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I point toward the nearby bank of elevators. “Christy said there’s a café on the ground floor. We can sit there. She’ll come get us if we’re needed.”
We make our way downstairs and locate the coffee shop. Jamie holds a table for us while the rest of us go to the counter to order coffee.
Once we’re all seated, Troy walks us through the legal proceedings that are coming up. Once Melanie signs the papers surrendering her parental rights, then Troy will file our adoption application with the court. While we’re reviewing everything, Christy joins us, looking a bit concerned.
My pulse starts racing, and I try not to let myself jump to unwarranted conclusions. “Is everything okay?”
Christy nods. “The pediatrician just finished the baby’s assessment. She’s okay, but she’s a bit jaundiced. It looks like she’s going to have to stay in the hospital a few days.”
Shane pulls an extra chair to the table for Christy.
“Can we get you something to drink?” I ask her as she sits.
When she nods, Shane asks her what she’d like, and he goes to the counter to order for her.
“Christy, are you okay?” I ask. She looks rattled.
She nods as tears fill her eyes. “I’m okay. It’s just a lot to take in, you know?” She looks at me and then at Jamie. “I’m so happy for the two of you, but at the same time I’m worried about my sister.”
“How’s she doing?” Jamie asks.
Shane sets a cup of coffee in front of Christy, and immediately she takes a sip. Her hands are shaking. “Mel seems to be doing well, all things considered. The doctor examined her, and now she’s sleeping. She told me she wants to leave as soon as she’s cleared to go—probably tomorrow. The baby will stay here until the jaundice clears up.” Christy looks sheepishly at me. “She asked me to thank you for coming and to tell you she’llsee you in court for the surrender. In the meanwhile, she asked if you and Jamie would check in on the baby—Hazel—while she’s here. Just, you know, keep an eye on her. Mel hates leaving her here alone, but she says it’s for the best. Hazel has to stay anyway until the jaundice clears up.”
Hearing Christy call the babyHazelis making this all feel real.
“Of course we will,” I say as I reach over to squeeze Christy’s hand. “We’ll do anything and everything we can.”
“Thanks, Molly.” Christy looks down at her hands cradling her coffee cup. She lifts it slowly to her lips and takes another sip. “Thanks for the coffee.”
When we return to Melanie’s room, we find her asleep, and the lights are out.
“Melanie’s asleep,” I tell Jamie, my voice little more than a whisper.
He follows me back to the sofa and we sit quietly and wait. I’m hoping the nurse will bring Hazel back to the room soon. We’d like to see her again, hold her even. But we also don’t want to impose on Melanie.
Sure enough, before long a nurse wheels Hazel’s bassinette into the room. She glances at the bed.
“Melanie’s asleep,” I whisper to the nurse, quite unnecessarily as she can clearly see that for herself.
The nurse checks the baby’s ID bracelet and compares it to Melanie’s to make sure they match. I’m glad they have security measures in place to protect the infants.
I stand, hesitating. I want to approach the bassinette, to see Hazel up close, but I don’t want to overstep my bounds.
“The baby’s awake,” the nurse says to me. “Would you like to hold her?”
I smile. “Yes.”
Chapter 12 – Molly
I nod as I approach the bassinette. Inside, Hazel is wrapped securely in a white flannel receiving blanket, like a little burrito. She’s awake, just as the nurse said. I know I’m biased, but my goodness, she’s adorable. She has the sweetest little face and big blue eyes. I wonder if her eyes will change color when she gets older. Her hair is brown, so perhaps she’ll have brown eyes.
The nurse reaches down to scoop Hazel up and hand her to me.
She feels so light in my arms. “How much does she weigh?”
The nurse refers to Hazel’s chart. “Six pounds, two ounces. She’s pretty long, though. Twenty-two inches. She’ll be tall.”
I guess she takes after Melanie, who’s tall herself.
