His Hired Baby

by Jacqueline Diamond

  “Better than firing me,” Tony returned. To Kate, he said, “Sorry I’m late.”

  What happened with Esther? She willed him to answer. Telepathy, however, didn’t seem to be his forte, because he turned and thanked Irene for leaving him messages.

  “It never occurred to me she’d gone into labor,” he explained. “I should have picked up the phone. When I finally heard what you said about the surgery, I broke the speed limit and possibly the sound barrier.”

  “Good thing your brother didn’t give you a ticket,” Irene said tartly.

  “Leo? He’d have provided me a police escort.”

  Kate felt a tugging in her abdomen. Abruptly, the mood in the operating room changed. Everyone fell silent, staring as the doctor lifted out the baby. She caught only a glimpse above the screen before a nurse took the infant and handed her to another figure in scrubs. Dr. Sellers, the neonatologist. Kate hadn’t seen him come in.

  A loud squall produced a ripple of relieved conversation. “She’s got quite a set of lungs!” someone said.

  “Good color,” a nurse observed.

  “She’s gorgeous.” Tony vibrated as if preparing to launch himself into orbit.

  “Red and covered with goop and squinting,” Irene teased.

  “Perfect,” he answered, and no one disagreed.

  Kate’s heart throbbed. Let me have her. But no one reacted.

  Tears rolled down her cheeks. After all she’d been through today, she didn’t even get to hold her daughter. She ached to see that tiny red face, and those beautiful squinty eyes. For nearly nine months, she and Tara had been one flesh, one being, one magically bonded soul, and now they were separated forever.

  “Hey.” It was Tony, back again, his thumb collecting a teardrop. “Don’t cry.”

  A nurse lifted off the oxygen mask, but Kate still couldn’t speak. She turned her head away. Wasn’t the anesthesiologist supposed to give her a sedative that would make her sleepy? If only she could blot out this scene.

  “You’re going to have to help me with this.” What was Tony talking about? She blinked, and gazed up blearily.

  He stood over her holding a small blanket-wrapped bundle, a nightcap on her head and feet covered with the cutest little socks. “Tara?” Kate whispered.

  Instead of answering, Tony addressed the baby. “Your mommy wants you. I’ll place you on her chest, and she’ll tell you how much trouble you gave her.”

  The tears kept flowing, but these were tears of joy. She did get to hold Tara. And to touch Tony’s hands as, together, they welcomed their baby.

  KATE WOKE UP ALONE. Morning light played across the hospital room and the other empty bed. Vaguely, she recalled spending a short while in the recovery unit, and then being moved here. The rest of the night had passed in a sedated haze.

  She didn’t see a bassinet, but then, she hadn’t really expected Tony to let her bring the baby into her room. It had been enough just to share that special moment.

  What idiocy. It hadn’t been anywhere near enough. Now they were gone, both of them. Her daughter and her…and Tony.

  He’d never told her what had happened with Esther, Kate realized. But then, his life wasn’t her business anymore.

  She hated the fact that she was crying again. Tears defied her, though, sliding down and dampening the pillow. Thank goodness she didn’t have a roommate. Seeing another woman and her family rejoicing over a baby would have been more than Kate could bear.

  A tap at the door drew her attention. Mary Beth gave her a bittersweet smile. “Can we come in? We’ve all been down to the nursery. She’s amazing.”

  Quickly, Kate wiped her tears. From behind Mary Beth, Brady dodged into the room and raced to the bedside. “Why do you have wires on you, Mommy? Can I climb up?”

  “Don’t jostle her,” warned Irene, shepherding in Junior and Johnnie. Following her stern instructions, the two older boys settled on chairs.

  “Sit next to me on the chair, sweetie,” Kate told her son. “This isn’t a wire; it’s a tube called an IV. It gives me water and medicine. I’m sure they’ll take it out soon.”

  Everyone had questions—How did she feel? Had she heard any more from the Francos?—but underneath, she felt a current of sadness. They all longed to keep the baby, Kate more than anyone.

  Could this really be over? Did Tony truly intend to take Tara and exit from Kate’s life?

