Connie sat on a cold metal bench in front of Jax’s bar. She pulled the cell phone out of her purse and touched the screen. She watched Hewitt running to his car across the street. “I owe you,” he shouted while shivering. “Big time.”
She glanced at him as he stopped his car in front of her. She waved with a smile and spoke. “Hey, Virginia. I got your call. Are you okay?”
“I am.”
“How do you feel?”
“Nervous.”
“Do you still need my help?”
“Yes, I’m scared. I know it’s a strange question to ask, but you are my new best stranger.”
“What do you need?”
“I know I have terrible timing. Of all nights I’m bothering you.”
“You’re not, Virginia. I’m here for you.”
“I’m at Northport General.”
“Now?”
“Yes,” Virginia said.
Connie reached into her purse for a tissue. “What a night to have your baby. How many centimeters are you dilated?” she asked while wiping a tear away.
“They tell me eight.”
“Are you being given any painkillers?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, sweetie. I’m on my way.”
“Thanks.”
Connie put the phone back in her pocket and watched Hewitt get out of the car. “Well, my night is about to become more exciting.”
“More exciting?”
“I’m sorry for pushing you in, but you deserved it. Mocking a woman in distress isn’t a very smart move.”
“You were trying to manipulate me.”
“No. I was expressing how I felt. I need to go.”
“Where?”
“A friend is about to have a baby.”
Hewitt didn’t respond.
“Can you give me a ride?”
Hewitt’s eyes widened. “Wow, you have some gall.”
“You owe me,” Connie said.
“Owe you?” Hewitt turned around for a second and then faced her.
“Yeah, you do,” said Connie as she stood. “I stopped you from becoming a whining hot mess.”
“You pushed me into the bay.”
“Yeah, I did. I’m glad I did. I bet it shook some sense into you.”
Hewitt sighed. “Where is your car?”
“I walked.”
“I’ll give you the ride.”
She nodded. “Thanks. She’s three weeks early.”
“Is that important?” he asked.
“I don’t know. But I want to support her. And I hope everything turns out all right.”
“Have the ultrasounds been good?”
“I believe so,” she said, following him to his car.
“Then what’s the problem?” he asked.
She stopped on the passenger side of the Cadillac, waiting for him to open the door. “She doesn’t feel she can handle having a child in her life at this time.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I need to help her.”
“How?” he asked, opening the door.
“Any way I can, even if I have to adopt the child.”
“Wow,” he said, sitting down and turning on the ignition. “That’s a huge responsibility.”
“I’m ready for it.”
“Does she know you’re willing to do this?”
Connie nodded. “Oh, yeah. Take me to Northport General.”
“Sure. Do you have it in writing? You know there are no guarantees.”
“I have her word.”
“Having her word doesn’t mean it would stand up in any courtroom.”
Connie faced him. “I’m not interested in going into any courtroom over a child.”
Hewitt drove up Main Street. “We’re about twenty minutes from the hospital. Are you sure about doing this? I’ve seen it turn out bad in situations like this.”
“I’m not going to listen to your sad stories anymore,” Connie said. “She needs my support. She has no one.”
“She might feel differently after she has the baby.”
Connie looked away. “I know. I don’t need to be reminded of what might not happen. I just want to be there for her.”
“Sure.”
Connie stared outside as they passed the stores along Main Street. She noticed the toy store, beautifully decorated with a big green ribbon in the front window. “I want to be a mother, Hewitt,” she said. “I want it so bad I can feel the baby in my arms. But I’d give it up if it meant having Elizabeth back home safely.”
“I know you would.”
She gave a faint smile and was surprised when he placed his hand on hers. “Stop.”
“Why?”
“I want to go in the toy store and pick up something.”
“Now?”
“It’ll only take a couple of minutes.”
Hewitt turned the car around and parked. “It might not be open now. It’s starting to get late.”
“I’ll be right back,” she said, shouting.
“I’ll wait here.”
“I won’t be long.”
Minutes later, Connie returned with a small bag.
“My Christmas present?” Hewitt asked.
“Ha. Next year, maybe,” she said with a smile.
Hewitt turned off Main Street and gave her a quick glance. “You would make a good mom.”
