. Caitlin struggled to block out the sound as she panted through the contraction with Mick coaching her. Why didnt they shut it off? She couldnt concentrate. She needed to hear his voice telling her everything was going to be okay. And she needed to push.
She was pushing by the time the ambulance reached the hospital. Her stretcher was quickly unloaded and wheeled into the building. People came at her from all directions, yelling instructions, asking for information and giving orders she couldnt follow. All she could do was bear down and push a new life into the world as she clung to Micks hand like a life-line.
A sudden gush of fluid soaked the stretcher, and her tiny baby slid into the hands of a startled doctor. We have a girl, he said. Mick lifted Caitlins head so she could see.
Shes so small. Dread snaked its way into her soul as they whisked her daughter to a table with warming lamps glowing above it.
Is she okay? Why isnt she crying? Caitlin tightened her grip on Micks hand. So many people crowded around the baby that she couldnt see her. She tried to sit up, but a nurse held her back.
Your babys being taken care of.
Just tell me shes okay. Please, someone tell me shes okay. Frantic now, Caitlin struggled to push the nurse aside, but a sudden, sharp pain in her chest halted her.
She tried to draw a breath but couldnt get any air. Something was wrong, terribly wrong. She collapsed back onto the bed as the crushing pain overwhelmed her.
Long minutes later, they wheeled the babys bed up beside her. Caitlin turned her head and focused on her daughters small face. For an instant, all her pain faded away.
Her baby was so beautifulso tinyso perfect. But she wasnt moving. Someone spoke, but Caitlin couldnt hear them over the roaring in her ears. Then they pushed her babys bed out the door. Their faces were all so grim.
Is she dead, Mick? Caitlin whispered, terrified to hear the answer.
No, he answered quickly. Theyre taking her to the NICU. Its a special intensive care just for babies. Theyll take good care of her there. Shes going to be fine.
Why isntshe crying? The pain in her chest made it hard to talk.
Its because shes so premature, Mick answered. She has a tube going into her airway to help her breathe, and she cant make any sound with that in.
Caitlins own breathing had become short, labored panting. A frowning nurse slipped a plastic mask over Caitlins face and spoke to the doctor. He frowned, too.
Caitlin looked from face to face. She didnt know any of these people. Who would look after her baby?
She gripped Micks arm, pulling him closer. Go with her.
He glanced at the E.R. staff, then back to her. I think I should stay with you.
Im fine, she insisted. She forced a smile to her trembling lips. A strange cold was seeping into her bones. Stay withBeth. Watch over her for me.
He patted her hand. Okay. Ill be back soon.
Nodding, she whispered, Thank you, and watched him hurry out the door.
The nurse beside her claimed her attention. I need you to tell me your name.
CaitlinWilliams, she wheezed.
Are you allergic to any medication? Are you using any street drugs? Caitlin shook her head at each question the nurse fired at her. The room grew dark around the edges.
So this was what it was like to die. She wanted to cry because she knew what would happen to her daughter nowthe same things that had happened to her. It wasnt fair.
Who is your next of kin? The nurse continued to insist on answers. Caitlin only wanted to close her eyes and rest, but more people crowded around her, taking her blood pressure, listening to her heart, poking needles in her arm, sticking wires on her chest. They were all frowning.
Is the man who came in with you the babys father? the nurse asked.
What? Caitlin tried to focus on the womans face.
I said, is that man the babys father?
Would Mick see that her daughter was taken care of? She could say he was the father, then hed have the right to look after her. Would he understand? It didnt matter, she was out of time. She nodded as she whispered, Yes.
What is his name?
MickOCallaghan. Dont let her be alone, Mick. Please, take care of her.
Darkness swooped in and began to pull Caitlin away. She struggled against it. She needed to stay for her baby.
Were losing her, someone shouted.
Chapter Two
Mick caught up with the baby as they wheeled her into the nearest elevator. Squeezing in beside them, he stared in amazement at Caitlins daughter. Hed never seen anything so tiny. Her head was no bigger than the palm of his hand; his little finger was thicker than her gangly legs, yet she was so complete. Downy, brown hair covered her head and miniature wrinkles creased her forehead above arching brows. She even had eyelashes! The tiny spikes lay curved against her cheek. Awed by the wonder of this new life, he gazed at her in fascination. Truly, here was one of Gods greatest creations.
Her delicate hands flew up and curled around the breathing tube taped in her mouth.
No, honey, dont pull on that, a nurse chided as she pried the tiny fingers loose. Hold Daddys hand instead, she suggested with an encouraging smile.
Hesitantly, almost fearfully, Mick reached for the babys hand. Her thin fingers gripped his large, blunt one. Her eyes fluttered open. She stared at him and blinked, then her frown deepened into a scowl. An identical, miniature version of her mothers, and Michael Aaron OCallaghan fell hopelessly in love.
She looks like her mom, he said, surprised to hear the catch in his voice. He glanced at the woman beside him. Will she be all right?
She has a very good chance, but there is a long road ahead of her, Im afraid. Im Dr. Wright. Im one of the neonatologists on staff here. Her lungs are much too immature to work properly, so shes going to need help. Shell be placed on a ventilator once we reach the unit. As she spoke, she continued rhythmically squeezing a small, gray bag that delivered oxygen to the baby. Do you have a name for her?
Beth, he answered, or maybe Elizabeth. Her mother can tell you for sure. When can she come and see her?
Well be busy getting Beth admitted and stabilized for the next hour or so. Id suggest you wait until then to bring Mom in. The elevator doors slid open, and Mick followed them as they wheeled the baby across the hall and into the NICU.
A flurry of activity began as soon as they entered the large room. At first, it seemed like nurses were scurrying in all directions at once, but it quickly became apparent it was a controlled rush as Beth was placed on a larger bed, and hooked to a waiting ventilator. Within minutes, a jungle of wires, IV poles, tubing and oxygen hoses surrounded her.
Glancing around the room, Mick noted with amusement its peculiar mix of Mother Goose and science-fiction technology. Rows of flashing monitors and digital displays shared wall space with giant nursery-rhyme characters above the open beds and incubators. IV poles held bags of fluid, swaying mobiles and colorful toys.
Dr. Wright spoke as she worked. We need to administer a medication directly into Beths lungs to help mature them and start some IVs.
Mick interrupted, What are her chances, honestly?
She weighs barely two pounds, and she looks to be about twenty-six weeks gestation, which means she was born fourteen weeks early. Her chances of survival are good if she doesnt develop any serious complications. Only time will tell.
After the excitement of Beths admission died down, the nurses let Mick sit beside her bed. He couldnt get over how adorable she looked in spite of the tubes and wires. His heart warmed to her as he watched her with a sense of wonder and fascination. After a while, he glanced at the clock surprised to see how late it was. In the rush of events he had forgotten to call home.
Id better go and tell your mother how youre doing. I know shes worried.
He took a last look at the little girl whose arrival had generated so much activity. Goodbye, Beth. Be well, he whispered, knowing he might never see her again. His mothers voice echoed in his mind, and he smiled. He took hold of her tiny hand. May God grant you many years to live, for sure He must be knowing, the Earth has angels all too few, and heavens overflowing.
A nurse across the bed smiled at him as she added medication to a bag of IV fluid. Are you a poet?
Sheepishly, he grinned. Its an old Irish blessing, something my mother always says as a kind of birthday wish.
Its darling. Ill write it out and put it on her bed. We like to keep personal things by the babies, like toys or photos. Things that help the families connect with their baby.
She reached out and patted his arm. Im Sandra Carter. Try not to worry, Irish. Shes a fighter, I can tell.
I hope youre right.
Hold out your hand. He did and she fastened a hospital wristband around his arm. Youll need this to get back in.
He fingered the white strip of plastic without comment. He was here under false pretenses, but only because Caitlin had insisted. Still, that didnt quite ease his conscience.
After making his way back to the E.R., he halted on the threshold of the room where hed left Caitlin. It was empty.
Out at the main desk, Mick spoke to the heavyset woman seated behind it. Excuse me. Can you tell me where theyve taken the woman who just had a baby here?
The patients name? she asked in a bored voice, continuing to write on the paper in front of her.
Caitlin Williams.
She laid down her pen, then shuffled through the charts beside her. She located one, flipped it open, then gave him a startled look. Let me get Dr. Reese to speak with you.
She hoisted her bulk out of the chair and opened a door behind her. Doctor, theres someone here asking about the Williams woman.
The unease Mick felt intensified when the grave-looking doctor emerged from the doorway. Are you family? he asked.
No. Ima friend. Is something wrong?
Im afraid so. Ms. Williams has developed a rare complication of pregnancy called amniotic fluid embolus.
What does that mean?
Drawing a deep breath, the doctor continued, It means during her delivery, some of the amniotic fluid got into her blood stream. Once there, it traveled up through her heart and lodged in her lung preventing her from getting enough oxygen. That stopped her heart.
Shes dead? Mick struggled to grasp the mans words.
No, Dr. Reese admitted slowly. We were able to restart her heart. Ms. Williams is on a ventilator now, but she hasnt regained consciousness. The lack of oxygen can cause profound brain damage, and the embolus can cause uncontrollable bleeding problems. Her condition is extremely serious. Shes unlikely to survive.
Unlikely to survive? The phrase echoed inside Micks head, filling him with a profound sadness. Caitlin was so young. She had a baby who needed her. What would happen to Beth now?
He raked a hand through his hair. I should have stayed with her. I knew something wasnt right.
I heard her tell you to go with the baby, the doctor said gently. These patients often have an overwhelming sense of doom. She knew, and she chose to have you stay with her child. Shes a very brave young woman.
Im sorry to interrupt, the clerk spoke up. Doctor, youre needed in room six.
He nodded, then looked at Mick. Im sorry we couldnt do more, he said, then hurried away.
Are you Mick OCallaghan? the clerk asked. Mick nodded. The woman pushed several sheets of paper toward him and offered him a pen. We need you to fill out these forms, and Ill need a copy of your insurance card.
My insurance card? For what?
For your baby.
No, you dont understand. Beth isnt mine.
According to Caitlin Williams, she is, the clerk said smugly.
Just then, Sandra and two other NICU nurses rounded the corner and walked past. Hey, Irish, Sandra said with a bright smile. Im glad I ran into you. My shift is over, but Ill be back in the morning. Your daughters doing fine, but you need to leave us a phone number. We overlooked that detail in the rush of her admission.
She started to leave, but stopped and turned. Oh, I wrote out your mothers blessing and taped it to Beths bed. Several other parents have asked for a copy of it. I hope you dont mind. She waved and followed her friends out the door.
It seems a lot of people think shes your baby, the clerk said with a smirk.
It took a call to his attorney to convince the woman that unless Mick himself had signed the paternity papers, he had no legal responsibility for the childsomething Mick suspected she knew already. After that, he called home to make sure his mother was all right. Surprisingly, his mothers friend and part-time nurse Naomi answered the phone.
Its about time you called, she scolded.
I know. I had to take someone to the hospital. Im glad you could stay. I hope it wasnt an inconvenience.
I can watch my favorite TV shows here as well as at home. Besides, your mother is good company.
How is she today?
Determined to get up and clean house even with her arm in a cast. I knew it was a mistake for that doctor to take her ankle brace off. The woman has less sense than you.
Keep her down even if you have to sit on her. And tell her Ill be home in a hour or so.
Knowing that his mother wasnt alone was a relief. After hanging up, he went in search of Caitlin. At the medical ICU, a nurse led him to Caitlins room. He paused in the doorway. A single bed occupied the small room. He stepped next to it and rested his hands on the cold metal rails.
She looked utterly helpless lying with the sheets neatly folded under her arms and her hands at her sides. A thick, white tube protruded from her mouth connecting her to a ventilator. The soft hiss it made as it delivered each breath made it sound as though the machine had a life of its own. Like a mechanical monster, it crouched there controlling her fate. One breath. She still lived. Another breath. She still lived.
Someone had combed her hair. It made her look younger, sweeter. The hard edges of streetwise homelessness didnt show now, only the face of a lovely young woman.
He had promised her that everything would be all right, but he hadnt been able to keep that promise.
The world wasnt full of happy endings; his job, if not his personal life, had taught him that long ago. Only sometimes, like now, when Gods plan was hidden from view, he had trouble accepting things which seemed so unfair. Saddened beyond measure, he turned away knowing he could do nothing except keep her in his prayers.
After taking a cab home, he opened his front door and Nikki, his elderly golden retriever, met him with a wagging tail. Mick stooped to ruffle one silky ear. She licked his hand once then padded back to her bed in front of the fireplace, lay down and watched him across the room with calm, serious eyes. He sank onto the sofa and rubbed his hands over his weary face. The clock on the mantel began to chime midnight. He had to be on duty in less than seven hours. He considered pulling the throw over himself and just sleeping where he was, but decided against it. Instead, he rose to his feet and climbed the stairs with Nikki at his heels.
He glanced down the hall and saw that a light still shone from under his mothers door. He walked to the end of the corridor and rapped lightly on the thick oak panel. At her muffled answer, he eased the door open.
Elizabeth OCallaghan was sitting up in bed reading by the light of a lamp on the bedside stand. She was dressed in a simple cotton robe of pale blue that matched her sharp eyes behind her bifocals. Her long white hair hung over a thick plaster cast covering her left arm from elbow to wrist, the result of her auto accident. Around her neck she wore a small gold chain and simple gold cross that glinted in the light when she moved.
She once told him that the cross had come all the way from Ireland with her mother. Like her own mother, Elizabeth OCallaghan had spent her life praying for the less fortunate. And she hadnt stopped with simply praying for them.
After his fathers death, Micks mother had worked to raise her own children and then went on to help other young women who were alone in the world. Mercy House had been her idea. Her work, her heart and soul had started it. With the help of several women and the local pastor, her work still went on. Micks heart swelled with love and pride when he thought of all she had accomplished. The Lord gave her a strong will, and she used it to help serve Him.
Hi, Mom. Hows the arm feeling?
Not too bad. She wiggled her fingers for his benefit.
Has Naomi gone?
She helped me with my bath then I sent her home. Im better now. I dont need a sitter around the clock. A few more weeks and Ill be able to move back to my own apartment.
You can move back when your doctor gives you the okay and not before.
Ive put you out long enough. A man your age shouldnt be saddled with caring for a feeble old woman. You should be looking to get saddled with a pretty young woman.
Where am I going to find one prettier than you?
She grinned at him, laid her book aside and patted the mattress beside her. You cant sidetrack me with flattery. Ive been waiting up for you. What kept you? Naomi said you had to rush someone to the hospital. Come here and tell me everything.
She sounded like a schoolgirl eager for gossip. He crossed the room in a few long strides and bent to kiss her cheek. Its a long story.
Im not going anywhere and neither are you until you tell me the whole truth and nothing but the truth, young man. She grasped his arm and tugged until he sat on the bed.
If you insist.
I do.
Okay. I was on my way home from Mercy House when an old bum stopped me to help deliver a baby, but we got the mother to the hospital first, and since the baby weighed only two pounds she had to go to intensive care, and the mother asked me to go with the baby and I did, only while I was gone she told everyone I was the babys father before she lapsed into a coma. Any questions?
His mothers eyes were wide with stunned surprise. About a million. Why dont you start at the top and go more slowly.
He grinned and repeated the story with as many of the details as he knew, stopping often to answer her questions. At the end of his tale, he met her sad, concerned gaze and wished he hadnt shared quite so much.
This woman really doesnt have anyone we can notify?
Not as far as I know. Its the only reason I can think of why she would say Im the father.
That poor woman. And that poor little baby. Thank goodness you were there for them. Is there any chance the mother will recover?
The doctor didnt think so. Im not Beths father but I cant stand thinking of someone so tiny being all alone in the world. Frankly, Im not sure what to do.
Why, you do the right thing! And dont be telling your mother that you dont know what that is, she declared. I raised you better than that.
Mick rose and wished her good-night. On the way back to his room he considered her words. This time I really dont know what the right thing is. I need Your guidance, Lord. What is it that You want me to do?