  I love him. But he had a wife. And with his kind heart, if Esther had come back to beg forgiveness, he’d probably give her a second chance.

  “I wish we weren’t flying out of town today to see Ray’s parents,” Mary Beth fretted. “We’ve got to be at the airport in a couple of hours.”

  Irene patted her older daughter’s arm. “Brady and I will have lots of fun, and you’ll be back Sunday, in plenty of time to take Kate home from the hospital.” She turned to her younger daughter. “They aren’t letting you out before then, are they?”

  “I doubt it.”

  At a stir in the doorway, Kate felt a lurch of wild joy. Tony…but no, it was Dr. Rayburn. Still, she found his presence a comfort.

  “Oh, it’s the doctor,” Mary Beth said. “Guess that’s our signal to leave. Brady, the doctor needs to be alone with your mom.”

  “Don’t forget, we’re going to have the house to ourselves,” Irene reminded her grandson. “You can play Dance Dance Revolution all you like. For lunch, how about macaroni and cheese?”

  “Yay!” He stood on tiptoe to give Kate a kiss. “Get better quick, Mommy.”

  “I will.”

  After everyone left, Dr. Rayburn examined the incision and reviewed Kate’s vital signs. “Everything looks good. The nurses should have you on your feet and taking a few steps this morning. How’re you doing otherwise?”

  She didn’t have to keep up her guard with him about the surrogacy. “It’s harder than I expected.”

  “This is an unusual situation,” Dr. Rayburn conceded. “I’ve dealt with these arrangements before, and usually everything goes smoothly.”

  In the hallway, Kate heard a cart roll by. It stopped, and to her astonishment, a nurse’s aide wheeled in a bassinet. “This can’t be Tara.”

  As the aide positioned the newborn beside the bed, Dr. Rayburn checked the plastic bracelet. “Baby Girl Evans.”

  Evans, not Franco? Kate remembered that the hospital always labeled babies with the mother’s last name for ease of tracking. “Did they bring her in by mistake?”

  “No, I don’t believe so.” The doctor winked. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” He finished making a note on her chart and went out.

  Her heart racing, Kate scooted awkwardly into a sitting position and reached to stroke the newborn. She didn’t dare lift Tara by herself yet, and the aide had left along with the obstetrician.

  When she caught a whiff of familiar aftershave, every nerve cell in her body quivered. Kate stared in disbelief at the man strolling through the door wearing a wry, tender smile. He’d come, after all. He hadn’t abandoned her.

  “We have a lot to talk about,” Tony said.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Curious as she was about Esther, Kate wished Tony would sweep her into his arms and say sweet, loving things. Right now, she didn’t care what his wife had wanted or what tactic he’d used, as long as he was here. She wanted to bury her face in his tan corduroy jacket and simply inhale him.

  Yet he seemed determined to tell her the whole story, and to keep a slight distance as he outlined Esther’s request for reconciliation. “She seemed to believe Tara and I would accessorize her new life quite nicely.”

  Kate could hardly bear to listen. She wasn’t ready to hear bad news or deal with its aftermath. “Would you hand me the baby?”

  “You mean…pick her up?” From his tone, she might have been requesting he defuse a nuclear bomb.

  “You did it last night.”

  “The nurse set her in my arms,” he admitted.

  Kate had to smile. “Remember what
they showed us in class? Be sure to support her head.”

  Tony approached the bassinet. Instantly, his tone softened. “Hi, baby girl. She looks hungry, don’t you think?”

  “Newborns usually lose a few ounces the first day,” Kate reminded him, since that was another point Tina had covered. “Hold on. I need to get ready.”

  “For what?”

  “To nurse.” She fumbled with the front of her hospital gown.

  Tony turned bright red. “Listen, Kate, that’s great, but can you wait? I’d like to finish our conversation without…distractions.”

  “Sure.” Disappointed, she retied the laces. “So, Esther wants…” She let the words trail off.

  “Everything, like she always does.” He shook his head. “I insisted she quit her job and act like a real wife and mother for a year. You should have seen how fast she headed for the door. It’s over between us.”

