I Want To Live

Chapter Sixteen

    Angela dozed in the recliner. The TV tuned to the local morning news channel. Katie was drowsy herself. She pushed the bedside table with her empty breakfast tray away so she could get comfortable. She glanced at the TV,  preparing to turn it off when---.

     “We’re interrupting our regular newscast.” The male anchor pressed a hand against his ear piece. “There’s been a horrific fire at the Lake Union Community of floating homes.” 

     Katie turned up the volume. Riveted to the screen.

    “Wayne, what can you tell us about the suspicious fire behind you?”

    “Stuart, apparently a house was set ablaze at approximately one a.m. this morning. The Fire Chief said it looked like arson. The Police feel it was a coverup for a burglary. The 911 Call Center received a plea for help from a woman reporting a burglary and a murder. The woman was severely burned and has been taken to the hospital. We have no reports on her condition at this time.” 

     Katie thrust a fist in her mouth. Eyes wide with shock. It can’t be. Please God, don’t let it be. 

    The camera panned the wharf and charred remains of the house involved. Smoke plumes continued to rise from the wreckage. Firemen sifted through the debris. It sure looked like the Williams place. The location seemed right. The camera zoomed to a mailbox. Number six. 

    Katie howled, “Pat! David! That’s their house!”

    Angela jolted awake reaching for her glasses. The baby wailed his protest. Katie keened from her bed, “No. No. Nooooo!”

    The TV showed two Firemen carrying a body bag between them. Covered in soot. A grim countenance to their faces.

    Two nurses bounded into the room. One held a syringe containing a sedative. The other ran to the infant to pick him up and soothe his distress.

    Angela saw enough of the newscast to understand the tragedy. She grabbed the receiver. Switched the TV off. Comforted Katie at her bedside, rubbing her arm until the drug kicked in. Everyone in the room was teary-eyed when Angela explained the reason for the dismay.

    Katie lay in a stupor after the drug wore off. Facial expression dull, devoid of any feeling. Eyes glazed, empty. Refusing to eat or drink. Angela was beside herself, praying constantly that the child would snap out of her depression. She scrolled the contacts on Katie’s phone for the number of one-to-notify-in-an-emergency. Two MacKenzies were listed. She knew her father had cut off contact. Tried the Washington number.

    After five rings the call was answered. “Meg MacKenzie here.” 

    “I’m Major Angela Goodman, a friend of Katie’s---are you her grandmother?”

    “Yes, she’s mentioned you.”

    “Katie’s in the hospital,” Angela heard a gasp at the other end. “She gave birth to a healthy baby boy yesterday. Unfortunately the couple set to adopt her son---Their house destroyed by fire last night. Husband died. Wife severely burned.” She heard a stifled cry. Tear tracks marred her own face. 

    “How is Katie doing?”

    “Not very well. I believe she’s giving up the will to live.”

    “Major, tell Katie we’re on our way. We’ll be there as fast as the crow flies.”    

    Angela changed the baby’s diapers, fed him a bottle of Pedialyte and rocked him. Katie stared blankly at the wall. The Major could tolerate the girl’s behavior no longer. She stood, walked over with the infant. “I’m surprised. You know what it feels like to be abandoned. Yet you’re doing that very thing to your own son. He’s an innocent baby. He doesn’t deserve that kind of treatment. What happened to Pat and David is devastating. But you, Katie MacKenzie, are his mother. Stop feeling sorry for yourself and take care of your child.” Angela placed the baby in Katie’s lap. He squirmed, balled his fists and kicked his legs, angry at being dumped. His face turned red and he howled.

    “My, what a set of lungs your son has,” exclaimed Angela.

    Katie’s eyes focused on the writhing bundle between her legs. “Do something!”

    “Not me,” said Angela. “He’s not my son. I’m going to the cafeteria for lunch. See you.”

    The nurse assigned to Katie hustled towards her room. “Major, what’s going on?”

    Angela put her arm out to stop the woman from entering. “Listen.” They cracked the door and leaned close.

    “Stop crying! Please. Stop it.” Silence. Katie hiccuped. Despite her initial reluctance she felt a stirring inside when she looked upon the baby boy who was a part of her. Call him Adam. Where did that come from? Katie cradled him against her breast and cooed. “Adam. The name suits you. 