He got ready for bed and lay down, but sleep wouldnt come. Each time he closed his eyes he saw Caitlins face. He saw her eyes wide with relief when hed followed Eddy into her room, and he saw them filled with fear for her baby. Such beautiful eyes, closed perhaps forever, yet repeated in miniature, along with her fearsome scowl, in her daughters tiny face.
He barely knew the woman, but he kept hearing her voice. Stay with Beth. Watch over her for me. It was the last thing Caitlin had said to him.
Had she sensed that she was dying? Had she been asking him for something more? Was that why she told them he was the father? So her baby girl wouldnt be left alone?
Mick threw back the quilt and sat up on the side of his bed. The light from a full moon cast a glow into the room. Rising, he crossed to the window. Nikki watched him from her spot at the foot of the bed, but she didnt bother to get up.
Pulling the curtains aside, he looked out the second-story window of his home and stared at the shadows of the trees in the park behind his property. It was deserted now, but during the day it would be filled with neighborhood children playing on the swings and slides. On nearby benches, smiling young mothers would follow their play with watchful eyes.
Yet across that park and the railroad yards beyond it, there existed a world those happy children would only know in passing or see on TV. It was a world of intense poverty, where children played in filthy streets and lived in crowded, run-down apartments if they were lucky enough to have a home at all, and where mothers seldom smiled because they worried about where the next meal would come from.
Caitlin came from those streets. If she lived, shed go back there and take little Beth with her. But if Caitlin died, where would her child go? Into foster care until she was old enough to run away and end up like her mother? Or would she be one of the lucky ones playing in a park like this?
He let the curtain fall back into place. None of the children in the park would ever be his. Facing that fact was more painful tonight than it had ever been. Perhaps because, for a moment, when Beth had grasped his finger and gazed up at him, he had known what it felt like to be a father.
He raked his fingers through his hair. He wasnt responsible for Caitlin or her child, yet somehow the two of them had captured a piece of his heart. He felt connected to them. It wasnt right that they were alone. They needed someone to care about them. They needed him. Before he could change his mind, he crossed the room to the closet where he pulled on a gray wool cable-knit sweater, a pair of jeans and his sneakers, then he headed out the door.
A fine mist fell as he drove down the dark streets. The swish-swish of his wiper blades was almost mesmerizing. Twenty minutes later, he pulled into the parking lot of the hospital. Wondering if he was being a fool, he hurried out of the rain and through the emergency room doors.
At the NICU he showed his wristband, and a nurse answered his questions. Beth was doing as well as could be expected. She invited him in, but he declined. He needed to see Caitlin.
When he entered the ICU and reached her room, he hesitated at the door. What did he hope to accomplish here? Maybe nothing. He pulled a chair up beside her bed. Reaching through the rail, he took hold of her hand.
Caitlin, its Mick, he said softly, and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. Glancing at the array of machines and blinking lights around her, he sighed. He didnt know if she could hear him. But if she could, he wanted her to know that she wasnt alone. He began to talk about her baby.
Were calling her Beth for now. She weighs only two pounds. I know that doesnt sound like much, but she really is a cute, little thing. She looks like you, I thinkexcept kind of scrawny. She has brown hair with a touch of red, he added and smiled. I dont suppose youre part Irish, are you?
His words died away in the dimness of the room, and only the sound of the ventilator continued. One breath. One breath.
What should he say? What would a young mother clinging to life want to know about her child? What would he want to know if it were him? His grip on her hand tightened.
Your baby is doing fine. The nurses are great. They really seem to care about her. One of them called her a fighter. I guess that means shes going to take after you.
He studied the small hand he held in his large one. Her fingers were long and delicate, but some of her nails were short and ragged. Did she chew them? He knew so little about her, yet she had entrusted him with her baby.
Girl, do you have any idea how much trouble youve caused me? I dont know why you told them I was the babys father, unless you thought you werent going to make it. But Im not her father, althoughwell, although I wish I were. She needs her mothershe needs you. Youve got to hold on.
He couldnt think of anything else to say. He bowed his head and sought comfort for himself and for her in the words he knew so well. Our Father, Who art in heaven
Lost in a strange darkness, Caitlin searched for a way out. She had to find her baby. She didnt want her daughter to know the terrible, gut-wrenching fear of being left aloneof wondering what she had done that was so bad her own mother would leave her. That was the one promise Caitlin meant to keep. No, she wouldnt leave her babynot ever.
Pain came again, deep inside her chest. She cried out, but no sound formed in her mouth. Perhaps it was her heart breaking because she missed her baby so. She tried to move her arms but she couldnt. Something or someone held her eyes closed.
A faint voice called her name, and Caitlin struggled to listen. Her baby was fine, the voice said. Had she really heard those words? Joy filled her.
She listened closely. She knew this voice. It was a mans voice. He was praying. The sound of his deep, caring voice saying those simple words brought a sense of comfort unlike anything she had never known.
Then the pain struck again and she began to choke. Somewhere, a shrill alarm sounded.
Chapter Three
Mick paced the confines of the small waiting room outside the intensive care unit where hed been ushered, and prayed as the minutes ticked by. Was Caitlins life slipping away beyond those doors? What would become of Beth? Why didnt anyone come and tell him what was going on? Finally, twenty agonizing minutes later, a young doctor appeared. He didnt look encouraging. Mick prepared himself to hear the worst.
How is she?
Stabilized at the moment. She had some bleeding from her lungs. Weve managed to control it for now.
Thank God. Relief caused Micks tired muscles to betray him, and he sank into one of the blue tweed chairs in the room.
If it doesnt reoccurshe has a chance.
Mick looked up. You dont sound very sure of that.
Her condition is critical. Its best not to hold out false hopes.
Can I see her?
For a few minutes, the young doctor conceded.
In the unit, Mick paused outside Caitlins door. What was he doing here? Why was he getting involved?
Because she didnt have anyone else.
Stepping up to her bed, he leaned down and whispered, Dont worry, Sleeping Beauty. Ill see that they take good care of you, and of Beth. You arent alone. God is with you.
He pressed her hand but got no response. He studied her quiet, pale face. He had called her Sleeping Beauty, and the name seemed to fit. Her heart-shaped face with its prominent cheekbones and expressive flyaway eyebrows coupled with her short hair gave her an almost elfin appearance. What was it about her that drew him so? Was it only because she was alone that he felt this intense desire to take care of her? Somehow, he knew it was more than that.
Crossing to the door, he glanced back. Caitlins chest rose and fell slightly in time with the soft hiss of the ventilator. One breath. One breath.
Rest easy. Ill watch over little Beth for you.
As soon as he said the words a deep sense of satisfaction filled him. This was right. This was what he was meant to do.
After leaving Caitlin, he went to see her baby. Beth lay on her side snuggled in a soft cloth nest covered with tiny red and blue hearts. The ventilator tubing and IV lines were neatly organized now, but a daunting array of machines surrounded her bed. Glancing around the unit he saw a number of other parents who like himself had been drawn here in the middle of the night. Most of them stood by beds looking uncertain, their faces a curious mixture of hope and fear, pride and pity.
He pulled up a stool and sat beside Beth. His heart went out to her. She was so little and so alone in the world.
One of her hands moved up to curl around the tube in her mouth, and her brow furrowed in a frown. Gently, he uncurled her fingers and gave her his thumb to grip instead. Youre not really alone, he whispered. Youve got the good Lord and me on your side.
For the longest time, he stared at her tiny face. Each feature so perfect and so new. That she lived at all was nothing short of amazing.
Its amazing, isnt it?
The words mirrored his own thoughts so closely that he wasnt sure hed really heard them. He glanced up and saw a woman seated in a rocker holding a baby on the other side of Beths bed. She looked old to be a new mother. Her short, dark hair was streaked with gray at the temples and crows-feet gathered at the corners of her eyes, but she was dressed in a hospital gown beneath a yellow print robe.
Im sorry. Did you say something? he asked feeling bemused, or maybe just sleep deprived.
I said, its amazing. Theyre so perfectly formed even at such an early age.
He nodded. Yes. I never knew. His throat closed and tears pricked at his eyes. He struggled to regain control and after a moment, he pointed with his chin. Is yours a boy or a girl?
Her smile held an odd, sad quality. I have a little boy. She lifted the blanket so he could see the babys face. The features of a child with Down syndrome were unmistakable.
He has a lot of hair, Mick said, trying to find something kind to say.
She ran her fingers through the babys long hair. Yes, he does. Its so very soft, she said almost to herself.
The baby began to fuss. She snuggled him closer and patted him until he hushed. She looked at Mick and smiled. I wanted to thank you for the lovely saying on your daughters bed.
Mick glanced at the foot of Beths bed. His Irish blessing had been written in green ink and surrounded by little green shamrocks drawn on a plain white card and taped to the clear Plexiglas panel. Its something my mother says.
It helped me so much.
Smiling gently, he said, Im glad.
She tucked her sons hand back inside the blanket. When I first saw my sonfirst realized what was wrong with him, I thought it would have been better if he had gone to be with the angels Her voice cracked. She blinked back tears when she looked at Mick. Isnt that terrible?
Mick found himself at a loss as to how to answer her, but the nurse had come back to the bedside. She dropped an arm around the woman and gave her a quick hug.
No, it isnt terrible. We cant help the way we feel. Disappointment, fear, sadnesstheyre all feelings that catch us by surprise when something goes wrong.
I do love him, you know. Its just that weve waited so long for a child. Im almost forty. He was going to be our only one, her voice trailed into silence.
A moment later she patted the nurses arm. Youve all been wonderful. Thank you. And you. She looked at Mick. Your mothers saying pointed out to me that God knows what Hes doing. My son wasnt meant to be an angel in heaven. He was meant to be an angel here on Earth, like your little girl.
Gazing at Beths frail form, surrounded by everything modern medicine offered, he could only pray the woman was right.
You look like death warmed over.
Mick closed the door of his locker and cast Woody an exasperated glance. Thanks. I could say the same about you.
Towering a head taller than Mick, Woody Mills, a Kansas farm boy turned Chicago firefighter and a close friend, grinned. He pulled his cowboy hat off and ran a hand through a blond crew cut that closely resembled the stubble of the wheat fields hed left behind. Tough night?
Mick nodded. I never made it to bed.
He wasnt looking forward to staying up another twenty-four hours. Maybe theyd have a quiet shift, and he could grab a few hours in the sack.
Woody! They both turned at the sound of the shout. Their watch commander, Captain Mitchell, appeared in the open doorway. Ziggy needs help in the kitchen. Give him a hand.
Mick groaned, and Woody laughed. Thats right, MickO. Its Ziggys week to cook. So guess what were having?
Mick leaned his head against the locker. Spaghetti. Why cant he cook somethinganythingelse? He knows I hate spaghetti.
Then itll be a good week to go on a diet. Besides, the rest of us like it, so you lose. Still chuckling, Woody left the room.
The gong sounded suddenly and Mick raced for his gear along with the other men. He never found the time that day for a nap or for a plate of spaghetti. Two structure fires kept the company out for most of his shift. It was late the following morning when he found the time to call the hospital to check on Caitlin and the baby.
Caitlins condition was unchanged, but the news about Beth was less encouraging. She was requiring higher oxygen and higher ventilator pressures, and shed developed a heart murmur.
Her murmur is due to a PDA, Dr. Wright explained to Mick over the phone. Its a condition that often occurs in very premature infants. Before a baby is born very little blood goes to the lungs. As the blood is pumped out of the heart, it passes through a small opening called the ductus arteriosus and goes back to the placenta for oxygen. After a baby is born, this artery closes naturally, and blood flows to the lungs. But in many premature infants, it doesnt close and thats a problem. We can treat her with medication, but if that fails, shell need surgery.
Isnt surgery risky for such a small baby?
PDA ligation is a routine procedure, but lets not get ahead of ourselves. It may close after the drug is given. Im optimistic but this is one of the complications I mentioned. Ill keep you informed. Also, our social worker needs to talk to you about signing paternity papers.
It was the perfect opening to admit that he wasnt Beths father. Only, he didnt take it.
Inside the odd darkness, Caitlin drifted all alone. Sometimes it was as dark as midnight, other times it grew vaguely light, like the morning sky before the sun rose, but never light enough to let her see her surroundings. Voices spoke to her, telling her to open her eyes or move her fingers. She tried, but nothing happened. When the voices stopped, she was alone again.
It was pleasant here. No pain, no hunger, no cold; none of the things shed come to expect in life. The urge to remain here was overwhelming, but she couldnt stay. She had to find her baby. Once she found her baby shed never be alone ever again. She would always have someone to love and be loved by in return.
At times, a mans voice came. Deep and low, mellow as the notes of a song, it pulled Caitlin away from the darkness. He spoke to her now, and she knew he was watching over her little girl. Her baby wasnt lost at all.
The voice told her all kinds of thingshow much the baby weighed and how cute she was. Sometimes the voice spoke about people Caitlin didnt know, but that didnt matter. Sometimes, he spoke about God, and how much God loved her. He spoke about having faith in the face of terrible things. His voice was like a rope that she held on to in the darkness. If she didnt let go, she could follow the sound and find her way out.
Now his voice was saying goodbye and she hated knowing that he was going away. She felt safe when he was near.
Something soft and warm touched her cheek gently. The fog grew light and pale around her. She opened her eyes and the image of a man with deep auburn hair and a kind face swam into focus for an instant, then the fog closed over her again.
She opened her eyes! Excited, Mick stared at Caitlin and prayed he hadnt imagined it.
What did you say? The nurse, whod just entered the room, looked at him in surprise.
She opened her eyes! She looked at me.
Itd been five days since Caitlin had slipped into a coma, and for the last two days Mick had divided his waking hours between sitting with Beth, whose condition was slowly worsening, and sitting with Caitlin. This was the first sign of any spontaneous movement from her.
Caitlin, open your eyes, the nurse coaxed. Nothing.
Mick leaned close to Caitlins ear. Come on, Sleeping Beauty. I know youre in there. Give me a sign.
Again nothing. The nurse pinched the skin on the back of Caitlins hand, then lifted her eyelid. Turning to him the nurse asked, What were you doing when she moved?
A flush heated Micks face. I was getting ready to leave, and I kissed her cheek, he admitted, feeling foolish.
Giving him a sad smile, the nurse touched his arm. Sometimes we see the things we want to see, even if theyre not really there. How is her baby doing?
Mick glanced at Caitlins still form and motioned with his head. The nurse followed him from the room. Once outside, he raked a hand through his hair and said, Beth isnt good. Her heart hasnt responded to the medication theyve given her. It looks like shell need surgery.
Im sorry to hear that.
Are you Mr. OCallaghan? Mick turned to see an over-weight man with thin gray hair standing in the hall. His ill-fitting, dark blue jacket hung open displaying a wrinkled white shirt stained with a dribble of coffee. He held a scuffed black briefcase in one hand.
Yes, Im OCallaghan, Mick answered.
Im glad I finally caught up with you. Im Lloyd Winston, the social worker for the NICU.
What can I do for you?
Mr. Winston glanced at the nurse, then said, Why dont you come to my office. We can speak in private there.
Mick held out a hand. Lead the way.
Have you got a minute to help me change this bed?
Sure.
Caitlin heard voices clearly this timethey were right beside her. Cool hands touched her body. She struggled to open her eyes, and for a moment, the blurred forms of two women came into view. Abruptly, they pulled her onto her side, and the movement sent waves of dizziness and pain crashing through her.
Isnt she the saddest case?
No kidding.
I heard the baby might not make it.
I heard that, too. Hand me the lotion.
One of them smeared cold liquid across Caitlins back. Were they talking about her baby? She fought to concentrate.
My cousin had a little boy that was born prematurely. Hes five now, but hes blind and deaf. She feeds him through a tube in his stomach, and he takes round-the-clock care.
Thats awful.
Its awful to see my cousin tied her whole life to a child whos so damaged that he cant even smile at her. At five, hes hard to move and lift to change his diapers. Think what its going to be like when hes twenty-five.
