Two Hearts And A Baby

CHAPTER FIVE

Faith awoke later in the day and could see dusk coming through the windows.  She was a little hazy as she gained consciousness but knew immediately someone else was in the room.  She looked around and met eyes with an extremely attractive woman compassion rimmed her beautiful pale blue eyes.  She hesitantly smiled at Faith her hair was the color of the summer sun and she had it pulled back into a bun.

            “Hello, Faith, how are you feeling,” her sweet lyrical voice seemed to calm Faith’s soul.

            Faith tried to smile but then she remembered what happened to Julie, “Oh God, Julie…. why,” she sobbed.

            Dr. Mendel stood walking toward the bed Faith now occupied.  Sitting on the edge, she wrapped her arms around the young woman while she cried, “It’s all right Faith it’s good to cry.  My name is Dr. Clarissa Mendel I’m here to help you if you’ll let me,” Dr. Mendel’s sweet voice seemed to settle her emotions.

            “Alright I could use someone.  It’s not fair she was all I had left why is God punishing me,” she wailed.

            “I think you still need some more rest I’ll call the nurse we can talk later,” Dr. Mendel stood leaving the room going to the nurse’s station, “She needs another sedative.”

            “The poor dear is still distraught,” the nurse said as she stood to follow Dr. Mendel into the room.

            “Yes, but she’ll get better,” Clarissa said.

            They entered the room the nurse immediately gave Faith the sedative.  Faith was still sobbing and felt she was sinking into a deep pit of despair.  Darkness took her again and when she finally came to Dr. Mendel was there again.  They talked and Faith felt better but still the fact Julie was gone hurt so much.  Sam came by several times together they worked out Julie’s funeral.  On Friday morning, Faith found herself in a wheelchair sitting in front of Julie’s open grave along with Sam and other friends.  As the preacher performed his prayer, Faith found herself feeling even more despair.  Once it was over, she continued to sit in the drizzling rain staring at the final resting place of her sister.

            “Oh, Julie, I miss you so much,” she softly cried.

            Sam knelt by her, “I’m so sorry Faith.”

            She looked at him with tears in her indigo eyes, “Thanks Sam for everything.”      

            “I love both you and Julie, I’m here for you whenever you need anything,” he hugged her.

            By the time, she was back at the hospital and despite Sam’s words, she felt so lost and alone.  Dr. Magnusson said she would start physical therapy and by Monday, she could go home.  She would be on crutches, but it would be nice to get home she supposed.  Suddenly she remembered she never asked about Julie’s baby how could she have forgot.  She didn’t even know if he lived or died so she went in search of Dr. Brighton.  Ralph looked up to see Faith wheeling herself toward him while he sat eating in the cafeteria.  It still amazed him how quickly she had mastered the wheelchair but soon she would be up on crutches.

            “Dr. Brighton,” Faith greeted him.

            “Faith it’s nice to see you.  How are you doing?” he smiled at her.

            “I’m as good as can be, I guess.  I just got back from Julie’s funeral and that’s when I realized I never asked about my nephew,” she tried to gage his knowledge by his face, but he must be a great poker player because he gave nothing away.

            “It’s understandable you forgot, you were in an accident and then you had Julie to think about so no one will fault you.  Your nephew was born healthy and alive but since Julie died and you were in the hospital, I had to call family services.”

            “Oh no, so he went to foster care until my release,” she was happy though because she wasn’t alone in the world, she had Julie’s baby to take care of.

            While she was thinking this, she didn’t see the look that crossed Ralph’s face.  By the time, she looked back at him he had it masked again, “Yes.”

            “So, when I’m released how do I go about getting my nephew,” she asked.

            Ralph didn’t have the heart to tell her about Julie’s Will he figured the state worker can handle this, “Go to Family Service and speak with Nancy Shudder.  She was the one who handled your sister’s case.”

            “Thank you, Dr. Brighton, for everything you have done to help me,” she smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes.

            “If I can help with anything else Faith, please don’t hesitate to ask,” he smiled back at her.

            Faith rolled her wheelchair out of the cafeteria to head to Dr. Mendel’s office.  She had been such an immense help with her emotions and dealing with the death of Julie.  She entered Dr. Mendel’s office and saw her sitting behind her desk.

            “Faith this is a pleasant surprise.  How are you doing?  I know you buried your sister today.”

            “I’m doing alright but I feel guilty because I forgot about my nephew,” she was beating herself up.

            Clarissa chuckled, “Don’t feel guilty Faith you’ve had to deal with a lot of things in the last few days.  It’s understandable that he would have slipped your mind.”

