“We liked him a lot,” Pen said with enthusiasm. “He has great credentials.”
Yes, he did, but still, I had an uneasy feeling. I couldn’t imagine why Dylan would want to do locums here, in the middle of Wisconsin. He was all L.A.—sunshine, highlights in his blond hair, and surfing. He was the kind of person who needed an ocean within biking distance to catch a few waves before work each morning.
“I’m worried for your sake that we still don’t have anyone lined up while you’re on leave,” Helen said in a blunt tone.
What she meant was, how many nights could I sustain being up with a newborn and working nonstop all day? That was the arrangement I’d made with Daria. She would be off the clock at five p.m. each day until I took leave. She would be involved daily in Rosalie’s care until I was permitted to become the foster parent of record.
“Are you going to call him?” Helen prodded.
“Tomorrow for sure.” The baby stirred, and I practically jumped, more than ready to step into action. But false alarm—she immediately fell back into a deep sleep.
Penelope put her hand on my arm. “Ani, call him. You’re going to get exhausted fast, and he can start right away. He has fantastic references. We’re okay with him if you are.”
I had no doubt in my mind that Dylan was a great doctor. We’d developed a cordial, respectful—even warm—relationship over the years, with the mutual agreement that we’d both made a youthful mistake. Being cordial and seeing each other occasionally was fine. But this arrangement would bring him too close for comfort. A little feeling in my gut kept holding out foranyonebut him.
Come on, locums people, check out this great opportunity. Where are you?
One of my elderly neighbor ladies stood in the dining room and pointed to Adam’s decorating handiwork in the corner. “How cute is this?” she said, admiring the woven basket and the vases.
It reminded me yet again that I had so much stored up to tell him—how it took my mom and me a good ten minutes just to figure out the snaps on Rosalie’s outfit, the wonderful kindness everyone had shown us, my surprise at learning that he’d somehow snuck over and cut the grass and edged around the beds before we’d brought Rosalie home.
“Looks like you’ve got a furry visitor running up your sidewalk, Ani,” Sam suddenly said, peeking out my front window. “And he’s got a man in tow.”
I bolted up from the couch, mumbled anexcuse meto my partners, and opened the door. Arnold immediately pulled his leash free and ran in before Adam could stop him.
“Arnold!” I said, bending down to greet the dog, who gave me plenty of doggie kisses. “You came to see me, didn’t you? I’m so glad!” I was saying that in my doggie voice to Arnie, but I knew whom I really meant.
I stood up to face Adam. “Hi,” I said.
“Hey,” he said back, our eyes meeting and holding longer than necessary. “Arnie couldn’t stay away.”
We stood there for a minute, both of us seeming to blame all our own feelings on the dog. At least, I hoped that was the case.
The dog, sniffing the air, bounded over to the bassinet. Adam ran after him in a panic. Arnold ran directly up to the bassinet, stuck his nose inside, and sniffed the baby delicately, starting with her head and ending with her butt. Practically perfectly behaved, except for the butt part.
“Arnie, meet Rosalie,” I said, stroking his head. “Someone new for you to play with.”
The dog was calm and seemed happy with that, but it was Adam whom I worried about. He simply stood there, staring hard at the baby. He appeared a little quiet, a little frozen.
Was he thinking of his wife? Their dreams, their life together? Perhaps, because he wasn’t smiling like all the other people who had passed through. Plus, he stood back, not daring to completely approach.
Finally, he turned to me. “She’s so sweet, Ani. I wish you all the best.”
I got choked up because, to me, his words sounded final. Like a goodbye. “Thanks,” I managed. “What did you bring us?” I pointed to the gift bag he was carrying. Anything to keep him here for just a few extra minutes.
He handed me the bag. “Open it.”
I pulled out a tiny Packers beanie, green with a little top knot. I held it up and laughed. “Perfect!” Next was a baby blanket that said “Rosalie, Future Packers Fan,” repeated all over in greenand gold. He must have been concealing another, larger bag, which he brought out from behind his back. “For you,” he said.
Puzzled, I stuck my hand into the bright green paper and pulled out a warm fleece Packers blanket. My eyes started watering, partly from his thoughtfulness to think of me too, and partly because he’d never sit next to me on that checked couch and wrap up with it as we watched a game together.
“I love it. Thank you.” I saw the struggle on his face, so I knew that this was difficult for him. I reached over and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for coming. It means a lot to me.”
He nodded. “Glad you like it.” He paused. “How are you doing?”
I avoided a direct answer. “Everyone’s been so wonderful.” As I looked around the room, my neighbors, whom I barely knew, were sorting a big pile of baby clothes donated by Penelope and some of my colleagues. Sam and Mia were sitting on the couch, chatting with Penelope and Helen. My mom and Daria were sitting on fold-out chairs on the tiny brick patio, deep in conversation.
“My dad’s putting my old crib together in the baby’s room.” I met his eyes. I wanted so badly to tell him that I was happy but also terrified. I wanted to say that I’d been subconsciously waiting for him, and now that he was here, I somehow felt that I could breathe again.