My babys not damaged. Shes perfect. Caitlin wanted to shout at them. She wanted to cover her ears with her hands, but her arms were deadweights.
From the moment she suspected she was pregnant, she had wanted a little girl. Her daughter was going to grow up to run and laugh and give her mother a dozen hugs a day. They would have each other forever. Caitlin would never leave her baby hungry, or hurting, or scared and alone in the dark the way she had been treated as a child.
Without warning, Caitlin was rolled to her other side. Her joints and muscles cried out in protest and nausea churned in her stomach. She moaned, but no sound escaped her. Tears formed at the corners of her eyes.
Its time for her to stay on her left side. Can you help me change the sheets on that patient in room eight?
The sound of their voices faded away, and Caitlin was alone again, but she was glad they were gone. She didnt want to hear about a child who was deaf and blind. She had to find her own baby.
She concentrated on opening her eyes. Bit by bit, her eyelids lifted and a room came into focus. There was dark blue tiled floor and wallpaper with lines of deep blue flowers running up a pale blue background. It was a room shed never seen before. She tried, but she simply couldnt keep her eyes open and the room faded away.
Lloyd Winstons office turned out to be on the same floor as the NICU, and the office was as untidy as the man himself. His desk and file cabinets were piled high with books, forms and folders. Empty foam cups overflowed from the trash can. He cleared off a portion of the desk by moving its contents to a stack on the floor, then sat down. Mick took a seat and waited for him to speak.
Flipping open his briefcase, Winston pulled out a file. I understand you havent signed the paternity papers for your daughter. Do you realize that until you do, youre not legally the babys parent?
I understand that, Mick answered. The situation with Caitlin and myself is a bitwellunusual. Mick watched the mans confusion grow as he explained how he and Caitlin had met. When he finished, Winston leaned back and pressed his fingertips together over his ample paunch.
Youd like me to believe that after meeting you for the first time, out of the blue, a woman, who may or may not think shes dying, names you as her babys father? His tone held more than a hint of disbelief.
Thats what happened.
Winston leaned forward and stared at Mick intently. I know that taking on the responsibility of caring for a critically ill infant can be very daunting. Its understandable that youre reluctant to admit to being the childs father.
Mick leveled his gaze at the overstuffed social worker. Im a firefighter. Walking into a burning building is daunting. Trust me. Beth is not my biological child.
The mans eyes widened at Micks tone. I see. This certainly complicates things. Dr. Wright tells me the child needs surgery. Ill have to get a court order to make her a ward of the state right away.
Mick frowned. She has a mother. She doesnt need to be made a ward of the state.
Ms. Williamss condition prevents her from giving consent for any procedure, and I understand her recovery is doubtful. Since shes incapacitated and you are not any relation to the child, the state must assume care.
For how long?
I beg your pardon?
How long will Beth be a ward of the state?
Until we can locate a relative. Which we might have done by now if you had come forward with the truth sooner.
What if you cant locate anyone?
If we dont, shell remain a ward of the state and go into foster care when she leaves here.
A knock sounded at the door, and a nurse from the NICU looked in. Mr. OCallaghan, youre wanted in the unit.
Mick shoved out of his chair. Is something wrong with Beth? Fear sent his heart hammering wildly.
Im afraid so, she said. Please come with me.
Chapter Four
Mick rushed into the NICU. A crowd surrounded Beths bed. The monitor above it alarmed as the blip of her heart rate barely moved across the screen. He stopped a nurse hurrying past him, glad to see it was Sandra Carter. Whats wrong?
Doctor, the father is here, she said.
Good. The man in green scrubs looked at Mick. X-rays show your daughter has suffered a collapsed lung and the air trapped inside her chest is putting pressure on her heart.
Sick with fear and powerless to help, Mick couldnt take his eyes off Beths pale, gray color. She wasnt moving.
Someone touched his shoulder. Glancing over, he saw Lloyd Winston standing beside him. Theyll do everything they can, he said gently.
Prep her, then well get a chest tube in, the doctor barked orders before turning to Mick. I understand you have some medical background. Do you know what were doing?
Mick nodded. Youre going to put a tube in her chest and suck the air out so her lung can reexpand. Will she be all right?
I believe so. Dr. Myers opened a small plastic pack and pulled out a surgical gown. Quickly, he donned it as Sandra poured dark brown liquid antiseptic over the skin on Beths chest. Have X-ray standing by, and give her a dose of fentanyl for the pain, he instructed.
Yes, Doctor. Her oxygen saturation is forty.
Gloves! Where are my gloves? he snapped.
Right here. Another nurse peeled open a package. He pulled them on.
Beside Mick, Lloyd Winston spoke. You dont have to watch this. We can wait outside, he offered.
No, Im fine, Mick answered. How long had her heart rate and oxygen levels been this low? Five minutes? Longer? How much time did she have left before she suffered brain damage? Was it already too late?
As the doctor worked, Micks gaze stayed glued to the monitor. After what seemed like an eternity, Beths heart rate climbed to eighty, then one hundred. Slowly, the color of her skin changed from gray, to mottled blue then to a pale pink. One little leg kicked feebly under the drape, and Mick sagged with relief. Thank You, Lord.
Sandra glanced at Mick and frowned. Hey, we dont do adults in here. Someone get Dad a chair.
Im all right. Mike tried to wave aside her concern.
No, youre not. Youre white as a sheet. Lloyd, take him out to the waiting room.
I want to stay, Mick protested. What if her other lung collapsed? She could die, he knew it.
I know you want to stay, Sandra said, but this isnt something you need to watch. Shes not feeling the pain, I promise you that.
Youll come and get me ifthings get worse. Mick stared into her eyes. She nodded and he knew she understood what he was asking.
In the waiting area, he paced back and forth. Ten steps across, ten steps back. The same blue tweed chairs as in the adult ICU sat against the walls. It seemed that all he did anymore was waitwith fear grinding in his gut while doctors and nurses tried to save first Caitlin, and now Beth again.
Please, Lord, let Beth be okay. Shes so little. Hold her in Your hands and keep her safe.
Lloyd sat and watched Mick. Can I get you something?
If you have a prayer to spare for her, that wouldnt come amiss.
Certainly. I have one for her and one for you, as well. Ive seen a lot a babies get chest tubes. It isnt as serious as you think.
Mick knew better. It was deadly serious, but he couldnt find the words to tell a stranger that he feared Beth might die. Some of what he was feeling must have shown on his face.
Its okay to be scared, Lloyd Winston said.
Mick sank into a chair beside the social worker. I know. How do you deal with this kind of pain every day?
You said youre a firefighter? Dont tell me you havent seen some bad things yourself.
Dropping his head to stare at his clenched hands, Mick nodded. Hed seen his share of terrible thingsthings a man couldnt unsee. There were days when he wanted to quit. If not for the Lords grace, he might have.
I expect its the same for both of us, Winston continued. We got into our lines of work to make a difference. We stay because, not every day, but some days we do make a difference in peoples lives.
Mick nodded, surprised at how well the man understood him. Hed made a snap judgment about Lloyd Winston, thinking the man was an overworked bureaucrat who didnt care. He was wrong. It was evident that Lloyd cared a lot.
Micks smile faded. What will happen if Beth doesnt make it? If she dieswhat will happen?
Usually, the body remains here until the family chooses a mortuary, but in this case, shell be taken to the city morgue. If no one claims the body after three or four months theyll bury her. The city provides plots for unclaimed bodies.
Whatll happen if she lives, but her mother doesnt?
As I said, shell be placed in foster care.
No. Mick heard the word, but almost didnt believe he had said it. Was he really considering such a deception?
Im sorry, I dont understand. Winston stared at him.
Beth isnt going into foster care. I know her mother wouldnt want that. Is this what You want, Lord?
Was he losing his mind? Saying that Beth was his child was a lie. But Mick couldnt hand her over to strangerswhether she lived or died. Wasnt this what Caitlin wanted? For him to take care of her child if she couldnt? He was adopting Beth with her mothers blessing. His troubled conscience grew quiet.
Ill sign the paternity papers.
Winston left and returned a few minutes later. Mick took the form and stared at the blank line on the bottom. Signing it would give the child of a stranger his name. Legally, Beth would become his responsibility forever. It would be up to him to make a home for her, to see that she got to school on time for the first day of kindergarten, to see that she had the money to go to college. Hed become responsible for medical bills that could leave him in debt until he was an old man. If she died today, he would plan her funeral.
Was this right? Was it truly what God wanted of him? If he didnt do this, could he live with himself? Could he walk away and go on with his life knowing he had let Caitlin down? He knew that he couldnt.
Im sorry for this lie, Lord, but I believe in my heart that this is what You are asking of me. Please help me to do the right thing. Bending forward, he scrawled his name on the line.
Mick, you can come in now. Sandra stood in the doorway.
He leaped to his feet. Is she okay?
Shes stable. Come and see for yourself.
He followed her into the nursery. A clear tube stained with droplets of blood protruded from Beths right side and led to a plastic box below her bed. In its chambers, a column of water bubbled freely.
It looks weird, Sandra said, but it doesnt hurt her.
Beth was alive, that was all that mattered to Mick.
Thank You, God. Make me worthy of this gift.
He slipped a tentative finger beneath the babys limp hand. She lay pale and quiet, making no move to grip his finger as shed done before. Sandra pulled a tall stool over beside the bed, and Mick nodded his thanks. Sitting down, he tilted his face to gaze at his baby.
His baby. His daughter. A warm glow replaced the chill in the center of his chest. She belonged to him, legally, if not by blood. How often had he wondered what it would be like? Wondered if he could love an adopted child the same as his own flesh and blood? Now he knew. Hed come to love Beth the first moment she had frowned at him. He loved the way she wrinkled her brow, and he loved her long, delicate fingers. He loved the way she kicked her feet over the edge of her bunting, and the way she fussed until someone changed her diaper when she was wet. He couldnt imagine loving any child more.
As he sat watching her and trying to imagine a future together he saw Beths face contort into a grimace. She stiffened her arms, holding them out straight. Her whole body twitched. He looked for help. Sandra, somethings wrong.
She came quickly to the bedside. She took hold of the babys arm, but it continued to jerk. Let me get the doctor.
She returned with Dr. Myers. How long? he asked, watching the baby intently.
A minute now, Sandra replied.
Youre right. Looks like a seizure. Lets get an EEG and give her a loading dose of phenobarbital. Ill write the orders.
Mick caught the doctors arm before he could turn away. What would cause her to have a seizure?
I cant say for sure. Well have to do some tests. Well let you know the results as soon as we get them.
Mick stayed with Beth for another hour, then he left the NICU and made his way down to the adult intensive care unit where he waited to be allowed in to see Caitlin. Her nurse for the evening gave him the first encouraging news hed had since the day Beth was born. Caitlin was assisting the ventilator at times by breathing on her own.
Does this mean shes waking up?
The nurse shook her head. Unfortunately, no. Patients in a coma can often breathe without a vent.
I see. And he did. If Caitlin came off of the ventilator but didnt wake up, she might live in a vegetative state for years.
He opened Caitlins door and stepped into the dimly lit room. She lay on her side facing the window. Beyond the dark panes of glass, the lights of the city glowed brightly, and traffic streamed by on the streets below. Cars filled with people who had homes and families waiting. Everyone had somewhere to go. Everyone except the woman on the bed.
What he knew of her life had been filled with pain. Had she ever known a safe night in the arms of someone she loved? Would she have a chance for any of those things, or would she live out her life caught between waking and dying, kept alive by tube feedings and overworked nurses?
Pulling up a chair, he sat beside her and took her hand. I had to make a choice today, Caitlin. I signed paternity papers. Beth is now legally my child. Our child, I guess. As strange as this sounds, in my heart I feel sure its what you wanted. Its the only way I can look after her.
He watched the ventilator for a while, but he couldnt tell if it was breathing for her or if she was breathing by herself.
Id like to tell you that things are going well for her, but the truth is, shes in a lot of trouble. It was touch and go all day today.
Tears pricked his eyes, and his throat closed around the words he didnt want to say. I dont know if shes going to make it, Caitlin. And I dont know how Im going to face it if she doesnt. I love her alreadyI do.
He wiped his eyes with the back of one hand and drew a shaky breath. I have to believe shes going to be okay. I have faith, and Ive prayed more in the past few days than in any time in my life.
He leaned forward and brushed his knuckles down the soft skin of her cheek. Lady, you have no idea of the mess you started. Im not even sure how Im going to explain this to my family. Frankly, theyre going to think Im certifiable.
You did what?
That cant be legal, can it?
Mick listened to the protests and objections of his older sisters as they sat at the oak table in his kitchen three days later. He knew they would react this way. That was why hed called them together, to get the protests over with all at once. Then maybe he could get some sleep.
Beths lung was healing, but an EEG confirmed she was having seizures. The doctors had started her on a drug called phenobarbital to control them. Soon after that, she had gone to surgery to close her patent ductus arteriosus, and Mick had spent agonizing hours in the surgical waiting room with Pastor Frank and Lloyd Winston at his side for support.
The surgery had gone well, and Beths condition had finally stabilized enough for Mick to feel that he could spend some time at home. Thank goodness his mother was better and didnt require his constant care. The last few days had seemed longer than a month. He was bone tired, but he needed to get this meeting over with.
What about this childs real father? Dont you think he has something to say about this? Mary demanded, crossing her arms over her ample bosom and rattling the lid of a dainty teapot that sat in the center of the table.
Mary was the oldest, and he expected the most opposition from her. Hed often joked that hed been born with three mothers instead of one. Alice, the sister closest to him in age, was his senior by twelve years. His mother sat at the table with them but she remained quiet.
Mick said, According to Caitlin the babys father is dead. She told me when we first met that there isnt anyone.
Marys frown deepened. Even so, I cant see why you think you need to be the childs parent. Did you even consider the financial obligation youre taking on? Youll have to support this child until shes eighteen even if her mother recovers.
I know that.
Marys lips pressed into a thin line. And if her mother doesnt recover? Do you think you can raise a child alone?
Yes, I do, he answered with more confidence than he felt. Hed asked himself these questions and more over the past several days. He might not be the best parent in the world, but he intended to give it his best shot.
He looked at each of his sisters in turn. Shes a tiny, helpless babyso tiny I could hold her in one hand, and she doesnt have a soul in the world to care for her. No one should have to go through the things she is going through alone.
Will shewill she be right? Alice asked.
What do you mean? he asked.
Children like thisarent theysometimes mentally challenged?
Mary looked at him with pity. Oh, Mick, what have you gotten yourself into?
He wanted to ignore their questions. He knew the possibilities, but it didnt change the way he felt. Beth was his, for better or for worse.
Its too soon to tell if she will have disabilities, he said. Tests show she had a small bleed in her brain. A Grade Two, they called it. Some babies do have problems after that, but some do fine. We can only hope and pray shell be healthy, but it doesnt matter.
Of course it matters! Marys tone was incredulous. Did her mother use drugs? Is she addicted? Has she been tested for AIDS?
Mick tried to curb his annoyance. Couldnt they accept that Beth was simply a baby in need of love and affection?
His mother held up her hand. Hush, girls, and leave him alone. You two dont know how lucky you are to have had healthy babies. No child comes with a guarantee. Only God knows what we will have to face. Ive been willing to trust Him all my life and so does Mickey. Its something both of you would do well to try.
He took a deep breath. If I cant do anything else for hereven if she doesnt make itI can see that shes not alone in this life.
Marys gaze fell before his. But signing paternity papers seems so extreme.
It was the only way, he said.
Alice lightly clapped her hands. Great speech. Just the right touch of a plea for maternal understanding. How long did you practice?
I think what Mickey is doing is wonderful. His mother rose to his defense. Its not like hes totally clueless around children. Why, he babysits your kids often enough.
Mary gave a huff. Watching the kids for an hour or two is not like raising them. And what about your job? You cant simply take off for the next few months.
