Baby in His Arms (15 page)

“How did you get in my house?” she asked, head lolling as she relaxed. “It was locked.”

Creed couldn’t resist teasing. “Broke a window.”

“You didn’t!” Her head snapped up. She grabbed his arm in a death grip. “Brent will double my rent. Please tell me you didn’t.”

Creed chuckled and patted the top of her head.

“Just joking. I thought your mother would be there, but I had to call Brent instead. He let us in.”

The landlord wasn’t all that keen on letting Creed inside Haley’s home, but he’d relented when he’d heard the situation and after Cassie Blackwell had shown up. The hairdresser had a way about her that could wrangle gold from Midas.

“Let me get these tangles.” He pushed her head forward, effectively forcing her to relax.

“Sorry you had to go through so much trouble,” Haley mumbled, the words thick. Good. She was letting go of some of the tension. “Mona left this morning. Not long after you did.”

Creed paused mid-stroke, rubbing his free hand down the silky length of Haley’s hair. “She just up and left? For good?”

“That’s Mona. She met a new man. We had an argument and she wouldn’t even tell me where she was going.”

No wonder Haley thought life was uncertain.

Creed resumed brushing, relishing the closeness. Who knew such a simple, mundane act could generate such longing. Such tenderness.

“That feels good.” She sighed, neck lax.

“Must have been your day for fights,” he said. Had their argument really occurred only this morning?

“Me, a peace-loving hippie. Two fights in one day. What’s wrong with me?”

“You’re human.” He pulled the brush over her head from the front to the back, following with his opposite hand. He lifted the silky strands and spread them around her shoulders. Sleeping Beauty indeed. Affection grew in his chest, like a sprout of Haley’s gourd vines reaching for the sunlight. Even if they never worked out their differences, Creed knew he would continue to care about Haley and for her. She’d entwined his heart as surely as had baby Rose. “I shouldn’t have tried to force you. The decision to adopt or not to adopt is yours to make.”

He came to stand before the chair to observe his handiwork. His tired hippie chick stole his breath with her hair falling all around and her eyelids heavy and at ease.

“Thank you for saying that. I honestly don’t know what’s best for her.”

Creed thought he did, but who was he to decide a child’s fate? Settling for the sweet, contented peace flowing between them, he said the obvious. “Right now, all that matters is getting Rose Petal well again.”

But then what? Once she was well, where did the pink princess go from here?

* * *

By day three of the hospital stay, Haley and Creed had developed a routine. At night they took turns. One slept while the other stood guard and in the daytime they supported each other, hounded the physicians and nurses for information and most of all, doted on Rose Petal.

Haley still couldn’t believe Creed had not only returned to Little Rock but had also chosen to stay. He was losing business—and money—but he never complained. Never even talked about it. Rose Petal came first.

That first night when he’d brushed her hair had changed things between them. He’d melted her with his tenderness. All her resolve and long-held beliefs seemed like nothing but confetti in the wind.

Creed Carter was an easy man to love.

She cradled Rose closer and hummed. This morning the baby had taken a few sucks at her formula bottle, a first since they’d been here. The effort had exhausted Rose, and she’d emitted a pitiful croupy cry, a sound that had brought jubilation to the two adults. So much so that Creed had kissed Haley, another first since coming to Little Rock.

With Creed she could almost believe in forever.

Creed and Rose...and Haley. Like names carved in a tree heart.

Haley closed her eyes and let herself dream. If her life was perfect, she’d want both of them in it.

Was it possible to live a dream?

Chapter Fifteen

T
heir hopes for recovery had no more risen than they’d fallen again, a rapid, end-over-end tumble like a fall from atop Whisper Falls.

Haley had gone downstairs to the gift shop, mostly to stretch her legs and see something besides the inside of a hospital room when her cell phone jangled.

“Hi, Creed,” she’d said. “Want me to bring you a power bar?”

“You should get back up here.”

His terse voice sent alarm racing through her veins. “What’s wrong?”

“Rose is in trouble.” His voice broke. He cleared it and tried again. “They’re intubating her.”