I’m your mother. I don’t know how but I promise to take care of you.” You are not alone. Katie felt a tremendous peace inside. Her heart felt loved. Adam started rooting for her breast. He was hungry and instinctively knew what to do. Katie laughed. “I guess we’ll teach one another.” She loosened her gown to expose one breast. Adam latched onto the n****e and suckled. Katie was filled with love observing her son’s contentment. 

    “Sounds like you’re two patients are getting along just fine,” Angela said. “Let’s leave them alone for a while.”

    By mid-afternoon two anxious grandparents knocked on their granddaughter’s door. “Come in.” Hearing Katie’s familiar voice they pushed the door open wider and rushed to her bedside. “Grandma. Grandpa. How did you?” Meg and Harold hugged and kissed Katie fervently.       

    “Where is he?” Meg asked, looking around the room. Angela stood by the bassinet where Adam slept peacefully. She waved Meg over. 

    “Oh. What a beautiful child.” She shook the hand of the short, compact woman in the Salvation Army uniform. “You’re Major Goodman. I’m so pleased to finally meet you.”

    “And I, likewise. Katie has told me so much about you. Please call me Angela.”

    “How did you get here so fast, Grandpa?”  

    “You know Tim who operates the float plane at Stehekin. When he heard you were in the hospital he volunteered to fly us all the way to Seattle.”

    “We rented a car at the airport to drive the rest of the way,” said Meg.

    “I think it’s time for me to leave the three of you alone,” said Angela smiling. “I’ll come back in a little while.”

    Upon Angela’s return, Meg sighed and said, “We’ve decided to take Katie and Adam home with us. I’ll teach her everything she needs to know about caring for a newborn. Our lodge is located in a beautiful wilderness setting. A perfect place for Katie to heal emotionally and adjust to being a single mother. She’ll be surrounded by our love and support.”

    “I can see that,” said Angela. “She’s fortunate to have you both.”

    “Since there’s been a turn of events, none of us have been prepared to care for an infant,” Meg explained further. “Katie lost her clothes in the fire. We have no diapers or other articles to take care of a baby.”

    “Don’t fret,” said Angela. “Give me a couple of hours. I believe I can rustle up everything you might need.” She turned and left the room, definitely on a mission.

    “Quite a take-charge sort of person,” commented Meg. 

    “You have no idea,” said Katie. “I’ve seen her work miracles.”

    “Let’s start the paperwork rolling then,” said Harold, “so we can take you home.”

    True to her word, Angela appeared two hours later. “Everything all set for you to leave?” she asked Katie. Major Wayne Goodman walked into the room with an infant seat and a couple of bulging bags. 

    “What have you two got there?” asked Meg, her mouth forming an “O” in disbelief.

    “I have some clothes that I believe will fit Katie until you can buy others,” said Angela.

    “This other bag,” said Wayne, “ contains things for Adam.” He pulled out a fleece Onesie, a box of disposable newborn diapers, two baby blankets, knit hat and sweater, and a pacifier. “We have other articles in our van outside. Enough to get you started.”

    “You didn’t go out and spend your own money, did you?” asked Katie.

    “We rummaged through our supply of donations slated for the Safe House.” said Angela. “We only ask that reusable items be recycled back to us when they’re no longer needed.”

    Outside in the parking lot, Wayne and Angela transferred a car seat, portable crib, and other infant supplies into Harold and Meg’s rental vehicle. Katie made herself comfortable in the rear seat to be near her son. 

    Angela leaned in to kiss Katie goodbye. “I know you’re feeling overwhelmed right now. You’ve lost some dear friends in a horrific manner. We don’t always understand the things that happen to us, but I think you’ll realize eventually that a great blessing has been bestowed upon you. Keep in touch, Katie. I love you very much.”

    Harold and Meg thanked the couple effusively before driving away. Katie sat in the back seat unable to restrain mixed tears of sadness and thankfulness. 

    Angela leaned against her husband’s shoulder, letting her own tears fall unabated. 

    “I know my love---I feel the same way,” Wayne said. 

    Patricia Williams died in the Burn Unit five days later. Two caskets supported by pall bearers were televised entering a Catholic Church on the evening news. Katie and her grandparents grieved, watching the event miles away from Seattle. The perpetrator had not been apprehended. Anyone who might have seen something, no matter how trivial, was encouraged to call the hotline number scrolling across the TV screen. The Church was filled with mourners. Everything Katie owned was destroyed in the fire, including her laptop. The charred home was cordoned off with yellow crime scene tape. An active investigation was under way. It was being treated as a homicide case.