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I decide to call Ridge and fill him in. Before I get the chance, my phone rings. His ears must have been burning. “Hey, man.”
“What’s going on?”
“We got a call in the middle of the night to come to the hospital. Dawn’s sister had a baby.”
“No shit?”
“Yeah, but it’s more than that. She skipped. She just fucking left,” I say, keeping my voice low.
“What the fu— crap?” he says. “What’s that mean?”
“Dawn’s going to try and get custody. The baby is small, so damn tiny, could fit in the palm of my hand.” I run my fingers through my hair. “I don’t know how long the baby has to stay here, but I can’t leave her alone.”
“I wouldn’t want you to. What do you need?”
“Honestly, right now, your attorney.”
“Done. I’ll text you and Dawn the number. You guys need anything?”
“I don’t really know. We just drove down here first thing this morning and we weren’t expecting this.”
“How could you?”
“Yeah,” I agree with him. “I’m going to be off for a few days at least.”
“Done. Take the time you need. I’ve been there, brother. Dealt with the unexpected.”
“Thanks, Ridge.”
“Take care of your girl.”
“Both of them,” I say without thinking.
“Huh?”
“The baby, she’s a little girl.”
“Both of them,” he agrees.
“Thanks. I’ll keep you updated as I know more.”
“Sounds good. We’re here, man. Whatever you need.”
“Appreciate it,” I say, and end the call. Sliding my phone back in my pocket, I take a seat and watch Dawn pace back and forth in front of the window as she talks to Kendall.
“Thanks, Kendall,” she says, and by the sound of her voice, she’s fighting tears. “I’ll let you know,” she says, ending the call.
“Well?”
“She gave me their attorney’s number. I’m going to call them now.” She taps the screen of her phone and dials the number. After asking to speak with the attorney, she’s put on hold and she’s back to pacing. Back and forth. Back and forth. She doesn’t stop until she begins to introduce herself and tell her story. I wait patiently, trying to decipher their conversation only hearing one side. “Really?” she asks, her voice hopeful. “Thank you. Thank you so much. Yes, yes. I’ll see you then.” She ends the call and looks at me with a smile.
“Well?”
“He’s here, in Mason. He had a hearing, and he’s at the courthouse. He wants me to meet him there now.”
“Okay.” I stand from my chair. “Let’s go.”
“No. Wait. We can’t leave her here all alone. What if… what if Destiny comes back? I mean, I don’t think she’s stupid enough to do that, but we can’t leave the baby here all alone.”
“I’ll stay.”
“I-I’m sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing? I’m here for you, and whatever you need. You want me to stay, I’ll stay.”
“Okay, and you’re on the list as my fiancé,” she says, and an embarrassed flush coats her cheeks.
“I’ll stay here with the baby. I won’t leave the nursery waiting room. You go, do what you need to do. She and I will be here when you get back.”
“Mark, I— thank you.”
“Come here.” I hold my hand out for her and she places hers in mine, letting me pull her into my chest. Wrapping my arms around her, I comfort her in the only way I know how.
Touch.
“I should go. I don’t want to keep him waiting.” She stretches to press a kiss to my cheek and backs away. “I’ll hurry.”
“Go. Be safe and do what you need to do.” With a nod, she’s gone.
“How is she?” I ask the nurse when she comes out of the Authorized Only door. I’ve been sitting here in the waiting room for two hours. Every once in a while I go to the glass window and peer in at the babies. Baby Girl Miller has been there every time I checked until the last time I checked. That was about ten minutes ago. I was giving it five more minutes before I beat the door down to find out where she is.
“She’s doing okay, considering.”
“Where is she?” I stand. I’m an intimidating fucker with my height and my ink. I’m not against using it to make sure that little girl is safe.
“She’s fussy. We have volunteers who hold the babies and rock them. She’s coming down from the drugs, and well, she’s struggling,” she says sadly.
“What can we do?” I ask. I feel helpless at this point. That tiny baby girl is suffering. My girl is suffering and damn if I can fix it. I want to fix it and I can’t. I don’t know what she needs.
“Well, there is something.”
“Anything.”
“Babies, they need the comfort, and skin-to-skin contact is good for them. It calms them, stabilizes their breathing, their heart rate, and many other things.”
“Okay, what does that mean exactly?” Skin-to-skin can mean a lot of different things. She’s not my baby, so I’m not sure what the rules are. “I’m not her dad,” I add as an afterthought.
She nods. “But you are approved to have contact with her.”
“So what do I need to do?”
“We’d bring you in. Have you remove your shirt and hold the baby against your chest.”
“That’s it? I just hold her?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s do it.”
“You sure?”
I give her a look, one that tells her not to question me. “Lead the way,” I finally say. She turns and swipes her badge, opening the door, and I follow along behind her.
“We need you to remove your shirt and then wash up. Place these over your jeans.” She hands me a pair of scrubs. “Once you’re suited up, we’ll move you to a small private room. Due to her condition, someone will stay with you. Do you have any questions?”
“Nope.” I get to work stripping off my shirt and washing my arms. I go a step further and wash my chest as well. No way do I want to hurt her in any way. Once I’m done, I slip on the scrub pants and pull the booties on over my shoes. “Ready.”
The nurse, whose name I still don’t know, leads me through another door down a small hallway and pushes open another door. It’s a small exam room. The lights are dim. There is a rocking chair in the corner and two other chairs on the opposite wall. “Have a seat. I’ll bring the baby to you.”
I debate on calling or texting Dawn to make sure she’s okay with this, but they said it will help the baby, so I have to try. I’m sitting here helpless; it’s the least that I can do.
“How do we do this?” I ask once the nurse is back, pushing the bed the baby girl is in.
“You’ll need to be mindful of her tubes. I’ll place her on your chest, and cover her with a blanket. All you need to do is hold on to her, and rock,” she says as she lifts the baby from her bed.
“I can do that.” I open my arms and wait as she lays her against my chest. My hand cradles her back, and it almost covers her entire body. “She’s so damn tiny,” I say as I lift half my hand and let her cover the baby, and then the other half.
“Just hold her close and rock her,” the nurse says soothingly.
I start to rock slowly, pushing the chair with my feet. “I’m not sure what your aunt Dawn is going to call you, but I’ve had a lot of time to search the Internet today,” I tell the baby. “Don’t worry, we’ll fill you in on what that is when you’re a little older. Anyway, I was looking for names to call a baby girl, and the one that sticks out to me is Daisy. So, until Aunt Dawn chooses a name for you, I’m going to call you Daisy. You okay with that?” I ask her. She twitches in my arms and I freeze, halting the rocking and stare wide-eyed at the nurse.
“She’s okay. That’s her body reacting to the withdrawal. Just keep talking to her. It’s soothing.”
“I’m so sorry,” I tell this innocent
baby in my arms. With two fingers, I gently rub her back as I continue to rock her. “So, Daisy,” I say, clearing my thoughts, “that’s my name for you. Aunt Dawn will give you a name that will be yours, and as unique as you are. I just hated calling you Baby Girl Miller. You’re more than that,” I explain like she actually understands me. “Daisies are beautiful flowers, my mom’s favorite in fact. They symbolize new beginnings and that’s what you are. A new chapter in our lives.”
I’m so lost in my conversation with the baby, I didn’t hear the door open. But when I hear sniffles, my head jerks up and I find Dawn standing with her hands over her chest, and tears coating her cheeks. The nurse, standing next to her with her hand on her shoulder, tears shimmer in her eyes as well.
