by Natalie Ann
Nights were heartbreaking when no amount of rocking or petting or walking the floor soothed her.
“It will just take time,” the pediatrician told them.
When Joey was at work, Roberta and Fran took turns babysitting so Annie was always with someone who loved her instead of sending her to the daycare.
“We’ll hire a nanny,” Joey told the mothers. “She’ll go to your house so you don’t have to be here all day. That way when the new baby comes, you’ll have her help, too. Two infants will be too much.”
“Joey, you’re assuming no one is going to adopt Annie,” Candy said gently.
“I don’t want to think about that.”
“Why don’t you two adopt her?” Roberta charged. “Joey almost had a breakdown when CPS gave her back to her mother. You think giving her up to an adoptive couple will be any easier?”
The couple looked at each other. Candy had discovered that she loved Annie as much as she could after the short time they’d had her. Now that they had her back, the thought of giving her up was reprehensible, but she’d do it if it was demanded of her. Maybe adoption was an option.
“Call CPS,” Joey said, nodding at Candy.
She paused and then nodded back at him in return. She made the call, saying they would file the papers necessary to get the adoption ball rolling.
***
Candy finally got in to see the obstetrician.
“Everything looks great,” she said. “You’re in great health. The baby looks good. Let’s do an ultrasound before you leave. You can find out the sex of the baby, too.”
“Can you write it down on a piece of paper for me? Don’t tell me. That way I can give it to Joey. It’ll be a nice surprise for him after everything he’s been through.”
“Absolutely, we can do that. Then you’ll both find out the baby’s sex at the same time.”
“Yes! That will be perfect.”
Giving Joey the gender reveal for a Christmas gift was the only thing she could think of that would make a difference to him. His nerves were clearly shot after everything he’d gone through with Annie. There was a distinct difference in the way he was around the baby now. The boisterous daddy had been replaced by the daddy who whispered to her and rarely put her down when he was home. Hopefully, the permanence of their own baby would help him heal.
She sent him a text message on her way home from the doctor. Just saw the obstetrician and everything is good. Be right home.
Then she got a return text, which was unlike him when she was driving. Hurry up if you can. CPS is here. Not to take her this time.
“Oh great, what the hell do they want now?” she said out loud.
She’d left a message about adoption two days before, and no one had returned her call yet. Hopefully, that was what the visit was about. Picking up a little speed, she didn’t do her leisurely ride through the neighborhood like she usually did, admiring the landscaping and the holiday decorations. Anger at CPS and how they’d affected her family increased the closer she got to home. The now familiar car was parked in the middle of the driveway, so she had to park out on the street in front of the house, which further infuriated her.
Inside, Joey had the Christmas tree lights plugged in, and she could see him with the baby in his arms, talking animatedly to unseen guests. She couldn’t tell if he was happy.
He must have heard the car, because he was waiting for her at the open door by the time she made it down the walkway. The expression on his face was difficult to read.
“Hey,” he mumbled, leaning in to kiss her. “You can tell me about your doctor visit later, okay? I’m interested.”
It was obvious by his expression that he was sorry something about Annie had swept news about their baby to a place of seeming less importance. It was the tyranny of the urgent.
“What’s going on?” she asked as Nanette and Frank came into view.
“We’ve talk to Joey a little but wanted to wait until you got home before we go into it thoroughly.”
“Well, here I am,” she said, taking her coat off. “I’m usually home earlier, but I had a doctor appointment after work.”
“Congratulations! That’s such good news.”
“Why not go into the kitchen and have a seat. I’ll be right in.”
The smell of coffee was in the air. She longed for a cup, thinking it might help her relax; her anxiety had reached new heights. Back in the kitchen, Joey asked if they wanted coffee.
“It’s too late for me,” Frank said.
“None for me, either. I’ll be up all night,” Natalie added.
“Italians drink coffee at all hours,” Joey replied, pouring a cup for himself. “There must be something in our blood that prevents it from keeping us up at night.”
They didn’t speak again until Candy reappeared.
“Okay, I can’t stand this another second. You two speak up now.”
Without pausing, Nanette did as asked. “Do you want to adopt Annie?”
Joey reached out for Candy’s hand.
“I wondered if you were going to get back to us,” Candy said.
“I wanted to wait until I had something to tell you. As soon as you called, we spoke to the judge, and he said he’d sign the papers immediately. I’m telling you, in all the years I’ve been in this work, I have never seen the process go so quickly.”
“It’s not exactly over yet,” Frank said cautiously.
“That’s true, but to even be at this point in the proceedings—”
“What point is that?” Candy asked, taking the baby from Joey.
“You can go down tomorrow and sign. Believe me, that’s fast. The last near tragedy lit a fire under the court. Kathy Miller’s rights are permanently revoked. We have an interested and motivated family. It’s the perfect storm.”
“We both want this, right? Is there anything left to talk about?” Joey asked Candy.
“Not as far as I’m concerned,” she said, sliding her arm around him. “Annie’s my baby now.”