I can use the vacation time Ive got coming, and I can afford to take off a few more weeks if I have to.
And when this baby comes home from the hospital? Whos going to watch her when you go to work? You cant expect Mom to take on the job at her age.
Im not expecting any of you to take care of Beth. Ill arrange for day care like the rest of the world does.
You dont always have to be the hero, Mick, Alice said quietly.
Im not trying to be a hero here.
Are you sure? Mary asked. First you follow in Dads footsteps in the same job that got him killed. And no offense, Mom, but then, Mick insists on moving you in with him after the accident. As great as that is, Mick, I think youre putting your own life on hold. You were only eight when Dad died, but you were determined to be the man of the family.
Mick rose from the table with the pretext of refilling his coffee cup. Hed become the man of the family because, with his dying breath, his father told him he had to.
My life isnt on hold, and Mom is welcome to stay here as long as she wants.
Because you promised Dad youd always look after her, Mary stated.
He whirled around, barely noticing the hot coffee that sloshed over his hand. Leave Dad out of this!
Please, children, dont fight, Elizabeth pleaded.
Mick stuck his stinging knuckles under the tap and turned on the cold water. Mom is here because we all decided it was the best solution. As for my workI like being a firefighter. Its my life, Mary. Just because I didnt choose a nine-to-five job like your boring businessman husband doesnt mean its a waste. Money isnt everything.
As usual, I see you dont intend to listen to anything I have to say. If you wanted my advice, you would have asked for it instead of telling me after the fact. Mother, I hope you can talk some sense into him.
Biting back his retort, Mick turned around. Im sorry, Mary. I dont want to argue. I do want your support in this.
And I cant give it. A child needs a mother and a father. Youve got no business trying to raise one by yourself. She rose and headed out the back door, letting it slam behind her.
You shouldnt have said that about Rodger, Elizabeth chided.
Oh, pooh. Alice waved her mothers objection aside. He is boring and Mary was the first one to notice.
No, Mom is right. Mick dried his hands. I let Mary get under my skin, and then I say something that makes her mad.
Mary was born mad, Elizabeth added quietly.
Mick and Alice turned to stare at her in astonishment.
After glancing from one to the other, she straightened. Well, its true. Its the red hair.
Mick laughed. My hairs red. Do you say that about me?
Alice snorted. Mom has never said an unkind word about you from the day you were born. Frankly, it irked me. Nobodys that perfect.
Mom doesnt know the half of it, he retorted.
Elizabeth grinned at him. Dont be too sure about that.
No, Alice said, you, little brother, are too good for your own good.
Would you rather I lie, drink, steal and swear? Thats not a very Christian attitude.
What Id like is to see you go a little wild once in a while. Skip church on Sunday. The place wont fall down.
Alice! Clearly appalled, Elizabeth gaped at her daughter. Just because you dont go to church on a regular basis is no reason to tempt Mickey to give it up.
Rolling her eyes, Alice asked, Are you tempted? When he shook his head, she turned to her mother and spread her hands. See? All Im saying is that he needs to have a little fun in his life. Hes way too serious.
She rose and crossed the room to stand in front of him. If youre determined to do this, fine. Just make sure youre doing it because you want this, and not because you think this is what Dad would want you to do. Otherwise, much as I hate to say it, Im with Mary on this.
Good news, Mick. At the NICU the following morning, Sandra came across the room to greet him. We pulled Beths chest tube today. Shes doing fine.
That is good news.
Would you like to hold her? Sandra asked.
Joy leaped in his heart. Of course I would.
Then, just as quickly, his elation took a dive, tempered by a heavy dose of dread. Are you sure its okay?
Smiling, Sandra patted his arm. Ill be here to keep an eye on her. Have you heard of kangaroo care?
He shook his head.
Its where we let parents hold their babies skin-to-skin. Well lay her on your bare chest and cover her with a blanket. Your body heat will keep her warm, and the sound of your heartbeat will soothe her. Want to try it?
Sure.
Good. Well be able to do this once a day if she tolerates it, but moving her is rather complicated and thats the stressful part. We ask that you hold her for at least an hour. Do you have that much time today?
You bet.
At the bedside, he saw Beth lying curled on her side with both hands tucked under her chin.
Hey, sweet pea. I get to hold you today. Isnt that great?
Beths eyes fluttered at the sound of his voice, and she yawned. Chuckling, Sandra said, I dont think shes suitably impressed with you.
Sandra indicated a recliner beside the bed. Okay, Mick, take your shirt off.
He pulled his T-shirt off over his head. Feeling a bit self-conscious, he sat in the chair, still as a fire hydrant, while the nurses transferred Beth. The scary part came when they un-hooked her from the vent. Alarms sounded until Sandra laid the baby on his chest, and reconnected her to the machine.
His large hand covered Beths entire back and held her still as she squirmed in her new environment. She was light as a feather against him. He could barely take in the rush of emotions that filled him. Sandra laid a warm blanket over the two of them, and Beth proceeded to make herself comfortable. She wiggled against his skin, her tiny fingers grasping handfuls of his chest hair.
She felt wonderful, amazing. So real and so precious. A tiny, warm body pressed against his heart. It was everything he had ever imagined it would be and more. He wanted to hold on to this marvelous moment forever. Did Beth hear his heartbeat? Did she draw comfort from the sound? Did she remember the sound of her mothers beating heart?
An intense sadness settled over him, dulling his happiness.
He looked up at Sandra, hovering close by. It should be her mother holding her for the first time.
At least she has you. Some children never know a loving touch their entire lives even when they have two parents.
Caitlin opened her eyes to see sunshine streaming in through a wide window that framed a blue sky and fluffy white clouds. Her nose itched. She raised her hand to scratch it then stopped, startled. A padded board and a loop of clear tubing were taped to her hand. Swallowing painfully, she discovered a tube in her mouth.
Bits and pieces of a half-remembered dream danced at the edge of her mind. A deep voice telling her everything would be all right, the wailing of a siren, someone saying, Its a girl, other voices saying, blind and deaf.
She tried but nothing settled into place, and her head began to pound. She moved a hand to her belly, seeking the lump that sometimes stirred and kicked. She found only flatness. Had she lost the baby? Cold fear settled in her chest.
The sound of a door opening came from behind her. A moment later, a young woman in a nurses uniform came around the bed. She stopped short, and her eyes widened in surprise as she met Caitlins gaze.
Well, hello. Its nice to see you awake. In fact, its quite a shock. Taking a small light from her pocket, she leaned over the bed rail and shined it in Caitlins eyes, checking first one, then the other. Putting the light away she slipped her hand beneath Caitlins and said, Squeeze my hand.
Caitlin did, and the womans smile widened. Gingerly, Caitlin touched the tube in her mouth.
The nurse nodded. Youre on a ventilator, thats why you cant talk. Its been helping you breathe, but I dont think youll need it much longer. I know you have a lot of questions. Let me get something for you to write on.
Something to write on? No, that wouldnt do. Theyd find out how stupid she was. Theyd laugh at her. They always did.
The nurse started to turn away, but Caitlin grabbed her. Fearfully, she patted her now flat stomach and waited with dread crawling inside her.
The woman smiled in understanding and grasped Caitlins hand. Your baby is here in the hospital, and shes being well taken care of, so dont you worry. We have to concentrate on getting you well enough to go and see her. Okay?
Caitlin relaxed in heartfelt relief. Her baby was here. She had a little girl, and she would be able to see her. Everything was fine. Just like the voice had promised.
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Patricia Davids
Stay with Beth. Watch over her for me.
Mick patted her hand. Okay. Ill be back soon.
Nodding, Caitlin whispered, Thank you, and watched him hurry out the door.
The nurse beside her claimed her attention. Are you allergic to any medication? Caitlin shook her head at each question the nurse fired at her. The room grew dark around the edges.
So this was what it was like to die. She wanted to cry because she knew what would happen to her daughtershed be thrust into the foster-care system as shed been. It wasnt fair.
Is the man who came in with you the babys father?
Would Mick see that her daughter was taken care of? She could say he was the father, then hed have the right to look after her. Would he understand? It didnt mattershe was out of time. She whispered, Yes.
PATRICIA DAVIDS
was born and raised in the farm and ranch country of central Kansas. As a tomboy with four brothers, Pat spent an idyllic childhood where horses, softball, church activities and books formed the foundations of her rich imagination. Today, Pat works as an R.N. in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), spoils her grandkids and tries to find time to write down the stories roaming around in her head. She is president of her local RWA chapter and believes that helping new writers learn the craft is the best way to repay the people who helped her. After seven years of writing, she sold her first book to Steeple Hill in June of 2004. Dreams do come trueas long as you chase after them with hard work, determination and faith.
His Bundle of Love
Patricia Davids
And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me.
Matthew 18:5
For David, who always believed
I could do anything I set my heart on.
And for my mother, Joan.
Look Mom! No sleaze!
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Epilogue
Letter to Reader
Chapter One
Hey, wait! Mister, you gotta help us!
Mick OCallaghan stopped at the sound of the frantic shout. He turned to see a grubby, bearded derelict emerge from the doorway of an abandoned building, one of many that lined the narrow Chicago street. As the man stumbled down the dilapidated steps, Mick recognized Eddy Todd. Eddy, in his stained and tattered overcoat, was a frequent flyer at the Mercy House Shelter where Mick volunteered two days a week.
Staggering up to Mick, Eddy grabbed the front of his brown leather jacket. Please. You gotta help. Shes havin a baby! I dont know what to do. You gotta help her.
Take it easy, Eddy. Slow down and tell me whats wrong.
Eddy squinted up at Micks face, and some of the panic left his watery, gray eyes. That you, Mick?
Yeah, its me. He kept the old fellow from falling by catching his elbows. The sour odors of an unwashed body and cheap whiskey assaulted Mick. No doubt Eddy had been out panhandling, and some well-meaning Samaritan had given him money for a meal, but he had spent it on a bottle instead.
Eddy regained his balance and tugged at Micks arm. Come on. Youre a fireman. You can deliver a baby, cant ya?
Mick cast a doubtful eye at the old tenement. What would a pregnant woman be doing in there? Only broken shards of glass remained in the few windows that werent boarded over. A section of the roof had collapsed, and debris littered the area. The only signs of life were a few weeds that had sprouted in the sidewalk cracks and struggled to survive in the weak April sunshine. It wasnt the kind of place he wanted to go searching throughespecially for an old drunks hallucinations.
With a gentle tug, Mick tried to coax Eddy away. Why dont you come down to the mission. Pastor Frank can get you a hot meal. Its meat loaf tonight. You like meat loaf, dont you?
Sure, sure, I like meat loaf. Eddy allowed himself to be led for a few steps, then he stopped. But what about the girl? She shouldnt have her baby in there. It aint clean, or nothing. Come on, Ill show ya where she is.
Mick studied the building again. What if Eddy wasnt imagining things? He glanced at his watch. Normally, it didnt matter how he spent his days off, but since his mother had moved in for an extended stay after her accident, he tried to make sure she didnt spend much time alone. Tonight was the nurses night off. Naomi would be leaving in an hour. Perhaps if he hurried, he could check the place out, take Eddy over to the mission and get home before she left.
He turned back to the old man. Ill take a look, but I want you to stay here, he insisted.
Sure, sure. Ill stay ri-right here. Eddy nodded, lost his balance and staggered back a step. He wavered on his feet but stayed upright. You want I should call an ambulance?
Mick shook his head and hid a smile. Ill do that if we need one. You just stay put.
Walking carefully up the broken steps, he ducked under crisscrossed boards someone had nailed over the doorway in a vain attempt to keep people out. It took a few moments for his eyes to adjust in the gloomy interior. He faced a long hall with a dozen doors down its length. The first one stood open, and he looked in.
A tattered mattress surrounded by heaps of cardboard boxes lay in one corner. Old clothes, tin cans and trash covered the floor. The place reeked of stale sweat and rancid garbage. As he stepped back, his foot struck an empty bottle of whiskey and sent it rolling across the warped floorboards. Apparently, Eddy had been holed up in there for some time. At least there was no sign of a pregnant woman. Mick turned to leave, but the sound of a low moan stopped him.
It came again, and he moved down the hall to investigate, skirting a pile of broken furniture and fallen ceiling plaster that all but blocked the dark hall. The last door on the left stood open a crack. He hesitated beside it. Four years as a firefighter had taught him caution. Plenty of unsavory characters inhabited these slums, and some of them could be very unpleasant if hed stumbled onto a meth lab or another equally illegal operation.
Another moan, louder this time, issued from the room. Someone was in pain. He couldnt ignore that. Standing with his back to the wall, he stretched out his arm and eased open the door. From behind, a hand clamped down on his shoulder, and Micks breath froze in his chest.
What ya doin? a slurred voice wheezed.
Relief surged through Mick as his heart began beating again. He turned and whispered, Eddy, you scared the life out of me! Didnt I tell you to stay put?
Yeahyeah, you told me, but shes in here. I found some help, he announced and barged through the door.
Mick followed with more caution. Light poured in from a large, broken window on the back wall. It showed a room surprisingly neat and free of the stench that permeated Eddys lair. It contained little more than a bare mattress where a young woman with short blond hair lay on her side. She wore a simple black skirt and a pale pink sweater with long sleeves. Her splayed fingers covered her small, rounded belly beneath the sweater. A thin wail escaped her clenched lips. This was definitely not a hallucination.
At the sound of voices, Caitlin Williams lifted her head and sighed in relief. Eddy had managed to bring help. She was sorry she had doubted the old guy. The young man with him crossed the room and dropped to one knee beside her.
Can you tell me whats wrong? he asked.
Scared out of her wits but determined not to show it, Caitlin said, I think my babys coming.
His fingers closed around her wrist, and he stared at his watch. How far apart are your contractions?
Right on top of each other, she panted, trying to stifle a groan as another one gripped her. You a doctor?
No, Im an EMT. Dont worry, I know what to do.
He sounded so calm, so confident. Maybe it would be okay. Peering up at him, she realized with a jolt that she knew him.
Shed seen him at the nearby homeless shelter where she got some of her meals. Only last week, she had watched him playing football with some of the kids there. Hed caught a wobbling pass and staggered toward the makeshift goalposts with half a dozen of them hanging on and trying to pull him down. His muscular frame had made light work of the load, but it was his hearty laughter that had truly drawn her interest. His rugged good looks and dark auburn hair made him easy on the eyes. At the time, she had thought his face was more interesting than handsome. It had character.
I know you. At the shelter they called you Mickey O.
A warm smile curved his lips and deepened the crinkles at the corners of his bright, blue eyes. Mick OCallaghan at your service. And you are? A vague trace of Irish brogue lilted through his deep baritone voice.
Caitlin Williams, she supplied through gritted teeth.
Pleased to meet you. He laid a gentle hand on her stomach. When is your baby due?
Not till Pressing her lips together, Caitlin waited for the pains to pass. August, she finished.
His startled gaze flew to her face, and her fears came rushing back to choke her. My baby will be okay, wont it?
Ill do everything I can. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a cell phone. He flipped open the lid, then muttered, Not now.
Caitlin saw the worried look in his eyes. Whats wrong?
The battery is dead. Eddy? he called over his shoulder. I need you to go get that ambulance, now. And hurry!
Ri-right, Mick, sure thing. Umwhere should I go?
Go to Pastor Frank. Tell him Mick OCallaghan says to call an ambulance, then bring him here. Can you do that? Taking off his jacket, Mick spread it over Caitlin and tucked it around her shoulders.
Eddy nodded. Sure, I can do that.
Mick saw the old man stagger as he hurried out the door. Torn between the need to stay with the woman or make sure that help was called he looked at her and said, Maybe I should go.
She grabbed his arm. No, stay, please. Eddy can do it. Stay and take care of my baby.
Okay, Ill stay. He composed his face, determined to keep her calm. He knew a baby born three months early wouldnt survive unless it waited to be born in a hospital.
Please, Heavenly Father, guide me in making the right decisions here.
Her face tightened into a grimace as she curled forward again. Somethings wrong. It hurts.
