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He wished like hell he could.
“Unfortunately, she passed away about a month ago. I never got the chance to ask her anything.”
She nodded and started asking him questions. How much was Amelie eating a day? Had he started trying solids yet? How were her bowel movements? Regular? Her sleeping pattern? And so on. While she asked, she checked out Amelie. Moving her little legs and arms, checking her tummy and her bottom.
He was proud, yet again, that he was able to answer all questions without hesitating. She was currently drinking six ounces of formula four to five times a day. He hadn’t attempted solids yet but contemplated it. It was good to know he should start trying. Her poops were A-Okay and great looking colors. That got a slight chuckle out of the doc, which made him happy. She slept great, about ten hours. Went to bed about nine and got up around seven in the morning. Except the last few nights because of the teething, where the doc confirmed he was doing everything right to help with her pain.
As the appointment went on, Corey’s anxiety decreased. He wasn’t doing anything wrong. He might fumble at it now and again, but he was raising his little girl the correct way.
“Her weight is good. Combined with her height, she’s in the fiftieth percentile, which is great. Her reflexes are good and she’s alert. I’d like you to start baby food. Giving her more solids.”
“I can do that. And tummy time?” He felt his cheeks burn as he said the two simple words. Why they embarrassed him, he wasn’t sure. Every baby was supposed to have time on their tummy, help with her movements and learn how to crawl. “I’ve started doing that, too. She’s not a huge fan.”
Dr. Johnson’s lips widened into a serene smile. “It’s new to her. New can be scary. But you’re doing the right thing. She’ll be rolling over and crawling around in no time. Start in small doses, five to ten minutes at a time, and work your way up. She’ll learn to enjoy it.”
He nodded. His mind circled other questions he should ask, yet everything was blank. Of course, the list he had written down was sitting on his kitchen counter. He’d been running late this morning and forgot to grab it on his way out. So much for being prepared.
“You’re doing a good job, Corey. I’d like to see her in a month. If you do get any other information on her, how the delivery went and such, bring that with you, too. Okay?”
He nodded again with a half-smile. That wouldn’t be happening. He wouldn’t even know where to find that information.
“It’s important you find out, especially about what vaccinations she’s already had. There’s quite a few she should’ve already had.”
“You got it. I’ll find out.”
Shit. He had no idea where to even start. But if the doc said she needed it, he’d figured it out.
Dr. Johnson said good-bye and walked out. Corey put Amelie’s jacket back on and strapped her into her car seat before heading to the lobby to make an appointment for next month. The entire time his mind raced with how in the hell he was going to find out any information with Melanie gone.
The hospital. The birth certificate would tell him what hospital she was born at. Then he could request records from them.
“Come on, sweet pea. Let’s see if Uncle Ricky will watch you while Daddy does some research.”
Which, of course, Ricky didn’t object to. Corey dropped Amelie off at his place, then ran home to grab the birth certificate. Instead of calling, he decided to visit the hospital in person. He was shuffled around the building until he finally managed to get to the place he needed to be. Luck was on his side. In front of a beautiful woman who couldn’t seem to resist his charming smile. Hell, he’d use it to his advantage when he had to.
“Normally, this takes a few weeks to get and we mail it to you. While you’re listed on the birth certificate, this is information we’d provide to Ms. Ramseth, the mother who was seen here.” The look she threw him said she wasn’t as perturbed by his request as she pretended to be.
“I appreciate you helping me out here.”
Her fingers sliced across the keyboard like she’d been born to type at the speed of light. After several minutes of click-clacking and the drum of the printer, she stapled a few sheets of paper together and handed it across the counter to him.
“This tells you the doctor who delivered your daughter and everything pertinent to the visit. She did receive her first hepatitis B shot, as is usual at any birth, unless a parent objects.”
Corey thumbed through the paperwork. “There doesn’t seem to be a pediatrician listed.”
“We only input the information we receive. If Ms. Ramseth didn’t provide the information, then we don’t have it.”
“Cassandra,” Corey said, emphasizing her name with passionate finesse, which had her blushing, “you are a lifesaver. I appreciate you helping me out so much.”
“You’re welcome. I have a daughter myself. I know how worrisome it can be raising one.”
Corey threw her another smoldering look, winked, and left. A little harmless flirting never hurt anyone. He had seen the ring on her finger, but if she wasn’t immune to his charm and it got him what he needed, he was going to use it.
Unfortunately, the lady behind the counter at Melanie’s obstetrician’s office wasn’t as enchanted by his smiles and beguiling looks. She refused to release any information about Melanie and the birth of her child. He wanted to rage and stomp his feet, but instead, he thanked her and left without causing a scene. Hell, he was grateful he got the little he had at the hospital. It was a damn miracle he had.
According to the note Dr. Johnson’s nurse had given him before he left, Amelie was due six shots, including the second dose of the hep B by two months of age. At four months, five of those shots needed the second dose. Then at six months, next month’s appointment, she needed four more shots, all of them the third dose. He needed to know if—and where—Melanie brought her to a pediatrician. Otherwise, it messed with the whole schedule and he couldn’t be dosing his daughter up without the correct information.
He’d finally run into a wall.
