“I think I’ll just go see the Jensens. We were about to leave for lunch when you arrived. Do you want to join us?”
Heath didn’t answer.
“Heath?”
He looted up, startled.
“Lunch?”
He shook his head. “I’ll stay here.”
Amy gave up and found the Jensens, who were lingering near the nurses’ station.
“Let’s go. He’s in another world. I don’t think he’ll be focusing on anything until he sees Ann.”
“Should I go talk to him?” Joe asked.
“I think it’s better to leave him alone, Joe. It’s obvious that he has a lot on his mind.”
Amy gave the flowers to the aide assigned to Ann’s room and the trio departed.
In the waiting room Heath sat alone, his eyes fixed on the checkered floor.
* * * *
When Amy returned to Ann’s room two hours later, minus the Jensens, Ann was reading the tags on several arrangements of flowers that had been delivered to her room.
“Who from?” Amy asked.
“The blue and white carnations are from Tim, and the glads are from my editor. The jade plant is from Daniela and Victor.”
“Where’s Heath?”
Ann stared at her. “Heath?”
“Yes, he was here just before I left and he said he would wait until you woke up to visit you.”
Ann looked away, her expression thoughtful.
“You didn’t see him?” Amy asked in astonishment, looking around as if Heath might be lurking somewhere in the room.
Ann shook her head.
“I can’t believe it. He had this huge bunch of roses and—” Amy stopped. “You mean, he just left?”
“Apparently so.”
“Why on earth would he do that?”
“Lost his nerve?” Ann suggested softly.
“Heath? Never.”
“You don’t know him the way I do.”
“That’s true,” Amy said archly.
“Did he see the baby?” Ann asked.
Amy nodded. “He was very touched, Annie.”
“Not touched enough to stick around,” Ann replied, shaking her head.
A nurse came into the room carrying a squalling bundle. “Somebody’s hungry, Mother,” she said.
Ann held out her arms and the nurse placed the baby in Ann’s embrace. His little face was wrinkled and his eyes screwed shut as his lips worked furiously.
“Will you feed the kid, already?” Amy said. “He sounds like a fire siren.”
“Healthy lungs,” the nurse said approvingly.
Ann unbuttoned the top of her nightgown and pushed her nipple into the baby’s mouth. He rooted frantically for a couple of seconds and then settled down to suck contentedly.
“You’re pretty good at that,” Amy said wonderingly, smiling.
“He does all the work,” Ann replied.
“Did Mrs. Bodine’s visitor leave?” Amy asked the nurse.
“Which one?”
“Her husband,” Amy said dryly.
“That young man was Mr. Bodine?” the nurse said, surprised. “He never told me. He left about an hour ago. That reminds me, I’ll go and get the flowers he brought.”
Amy waited until the nurse had gone back into the hall before she said, “I’ll never understand that man.”
“Maybe he just wanted to see the baby, not me,” Ann said dejectedly, looking down at her son.
“Oh, Annie, no. He really was concerned about you.” Seeking to change the subject, she said, “What are you going to name that little one?”
“I don’t know.”
“It says Baby Boy Bodine on his isolette, maybe you can stick with that.”
Ann smiled weakly at the feeble joke, then lifted the baby to her shoulder to burp him. After a few firm pats, he belched loudly.
“Healthy digestive system,” the nurse confirmed as she entered the room again with Heath’s flowers arranged in a vase and an ivy plant in her other hand.
“This place is starting to look like a greenhouse,” Amy said, making room for the ivy on Ann’s bedside stand. “Who’s Ben Rowell?” she added, reading the card.
“One of Heath’s employees.”
“I guess you’ll be getting a few more of those.”
“Probably. I’ll ask the staff to deliver them to a rest home or something.”
They both looked up as Heath suddenly appeared in the doorway, his arms laden with a football, a basketball, and a pair of roller skates. The expression on his face as he saw his son nursing at Ann’s breast was one she would never forget.
“I’ll be back tonight, Ann,” Amy said, heading for the door. She paused at Heath’s side and kissed his cheek.
“Congratulations, Daddy,” she said, and left.
“There’s a sporting goods store across the street. I thought I’d kill a little time until you woke up,” Heath said nervously by way of explanation.
“I think he’s a little young for those, Heath.”
“I know. I just wanted to do...something,” he said lamely. He put down his burdens and pulled a chair next to the bed, watching wordlessly as the baby fed, making satisfied sucking noises.
“He has a good appetite,” Heath said.
“Yes.”
The baby’s activity slowed as they looked on, fascinated. His jaws finally ceased motion altogether, his eyes closed and, in seconds, he was asleep.
“That fast?” Heath said.
“The nurse said they go out like lights at this stage.” Ann settled the baby next to her on the bed and tucked his receiving blanket up to his chin.
When she looked back at Heath, he had slumped visibly and had put his head in his hands.
“Heath?” she said softly.
He looked up, took her free hand, and held it to his lips.
“Isn’t your son beautiful?” Ann asked.
He nodded, swallowing painfully. Then, to Ann’s complete amazement, Heath leaned forward to put his head in her lap and began to sob.
“I didn’t want you to be alone through this,” he said thickly. “I wanted all of it to be different.”
“It’s all right,” Ann said, stroking his hair gently. “It’s all over now.”
“You don’t understand.” He lifted his head and she saw that his face was stained with tears.
Even when they were teenagers she had never seen him cry.
“I thought so many times of calling you, but...” He gestured, unable to continue.
“What?” Ann prompted him.
“Even from the beginning, I wasn’t sure you would want my baby, knowing what you knew about my family. I wasn’t sure you would want me, or us, as a package...” He shook his head and stopped again. This was very difficult for him to say.
“I want the package,” she said, “but—”
The nurse bustled into the room as Heath hastily turned his head away from her.
“Sleeping already?” she said, picking the baby up and feeling his bottom. “Still dry, too. Well, he’ll just have a nice nap and then come back to visit this evening. Your son is a handsome fellow, isn’t he, Mr. Bodine?”
“Yes,” Heath replied, clearing his throat.
“I’m glad to see you. We thought you were missing in action earlier.”
“Just a visit to the store,” Ann said quickly, gesturing to the pile of toys on the chair.
“New fathers can never wait for the athletic equipment,” the nurse said, chuckling as she left with the baby.
“What do I have to do to get some privacy here, rent out a whole ward?” Heath said disgustedly.
“It’s a hospital, Heath. They run in and out constantly. There’s nothing you can do.”
“Yes, there is.” He got up and closed the door. On the way back to her bed, he pulled his wallet from his pants pocket. He extracted two cards and handed them to her.
“I’ve joined a group called Adult Children of Alcoholics,” he said. “That’s the name and number of my partner. I’ve already attended two meetings.”
Ann was speechless.
“And I contacted a doctor—a family counselor— on Big Palm. I had a first session with her. We have to go back together as soon as you’re able. If you want to try again with me, that is.” He looked at her warily, as if afraid she might say no.
“Of course I want to try,” Ann said, touching his cheek, still in shock.