You need to breathe through your contractions, like this. He demonstrated. Come on, breathe, breathe.
You breathe. Im going to scream.
She didnt and he admired her control. Tell you what, well take turns. Every other contraction, I get to scream, and you breathe.
She uncurled and relaxed back onto the mattress. What have you got to yell about?
He gave a pointed glance to where she gripped his arm. Youre doing a bit of acupuncture with those fingernails.
She jerked away. Im sorry.
Why dont you hold my hand? He offered it, but she ignored him and gripped the edge of the mattress instead, and he regretted saying anything.
He had seen this young woman occasionally at Pastor Franks shelter in the last month. She would show up for the evening meal, but she never stayed long. Like many of the women at Mercy House, she kept to herself. Hed never spoken to her, yet something in her eyes had captured his attention the first time he saw her.
The women who came to Mercy House were mostly single mothers with ragged children in tow or old women alone and without families. Their eyes were dull with hopelessness, desperation and sadness, but life hadnt emptied this girls eyesthey blazed with defiance.
Up close, their unusual color intrigued him. A light golden brown, they held flecks of green that made them seem to change with the light. They reminded him of the eyes of a cougar he had seen in the zoo. Aloof, watchful, wary. Only now, raw fear lurked in their depths.
Come on, Eddy, dont let me down. Get that ambulance here.
Struggling to hide his concerns, Mick searched for a way to establish a rapport and put her at ease. Have you got a name picked out for your baby?
No. I thought I had plenty of time.
He gave her a wry smile. Ive got names picked out for my kids, and Im not even married yet.
She arched an eyebrow. Goody for you.
A kids name is important. Its something you should give a lot of thought. Not that you haventor wouldntI mean, he murmured as he ducked his head.
Caitlin couldnt believe it. This grown man, as big as a house, and probably twenty-five years old was blushing. His neck grew almost as red as his hair. It was sweet, really.
What could she say to someone about to deliver her baby? Things were going to get intimate. Maybe soon. She felt the beginnings of another contraction and reached for his hand. His large fingers engulfed her small ones. Strength and reassurance seem to flow from him into her, easing her fear. Focusing on his face, she followed his instructions to breathe in and blow out. The pain did seem more bearable.
As the contraction faded, she realized he still held her hand. She pulled away and drew his jacket close, relishing the warmth and comforting scent of leather and masculine cologne. The quiet of the old building pressed in around them.
So, tell me what names you got picked out, she said at last. Maybe Ill use one.
He smiled. For a boy, itll be William Perry.
Willie Perry Williams. She tried the name out but shook her head. Not a chance. Why would you do that to a kid?
Are you joking? William The Refrigerator Perry was the greatest football player in the history of the Chicago Bears.
Her husband had liked football. The thought of Vinnie sent a stab of regret through her heart. He would never see his son or daughter. How she had hoped that he would give up his wild ways once he knew they were having a baby. He hadnt. A high-speed chase while trying to outrun the police ended his life when his car veered off the highway and struck a tree. His death that night had started her down the painful path that led to her current desperate situation.
Within days she had discovered that Vinnie had been gambling away the rent money she worked so hard to earn. The landlord didnt want to hear her sob story. He wanted his money. Three months of unpaid rent was more than she could come up with. She was evicted the day after her husbands funeral. With no money and nowhere to go, she soon found herself living on the streets. The one place she swore shed never go back to.
She took a close look at her rescuer. Was he the same kind of man? One who would drink and gamble and then lie to his pregnant wife about it? She didnt believe that. Not a guy who liked kids as much as he did.
Managing a little smile, she said, You dont plan on naming a girl after a football player, do you?
No, he answered quietly. Ill name her after my mother. Elizabeth Anne OCallaghan.
Amazing! If this guy was any sweeter, hed rival a candy bar.
Another contraction hit, and his hand found hers. You got it, thats it. Breathe, he coaxed. Breathe, breathe. Youre doing great.
She curled onto her side and focused on his singsong voice. With his free hand, he began to rub her lower back in slow circles. Okay, she thought, a sweet guy is a good thing to have around just now.
Is there someone I can call once we get to the hospital? he asked. Family? The babys father?
She shook her head. Vinnie, my husband, hes dead. Theres nobody.
Im sorry.
She bristled at the pity in his voice. Normally, she would have ignored it, but now she couldnt seem to control the emotions that flared in her.
I dont need your pity. Ive had a little bad luck, thats all. She raised up on her elbow to glare at him. Ill be on my feet again in no time and a lot better off than I was before.
Holding up one hand, he said, Chill, lady. I wasnt feeling sorry for you.
Youd better not. I can take care of myself. And I can take care of my baby, too.
In here? He gestured around the room. The broken window let the wind in, and strips of dingy wallpaper peeling from the stained plaster waved in the breeze that carried the smells of mildew and rotting wood.
Lady, Ive seen kids living in places like this covered with rat bites and worse. If you think you can go it alone, youre crazy. Theres a system to help if youll use it.
Why do you care? You want to name your little girl after your mother, right? You know what I remember about dear old Mom? On my fifth birthday she gave me a Twinkie with a candle in it. Then she left me inside a Dumpster for two days because she was too strung out to remember where shed put me to keep me quiet while some new boyfriend supplied her habit. Your precious system moved me from one foster home to another when it wasnt giving me back to Mom so she could have another go at me. By the time I was sixteen, Id figured out living in a back alley was a better deal. Your system isnt going to get its hands on my baby. Ill make sure of that.
She squeezed her eyes shut, fighting to hold back a scream as the pain overwhelmed her.
Okay, youve had it rough, he said gently. Show me one kid down at the shelter that hasnt. But, if Child Welfare finds out this is where youre living, do you think theyre going to let you bring a baby here? Im just saying stay at a shelter until you find something better. Its not you Im worried about, its the baby.
Everyone whod ever shown her compassion had had their own agenda in mind. Why did she think this guy was any different? Why did she find herself believing he really did care?
How come youre so concerned about someone elses kid?
He stared out the broken window for a long moment without speaking, then he looked at her and said, Maybe because I cant have kids of my own.
She frowned. I dont get it. What about the names?
The smile he tried for was edged with sadness. If I ever marry, Ill adopt children.
You look healthy to me, she said, giving him the once-over. Whats wrong with you?
He hesitated, then admitted, I had a bad case of the mumps when I was a teenager. It left me sterile. He shrugged. Its just one of those things.
But not a little thing, Caitlin thought as she glimpsed the sadness in his eyes.
Mick? Mick OCallaghan? A shout echoed through the building.
Last room on the left, Pastor, Mick shouted back.
The sound of someone clambering past the debris in the hall reached them. A moment later, Pastor Franks bald head appeared in the doorway. Mick, what are you doing in here? Eddy was raving about you delivering a baby.
His eyes, behind silver wire-rimmed glasses, widened as he caught sight of Caitlin. For goodness sake. Are you?
Not yet, but we could be. Did you call for an ambulance?
I did. The sound of a distant siren followed his words.
Mick turned to her and smiled. Everythings going to be all right now.
He gripped her hand again. The warmth and strength of his touch made her believe him. He would take care of her and her baby.
Twenty minutes later, two paramedics loaded the stretcher she lay on into the ambulance. Another contraction hit, stronger this time. As she tried to pant through it, the need to push became uncontrollable. One of the paramedics started to close the door, shutting Mick out.
Wait, she shouted. Hes got to come with me.
She wasnt sure why she needed Mick. Maybe it was because he truly seemed to careabout her, and about her baby.
She stretched her hand out and pleaded, Please, Mick, we need you.
The two paramedics looked at Mick. The older one said, Okay, OCallaghan, come on. Were wasting time. He motioned with his head, and Mick jumped in. Moments later, the ambulance rolled with red lights and siren.
Mick knew hed be late getting home for sure now. He would have to call once he reached the hospital. The last thing he wanted was to worry his mother. Yet, for some reason he knew he couldnt let Caitlin go through this alone.
She didnt have anyone. He couldnt imagine what that must be like. Besides his mother, he had two sisters, a dozen nephews and nieces and more cousins than he could count. There were enough OCallaghans in Chicago to fill the upper deck at Wrigley Field, while this destitute young woman was totally alone.
No, God had set his feet on the path that led to Caitlin today. Mick couldnt believe the Lord wanted him to bail out now. Taking her hand, he smiled at her and said, You got it now. Just breathe.
The siren wailed overhead. Caitlin struggled to block out the sound as she panted through the contraction with Mick coaching her. Why didnt they shut it off? She couldnt concentrate. She needed to hear his voice telling her everything was going to be okay. And she needed to push.
She was pushing by the time the ambulance reached the hospital. Her stretcher was quickly unloaded and wheeled into the building. People came at her from all directions, yelling instructions, asking for information and giving orders she couldnt follow. All she could do was bear down and push a new life into the world as she clung to Micks hand like a life-line.
A sudden gush of fluid soaked the stretcher, and her tiny baby slid into the hands of a startled doctor. We have a girl, he said. Mick lifted Caitlins head so she could see.
Shes so small. Dread snaked its way into her soul as they whisked her daughter to a table with warming lamps glowing above it.
Is she okay? Why isnt she crying? Caitlin tightened her grip on Micks hand. So many people crowded around the baby that she couldnt see her. She tried to sit up, but a nurse held her back.
Your babys being taken care of.
Just tell me shes okay. Please, someone tell me shes okay. Frantic now, Caitlin struggled to push the nurse aside, but a sudden, sharp pain in her chest halted her.
She tried to draw a breath but couldnt get any air. Something was wrong, terribly wrong. She collapsed back onto the bed as the crushing pain overwhelmed her.
Long minutes later, they wheeled the babys bed up beside her. Caitlin turned her head and focused on her daughters small face. For an instant, all her pain faded away.
Her baby was so beautifulso tinyso perfect. But she wasnt moving. Someone spoke, but Caitlin couldnt hear them over the roaring in her ears. Then they pushed her babys bed out the door. Their faces were all so grim.
Is she dead, Mick? Caitlin whispered, terrified to hear the answer.
No, he answered quickly. Theyre taking her to the NICU. Its a special intensive care just for babies. Theyll take good care of her there. Shes going to be fine.
Why isntshe crying? The pain in her chest made it hard to talk.
Its because shes so premature, Mick answered. She has a tube going into her airway to help her breathe, and she cant make any sound with that in.
Caitlins own breathing had become short, labored panting. A frowning nurse slipped a plastic mask over Caitlins face and spoke to the doctor. He frowned, too.
Caitlin looked from face to face. She didnt know any of these people. Who would look after her baby?
She gripped Micks arm, pulling him closer. Go with her.
He glanced at the E.R. staff, then back to her. I think I should stay with you.
Im fine, she insisted. She forced a smile to her trembling lips. A strange cold was seeping into her bones. Stay withBeth. Watch over her for me.
He patted her hand. Okay. Ill be back soon.
Nodding, she whispered, Thank you, and watched him hurry out the door.
The nurse beside her claimed her attention. I need you to tell me your name.
CaitlinWilliams, she wheezed.
Are you allergic to any medication? Are you using any street drugs? Caitlin shook her head at each question the nurse fired at her. The room grew dark around the edges.
So this was what it was like to die. She wanted to cry because she knew what would happen to her daughter nowthe same things that had happened to her. It wasnt fair.
Who is your next of kin? The nurse continued to insist on answers. Caitlin only wanted to close her eyes and rest, but more people crowded around her, taking her blood pressure, listening to her heart, poking needles in her arm, sticking wires on her chest. They were all frowning.
Is the man who came in with you the babys father? the nurse asked.
What? Caitlin tried to focus on the womans face.
I said, is that man the babys father?
Would Mick see that her daughter was taken care of? She could say he was the father, then hed have the right to look after her. Would he understand? It didnt matter, she was out of time. She nodded as she whispered, Yes.
What is his name?
MickOCallaghan. Dont let her be alone, Mick. Please, take care of her.
Darkness swooped in and began to pull Caitlin away. She struggled against it. She needed to stay for her baby.
Were losing her, someone shouted.
Chapter Two
Mick caught up with the baby as they wheeled her into the nearest elevator. Squeezing in beside them, he stared in amazement at Caitlins daughter. Hed never seen anything so tiny. Her head was no bigger than the palm of his hand; his little finger was thicker than her gangly legs, yet she was so complete. Downy, brown hair covered her head and miniature wrinkles creased her forehead above arching brows. She even had eyelashes! The tiny spikes lay curved against her cheek. Awed by the wonder of this new life, he gazed at her in fascination. Truly, here was one of Gods greatest creations.
Her delicate hands flew up and curled around the breathing tube taped in her mouth.
No, honey, dont pull on that, a nurse chided as she pried the tiny fingers loose. Hold Daddys hand instead, she suggested with an encouraging smile.
Hesitantly, almost fearfully, Mick reached for the babys hand. Her thin fingers gripped his large, blunt one. Her eyes fluttered open. She stared at him and blinked, then her frown deepened into a scowl. An identical, miniature version of her mothers, and Michael Aaron OCallaghan fell hopelessly in love.
She looks like her mom, he said, surprised to hear the catch in his voice. He glanced at the woman beside him. Will she be all right?
She has a very good chance, but there is a long road ahead of her, Im afraid. Im Dr. Wright. Im one of the neonatologists on staff here. Her lungs are much too immature to work properly, so shes going to need help. Shell be placed on a ventilator once we reach the unit. As she spoke, she continued rhythmically squeezing a small, gray bag that delivered oxygen to the baby. Do you have a name for her?
Beth, he answered, or maybe Elizabeth. Her mother can tell you for sure. When can she come and see her?
Well be busy getting Beth admitted and stabilized for the next hour or so. Id suggest you wait until then to bring Mom in. The elevator doors slid open, and Mick followed them as they wheeled the baby across the hall and into the NICU.
A flurry of activity began as soon as they entered the large room. At first, it seemed like nurses were scurrying in all directions at once, but it quickly became apparent it was a controlled rush as Beth was placed on a larger bed, and hooked to a waiting ventilator. Within minutes, a jungle of wires, IV poles, tubing and oxygen hoses surrounded her.
Glancing around the room, Mick noted with amusement its peculiar mix of Mother Goose and science-fiction technology. Rows of flashing monitors and digital displays shared wall space with giant nursery-rhyme characters above the open beds and incubators. IV poles held bags of fluid, swaying mobiles and colorful toys.
Dr. Wright spoke as she worked. We need to administer a medication directly into Beths lungs to help mature them and start some IVs.
Mick interrupted, What are her chances, honestly?
She weighs barely two pounds, and she looks to be about twenty-six weeks gestation, which means she was born fourteen weeks early. Her chances of survival are good if she doesnt develop any serious complications. Only time will tell.
After the excitement of Beths admission died down, the nurses let Mick sit beside her bed. He couldnt get over how adorable she looked in spite of the tubes and wires. His heart warmed to her as he watched her with a sense of wonder and fascination. After a while, he glanced at the clock surprised to see how late it was. In the rush of events he had forgotten to call home.
Id better go and tell your mother how youre doing. I know shes worried.
He took a last look at the little girl whose arrival had generated so much activity. Goodbye, Beth. Be well, he whispered, knowing he might never see her again. His mothers voice echoed in his mind, and he smiled. He took hold of her tiny hand. May God grant you many years to live, for sure He must be knowing, the Earth has angels all too few, and heavens overflowing.
A nurse across the bed smiled at him as she added medication to a bag of IV fluid. Are you a poet?
Sheepishly, he grinned. Its an old Irish blessing, something my mother always says as a kind of birthday wish.
Its darling. Ill write it out and put it on her bed. We like to keep personal things by the babies, like toys or photos. Things that help the families connect with their baby.
She reached out and patted his arm. Im Sandra Carter. Try not to worry, Irish. Shes a fighter, I can tell.
I hope youre right.
Hold out your hand. He did and she fastened a hospital wristband around his arm. Youll need this to get back in.