  She clung to his words. “You’re getting a divorce? It’s settled?”

  “As soon as we can get a judge’s approval.”

  Kate sagged against the pillow. Finally.

  “The whole time she was trying to win me back, I couldn’t stop thinking how much I’ve enjoyed being around you and Brady.” His full mouth curved. “Everything’s changed this past month. I’ve changed.”

  She could hardly breathe. Tell me you love me.

  “Thanksgiving helped me understand that Tara deserves a family, not just a father,” Tony went on. “A grandmother, cousins, people to celebrate with.”

  “And a mother,” Kate said more eagerly than she intended.

  Reaching into the bassinet, Tony took his daughter’s tiny hand. “Cutting you out of her life would be cruel.”

  She wished he wouldn’t choose his words so carefully. Just tell me! “What do you mean?”

  Tony cleared his throat. “I stayed up half the night, trying to work out an amendment to the surrogacy arrangement that would be fair to everyone. Here’s what I’ve come up with so far. I’d greatly appreciate if you would agree to nurse her for at least a few months. I’d retain custody, of course, but you and Brady could stay at my house. After that…”

  Nurse her for a few months? Move into his house with Brady to suit Tony’s convenience?

  Maybe Kate had been a fool to hope for more, but she’d certainly never expected to be treated like this. “What do you take me for, a nanny?”

  He stiffened. “I’m trying to be reasonable.”

  Kate had run out of patience. Maybe Tony didn’t love her, but he certainly owed her more than a job as a disposable nursemaid. “I’ll tell you what’s reasonable. If you love your daughter, you’ll share custody with me. You’ll make a great dad, but you aren’t prepared to raise her alone.”

  “Need I remind you that you signed…”

  “You’ve done nothing but remind me of that since your wife dumped you!” she flared. “My sister’s been telling me all along that genetic mothers have legal rights. Don’t make me fight you. That will hurt us both.”

  His face tightened. “You’re going back on your word?”

  “With you offering me the post of wet nurse-in-residence? I’ve never been so insulted, even by Esther.”

  His disapproval shifted to uncertainty. “I didn’t mean it that way, Kate. You aren’t the hired help, for pity’s sake. You’re special to me. And you’re Tara’s mother. There’s no reason we can’t share her on a daily basis. I’ve got plenty of room for you and Brady both.”

  “We have our own house. I’m not uprooting my son for some temporary arrangement.”

  “Well, if things work out, maybe we can—”

  “Do what?” She was so angry, her stitches hurt. “Hang out as roommates until you find the woman of your dreams?” She hadn’t forgotten Mary Beth’s reminder that someday he would remarry a new and improved version of Esther.

  “Where is this coming from?”

  With an effort, Kate reined in her temper. “You said once that you believe in marriage. Well, so do I. What should I tell my son if I move in with a man, and I’m neither an employee nor a wife?”

  “I wasn’t suggesting that kind of arrangement.”

  “You might as well have. It’s what everyone would assume.” She stopped short of pointing out the obvious—that they weren’t likely to keep their hands off each other for long.

  “Kate, what’s the problem here? We’ve always been able to discuss things.”

  “You figure it out.” Oh, blast, she was crying again.

  Tony stood there looking so bewildered that she nearly forgave him. But not quite. How could she have so completely misread their interaction these past weeks? Did he truly feel nothing for her?

  The silence lengthened. Just when she thought his reserve might break down at last, he said, “I’ll send someone in to help you with the baby.”

  Kate wished she had a shoe to throw at the door as he left. Or that she hadn’t shut him out. That she’d told him… What?

  That she loved him too much to accept anything less than marriage? He’d made it clear that wasn’t on the table. In fact, he’d probably be shocked to learn she dared see herself in that role.

  A moment later, as he’d promised, the aide came in. With her help, Kate brought Tara to her breast.

  Whatever else happened, she decided as she nursed, she’d done one thing right today. She’d decided to fight for her baby, no matter what it cost.