They sat in silence until they pulled into the hospital parking lot. Connie stayed motionless in her seat for a few moments while Hewitt rubbed his eyes. “You don’t have to go in,” he said.
She shook her head and took a tissue out of her purse. “That wouldn’t be fair to Virginia. She has no one. It’s about time I’m there for someone else.”
“Do you want to do this because you really want to or because of some guilt you need to erase?”
She wiped her eyes. “Probably both. No matter what happens I want to support her.”
Hewitt touched her hand again. “Do you want me to come in?”
“That would be nice.”
Hewitt smiled and Connie laughed. “What’s funny?” he asked.
“You look like a dork,” she replied.
“I thought dorks were cool today.”
“Tonight they are.”
They stopped at the main desk and received their visitor passes. Hewitt didn’t flash his FBI badge. Instead, he went to the bathroom.
“Going to dry off?” asked Connie.
Hewitt raised his eyebrows. “Give me a few minutes.”
Connie could hear the dryer blowing in the bathroom. She giggled a bit and stopped when Hewitt appeared. She smiled when Hewitt’s shoes squished as they walked down the hallway. “I told you I was a great date,” she said.
Hewitt grinned.
A nurse greeted them with gowns. “You are cleared to be in the room with Virginia. Sir, are you a friend?”
“He is,” Connie said.
“Can I get some clothes?” Hewitt asked. “I had a little accident.”
Connie smirked.
The nurse nodded and returned minutes later with a robe.
“Please wear these,” the nurse said. “Please listen to any instructions by the doctors and nurses in the room. Any questions?”
“No,” said Connie.
The nurse guided them through two hallways and into a room at the far end. The area was quiet except for three nurses chatting outside a small desk.
“How eerie is this?” Connie said.
“What’s wrong?” asked Hewitt.
“This is the same place I saw Elizabeth when she was born.” She pointed to a big glass window. They stopped and looked. Row after row of babies lay in incubators.
“This way,” said the nurse.
“Are you sure about this being the place?” asked Hewitt.
“Yeah. Very sure. You don’t forget a place or a night like that.”
He touched her shoulder. “I can go in there alone if you want.”
“I’m fine.”
“This way,” the nurse said again, opening the door.
Virginia lay on a short bed with an IV protruding from her hand. A nurse in the corner wrote on a chart.
“Hey ya, sweetie. How are you doing?” Connie asked.
Virginia winced and struggled to say a few words. “I could use some more pain medicine.”
“Nurse,” Connie said.
The nurse continued to write on the chart.
“Nurse?”
“Here, hold this,” said Connie, offering her hand to Virginia who squeezed it hard. “Wow, that’s some grip you’ve got there, girl.”
The smell of clean sheets and pillows softened Connie. “Excuse me. Can you help Virginia? She looks like she’s in a lot of pain.”
The nurse looked up and put the chart into a plastic holder attached to the back of the bed. “I’ll be right there.”
“Well, can it be right now?” asked Connie.
“Okay, Connie. Let’s let the nurse do her job,” said Hewitt.
“You’re right,” Connie said. “I apologize.” She turned, looked at him and grinned. “See, the new me.”
The nurse adjusted the pump. “How does that feel now?”
“Better,” Virginia said.
“Hold my hand, sweetie,” Connie said. “Squeeze it as hard as you want.”
Virginia let out several small moans. “How many centimeters dilated is she now?” asked Connie, turning to the nurse.
“Nine. Almost ten.”
“Okay. You’re almost there, Virginia.”
“Dr. McKenna will be in soon,” the nurse said while dropping ice chips into a plastic cup. She placed it on a tray and swung it in front of Virginia. “Dr. McKenna’s our best. He’s been doing this for over twenty years.”
“Do you hear that Virginia?” Connie said. “You’re going to be fine.”
“If I am going to be fine, why do I feel so awful?” She released a loud moan. Hewitt grimaced.
The nurse patted Virginia’s forehead with a towel and placed it on the tray. “If you need anything else, press the red button.” She handed her a device. “It won’t be more than a few minutes before Dr. McKenna arrives.”
Hewitt sat and Connie stroked Virginia’s hair. She held the cup of ice chips to her lips. “Do you need anything else?”
Virginia shook her head. ”Just stay.” She moaned again, gripping Connie’s hand.
“Crap,” Connie said.
“You all right?” asked Hewitt.