            Faith sighed heavily, “Monday when I’m released, I have to go to Family Services to find out about him.  I pray he is safe and being taken care of by a good person.”

            “I’m sure everything is fine don’t stress yourself out.  Your health is just as important as your nephew.”

            “Thanks Dr. Mendel I really appreciate all your help.  I don’t think I would’ve made it through all this without you.”

            Clarissa smiled at her, “You remind me of my daughter.”

            “Oh, where is she,” Faith asked.

            “She’s married and lives in Washington.  She has three children one boy and two girls, but she has another on the way.  We’re hoping for another boy but anyway if you ever need to talk after your release, I’ll make time for you.”

            “Thank you,” Faith turned and left her office.

            Clarissa turned back to her work but instead decided to call her daughter, “Hi Mom,” she answered.

            Nancy Shudder had picked up the Jordan baby on Thursday and has been trying for a few days to get ahold of Kincade Jordan.  Nancy called his office on Friday in the hopes of catching him, but he was in a meeting and couldn’t be disturbed.  She had left messages, but he hadn’t called her back so this time she asked when he arrived at the office.  They said no later than eight o’clock, so her task was set.  On Monday, she would be on his doorstep before eight o’clock.

            Monday morning came quicker than anyone had expected, and Faith was released from the hospital with a set of crutches and two physical therapy days scheduled.  Her first stop was Family Services to collect her nephew.  However, Nancy Shudder arrived at Mr. Jordan’s townhouse in Middleton at exactly seven o’clock.  She didn’t even hesitate to ring the doorbell this early in the morning since she’s been trying for days now to pin him down.  Natalie heard rapid footsteps then some lovely cursing as the door finally opened.

            “May I help you,” Kincade looked at an older woman holding a car seat in one hand.  In the other was a briefcase while on her shoulder was a diaper bag.  He assumed it went with the baby.

            The woman smiled, “Kincade Jordan.”

            “I’m sorry do I know you,” he seemed perplexed.

            “No sir but I’ve been trying to get in touch with you for several days.  I’ve left messages at your work, but you haven’t returned any of my calls.  May I come in for a few minutes?”

            “Of course, I’m terribly sorry I was getting ready for work I have a meeting early today,” he moved aside to allow her to enter.  He directed her to the sitting room that was to the left of the doorway. 

            Nancy entered the room setting the car seat on the floor next to a chair, “My name is Nancy Shudder and I’m from Family Services.”

            “Are you sure you have the right person,” he said as he sat down on the loveseat across from the chair, she was sitting in.

            She rambled off a wealth of information and he acknowledged she had the right man, “What is this all about.”

            “Did you know a Julie Summers,” she started with.

            “Yes, we dated for a brief period,” he hesitantly answered.

            “Very good a few days ago I was notified about a baby his Mother was Julie Summers,” Nancy pulled out a folder opening she looked at him, “This Mr. Jordan is your son.”

            He looked down at the car seat and felt the world spin for a moment, “What!”

            “Julie Summers listed you as the baby’s Father in her Will,” she proceeded to tell him.

            Kincade felt his heart stop for a minute, “Mrs. Shudder what happened to Julie.”

            “She was killed in a car accident last Monday,” she saw a swift emotion cross his face, but he quickly concealed it.

            “Was the accident caused by a drunk driver Harris Conwell,” he asked.

            “Yes, but how did you know that” she asked.

            “Harris worked for my company as our mail boy.  It went through our entire office about how Harris killed himself in a drunk driving accident, but I didn’t know Julie had been in the other car.  My God why didn’t she tell me about this I wouldn’t have been angry.”

            She felt sorry for the man, “Maybe she didn’t want you to feel obligated to her.  Mr. Jordan I’m really sorry for your loss and all but I need to know if you’re going to take responsibility for your son.”

            “Isn’t there anyone else who she wanted to leave the baby too.  I mean I wasn’t even there for all this,” he felt his heart racing because he didn’t know a thing about babies.

            “The Will says she wanted you to have time with your son but if you choose not to then there is an amendment.”

            “What does that say,” he saw some light through the darkness.

            “Your son would then go to his Aunt, Julie’s sister but I suggest you at least take some time before you make your decision.  The Will says you have forty-five days to decide one way or the other then the sister has the same option.  If neither of you want him then he goes into foster care after which the state puts him up for adoption.  Babies don’t last awfully long in foster care because every family wants to adopt babies.”

            “Can I have a day to think about it,” he couldn’t deal with this right now he is supposed to meet Slade at ten for the final model decision on his building.