He fingered the white strip of plastic without comment. He was here under false pretenses, but only because Caitlin had insisted. Still, that didnt quite ease his conscience.
After making his way back to the E.R., he halted on the threshold of the room where hed left Caitlin. It was empty.
Out at the main desk, Mick spoke to the heavyset woman seated behind it. Excuse me. Can you tell me where theyve taken the woman who just had a baby here?
The patients name? she asked in a bored voice, continuing to write on the paper in front of her.
Caitlin Williams.
She laid down her pen, then shuffled through the charts beside her. She located one, flipped it open, then gave him a startled look. Let me get Dr. Reese to speak with you.
She hoisted her bulk out of the chair and opened a door behind her. Doctor, theres someone here asking about the Williams woman.
The unease Mick felt intensified when the grave-looking doctor emerged from the doorway. Are you family? he asked.
No. Ima friend. Is something wrong?
Im afraid so. Ms. Williams has developed a rare complication of pregnancy called amniotic fluid embolus.
What does that mean?
Drawing a deep breath, the doctor continued, It means during her delivery, some of the amniotic fluid got into her blood stream. Once there, it traveled up through her heart and lodged in her lung preventing her from getting enough oxygen. That stopped her heart.
Shes dead? Mick struggled to grasp the mans words.
No, Dr. Reese admitted slowly. We were able to restart her heart. Ms. Williams is on a ventilator now, but she hasnt regained consciousness. The lack of oxygen can cause profound brain damage, and the embolus can cause uncontrollable bleeding problems. Her condition is extremely serious. Shes unlikely to survive.
Unlikely to survive? The phrase echoed inside Micks head, filling him with a profound sadness. Caitlin was so young. She had a baby who needed her. What would happen to Beth now?
He raked a hand through his hair. I should have stayed with her. I knew something wasnt right.
I heard her tell you to go with the baby, the doctor said gently. These patients often have an overwhelming sense of doom. She knew, and she chose to have you stay with her child. Shes a very brave young woman.
Im sorry to interrupt, the clerk spoke up. Doctor, youre needed in room six.
He nodded, then looked at Mick. Im sorry we couldnt do more, he said, then hurried away.
Are you Mick OCallaghan? the clerk asked. Mick nodded. The woman pushed several sheets of paper toward him and offered him a pen. We need you to fill out these forms, and Ill need a copy of your insurance card.
My insurance card? For what?
For your baby.
No, you dont understand. Beth isnt mine.
According to Caitlin Williams, she is, the clerk said smugly.
Just then, Sandra and two other NICU nurses rounded the corner and walked past. Hey, Irish, Sandra said with a bright smile. Im glad I ran into you. My shift is over, but Ill be back in the morning. Your daughters doing fine, but you need to leave us a phone number. We overlooked that detail in the rush of her admission.
She started to leave, but stopped and turned. Oh, I wrote out your mothers blessing and taped it to Beths bed. Several other parents have asked for a copy of it. I hope you dont mind. She waved and followed her friends out the door.
It seems a lot of people think shes your baby, the clerk said with a smirk.
It took a call to his attorney to convince the woman that unless Mick himself had signed the paternity papers, he had no legal responsibility for the childsomething Mick suspected she knew already. After that, he called home to make sure his mother was all right. Surprisingly, his mothers friend and part-time nurse Naomi answered the phone.
Its about time you called, she scolded.
I know. I had to take someone to the hospital. Im glad you could stay. I hope it wasnt an inconvenience.
I can watch my favorite TV shows here as well as at home. Besides, your mother is good company.
How is she today?
Determined to get up and clean house even with her arm in a cast. I knew it was a mistake for that doctor to take her ankle brace off. The woman has less sense than you.
Keep her down even if you have to sit on her. And tell her Ill be home in a hour or so.
Knowing that his mother wasnt alone was a relief. After hanging up, he went in search of Caitlin. At the medical ICU, a nurse led him to Caitlins room. He paused in the doorway. A single bed occupied the small room. He stepped next to it and rested his hands on the cold metal rails.
She looked utterly helpless lying with the sheets neatly folded under her arms and her hands at her sides. A thick, white tube protruded from her mouth connecting her to a ventilator. The soft hiss it made as it delivered each breath made it sound as though the machine had a life of its own. Like a mechanical monster, it crouched there controlling her fate. One breath. She still lived. Another breath. She still lived.
Someone had combed her hair. It made her look younger, sweeter. The hard edges of streetwise homelessness didnt show now, only the face of a lovely young woman.
He had promised her that everything would be all right, but he hadnt been able to keep that promise.
The world wasnt full of happy endings; his job, if not his personal life, had taught him that long ago. Only sometimes, like now, when Gods plan was hidden from view, he had trouble accepting things which seemed so unfair. Saddened beyond measure, he turned away knowing he could do nothing except keep her in his prayers.
After taking a cab home, he opened his front door and Nikki, his elderly golden retriever, met him with a wagging tail. Mick stooped to ruffle one silky ear. She licked his hand once then padded back to her bed in front of the fireplace, lay down and watched him across the room with calm, serious eyes. He sank onto the sofa and rubbed his hands over his weary face. The clock on the mantel began to chime midnight. He had to be on duty in less than seven hours. He considered pulling the throw over himself and just sleeping where he was, but decided against it. Instead, he rose to his feet and climbed the stairs with Nikki at his heels.
He glanced down the hall and saw that a light still shone from under his mothers door. He walked to the end of the corridor and rapped lightly on the thick oak panel. At her muffled answer, he eased the door open.
Elizabeth OCallaghan was sitting up in bed reading by the light of a lamp on the bedside stand. She was dressed in a simple cotton robe of pale blue that matched her sharp eyes behind her bifocals. Her long white hair hung over a thick plaster cast covering her left arm from elbow to wrist, the result of her auto accident. Around her neck she wore a small gold chain and simple gold cross that glinted in the light when she moved.
She once told him that the cross had come all the way from Ireland with her mother. Like her own mother, Elizabeth OCallaghan had spent her life praying for the less fortunate. And she hadnt stopped with simply praying for them.
After his fathers death, Micks mother had worked to raise her own children and then went on to help other young women who were alone in the world. Mercy House had been her idea. Her work, her heart and soul had started it. With the help of several women and the local pastor, her work still went on. Micks heart swelled with love and pride when he thought of all she had accomplished. The Lord gave her a strong will, and she used it to help serve Him.
Hi, Mom. Hows the arm feeling?
Not too bad. She wiggled her fingers for his benefit.
Has Naomi gone?
She helped me with my bath then I sent her home. Im better now. I dont need a sitter around the clock. A few more weeks and Ill be able to move back to my own apartment.
You can move back when your doctor gives you the okay and not before.
Ive put you out long enough. A man your age shouldnt be saddled with caring for a feeble old woman. You should be looking to get saddled with a pretty young woman.
Where am I going to find one prettier than you?
She grinned at him, laid her book aside and patted the mattress beside her. You cant sidetrack me with flattery. Ive been waiting up for you. What kept you? Naomi said you had to rush someone to the hospital. Come here and tell me everything.
She sounded like a schoolgirl eager for gossip. He crossed the room in a few long strides and bent to kiss her cheek. Its a long story.
Im not going anywhere and neither are you until you tell me the whole truth and nothing but the truth, young man. She grasped his arm and tugged until he sat on the bed.
If you insist.
I do.
Okay. I was on my way home from Mercy House when an old bum stopped me to help deliver a baby, but we got the mother to the hospital first, and since the baby weighed only two pounds she had to go to intensive care, and the mother asked me to go with the baby and I did, only while I was gone she told everyone I was the babys father before she lapsed into a coma. Any questions?
His mothers eyes were wide with stunned surprise. About a million. Why dont you start at the top and go more slowly.
He grinned and repeated the story with as many of the details as he knew, stopping often to answer her questions. At the end of his tale, he met her sad, concerned gaze and wished he hadnt shared quite so much.
This woman really doesnt have anyone we can notify?
Not as far as I know. Its the only reason I can think of why she would say Im the father.
That poor woman. And that poor little baby. Thank goodness you were there for them. Is there any chance the mother will recover?
The doctor didnt think so. Im not Beths father but I cant stand thinking of someone so tiny being all alone in the world. Frankly, Im not sure what to do.
Why, you do the right thing! And dont be telling your mother that you dont know what that is, she declared. I raised you better than that.
Mick rose and wished her good-night. On the way back to his room he considered her words. This time I really dont know what the right thing is. I need Your guidance, Lord. What is it that You want me to do?
He got ready for bed and lay down, but sleep wouldnt come. Each time he closed his eyes he saw Caitlins face. He saw her eyes wide with relief when hed followed Eddy into her room, and he saw them filled with fear for her baby. Such beautiful eyes, closed perhaps forever, yet repeated in miniature, along with her fearsome scowl, in her daughters tiny face.
He barely knew the woman, but he kept hearing her voice. Stay with Beth. Watch over her for me. It was the last thing Caitlin had said to him.
Had she sensed that she was dying? Had she been asking him for something more? Was that why she told them he was the father? So her baby girl wouldnt be left alone?
Mick threw back the quilt and sat up on the side of his bed. The light from a full moon cast a glow into the room. Rising, he crossed to the window. Nikki watched him from her spot at the foot of the bed, but she didnt bother to get up.
Pulling the curtains aside, he looked out the second-story window of his home and stared at the shadows of the trees in the park behind his property. It was deserted now, but during the day it would be filled with neighborhood children playing on the swings and slides. On nearby benches, smiling young mothers would follow their play with watchful eyes.
Yet across that park and the railroad yards beyond it, there existed a world those happy children would only know in passing or see on TV. It was a world of intense poverty, where children played in filthy streets and lived in crowded, run-down apartments if they were lucky enough to have a home at all, and where mothers seldom smiled because they worried about where the next meal would come from.
Caitlin came from those streets. If she lived, shed go back there and take little Beth with her. But if Caitlin died, where would her child go? Into foster care until she was old enough to run away and end up like her mother? Or would she be one of the lucky ones playing in a park like this?
He let the curtain fall back into place. None of the children in the park would ever be his. Facing that fact was more painful tonight than it had ever been. Perhaps because, for a moment, when Beth had grasped his finger and gazed up at him, he had known what it felt like to be a father.
He raked his fingers through his hair. He wasnt responsible for Caitlin or her child, yet somehow the two of them had captured a piece of his heart. He felt connected to them. It wasnt right that they were alone. They needed someone to care about them. They needed him. Before he could change his mind, he crossed the room to the closet where he pulled on a gray wool cable-knit sweater, a pair of jeans and his sneakers, then he headed out the door.
A fine mist fell as he drove down the dark streets. The swish-swish of his wiper blades was almost mesmerizing. Twenty minutes later, he pulled into the parking lot of the hospital. Wondering if he was being a fool, he hurried out of the rain and through the emergency room doors.
At the NICU he showed his wristband, and a nurse answered his questions. Beth was doing as well as could be expected. She invited him in, but he declined. He needed to see Caitlin.
When he entered the ICU and reached her room, he hesitated at the door. What did he hope to accomplish here? Maybe nothing. He pulled a chair up beside her bed. Reaching through the rail, he took hold of her hand.
Caitlin, its Mick, he said softly, and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. Glancing at the array of machines and blinking lights around her, he sighed. He didnt know if she could hear him. But if she could, he wanted her to know that she wasnt alone. He began to talk about her baby.
Were calling her Beth for now. She weighs only two pounds. I know that doesnt sound like much, but she really is a cute, little thing. She looks like you, I thinkexcept kind of scrawny. She has brown hair with a touch of red, he added and smiled. I dont suppose youre part Irish, are you?
His words died away in the dimness of the room, and only the sound of the ventilator continued. One breath. One breath.
What should he say? What would a young mother clinging to life want to know about her child? What would he want to know if it were him? His grip on her hand tightened.
Your baby is doing fine. The nurses are great. They really seem to care about her. One of them called her a fighter. I guess that means shes going to take after you.
He studied the small hand he held in his large one. Her fingers were long and delicate, but some of her nails were short and ragged. Did she chew them? He knew so little about her, yet she had entrusted him with her baby.
Girl, do you have any idea how much trouble youve caused me? I dont know why you told them I was the babys father, unless you thought you werent going to make it. But Im not her father, althoughwell, although I wish I were. She needs her mothershe needs you. Youve got to hold on.
He couldnt think of anything else to say. He bowed his head and sought comfort for himself and for her in the words he knew so well. Our Father, Who art in heaven
Lost in a strange darkness, Caitlin searched for a way out. She had to find her baby. She didnt want her daughter to know the terrible, gut-wrenching fear of being left aloneof wondering what she had done that was so bad her own mother would leave her. That was the one promise Caitlin meant to keep. No, she wouldnt leave her babynot ever.
Pain came again, deep inside her chest. She cried out, but no sound formed in her mouth. Perhaps it was her heart breaking because she missed her baby so. She tried to move her arms but she couldnt. Something or someone held her eyes closed.
A faint voice called her name, and Caitlin struggled to listen. Her baby was fine, the voice said. Had she really heard those words? Joy filled her.
She listened closely. She knew this voice. It was a mans voice. He was praying. The sound of his deep, caring voice saying those simple words brought a sense of comfort unlike anything she had never known.
Then the pain struck again and she began to choke. Somewhere, a shrill alarm sounded.
Chapter Three
Mick paced the confines of the small waiting room outside the intensive care unit where hed been ushered, and prayed as the minutes ticked by. Was Caitlins life slipping away beyond those doors? What would become of Beth? Why didnt anyone come and tell him what was going on? Finally, twenty agonizing minutes later, a young doctor appeared. He didnt look encouraging. Mick prepared himself to hear the worst.
How is she?
Stabilized at the moment. She had some bleeding from her lungs. Weve managed to control it for now.
Thank God. Relief caused Micks tired muscles to betray him, and he sank into one of the blue tweed chairs in the room.
If it doesnt reoccurshe has a chance.
Mick looked up. You dont sound very sure of that.
Her condition is critical. Its best not to hold out false hopes.
Can I see her?
For a few minutes, the young doctor conceded.
In the unit, Mick paused outside Caitlins door. What was he doing here? Why was he getting involved?
Because she didnt have anyone else.
Stepping up to her bed, he leaned down and whispered, Dont worry, Sleeping Beauty. Ill see that they take good care of you, and of Beth. You arent alone. God is with you.
He pressed her hand but got no response. He studied her quiet, pale face. He had called her Sleeping Beauty, and the name seemed to fit. Her heart-shaped face with its prominent cheekbones and expressive flyaway eyebrows coupled with her short hair gave her an almost elfin appearance. What was it about her that drew him so? Was it only because she was alone that he felt this intense desire to take care of her? Somehow, he knew it was more than that.
Crossing to the door, he glanced back. Caitlins chest rose and fell slightly in time with the soft hiss of the ventilator. One breath. One breath.
Rest easy. Ill watch over little Beth for you.
As soon as he said the words a deep sense of satisfaction filled him. This was right. This was what he was meant to do.
After leaving Caitlin, he went to see her baby. Beth lay on her side snuggled in a soft cloth nest covered with tiny red and blue hearts. The ventilator tubing and IV lines were neatly organized now, but a daunting array of machines surrounded her bed. Glancing around the unit he saw a number of other parents who like himself had been drawn here in the middle of the night. Most of them stood by beds looking uncertain, their faces a curious mixture of hope and fear, pride and pity.
He pulled up a stool and sat beside Beth. His heart went out to her. She was so little and so alone in the world.
One of her hands moved up to curl around the tube in her mouth, and her brow furrowed in a frown. Gently, he uncurled her fingers and gave her his thumb to grip instead. Youre not really alone, he whispered. Youve got the good Lord and me on your side.
For the longest time, he stared at her tiny face. Each feature so perfect and so new. That she lived at all was nothing short of amazing.
Its amazing, isnt it?