“Oh, no.” Without another word, she ran for the elevator. When she reached the third floor, Rose was being rolled out of the room. Haley ran toward her. Creed caught her in his arms. “Where are they taking her? What happened?”

“ICU. Her lung collapsed.”

Haley’s knees buckled. “No,” she moaned. “No.”

Creed pulled her up tight and held on. “Be strong. She needs us.”

Tears coursed down her cheeks. “We can’t lose her. We can’t.”

“We won’t. Come on now. Be strong. Pray with me.” And right there in the hall outside the infant ICU, Creed prayed.

Haley clung to every word, agreeing while silently pleading with God to spare this baby she longed with all her heart to adopt, to mother forever.

When he finished, Haley wiped her tears and straightened her shoulders. She was scared but she wasn’t alone. God was here and He’d sent Creed to help her...and Rose.

They clung to each other like life rafts outside the pediatric intensive care unit waiting for word. When at last they were allowed inside, the sight of Rose rattled her composure.

A machine breathed for the baby through a tube taped into her mouth. Another much narrower tube extended from her nose. Her IV had been moved to her arm and was wrapped in layers of thick gauze. Electrodes stuck out of her naked chest.

Dr. Kline and his usual entourage of doctors waited at the bedside. After explaining the likely cause of Rose’s collapsed lung, or pneumothorax, as he called it, he assured them that the ventilator was only temporary to give Rose a break from the struggle while her lung reexpanded.

Haley didn’t feel a bit reassured.

“Is there any history of asthma in the family?” Dr. Kline asked.

Haley shook her head. “I don’t know. Rose is a foster child. Her birth history is unknown.”

“But we love her just the same,” Creed added, eyes aflame with intensity.

Haley knew he was bothered by the mystery of Rose’s birth. Like him, Rose might never know her medical background.

“I see,” Dr. Kline said. “I suspect there could be some family history of asthma or allergies, and that would explain the negative impact of RSV as well as the pneumothorax.”

“You think she has asthma? But I’ve never noticed any wheezing before.”

“She’s very young. Infants sometimes take a while before genetic dispositions manifest. If asthma is the culprit, we’ll soon know. Respiratory therapy will be working with her more often and hopefully, we’ll have her off the vent in a few days.”

“A few days?” Creed stared at the baby, expression horrified. “She looks miserable with all those hookups.”

“Maybe sooner. We can always hope. We gave her some medication. She’s not uncomfortable. But don’t be surprised if she doesn’t respond much to you. That’s the drugs.”

“Can I stay in here with her?” Haley asked. The thought of leaving Rose alone with all these strange people and machines was simply untenable.

Dr. Kline’s bespectacled gaze assessed her. She could tell what he was thinking. She looked a wreck.

“Are you sure you’re up to it? You’ve already been here several days. You’re welcome to stay in the Ronald McDonald House. We can make those arrangements for you.”

Haley was shaking her head before he finished. “No. As long as Rose is here, I’m staying. I can’t leave her alone.”

“Very well. Our hospital is built around the family concept and you’re certainly welcome in the unit. Babies tend to respond better when a parent is with them.” He looked to Creed. “Make sure she gets some rest.”

“I will. Thank you, Doctor.” The two men exchanged handshakes before Dr. Kline bustled away.

“You can’t make me leave,” she said, feeling as if the two men had ganged up on her.

“I’m not asking you to, Haley.” His eyes grew tender. “But let me share the load. I love her, too.”

She gulped back the rise of emotion. Tears seemed so close to the surface these last few days. “I
am
tired, but my fatigue is nothing compared to what she’s going through.”

“I know. We’ll get through this, though. Together.
She’s
going to get through this.”

He looped an arm over her shoulders and led her to the couch stretched along one wall beneath a shaded window. With a well of gratitude and fighting back the rush of tears, Haley settled beside him, clinging a little more than necessary. She’d never been more thankful for another’s presence.

They could take turns watching over Rose as they’d done before. Creed loved Rose Petal, too. They could do this. Together.