            “I’m sorry Mr. Jordan but I must leave him with you,” she stood putting her folders back in her briefcase.  She handed him the diaper bag, “I will be back in two days to find out what your decision is.  Have a good day.”

            Kincade watched her leave the house he was now alone with a newborn infant.  Suddenly he remembered something and ran to the door, “Mrs. Shudder,” he shouted.

            She paused getting into a cab, “Yes Mr. Jordan.”

            “What’s my son’s name?”

            “Gabe Jordan,” she got in the cab and was gone.

            Gabe Jordan, she had named him.  My God what was he going to do he didn’t have time today to handle this.  His sister popped into his mind running back inside he called her.

            “Hello,” Susan answered.

            “Thank God, Susan I need some help,” he practically sighed.

            “Hello, Cade, make it quick I was just on my way out the door,” she sounded out of breath.

            “I understand but I’ve got troubles his name is Gabe and he’s a newborn baby.  I don’t have time to explain everything, but I have an appointment to get to, so I need help.  I obviously can’t leave him alone, but I can’t take him with me,” he was rambling she could tell he was almost at his breaking point before he went into melt down.

            “I understand but I can’t come either, the best I can do is give you a number to a nanny,” she rambled off the number, “Oh and Cade I expect a call later for an explanation.”

            “Thanks Susan and I’ll call you later,” he hung up and dialed the number to the nanny.

            “Good Morning Nanny Help,” a woman answered.

            “Hello, I need a nanny today,” Kincade said.

            “I’m sorry sir but we are currently shorthanded as we have people out sick.  I’ll see what I can do and give you a call back.”

            “That’s fine but I need a call back before nine thirty,” he gave her his name and number then hung up.

            He prayed they would call back quickly suddenly the room filled with a loud burst of crying.  He knew Gabe had just decided to wake up and needed something, what that was he didn’t know.  Kincade unhooked the belt on the car seat and picked up his son.  He noticed Gabe had his chin and nose but the small patch of hair that was peeking out from under his hat was auburn.  Then Gabe opened his eyes, and they were almost the same color as his.  Picking up the infant hadn’t stopped the crying, so he tried pacing for movement exactly as he’d seen Susan do with her own children.  Nothing he did seemed to work he didn’t know what else to do.

            Faith hobbled out of the cab in front of the Family Services building.  She asked the cab if he would come back in one hour, he said yes so paying him he drove off.  On her crutches, she made her way inside the building and was grateful the weather decided to be warm and sunny instead of cloudy with rain.  It made it easier for her to walk on the crutches entering the building she slowly approached the receptionist who was busy transferring calls.

            “May I help you,” the older woman glanced at her.

            “I need to speak with Nancy Shudder please,” Faith spoke softly.

            “Do you have an appointment?”

            “No, but it’s really important that I speak with her.  I was just released from the hospital, and I understand she’s in charge of my sister’s case,” Faith began to feel an uneasiness that the woman was going to tell her she needed to make an appointment.

            The receptionist took a good look at the young woman and could see how much pain it probably took her to get here, “Listen ma’am, Mrs. Shudder isn’t in right now.  However, she should be back in a few minutes take a seat and when she gets here, I’ll make sure you talk to her.”

            “Thank you so much,” she hobbled her way over to the loveseat, which sat across from the receptionist’s desk.  Gingerly she set her leg up on the coffee table it happened to have magazines cluttered all over it.  Her leg felt more comfortable when it was elevated and straight out.  Picking up a magazine, she flipped through it while waiting for Mrs. Shudder.

            Sometime later Nancy walked into the building going straight to the desk for her messages, “Are there any messages for me Dottie,” she asked the receptionist.

            “No, but you do have a visitor who really needs to speak with you.  She doesn’t have an appointment but under the circumstances it took the poor dear to get here I think we should make an exception.”

            Nancy sighed because she knew Dottie had a soft heart that is the one reason, she could never be a social worker, “Very well Dottie where is she.”

            “Right over there on the sofa,” Dottie pointed to Faith.

            Nancy turned to see a young woman with cuts and bruises.  Her leg had a funny looking cast on it and setting next to her was a pair of crutches.  Dottie was right it must have pained her to get here, “Excuse me, Dottie tells me you’re here to see me I’m Nancy Shudder,” she extended her hand while the young woman struggled to her feet before shaking it.

            “I’m Faith Summers I was told to speak with you about my sister’s baby,” Faith knew the instant the woman registered her knowledge of the name.

            “Your Julie Summers sister, I’m terribly sorry for your loss Miss. Summers.  Why don’t you come back to my office then we can discuss the case,” Nancy turned to go through a pair of double doors which led to the back offices.