The words mirrored his own thoughts so closely that he wasnt sure hed really heard them. He glanced up and saw a woman seated in a rocker holding a baby on the other side of Beths bed. She looked old to be a new mother. Her short, dark hair was streaked with gray at the temples and crows-feet gathered at the corners of her eyes, but she was dressed in a hospital gown beneath a yellow print robe.
Im sorry. Did you say something? he asked feeling bemused, or maybe just sleep deprived.
I said, its amazing. Theyre so perfectly formed even at such an early age.
He nodded. Yes. I never knew. His throat closed and tears pricked at his eyes. He struggled to regain control and after a moment, he pointed with his chin. Is yours a boy or a girl?
Her smile held an odd, sad quality. I have a little boy. She lifted the blanket so he could see the babys face. The features of a child with Down syndrome were unmistakable.
He has a lot of hair, Mick said, trying to find something kind to say.
She ran her fingers through the babys long hair. Yes, he does. Its so very soft, she said almost to herself.
The baby began to fuss. She snuggled him closer and patted him until he hushed. She looked at Mick and smiled. I wanted to thank you for the lovely saying on your daughters bed.
Mick glanced at the foot of Beths bed. His Irish blessing had been written in green ink and surrounded by little green shamrocks drawn on a plain white card and taped to the clear Plexiglas panel. Its something my mother says.
It helped me so much.
Smiling gently, he said, Im glad.
She tucked her sons hand back inside the blanket. When I first saw my sonfirst realized what was wrong with him, I thought it would have been better if he had gone to be with the angels Her voice cracked. She blinked back tears when she looked at Mick. Isnt that terrible?
Mick found himself at a loss as to how to answer her, but the nurse had come back to the bedside. She dropped an arm around the woman and gave her a quick hug.
No, it isnt terrible. We cant help the way we feel. Disappointment, fear, sadnesstheyre all feelings that catch us by surprise when something goes wrong.
I do love him, you know. Its just that weve waited so long for a child. Im almost forty. He was going to be our only one, her voice trailed into silence.
A moment later she patted the nurses arm. Youve all been wonderful. Thank you. And you. She looked at Mick. Your mothers saying pointed out to me that God knows what Hes doing. My son wasnt meant to be an angel in heaven. He was meant to be an angel here on Earth, like your little girl.
Gazing at Beths frail form, surrounded by everything modern medicine offered, he could only pray the woman was right.
You look like death warmed over.
Mick closed the door of his locker and cast Woody an exasperated glance. Thanks. I could say the same about you.
Towering a head taller than Mick, Woody Mills, a Kansas farm boy turned Chicago firefighter and a close friend, grinned. He pulled his cowboy hat off and ran a hand through a blond crew cut that closely resembled the stubble of the wheat fields hed left behind. Tough night?
Mick nodded. I never made it to bed.
He wasnt looking forward to staying up another twenty-four hours. Maybe theyd have a quiet shift, and he could grab a few hours in the sack.
Woody! They both turned at the sound of the shout. Their watch commander, Captain Mitchell, appeared in the open doorway. Ziggy needs help in the kitchen. Give him a hand.
Mick groaned, and Woody laughed. Thats right, MickO. Its Ziggys week to cook. So guess what were having?
Mick leaned his head against the locker. Spaghetti. Why cant he cook somethinganythingelse? He knows I hate spaghetti.
Then itll be a good week to go on a diet. Besides, the rest of us like it, so you lose. Still chuckling, Woody left the room.
The gong sounded suddenly and Mick raced for his gear along with the other men. He never found the time that day for a nap or for a plate of spaghetti. Two structure fires kept the company out for most of his shift. It was late the following morning when he found the time to call the hospital to check on Caitlin and the baby.
Caitlins condition was unchanged, but the news about Beth was less encouraging. She was requiring higher oxygen and higher ventilator pressures, and shed developed a heart murmur.
Her murmur is due to a PDA, Dr. Wright explained to Mick over the phone. Its a condition that often occurs in very premature infants. Before a baby is born very little blood goes to the lungs. As the blood is pumped out of the heart, it passes through a small opening called the ductus arteriosus and goes back to the placenta for oxygen. After a baby is born, this artery closes naturally, and blood flows to the lungs. But in many premature infants, it doesnt close and thats a problem. We can treat her with medication, but if that fails, shell need surgery.
Isnt surgery risky for such a small baby?
PDA ligation is a routine procedure, but lets not get ahead of ourselves. It may close after the drug is given. Im optimistic but this is one of the complications I mentioned. Ill keep you informed. Also, our social worker needs to talk to you about signing paternity papers.
It was the perfect opening to admit that he wasnt Beths father. Only, he didnt take it.
Inside the odd darkness, Caitlin drifted all alone. Sometimes it was as dark as midnight, other times it grew vaguely light, like the morning sky before the sun rose, but never light enough to let her see her surroundings. Voices spoke to her, telling her to open her eyes or move her fingers. She tried, but nothing happened. When the voices stopped, she was alone again.
It was pleasant here. No pain, no hunger, no cold; none of the things shed come to expect in life. The urge to remain here was overwhelming, but she couldnt stay. She had to find her baby. Once she found her baby shed never be alone ever again. She would always have someone to love and be loved by in return.
At times, a mans voice came. Deep and low, mellow as the notes of a song, it pulled Caitlin away from the darkness. He spoke to her now, and she knew he was watching over her little girl. Her baby wasnt lost at all.
The voice told her all kinds of thingshow much the baby weighed and how cute she was. Sometimes the voice spoke about people Caitlin didnt know, but that didnt matter. Sometimes, he spoke about God, and how much God loved her. He spoke about having faith in the face of terrible things. His voice was like a rope that she held on to in the darkness. If she didnt let go, she could follow the sound and find her way out.
Now his voice was saying goodbye and she hated knowing that he was going away. She felt safe when he was near.
Something soft and warm touched her cheek gently. The fog grew light and pale around her. She opened her eyes and the image of a man with deep auburn hair and a kind face swam into focus for an instant, then the fog closed over her again.
She opened her eyes! Excited, Mick stared at Caitlin and prayed he hadnt imagined it.
What did you say? The nurse, whod just entered the room, looked at him in surprise.
She opened her eyes! She looked at me.
Itd been five days since Caitlin had slipped into a coma, and for the last two days Mick had divided his waking hours between sitting with Beth, whose condition was slowly worsening, and sitting with Caitlin. This was the first sign of any spontaneous movement from her.
Caitlin, open your eyes, the nurse coaxed. Nothing.
Mick leaned close to Caitlins ear. Come on, Sleeping Beauty. I know youre in there. Give me a sign.
Again nothing. The nurse pinched the skin on the back of Caitlins hand, then lifted her eyelid. Turning to him the nurse asked, What were you doing when she moved?
A flush heated Micks face. I was getting ready to leave, and I kissed her cheek, he admitted, feeling foolish.
Giving him a sad smile, the nurse touched his arm. Sometimes we see the things we want to see, even if theyre not really there. How is her baby doing?
Mick glanced at Caitlins still form and motioned with his head. The nurse followed him from the room. Once outside, he raked a hand through his hair and said, Beth isnt good. Her heart hasnt responded to the medication theyve given her. It looks like shell need surgery.
Im sorry to hear that.
Are you Mr. OCallaghan? Mick turned to see an over-weight man with thin gray hair standing in the hall. His ill-fitting, dark blue jacket hung open displaying a wrinkled white shirt stained with a dribble of coffee. He held a scuffed black briefcase in one hand.
Yes, Im OCallaghan, Mick answered.
Im glad I finally caught up with you. Im Lloyd Winston, the social worker for the NICU.
What can I do for you?
Mr. Winston glanced at the nurse, then said, Why dont you come to my office. We can speak in private there.
Mick held out a hand. Lead the way.
Have you got a minute to help me change this bed?
Sure.
Caitlin heard voices clearly this timethey were right beside her. Cool hands touched her body. She struggled to open her eyes, and for a moment, the blurred forms of two women came into view. Abruptly, they pulled her onto her side, and the movement sent waves of dizziness and pain crashing through her.
Isnt she the saddest case?
No kidding.
I heard the baby might not make it.
I heard that, too. Hand me the lotion.
One of them smeared cold liquid across Caitlins back. Were they talking about her baby? She fought to concentrate.
My cousin had a little boy that was born prematurely. Hes five now, but hes blind and deaf. She feeds him through a tube in his stomach, and he takes round-the-clock care.
Thats awful.
Its awful to see my cousin tied her whole life to a child whos so damaged that he cant even smile at her. At five, hes hard to move and lift to change his diapers. Think what its going to be like when hes twenty-five.
My babys not damaged. Shes perfect. Caitlin wanted to shout at them. She wanted to cover her ears with her hands, but her arms were deadweights.
From the moment she suspected she was pregnant, she had wanted a little girl. Her daughter was going to grow up to run and laugh and give her mother a dozen hugs a day. They would have each other forever. Caitlin would never leave her baby hungry, or hurting, or scared and alone in the dark the way she had been treated as a child.
Without warning, Caitlin was rolled to her other side. Her joints and muscles cried out in protest and nausea churned in her stomach. She moaned, but no sound escaped her. Tears formed at the corners of her eyes.
Its time for her to stay on her left side. Can you help me change the sheets on that patient in room eight?
The sound of their voices faded away, and Caitlin was alone again, but she was glad they were gone. She didnt want to hear about a child who was deaf and blind. She had to find her own baby.
She concentrated on opening her eyes. Bit by bit, her eyelids lifted and a room came into focus. There was dark blue tiled floor and wallpaper with lines of deep blue flowers running up a pale blue background. It was a room shed never seen before. She tried, but she simply couldnt keep her eyes open and the room faded away.
Lloyd Winstons office turned out to be on the same floor as the NICU, and the office was as untidy as the man himself. His desk and file cabinets were piled high with books, forms and folders. Empty foam cups overflowed from the trash can. He cleared off a portion of the desk by moving its contents to a stack on the floor, then sat down. Mick took a seat and waited for him to speak.
Flipping open his briefcase, Winston pulled out a file. I understand you havent signed the paternity papers for your daughter. Do you realize that until you do, youre not legally the babys parent?
I understand that, Mick answered. The situation with Caitlin and myself is a bitwellunusual. Mick watched the mans confusion grow as he explained how he and Caitlin had met. When he finished, Winston leaned back and pressed his fingertips together over his ample paunch.
Youd like me to believe that after meeting you for the first time, out of the blue, a woman, who may or may not think shes dying, names you as her babys father? His tone held more than a hint of disbelief.
Thats what happened.
Winston leaned forward and stared at Mick intently. I know that taking on the responsibility of caring for a critically ill infant can be very daunting. Its understandable that youre reluctant to admit to being the childs father.
Mick leveled his gaze at the overstuffed social worker. Im a firefighter. Walking into a burning building is daunting. Trust me. Beth is not my biological child.
The mans eyes widened at Micks tone. I see. This certainly complicates things. Dr. Wright tells me the child needs surgery. Ill have to get a court order to make her a ward of the state right away.
Mick frowned. She has a mother. She doesnt need to be made a ward of the state.
Ms. Williamss condition prevents her from giving consent for any procedure, and I understand her recovery is doubtful. Since shes incapacitated and you are not any relation to the child, the state must assume care.
For how long?
I beg your pardon?
How long will Beth be a ward of the state?
Until we can locate a relative. Which we might have done by now if you had come forward with the truth sooner.
What if you cant locate anyone?
If we dont, shell remain a ward of the state and go into foster care when she leaves here.
A knock sounded at the door, and a nurse from the NICU looked in. Mr. OCallaghan, youre wanted in the unit.
Mick shoved out of his chair. Is something wrong with Beth? Fear sent his heart hammering wildly.
Im afraid so, she said. Please come with me.
Chapter Four
Mick rushed into the NICU. A crowd surrounded Beths bed. The monitor above it alarmed as the blip of her heart rate barely moved across the screen. He stopped a nurse hurrying past him, glad to see it was Sandra Carter. Whats wrong?
Doctor, the father is here, she said.
Good. The man in green scrubs looked at Mick. X-rays show your daughter has suffered a collapsed lung and the air trapped inside her chest is putting pressure on her heart.
Sick with fear and powerless to help, Mick couldnt take his eyes off Beths pale, gray color. She wasnt moving.
Someone touched his shoulder. Glancing over, he saw Lloyd Winston standing beside him. Theyll do everything they can, he said gently.
Prep her, then well get a chest tube in, the doctor barked orders before turning to Mick. I understand you have some medical background. Do you know what were doing?
Mick nodded. Youre going to put a tube in her chest and suck the air out so her lung can reexpand. Will she be all right?
I believe so. Dr. Myers opened a small plastic pack and pulled out a surgical gown. Quickly, he donned it as Sandra poured dark brown liquid antiseptic over the skin on Beths chest. Have X-ray standing by, and give her a dose of fentanyl for the pain, he instructed.
Yes, Doctor. Her oxygen saturation is forty.
Gloves! Where are my gloves? he snapped.
Right here. Another nurse peeled open a package. He pulled them on.
Beside Mick, Lloyd Winston spoke. You dont have to watch this. We can wait outside, he offered.
No, Im fine, Mick answered. How long had her heart rate and oxygen levels been this low? Five minutes? Longer? How much time did she have left before she suffered brain damage? Was it already too late?
As the doctor worked, Micks gaze stayed glued to the monitor. After what seemed like an eternity, Beths heart rate climbed to eighty, then one hundred. Slowly, the color of her skin changed from gray, to mottled blue then to a pale pink. One little leg kicked feebly under the drape, and Mick sagged with relief. Thank You, Lord.
Sandra glanced at Mick and frowned. Hey, we dont do adults in here. Someone get Dad a chair.
Im all right. Mike tried to wave aside her concern.
No, youre not. Youre white as a sheet. Lloyd, take him out to the waiting room.
I want to stay, Mick protested. What if her other lung collapsed? She could die, he knew it.
I know you want to stay, Sandra said, but this isnt something you need to watch. Shes not feeling the pain, I promise you that.
Youll come and get me ifthings get worse. Mick stared into her eyes. She nodded and he knew she understood what he was asking.
In the waiting area, he paced back and forth. Ten steps across, ten steps back. The same blue tweed chairs as in the adult ICU sat against the walls. It seemed that all he did anymore was waitwith fear grinding in his gut while doctors and nurses tried to save first Caitlin, and now Beth again.
Please, Lord, let Beth be okay. Shes so little. Hold her in Your hands and keep her safe.
Lloyd sat and watched Mick. Can I get you something?
If you have a prayer to spare for her, that wouldnt come amiss.
Certainly. I have one for her and one for you, as well. Ive seen a lot a babies get chest tubes. It isnt as serious as you think.
Mick knew better. It was deadly serious, but he couldnt find the words to tell a stranger that he feared Beth might die. Some of what he was feeling must have shown on his face.
Its okay to be scared, Lloyd Winston said.
Mick sank into a chair beside the social worker. I know. How do you deal with this kind of pain every day?
You said youre a firefighter? Dont tell me you havent seen some bad things yourself.
Dropping his head to stare at his clenched hands, Mick nodded. Hed seen his share of terrible thingsthings a man couldnt unsee. There were days when he wanted to quit. If not for the Lords grace, he might have.
I expect its the same for both of us, Winston continued. We got into our lines of work to make a difference. We stay because, not every day, but some days we do make a difference in peoples lives.
Mick nodded, surprised at how well the man understood him. Hed made a snap judgment about Lloyd Winston, thinking the man was an overworked bureaucrat who didnt care. He was wrong. It was evident that Lloyd cared a lot.
Micks smile faded. What will happen if Beth doesnt make it? If she dieswhat will happen?
Usually, the body remains here until the family chooses a mortuary, but in this case, shell be taken to the city morgue. If no one claims the body after three or four months theyll bury her. The city provides plots for unclaimed bodies.
Whatll happen if she lives, but her mother doesnt?
As I said, shell be placed in foster care.
No. Mick heard the word, but almost didnt believe he had said it. Was he really considering such a deception?
Im sorry, I dont understand. Winston stared at him.