She turned and mouthed the words, “That hurt.”
Hewitt smiled.
“It’s not funny,” Connie said out loud.
“What’s not funny?” screamed Virginia.
“Nothing, honey.”
“Huh? Is that your husband?”
Connie looked behind her at Hewitt. He stood and joined them. “He’s a good friend.”
“You’re a lucky woman to have him. Not many men would want to be around a screaming woman.”
“I am.”
“What’s your name? I need to know if I’m about to moan some more. Do you scare easy?”
“Hewitt’s my name.”
“What an odd name. Oooooooh, God. That was a long one.”
“What a way to meet, right?” he asked.
She half laughed and half moaned.
“Where is that doctor?” Connie asked.
“I’ll go look for him,” Hewitt said.
“Hang in there, Virginia,” Connie said. “The doctor will be here soon.”
She moaned and struggled to sit up.
The beeping sound of the heart monitor started to bother Connie. She took a deep breath as she watched Virginia grimace. “Are you feeling the drugs?”
“A little.”
“Well that’s not enough. Where’s Hewitt? Where’s that doctor?” Connie asked.
“The doctor is in,” said a man entering the room. “Dr. McKenna at your service.” He held out his hand to Connie.
“About time,” she said.
“No. Perfect time,” he said, examining Virginia. “She’s ten centimeters dilated now.”
“How do you know?” Connie asked.
“Well, when I did the internal exam, I could feel the head in the birth canal. This baby is ready to be born.”
He stood and moved the tray out of the way.
“What are you doing?” asked Connie.
“It’s showtime. Are you ready to push?”
Virginia screamed. “Yes.”
“Oh, that’s a good attitude. I’m glad because we need your full cooperation.”
Dr. McKenna moved to the back end of the bed. “Nurse, please. Here,” he said. A tiny table with several metal instruments was wheeled in and placed on the other side of the bed.
“Hold my hand, sweetie,” Connie said. “Break it if you have to.”
“Okay, Virginia, hold your breath and push,” said Dr. McKenna. “Good girl, I think the head will be through with the next push. This contraction is over, so try to relax and rest for a few seconds until the next one starts.”
“Oh my God,” said Connie. “You’re almost there.”
“Oh no, here comes another one,” groaned Virginia.
“All right, let’s have another good push,” Dr. McKenna implored. “Keep going, keep going.”
“I can’t. I can’t,” Virginia shouted.
“Yes you can,” urged Connie, pressing her hand.
“No. No. He’s staying in here until I have more money saved.”
“Too late for that,” Connie said. “He’s coming and he’s wanting his Christmas presents.”
Hewitt joined Connie.
“I have no presents under the tree for him,” Virginia said.
“There’ll be plenty of gifts for him,” Connie replied. She turned around and motioned to the shopping bag in the corner. “Get it.”
Hewitt handed her a neatly wrapped small box with a red ribbon stuck on top in the middle.
“Do you see this?” Connie asked, showing it to Virginia.
“Yeah. So what?”
“The first present under your tree for your boy.”
“My boy?”
“Yes. Your boy.”
“But … ”
“Quit the chitchat, ladies,” pleaded Dr. McKenna. “Here’s his head.” He pushed the head in slightly and adjusted the child so one shoulder would come out first. “Give me another good push,” he pleaded. “Come on Virginia, push.”
“Push, honey, push,” Connie said.
“Nice job!” Dr. McKenna said.
“Am I done?” Virginia asked, panting.
“Almost. One more push,” he said. “There he is, a handsome little fellow.”
“Wow,” Hewitt said.
“Is he beautiful?” Virginia asked, gasping. “What color is his hair? His eyes? Connie, tell me.”
“What?”
“Tell me what he looks like.”
Connie let go of her hand and went behind Dr. McKenna.
“Tell me. What color is his hair?”
“Hold on a second, sweetie.” Connie watched the nurses care for the baby, assessing his condition. They took a couple of minutes cleaning the blood and amniotic fluid off of his reddened skin, finally drying him with three white towels.
“His hair is brown, Virginia,” Connie said.
“His eyes?”
“They look blue.”
“Is he beautiful?”
“Yes. Like you.”
Virginia cried.
Connie glanced at the baby one more time and then stared at Hewitt.