She felt the touch of his lips against her hair and sighed. He was such a good man. What was he doing here with a dysfunctional mess like her?

The PICU consisted of exceptionally well-appointed private rooms with a daybed, TV, bathroom and with most of the equipment hanging from the ceiling for more space. Staying at Rose’s bedside would be much easier this way.

“If only there was something we could do for her.”

“We can pray. We can talk to her and sing to her.”

“And touch her. The nurse says she recognizes our touch and smell.”

“I’ll call my folks and alert them of the change. They’ll want to know.”

The distance between Whisper Falls and Little Rock was considerable, so she would be surprised if anyone came to visit. But friends and family could pray. Never before had she really thought prayer mattered. Now she believed because, for Rose’s sake, she had no choice. “I’ll call Pastor Ed and Cassie. Maybe Miss Evelyn.”

Creed’s serious expression lightened. “The word is as good as spread. Heaven is about to be bombarded.”

The social worker had come yesterday, but Haley telephoned her, as well.

And then they settled in to wait.

* * *

By the next afternoon, the grind of tending to a sick child had taken a toll on both Haley and Creed. Neither was willing to leave the unit for any length of time, so they grabbed snatches of rest when they could. Both were haggard but resolved. They would survive.

Logically, Creed knew he couldn’t do a thing for Rose except pray. He should go back to Whisper Falls and run his business. But he couldn’t bring himself to leave Haley alone with a sick baby. She’d urged him to go home, but he’d seen the worry in her eyes. He wasn’t sure he could live with himself if something should happen to Rose while he was away.

So he remained. When an old army buddy called, he apprised him of the situation and was touched by the man’s offer to take over his scheduled flights. But the Yellow Jacket was here in Little Rock parked at the airport. Still, Kyle had offered to figure out something. An old soldier was a resourceful being.

During the long hours at Rose’s side, Creed and Haley talked, read, watched television and waited. The conversation was the best part. He learned a lot about the woman he’d once considered on the wacky side of the normal meter.

“Isn’t your art show coming up pretty soon?” he asked one afternoon when they were discussing Haley’s website sales.

“I’m not going,” she said, stretching her neck. “Not now.”

“When is it?”

“This Saturday. Even if Rose Petal is out of the hospital, I won’t take the chance.”

He understood. “I could watch her while you’re gone. And if you don’t trust me, my mom would help out. You need to work.”

“So do you.”

He shrugged. “Kyle thinks he has a solution to my problem. Army buddies are good about that kind of thing. Even if he doesn’t, I’m not going to fret. Being here is the right thing. God will take care of the rest.”

“You’re lucky to have so many friends and family willing to help in an emergency.”

“Yeah, I am. You have some great friends, too.”

“I do. That’s true. Cassie’s watering my garden and getting the mail.”

“But you wish your mother was closer?”

“I don’t know. Our relationship has been dysfunctional for so long I can’t imagine having a real mother like you do.”

Her choice of words got to him. “I guess you and I are living proof that a
real
mother is more than genetics.”

Haley caught her bottom lip between her teeth as her gaze drifted toward Rose. “Yes, I think you’re right. I feel like Rose’s real mother even if I didn’t give birth to her.”

“Are you considering—” He stopped, afraid to push and chance another argument. They were back on speaking terms, easy and comfortable. More than comfortable. They were practically a couple, and he liked the idea. The question was, did Haley?

“Do you think someone with my damaged background could ever learn to be a good mother?”

“Ah, Haley, you already are.”

Tears sprang to her eyes. She cried easily today as if the last of her reserves was almost gone. He wished he could convince her to go to the Ronald McDonald House and let him remain with the baby.

She got up and crossed to the crib where she murmured softly to Rose. Beneath the ventilator’s relentless whoosh and release the infant slept on, but her eyelids fluttered in response to the familiar voice and her monitored heart rhythm increased.

Haley was the best mother Rose could ever have. Somewhere deep inside, Haley had to know that. She was softening toward the idea. He heard it in her voice, saw it in her actions.