“Let’s do it, then,” he said. “I don’t want to wait for a second.”
Looking down at baby Annie in her arms, she smiled. “I’m gonna be your momma,” she whispered.
The next day, she left Terry Bono a message that she had a court matter to attend to and would be late for her rotation. Candy and Joey leaving the house together had not happened in weeks.
“I feel like we’re going on an adventure.”
“We are,” Joey said, buckling Annie in her car seat. “It feels surreal to me.”
But when they got to the courthouse, a grim-looking Nanette and Frank waited for them.
“What now?” Candy asked when they approached.
“The judge had an emergency. But you’ll sign all the papers today, and when he returns, he’ll do the final decree. I’m sorry. I know you were hoping to wrap things up right away.”
“What does it mean as far as Annie goes?”
“Nothing, really. It’s just a formality.”
“Let’s get it over with,” Joey said. “I’m not going to be able to relax until this thing is finalized.”
“If we did our jobs the way this has been handled, people would die all the time,” Candy said, thinking about how close Annie came to losing her life. “I rest my case.”
“Do we need a lawyer for this?” Joey asked. “I should have asked before.”
“No, because the court revoked the parents’ rights. There’s no known father on the birth certificate. I forgot to mention that new birth certificates will be issued with your names.”
Shaking her head, Candy’s thoughts were swimming. Did changing a birth certificate like that harm a child? So many questions that she’d have to answer later. Kathy Miller would always be Annie’s birth mother, no matter what the courts did. She wasn’t the brightest of parents by any means, but that didn’t change Annie’s DNA. Now with their names on the birth certificate, it would be their responsibility to reveal the birth mother to Annie
when she got older.
Candy and Joey would be her parents by law, and by heart. They signed paper after paper, witnessed by Nanette and Frank and notarized. It was all legal, just needing the judge’s signature.
“I’ll make copies of everything for you,” Frank said. “It shouldn’t take long.”
“I have an appointment at ten, so I’ll take my leave now,” Nanette said.
They shook hands and secretly both hoped it would be the last time they ever had to see Nanette, friendship or not.
“I’ll be glad when this is over. I just want to get on with our lives,” Joey said. “I want boring. I want normal for a change.”
“What’s that?” Candy asked, frowning. “We should be thrilled this is happening, but we’re both still nervous wrecks. This is our new normal.”
Joey looked down at her, his expression a combination of sadness and worry. “Are we ever going to have sex again?”
“Joey, no way,” Candy replied, sputtering. She laughed out loud. “We can have it anytime you want. Things haven’t exactly been conducive to romance.”
“See, that’s what I mean. What about us?”
She couldn’t help laughing. “Joey, this is parenthood, I think. We’ll have to make time for ourselves. Make us a priority or we’ll never have time.”
“After today, we’re a priority, at least for tonight,” he whispered. “Get ready. Just thinking about you, I’m ready to explode.”
She was charmed by him, there was no doubt about it, and she tried to reel in the giggling when Frank came back with their paperwork.
“I’ll get in touch as soon as the judge signs. Hang in there, you two. It’s all good.”
“You said that before,” Joey replied.
“This time it really is.” He held out his hand to shake. “I won’t have a need to see you again unless you change your mind. Good luck and Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas,” Candy replied, her hand on Joey’s back.
He kissed her on the lips. “I guess I’ll head back home. Let me know when you get to the hospital.”
“I’ll make everything up to you tonight,” she said. “Hang in there.”
“Now I’m all excited again,” he said. “Can you just come home for a quickie?”
“You’re insane, Joey. No, I can’t come home for a quickie, but I’ll give you one tonight.”
They parted for real this time, and she drove to the hospital with a smile on her face. But when she arrived, Terry Bono was waiting for her at the nurses’ station.
“Yeah, must be nice to come and go as you please.”
She waved the nurse manager over. “Miss Franklin, I’d like a witness to what I’m about to say to Terry.”
“Go ahead, Candy,” she said, looking at Terry with a smirk.
“You know all Annie’s details,” she reminded the resident. “You were in on her case from the beginning. For your information, we just signed her adoption papers. We would never have gotten involved if everyone here, you as well, if I recall, hadn’t talked us into taking her in as a foster child.
“So when CPS showed up at our house last night because the judge wanted us to adopt her, we weren’t going to say, no, we can’t do it because Terry might get pissed off.”
He put his hands up in surrender and backed away. “I stand corrected. Get to work.”
Rushing off, he took one last glance over his shoulder.
“I don’t think you’ll have any more trouble with Dr. Bono,” Miss Franklin said.
***
Early on Christmas Eve night, Joey built a fire in the firepit outside even though it was still sixty-five degrees. Baby Annie was in her little seat up on a table, and Candy mixed traditional Italian mulled wine for Joey. Making a nonalcoholic substitute for herself, she’d boiled cinnamon, clove and nutmeg in water with sugar, then added cider and a little cranberry juice and some fresh citrus.
“This is good. It’s a little tart, but I wanted to keep the sugar down. How’s yours?”