  ANGER KICKED IN as Tony drove home. How dare Kate change the rules and throw them in his face? He hadn’t meant to insult her. If anything, he’d paid her the respect of believing she would keep her word about their agreement.

  What was so complicated about the fact that people required guidelines and boundaries? That was why civilized societies had laws. That was what kept everyone safe.

  He arrived home to find the cleaners, who had a key, vacuuming the last of yesterday’s celebration from the carpet. The dining room had been restored to its customary spotless state, as had the kitchen. They’d aired out the place, as well, removing the lingering scents of sage and cinnamon that he’d inhaled when he came downstairs this morning.

  Tony wished they’d put everything back. He didn’t want Thanksgiving obliterated. He yearned to live it over and over, to dwell in that happy time when things still made sense.

  He wrote out a check and wished the crew a happy holiday. Cheerfully, they finished mopping the entryway and headed to their van.

  Leaving him alone. For once, it didn’t seem like such a treat to have the holiday weekend free.

  Tony wandered through the house, scarcely seeing the sunlight sparkling through the wide rear windows and on the harbor far below. He wanted Kate here. It had seemed so obvious and inevitable that she and Brady should move in. Last night when, too restless to sleep, he’d strolled from his bedroom to the nursery, he’d pictured her standing by the crib, hair flowing around her shoulders, her face glowing at the sight of him.

  What do you take me for, a nanny?

  Of course he hadn’t meant that. She was so much more. That’s what made it difficult to work out the new rules.

  She’d been right about the legalities. Tony had to admit that, despite their contract, the law granted the mother certain rights until she formally relinquished them after the baby’s birth. His only recourse would be to withhold the final payment, but he couldn’t in good conscience deprive her and Brady of that.

  Damn it, he’d been fair and honest every step of the way. If he’d insulted her, it was by accident. Perhaps he should simply suggest that they renegotiate their agreement. That sounded less arbitrary than presenting her with a preconceived plan.

  Other than that, he had no idea how to proceed. Maybe she’d be calmer today. He desperately hoped so.

  That afternoon, Tony returned to the hospital. At the nursery, he held Tara and crooned to her, thrilled at the way she responded to his voice. For those few minutes, nothing else mattered.

  But afterwards, when he wen
t to see Kate, her mother stopped him outside the door. “She’s upset with you,” Irene said bluntly.

  “We can work this out like mature adults,” Tony told her.

  “You’re talking about a business negotiation?”

  “More or less.” From inside the room, he heard Kate reading to Brady. Like gently rippling water, her voice soothed Tony’s spirit.

  “A hospital room isn’t a good place to conduct business,” the older woman advised. “I suggest you wait until she’s released on Sunday.”

  “Before then, we’ll need to decide who’s taking the baby home,” he pointed out.

  Irene held firm. “I suspect the hospital will release Tara to her mother. Or are you going to make a stink about that?”

  Tony supposed he might prevail, but creating a scene would only antagonize Kate further. And it just plain felt wrong to take the child against her mother’s will. “No.”

  “Then this can all be dealt with next week. Until then, my daughter’s no longer in your employ, so to speak.” She might look frail, but steel underlay Irene’s words.

  Tony thanked her and left, determined to try again tomorrow when he came to visit Tara. No longer in his employ? Kate couldn’t believe that was all that lay between them.

  He no longer knew where he stood on anything, Tony realized as he exited the hospital. For five years, his life had moved along smoothly, and then, in the past two months, everything had fallen apart. What if he leaped to a decision, only to discover it was the wrong one?

  He had to take this one step at a time.

  ON SATURDAY MORNING, Tony found Tara’s bassinet missing from the nursery. As he approached Kate’s room, he could heard Eve and Hilda chattering away inside. Frustrated at being unable to talk to Kate alone, he marched out to his car and began to drive.

  He’d always preferred to solve his problems by thinking them through on his own. Now that technique failed utterly. He needed advice. But the person he yearned for, the person whose opinion mattered most, apparently no longer wished to speak to him.

  Tony slowed as he passed Kate’s house. Even in November, roses flourished in the yard of the old-fashioned bungalow. He missed his best friend with a pain as sharp as a scalpel.