            Faith followed more slowly when they entered a cluttered office, she was motioned to take a seat in one of the chairs across from a desk, “You’ve come for your sister’s baby.”

            “Yes, I was told you took him until I was released from the hospital.  Now I’ve come for him,” she situated in the chair for better comfort while Nancy sat down behind her desk.

            “Well now that’s a problem,” she stated.

            “Why,” Faith looked at her.

            “When I was given the case, I researched your family as I normally do.  I came upon a legal document that your sister had.  It appears she made a Will which took care of everything including her son.”

            Faith suddenly felt extremely sick, “Where is my nephew Mrs. Shudder.”

            “The Will stated I should take the child to his Father, one Kincade Jordan,” she didn’t get a chance to finish.

            “What!  How could she, especially after she made me promise not to ever tell him about the baby.  Why would she do this?”

            Nancy didn’t have the answer, but she tried to explain, “The Will says Mr. Jordan has forty-five days to decide if he wishes to be a Father.  If he chooses not to then your nephew will come to you and will have the same number of days.  If you both decided not to then he goes into foster care at which time he will go up for adoption.  The only thing I can say is maybe you should contact Mr. Jordan so you can at least see your nephew.”

            Faith was still stunned what could Julie have been thinking doing this.  She just naturally assumed if anything happened to Julie, she would take care of the baby, “Thank you Mrs. Shudder, maybe I’ll do that.  When does his forty-five day’s start?”

            “In two days, I’ll go back then if he opts to take the time it’ll begin then.”

            “Alright, thank you again,” Faith stood to leave.

            “I’m really sorry things worked out this way Miss Summers,” Nancy felt sorry for the woman, and it was strange because she hadn’t felt this emotion in a long time with any of her cases.

            “Me too,” she said then hobbled out of the office.

            Faith knew she shouldn’t harbor any anger toward Mrs. Shudder it wasn’t her fault.  It was Julie’s fault for having a Will, but Faith was still angry with the state woman.  As she left the building to the cab waiting for her, her destination was clear as she gave the cabby the address.

            By eight thirty, Kincade was so flustered he’d tried everything he could think of to quiet Gabe.  Nothing was working and all he could think about was he had exactly one and a half hours to get to the office.  His meeting with Slade was at exactly ten and if the nanny company didn’t send someone soon, he was going to have to reschedule.  He really didn’t want to do that since this was such a big account for the company.  Gabe suddenly stopped for a minute he felt relieved then the doorbell chimed, and he started wailing again.  Kincade sent a prayer up that it was someone from the nanny place.  Putting his screaming son back in his car seat, he went to answer the door.

            Faith hobbled out of the cab paid the driver then climbed the stairs to a very elegant townhouse.  It was exceedingly difficult to maneuver the stairs on her crutches but she somehow managed.  Faith was incredibly surprised since her sister had never really told her what Kincade’s place looked like.  She didn’t even know what he looked like, but she would soon find out as she rang the doorbell.  She heard heavy footsteps, a crying baby, and her heart tore because she knew it was her nephew.  The door flung open, and a very flustered man was standing in front of her, and Faith lost her breath.  She was in complete shock as she stared at him.  He was the incredibly attractive man from Nordstrom’s on Christmas Eve.  He looked at her but she knew he didn’t really see her but there was complete relief in his beautiful violet eyes.

            “I’m so glad you’re here I don’t know what’s wrong with him.  He’s been crying for some time now.  I admit I don’t know much about babies and that’s probably why,” He moved away from the door allowing her to enter so she hobbled inside but still didn’t have her voice back.

            “I’m sorry I’m kind of in a rush I have an appointment to get too.  When I get home, we can work out the details of a contract, but can you please help my son since I’m an idiot.”

            He left the room and Faith hobbled toward the crying baby.  She entered a nice-looking sitting room and that’s when she saw him, her sister’s baby, “Oh poor little one let’s see if Aunt Faith can help you,” She sat down in the chair next to his car seat and picked Gabe up.

            Kincade came into the room and noticed his son was quiet, “Man I’m glad you were able to figure out what he needed.”

            “Did you happen to think about feeding him,” Faith was angry because he’d let her nephew cry for so long.

            He actually turned red with shame, “I’m sorry it never occurred to me as I said I’m not good with babies.  I feel really awful, but I must run we will talk when I get home tonight.”

            Then he was gone leaving her alone with her nephew not knowing his name and Kincade not know who she was.  She shook her head realizing he was going to need her help, or he would have to give up his son.  Why she suddenly felt as if she should give him a chance to have his son she would never know.