He was watching the two together, falling more in love with both every second when a nurse came to the door.

The scrub-clad woman had the oddest expression on her face.

Haley, already on overload, went into panic mode. Eyes wide and hands twisting, she demanded, “What is it? Was her X-ray worse?”

The nurse was shaking her head, palm up in a placating motion. “No, no. Nothing like that. I don’t know about the X-ray. Dr. Kline will be up later and you can ask him. There is a young woman at the nurse’s desk asking for you.”

“A visitor? All the way from Whisper Falls? Sweet.” Creed moved to Haley’s side. “Let’s go see who it is.”

The nurse didn’t budge from in front of the door. “I think you should know in case there is a legal issue involved.”

Legal issue? What was she talking about? Haley had done nothing wrong, and he’d take down anyone who said she had.

“Who’s out there?” he demanded.

The nurse took a deep breath. “She claims to be the baby’s mother.”

* * *

Haley’s world tilted. She swayed, sickened. “Her mother?”

Creed cupped her elbow and moved closer. Haley calmed, drawing strength from his touch.

“Would you like to speak with her?” the nurse asked. “Or I can send her away if you prefer because the baby is in social services’ custody.”

“We’ll talk to her.” Creed slid a hand down Haley’s arm and grasped her cold fingers. “We’ve been looking for her.”

No. No,
she
hadn’t been looking for her. Not any longer. Not now. Not when she’d finally realized she couldn’t let Rose go to anyone else. Haley’s stomach churned as if she were inside Creed’s helicopter in a raging storm.

Creed must have felt her indecision because his fingers tightened and released in a gentle squeeze. She could feel him waiting. The decision was hers, he seemed to say, and Rose Petal was her responsibility. His quiet support meant everything.

Naturally, Creed would want to speak with the birth mother. He’d been adopted. After the diabetes scare, he’d wondered about his birth parents. He didn’t want to miss this opportunity to give Rose what he lacked. Someday Rose might need to know.

But what if the woman’s appearance meant she believed Haley was irresponsible in allowing the baby to fall ill? What if she took Rose away?

Haley swallowed the fear. She had to do what was right for Rose.

Drawing on her final reserves of strength, she said, “Creed’s right. We should talk to the woman.”

No one would ever know what that admission cost her. She could lose Rose. Even if she fought, social services always sided with the biological parent, didn’t they? Like everyone else, Rose had never been hers, not forever. Haley had known that in advance.

Oh, but the pain cut like shards of glass.

“You’re shaking,” Creed whispered against her hair. “Hang on. Trust God. This will work out.”

She wished she believed him. “Should we call Chief Farnsworth and let her know the mother has been found?”

“Let’s talk to the woman first.”

Haley liked that idea. She wanted to gauge the woman, to see if she was worthy of such a perfect baby, if she would love Rose Petal and provide for her. Dear Lord, what would she do if the woman wasn’t fit?

In that instant Haley knew the terrible truth about herself. If the birth mother wasn’t fit, she would take Rose and run.

“I don’t want her to take Rose away.”

“We don’t know what she wants yet, Haley.” Creed’s voice was gentle. “Want me to talk to her alone? I’ll find out why she’s here.”

“Maybe all she wants is to be certain Rose will be all right.”

Creed’s jaw tightened. “She should have thought about that before she dumped her on the altar.”

Haley placed a restraining hand on his arm, loving him for his fierce protectiveness. No one would hurt Rose and get away with it. “We’ll do this together.”

A new and wondrous feeling spread through Haley’s bones. Creed was here for her and Rose. He would stand up for them, protect them. He loved Rose. Did she dare dream that he felt the same about her?

After a final check of the baby, they walked to the nurse’s station, hand in hand. A thin, stoop-shouldered teenager in mismatched purple shorts and a red T-shirt stood against the wall observing their approach. The girl’s eyes skittered from side to side, a wild animal in search of escape. Oily brown hair was scraped back into a ponytail at the nape of her neck. Acne littered her forehead. She looked incredibly young. Too young to have given birth. Some of Haley’s anxiety seeped away.