Beth isnt going into foster care. I know her mother wouldnt want that. Is this what You want, Lord?
Was he losing his mind? Saying that Beth was his child was a lie. But Mick couldnt hand her over to strangerswhether she lived or died. Wasnt this what Caitlin wanted? For him to take care of her child if she couldnt? He was adopting Beth with her mothers blessing. His troubled conscience grew quiet.
Ill sign the paternity papers.
Winston left and returned a few minutes later. Mick took the form and stared at the blank line on the bottom. Signing it would give the child of a stranger his name. Legally, Beth would become his responsibility forever. It would be up to him to make a home for her, to see that she got to school on time for the first day of kindergarten, to see that she had the money to go to college. Hed become responsible for medical bills that could leave him in debt until he was an old man. If she died today, he would plan her funeral.
Was this right? Was it truly what God wanted of him? If he didnt do this, could he live with himself? Could he walk away and go on with his life knowing he had let Caitlin down? He knew that he couldnt.
Im sorry for this lie, Lord, but I believe in my heart that this is what You are asking of me. Please help me to do the right thing. Bending forward, he scrawled his name on the line.
Mick, you can come in now. Sandra stood in the doorway.
He leaped to his feet. Is she okay?
Shes stable. Come and see for yourself.
He followed her into the nursery. A clear tube stained with droplets of blood protruded from Beths right side and led to a plastic box below her bed. In its chambers, a column of water bubbled freely.
It looks weird, Sandra said, but it doesnt hurt her.
Beth was alive, that was all that mattered to Mick.
Thank You, God. Make me worthy of this gift.
He slipped a tentative finger beneath the babys limp hand. She lay pale and quiet, making no move to grip his finger as shed done before. Sandra pulled a tall stool over beside the bed, and Mick nodded his thanks. Sitting down, he tilted his face to gaze at his baby.
His baby. His daughter. A warm glow replaced the chill in the center of his chest. She belonged to him, legally, if not by blood. How often had he wondered what it would be like? Wondered if he could love an adopted child the same as his own flesh and blood? Now he knew. Hed come to love Beth the first moment she had frowned at him. He loved the way she wrinkled her brow, and he loved her long, delicate fingers. He loved the way she kicked her feet over the edge of her bunting, and the way she fussed until someone changed her diaper when she was wet. He couldnt imagine loving any child more.
As he sat watching her and trying to imagine a future together he saw Beths face contort into a grimace. She stiffened her arms, holding them out straight. Her whole body twitched. He looked for help. Sandra, somethings wrong.
She came quickly to the bedside. She took hold of the babys arm, but it continued to jerk. Let me get the doctor.
She returned with Dr. Myers. How long? he asked, watching the baby intently.
A minute now, Sandra replied.
Youre right. Looks like a seizure. Lets get an EEG and give her a loading dose of phenobarbital. Ill write the orders.
Mick caught the doctors arm before he could turn away. What would cause her to have a seizure?
I cant say for sure. Well have to do some tests. Well let you know the results as soon as we get them.
Mick stayed with Beth for another hour, then he left the NICU and made his way down to the adult intensive care unit where he waited to be allowed in to see Caitlin. Her nurse for the evening gave him the first encouraging news hed had since the day Beth was born. Caitlin was assisting the ventilator at times by breathing on her own.
Does this mean shes waking up?
The nurse shook her head. Unfortunately, no. Patients in a coma can often breathe without a vent.
I see. And he did. If Caitlin came off of the ventilator but didnt wake up, she might live in a vegetative state for years.
He opened Caitlins door and stepped into the dimly lit room. She lay on her side facing the window. Beyond the dark panes of glass, the lights of the city glowed brightly, and traffic streamed by on the streets below. Cars filled with people who had homes and families waiting. Everyone had somewhere to go. Everyone except the woman on the bed.
What he knew of her life had been filled with pain. Had she ever known a safe night in the arms of someone she loved? Would she have a chance for any of those things, or would she live out her life caught between waking and dying, kept alive by tube feedings and overworked nurses?
Pulling up a chair, he sat beside her and took her hand. I had to make a choice today, Caitlin. I signed paternity papers. Beth is now legally my child. Our child, I guess. As strange as this sounds, in my heart I feel sure its what you wanted. Its the only way I can look after her.
He watched the ventilator for a while, but he couldnt tell if it was breathing for her or if she was breathing by herself.
Id like to tell you that things are going well for her, but the truth is, shes in a lot of trouble. It was touch and go all day today.
Tears pricked his eyes, and his throat closed around the words he didnt want to say. I dont know if shes going to make it, Caitlin. And I dont know how Im going to face it if she doesnt. I love her alreadyI do.
He wiped his eyes with the back of one hand and drew a shaky breath. I have to believe shes going to be okay. I have faith, and Ive prayed more in the past few days than in any time in my life.
He leaned forward and brushed his knuckles down the soft skin of her cheek. Lady, you have no idea of the mess you started. Im not even sure how Im going to explain this to my family. Frankly, theyre going to think Im certifiable.
You did what?
That cant be legal, can it?
Mick listened to the protests and objections of his older sisters as they sat at the oak table in his kitchen three days later. He knew they would react this way. That was why hed called them together, to get the protests over with all at once. Then maybe he could get some sleep.
Beths lung was healing, but an EEG confirmed she was having seizures. The doctors had started her on a drug called phenobarbital to control them. Soon after that, she had gone to surgery to close her patent ductus arteriosus, and Mick had spent agonizing hours in the surgical waiting room with Pastor Frank and Lloyd Winston at his side for support.
The surgery had gone well, and Beths condition had finally stabilized enough for Mick to feel that he could spend some time at home. Thank goodness his mother was better and didnt require his constant care. The last few days had seemed longer than a month. He was bone tired, but he needed to get this meeting over with.
What about this childs real father? Dont you think he has something to say about this? Mary demanded, crossing her arms over her ample bosom and rattling the lid of a dainty teapot that sat in the center of the table.
Mary was the oldest, and he expected the most opposition from her. Hed often joked that hed been born with three mothers instead of one. Alice, the sister closest to him in age, was his senior by twelve years. His mother sat at the table with them but she remained quiet.
Mick said, According to Caitlin the babys father is dead. She told me when we first met that there isnt anyone.
Marys frown deepened. Even so, I cant see why you think you need to be the childs parent. Did you even consider the financial obligation youre taking on? Youll have to support this child until shes eighteen even if her mother recovers.
I know that.
Marys lips pressed into a thin line. And if her mother doesnt recover? Do you think you can raise a child alone?
Yes, I do, he answered with more confidence than he felt. Hed asked himself these questions and more over the past several days. He might not be the best parent in the world, but he intended to give it his best shot.
He looked at each of his sisters in turn. Shes a tiny, helpless babyso tiny I could hold her in one hand, and she doesnt have a soul in the world to care for her. No one should have to go through the things she is going through alone.
Will shewill she be right? Alice asked.
What do you mean? he asked.
Children like thisarent theysometimes mentally challenged?
Mary looked at him with pity. Oh, Mick, what have you gotten yourself into?
He wanted to ignore their questions. He knew the possibilities, but it didnt change the way he felt. Beth was his, for better or for worse.
Its too soon to tell if she will have disabilities, he said. Tests show she had a small bleed in her brain. A Grade Two, they called it. Some babies do have problems after that, but some do fine. We can only hope and pray shell be healthy, but it doesnt matter.
Of course it matters! Marys tone was incredulous. Did her mother use drugs? Is she addicted? Has she been tested for AIDS?
Mick tried to curb his annoyance. Couldnt they accept that Beth was simply a baby in need of love and affection?
His mother held up her hand. Hush, girls, and leave him alone. You two dont know how lucky you are to have had healthy babies. No child comes with a guarantee. Only God knows what we will have to face. Ive been willing to trust Him all my life and so does Mickey. Its something both of you would do well to try.
He took a deep breath. If I cant do anything else for hereven if she doesnt make itI can see that shes not alone in this life.
Marys gaze fell before his. But signing paternity papers seems so extreme.
It was the only way, he said.
Alice lightly clapped her hands. Great speech. Just the right touch of a plea for maternal understanding. How long did you practice?
I think what Mickey is doing is wonderful. His mother rose to his defense. Its not like hes totally clueless around children. Why, he babysits your kids often enough.
Mary gave a huff. Watching the kids for an hour or two is not like raising them. And what about your job? You cant simply take off for the next few months.
I can use the vacation time Ive got coming, and I can afford to take off a few more weeks if I have to.
And when this baby comes home from the hospital? Whos going to watch her when you go to work? You cant expect Mom to take on the job at her age.
Im not expecting any of you to take care of Beth. Ill arrange for day care like the rest of the world does.
You dont always have to be the hero, Mick, Alice said quietly.
Im not trying to be a hero here.
Are you sure? Mary asked. First you follow in Dads footsteps in the same job that got him killed. And no offense, Mom, but then, Mick insists on moving you in with him after the accident. As great as that is, Mick, I think youre putting your own life on hold. You were only eight when Dad died, but you were determined to be the man of the family.
Mick rose from the table with the pretext of refilling his coffee cup. Hed become the man of the family because, with his dying breath, his father told him he had to.
My life isnt on hold, and Mom is welcome to stay here as long as she wants.
Because you promised Dad youd always look after her, Mary stated.
He whirled around, barely noticing the hot coffee that sloshed over his hand. Leave Dad out of this!
Please, children, dont fight, Elizabeth pleaded.
Mick stuck his stinging knuckles under the tap and turned on the cold water. Mom is here because we all decided it was the best solution. As for my workI like being a firefighter. Its my life, Mary. Just because I didnt choose a nine-to-five job like your boring businessman husband doesnt mean its a waste. Money isnt everything.
As usual, I see you dont intend to listen to anything I have to say. If you wanted my advice, you would have asked for it instead of telling me after the fact. Mother, I hope you can talk some sense into him.
Biting back his retort, Mick turned around. Im sorry, Mary. I dont want to argue. I do want your support in this.
And I cant give it. A child needs a mother and a father. Youve got no business trying to raise one by yourself. She rose and headed out the back door, letting it slam behind her.
You shouldnt have said that about Rodger, Elizabeth chided.
Oh, pooh. Alice waved her mothers objection aside. He is boring and Mary was the first one to notice.
No, Mom is right. Mick dried his hands. I let Mary get under my skin, and then I say something that makes her mad.
Mary was born mad, Elizabeth added quietly.
Mick and Alice turned to stare at her in astonishment.
After glancing from one to the other, she straightened. Well, its true. Its the red hair.
Mick laughed. My hairs red. Do you say that about me?
Alice snorted. Mom has never said an unkind word about you from the day you were born. Frankly, it irked me. Nobodys that perfect.
Mom doesnt know the half of it, he retorted.
Elizabeth grinned at him. Dont be too sure about that.
No, Alice said, you, little brother, are too good for your own good.
Would you rather I lie, drink, steal and swear? Thats not a very Christian attitude.
What Id like is to see you go a little wild once in a while. Skip church on Sunday. The place wont fall down.
Alice! Clearly appalled, Elizabeth gaped at her daughter. Just because you dont go to church on a regular basis is no reason to tempt Mickey to give it up.
Rolling her eyes, Alice asked, Are you tempted? When he shook his head, she turned to her mother and spread her hands. See? All Im saying is that he needs to have a little fun in his life. Hes way too serious.
She rose and crossed the room to stand in front of him. If youre determined to do this, fine. Just make sure youre doing it because you want this, and not because you think this is what Dad would want you to do. Otherwise, much as I hate to say it, Im with Mary on this.
Good news, Mick. At the NICU the following morning, Sandra came across the room to greet him. We pulled Beths chest tube today. Shes doing fine.
That is good news.
Would you like to hold her? Sandra asked.
Joy leaped in his heart. Of course I would.
Then, just as quickly, his elation took a dive, tempered by a heavy dose of dread. Are you sure its okay?
Smiling, Sandra patted his arm. Ill be here to keep an eye on her. Have you heard of kangaroo care?
He shook his head.
Its where we let parents hold their babies skin-to-skin. Well lay her on your bare chest and cover her with a blanket. Your body heat will keep her warm, and the sound of your heartbeat will soothe her. Want to try it?
Sure.
Good. Well be able to do this once a day if she tolerates it, but moving her is rather complicated and thats the stressful part. We ask that you hold her for at least an hour. Do you have that much time today?
You bet.
At the bedside, he saw Beth lying curled on her side with both hands tucked under her chin.
Hey, sweet pea. I get to hold you today. Isnt that great?
Beths eyes fluttered at the sound of his voice, and she yawned. Chuckling, Sandra said, I dont think shes suitably impressed with you.
Sandra indicated a recliner beside the bed. Okay, Mick, take your shirt off.
He pulled his T-shirt off over his head. Feeling a bit self-conscious, he sat in the chair, still as a fire hydrant, while the nurses transferred Beth. The scary part came when they un-hooked her from the vent. Alarms sounded until Sandra laid the baby on his chest, and reconnected her to the machine.
His large hand covered Beths entire back and held her still as she squirmed in her new environment. She was light as a feather against him. He could barely take in the rush of emotions that filled him. Sandra laid a warm blanket over the two of them, and Beth proceeded to make herself comfortable. She wiggled against his skin, her tiny fingers grasping handfuls of his chest hair.
She felt wonderful, amazing. So real and so precious. A tiny, warm body pressed against his heart. It was everything he had ever imagined it would be and more. He wanted to hold on to this marvelous moment forever. Did Beth hear his heartbeat? Did she draw comfort from the sound? Did she remember the sound of her mothers beating heart?
An intense sadness settled over him, dulling his happiness.
He looked up at Sandra, hovering close by. It should be her mother holding her for the first time.
At least she has you. Some children never know a loving touch their entire lives even when they have two parents.
Caitlin opened her eyes to see sunshine streaming in through a wide window that framed a blue sky and fluffy white clouds. Her nose itched. She raised her hand to scratch it then stopped, startled. A padded board and a loop of clear tubing were taped to her hand. Swallowing painfully, she discovered a tube in her mouth.
Bits and pieces of a half-remembered dream danced at the edge of her mind. A deep voice telling her everything would be all right, the wailing of a siren, someone saying, Its a girl, other voices saying, blind and deaf.
She tried but nothing settled into place, and her head began to pound. She moved a hand to her belly, seeking the lump that sometimes stirred and kicked. She found only flatness. Had she lost the baby? Cold fear settled in her chest.
The sound of a door opening came from behind her. A moment later, a young woman in a nurses uniform came around the bed. She stopped short, and her eyes widened in surprise as she met Caitlins gaze.
Well, hello. Its nice to see you awake. In fact, its quite a shock. Taking a small light from her pocket, she leaned over the bed rail and shined it in Caitlins eyes, checking first one, then the other. Putting the light away she slipped her hand beneath Caitlins and said, Squeeze my hand.
Caitlin did, and the womans smile widened. Gingerly, Caitlin touched the tube in her mouth.
The nurse nodded. Youre on a ventilator, thats why you cant talk. Its been helping you breathe, but I dont think youll need it much longer. I know you have a lot of questions. Let me get something for you to write on.
Something to write on? No, that wouldnt do. Theyd find out how stupid she was. Theyd laugh at her. They always did.
The nurse started to turn away, but Caitlin grabbed her. Fearfully, she patted her now flat stomach and waited with dread crawling inside her.
The woman smiled in understanding and grasped Caitlins hand. Your baby is here in the hospital, and shes being well taken care of, so dont you worry. We have to concentrate on getting you well enough to go and see her. Okay?
Caitlin relaxed in heartfelt relief. Her baby was here. She had a little girl, and she would be able to see her. Everything was fine. Just like the voice had promised.
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Patricia Davids
Тип: электронная книга
Жанр: Современные любовные романы
Язык: на английском языке
Издательство: HarperCollins
Дата публикации: 16.04.2024
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О книге: His Bundle of Love, электронная книга автора Patricia Davids на английском языке, в жанре современные любовные романы