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WHEN ANNA’S PHONE had beeped yesterday, she’d thought that Jamie had just sent a message wishing her a good Monday morning after a weekend that had been so full of different emotions. He had done so, but the purpose of contacting her had been something else entirely. Something she’d been dreading.
She knew that Jamie had taken an interest in the abandoned baby that had been brought to the hospital two weeks ago. So much so that the nurses on the paediatric ward had named the little boy James. Anna had visited him once more, but had then stayed away, knowing that this day was going to come.
It wasn’t until she’d arrived at work on Tuesday morning that she realised she’d dressed for the occasion. A dark skirt and jacket with high heels wasn’t her usual style as she preferred the more informal look of a bright top with trousers. But today the distance of formality was her only armour.
‘Hi. You okay?’ Jamie seemed much the same as always. Tall and broad, deliciously handsome, and seeming to notice everything about her. That wasn’t what she wanted to think about either.
‘Yes, fine.’ Anna pressed her lips into a determined line. ‘I’ve got a pretty full schedule today, so...’ Don’t stop and talk. Just get it over with and leave.
‘We’ll make it quick, then. They’re in one of the family rooms.’ Jamie got the message, starting to walk purposefully towards the paediatric unit.
‘Have they found the mother?’ They stood alone in the lift together, and Anna couldn’t help but ask.
‘Yeah. She’s very young and the social workers say that she wants to go ahead and have the baby adopted. Apparently everyone’s in agreement that it’ll be the best way forward for both mum and baby.’
Anna swallowed hard. ‘So the couple we’re seeing today...?’
‘They’re foster parents for the time being, but they’ve been on the adoption list for a while, waiting to be matched with a child. If everything goes to plan, and I’m sure it will, they’ll adopt James.’
Anna thought she saw a hint of pride in his face. A baby named after him. That was what any man wanted, wasn’t it? ‘Do they like the name the nurses gave him?’
Jamie shrugged, and the lift doors opened. ‘What’s not to like about it?’
His version of hurrying was to give the smiling impression that he had all the time in the world but still get straight to the point. Anna was introduced to Marianne and Neil, and she sat down, trying not to notice the glow in both their faces as they looked at the baby in Marianne’s arms.
‘I understand you’d like to know what the operations for syndactyly are going to entail.’
‘Yes.’ Marianne tore her gaze from the baby, and nodded her head. ‘Whatever it takes, we’ll be there for him. We’d just like to know how we can best care for him.’
Anna nodded. ‘Well, the good news is that there’s no reason why his fingers shouldn’t be separated successfully. It’ll take some time, and I’d advise you to discuss all the options with your surgeon. There are a number of centres of excellence that specialise in syndactyly.’
Neil nodded, reaching across to stroke little James’s hand with his finger. ‘We’ve seen the list you sent, thank you. He’s perfect as he is, but we know that surgery can give him a lot more than he has at the moment, and we want to make sure we do things right.’
That was a great start. Anna reached into her bag, pulling out the information folder that she’d put together and handing it to Neil.
‘I’ve got some fact sheets and a few web addresses for you. I’ll just run through some of the main points, and then I know you have some questions for me...’
* * *
‘Nice people.’ Jamie had walked Marianne and Neil out to the entrance of the paediatric unit, holding the door open as they manoeuvred the new pram through it. Anna had hung back.
‘Yes.’
‘He’s going to a good home. He’ll be fine.’
Anna wanted to retort that he had no way of knowing that. But Marianne and Neil had been through the demanding process of being accepted as potential adoptive parents, and everything had been done to make sure that baby James would have all the care he deserved. Jamie had just picked up on her mood and was trying to reassure her. Maybe himself, too.
‘Yes, you’re right. He’ll be fine.’
‘So...you need to be getting back?’
She’d said that, hadn’t she? And now she was standing, staring dumbly at the door, as if Marianne and Neil were going to bring baby James back for one last hug. The one that Anna hadn’t dared give him.
‘Yes, I do.’ Anna smiled briskly up at him. ‘Will I see you on Thursday?’
‘I’ll be there.’
‘Good. I’ll remember to clear a space on my desk for you.’ Anna shouldered her bag, and walked away.
