“Esperanza,” he repeated slowly, feeling out the inflection of the syllables.“A beautiful name.What does it mean?”
“Hope.Because she is my little hope.”
“She isourlittle hope.”He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, and Ana María turned, tipping up her chin to welcome his lips and his embrace.
“Esperanza seems a fine name for such an adorable babe, but also a mighty long one.And it never sounds as beautiful off my tongue as it does yours, although I do practice, I swear.I think I shall call her Essie for short.”
“Essie,” Ana repeated, as if tasting the name for its authenticity.“Yes,está bien.”
“Well then, may I hold her?”Peter’s palms were sweating, reflecting both his eagerness and his nervousness to hold his daughter.But at his inquiry, a new emotion rippled across Ana’s face, her lips tight, jaw clenched.
“Yes.”
“Are you certain you’re all right?”
“Por supuesto,” she said, shaking her head slightly.She met his eyes again, and her expression was clear of whatever tension had clouded it a moment earlier.Her smile warmed him as she held out the small, squirming bundle.
“Hola,” he whispered.A sniffle sounded at his side as Ana’s head came to rest on his shoulder.“Hola,mi ángel.”
* * *
After Peter held Esperanza and arranged Ana more comfortably for a nap, he slipped from the bedroom into the dressing room, intent on speaking with Nurse Williams.He had not been so overcome by the blissful moment with his daughter that he had been blind to a certain appalling behavior interrupting Ana’s peace and care.And he would always listen to his wife’s needs, whether they were expressed in English or Spanish.
“Pedro, te necesito,” she had moaned.
That, Peter had understood perfectly.His wife required his help.He hurried to her side but didn’t miss Nurse Williams’s grumbling about Ana’s audacity to speak another language in her presence, despite Elena being there to help translate.Peter had balled his fists as he lowered himself to sit on Ana’s bedside.
“Yes, dear?How can I assist you?”
“The nurse.I know yourmamásays she is sobuena.But I no can continue with her.She is soterribleto me.”Tears simmered in her eyes.Elena pressed a cool cloth to her forehead, whispering in a calming manner.Anger clenched in Peter’s stomach, hot and insistent.He would not allow this fool of a nurse to threaten his wife’s safety and recovery.He would protect her.
“No hay problema, amor.I will take care of it, I promise.”
And now he was fulfilling that promise.He approached Nurse Williams in two quick steps, his voice thundering.
“Nurse Williams, you are dismissed.”
The woman lifted her sharp chin, her nose wrinkling with indignation.“Mr.Ashmore, do you have the faintest idea of what your mother has paid for my services?She would not agree with my dismissal.”
“I believe she would.Because Mother cares about Ana’s happiness, recovery, and well-being, and you, it would seem, do not.”
“It is awfully presumptuous of you to dismiss me over a mere disagreement.”
“It was not a mere disagreement.You purposefully insulted my wife’s home country and intelligence and even brought into question her being worthy of your attention.You need to know that Mrs.Ashmore has seen more difficulty in her life than you could ever imagine.And not only is she strong and resilient, but she has also made this home a welcoming place for her culture and fiercely loyal heart.You would have been fortunate to spend the month here learning from her.And perhaps if you would learn from her compassion, you could have a more promising future.”
“Oh, I can promise you, I would not learn anything from that woman.”
“And thanks to that woman, her husband, and her mother-in-law of great influence, you will have great difficulty finding any ladies who would be interested in your services ever again.Unless, that is, you resolve to treat your patients based on their needs and not on their country of origin.”
The thin, wiry woman was speechless, her mouth opening and closing several times before she sneered at him, grabbed her things, and stomped from the room.
Now, there was one final matter of business.Peter opened the door and found Mrs.Thompson waiting eagerly at the end of the hallway.“Mrs.Thompson?”
“Yes?”
“My wife was delivered of the child quite prematurely.The physician estimates about six weeks or so.Even still, the babe, a lass, is quite healthy and faring well.”
“And we are quite glad for it, Mr.Ashmore.A blessed babe she will be.”