“Delish. I’ll make an Italian out of you yet.”
“I wonder what nationality Annie is. We know what our baby is going to be. I want to know what Annie is so we can celebrate it.”
“Did you ever see her mother?”
“No. I wouldn’t know her if I passed her on the street.”
“That’s probably a good thing,” Joey said.
“Once we get our routine down, the chances that we might run into her will be greater. But Annie is growing so fast now, I doubt she’d recognize her. It’s kind of sad. Not that I want her involved, but she is Annie’s mother.”
“She almost killed her, Candy. Try to remember that when you’re feeling sad about her.”
“I will. So! What did you get me for Christmas?”
“Do you want it now?” Joey asked, laughing.
“Yes! Understand I can’t give you your gift until tomorrow.”
“That’s not fair.”
“You’ll see the wisdom behind it when I give it to you on Christmas Day.”
“I’ll be right back.”
The baby fussed in her chair, a sign she was going to sleep soon. Candy glanced over at her and smiled. For all the problems she was born into, she was truly the best baby.
“Thank you, Annie,” she whispered as Joey returned.
“Here you go. It’s not much. I promise to take you shopping the day after. My mother said she’ll babysit.”
“Ha! Joey, you know I hate to shop, especially the day after Christmas. That’s a copout.”
“How about if I give you the money and you can shop online?”
“Okay, that’s a deal.” She took the box from him. “I love small boxes. I’m sure this gift is going to be enough.”
Carefully, she tore the paper off and opened the box. “Oh, Joey…”
It was a gold medallion on a chain.
“It’s Saint Anne, the mother of Mary. The story goes that she was sterile, and then an angel came down and told her she was going to give birth to the mother of the Savior. Saint Anne is the patron saint of motherhood and pregnancy and newborns.”
“I know about her, but not that angel story. Thank you, Joey.” She stretched forward and kissed him. “I’ve been praying to Saint Anne since we got married.”
“Did I know that?” He came around to the back of her chair to fasten the chain around her neck.
“I’m not sure. It’s not like we’ve had a lot of time to chat in the past four months.”
“I must have heard you say something, because what about baby Annie?”
“You just picked that name out of the blue,” Candy said.
She didn’t mention that Anne was a name she’d considered for their own baby. It wasn’t important any longer because Annie was really theirs, she could feel it in her body. They’d bonded completely, mother and daughter.
“There you go,” he said, leaning over to see the medal on her. “It’s beautiful on you.”
“Thank you so much, Joey. It means a lot to me. I believe she is protecting us. At least I hope she is. Now what can I do for you?”
“Take your pants off.”
“Ha! Get real. What can I do for you out here by the fire with the baby still awake looking cross-eyed at her fists.”
“Sing a carol for me,” he said.
“Really? You want me to sing a Christmas carol? It’s been such a long time since I sang carols.”
“I remember the words to ‘What Child is This,’” he said. “I’ll whistle along.”
“Okay. What Child is this, who laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping?”
In the next stanza, Joey joined in, and they sang the rest together, a little off key. Then they were done; they applauded each other, hugging.
“That’s our gesture for Christmas Eve. I’m beat. Are you tired?”
“I’m exhausted,” Candy said. “I’ll get her if you put the fire out
.”
“Guess what time it is,” he said, chuckling.
“Midnight?”
“It’s not even eight yet.”
“Oh lord, I don’t care. I have to go to bed. I’ll make love to you if we can go now.”
“Hurry up! What are you waiting for?”
***
Unwrapping gifts on Christmas morning took forever. Roberta liked to honor each person by having the focus on them when they opened their gifts. She did it by age, the youngest to the oldest. And that way the kids didn’t have to wait; they could play with their gifts while the adults opened theirs. While the gifts were opened, two meals were served: first breakfast that was all food easily eaten around the Christmas tree, and a buffet lunch that was eaten the same way.
After the grandkids opened their gifts, it was time for the Saint sons and their significant others to open their gifts, and by the time it was Joey’s turn, Candy could barely stand it, she was so excited.
The person of honor stood in front of the tree, and his gifts were given to him by the giver. Candy asked if she could give Joey her gifts last. He was tired by the time they got around to Candy’s gifts, so someone gave him a cup of coffee, which made the adults laugh.
Candy stood next to him with the first gift, a white business envelope.
“What is this?” he asked.
“Just open it. I don’t know either. It’s from my doctor.”
Of course, that was enough of a hint that everyone gasped and cheered. “Quick, I can’t wait, Fran said.
Joey looked around at everyone and shrugged his shoulders, too dense at that moment to get the surprise. He opened the envelope and took a stiff piece of paper out. He unfolded it and saw that it was an ultrasound.
“Is this our baby?”
“Yes! We’re supposed to be able to tell the gender,” she said. “She circled the proper part with a pencil. Can you see it?”
All the adults crowded around the couple, trying to see the picture.
“What! Is that what I think it is?”
“Let me see it, will you?” Candy barked, laughing. “I don’t know either.”
