A Baby for Christmas (Love at The Crossroads) (14 page)

“Can we see her?”

“Certainly. She is being transported to a room now. A nurse will advise you when she’s situated.”

After Dr. Gaitan left, Hershel joined the others in an audible sound of relief and sent praises up to God. While Royce hugged his wife, the only thing Hershel could think about was cuddling Solae before scolding her for scaring him to death.

The Palmers still had not returned when the nurse advised them of Solae’s room number. Solemnly, they stepped on the elevator and rode to the fourth floor and located her room.

“You go first, but I really want to see her.” Candace nodded and folded her arms. “One minute, then I’m coming in.”

Hershel couldn’t contain his smirk at the fireball of a sister-in-law. “Thanks.” Opening the door, he quietly walked in. The beeping monitors and the IV drips usually didn’t bother him, but seeing Solae as the patient was heartbreaking. She appeared asleep. The last time he had seen her in person was on the last day of her job before she moved. She was vibrant, warm, and healthy. Their few FaceTime chats didn’t count. Somehow, even with a dingy hospital gown and bruises on one side on her face, she was a vision of beauty to him.

Stepping to the bedrail, he took her warm hand in his. Her engagement or wedding ring should have graced it some time ago. Hershel accepted the responsibility for that. He swallowed. “Solae,” he whispered, “Baby, it’s me—Hershel.”

Solae didn’t open her eyes, but she moaned. “My baby…my baby…”

Hershel had no answers for her. He didn’t believe in telling people what they wanted to hear, even if it was false.
Lord, what do I say?

              He was spared responding when he heard commotion outside her door before her parents walked in with a baby that resembled a doll to him. Smiling, Mrs. Wyatt-Palmer cradled the child as she stepped closer to her daughter and brushed a kiss on her forehead before acknowledging Hershel.

Giving them space, Hershel quietly disappeared out in the hall.

              “Well, how is she?” Candace demanded.

             
Before he could open his mouth, Candace crept inside, leaving Hershel with his brothers and sister-in-law.

Julia rubbed his arm. “She’s going to be fine. The fervent prayers of a righteous man, asking for God’s will are top priority.”

“Thanks.”

One by one, everyone went in to see Solae and came out except for her parents. He received pats on the shoulder and hugs. They all gushed about the baby.

“I’m an aunt.” Candace grinned before she and the others left for home to check on their families.

Hershel slipped back inside the room. Although Solae’s eyes were open, she still had a dazed look about her. Her mom and dad remained at her bedside. The baby appeared to be asleep.

“I didn’t know Solae was coming home or adopting a baby. Why didn’t she tell me?” he couldn’t help but feel hurt for not being her confidant.

“My daughter got the call yesterday and today she officially became a mother. It happened so fast, just like this accident. Washington and I were waiting at home for her. When she didn’t come home right away, we figured she had stopped by Candace’s to show off our little angel.”

“What’s her name?” Hershel pointed to the child in a hushed voice.

“Madison.” Mrs. Wyatt-Palmer beamed proudly at her first grandchild. “But…Solae’s been asking for her by her nickname, Hershey.” She winked.

Hershey.
She was his namesake. He asked for permission to hold the baby. “May I?”

“Of course.” She stood and carefully placed the baby in Hershel’s arms.

Tears began to stream down Solae’s face when she asked for Hershey again.

“She’s okay, babe. I have her,” Hershel said in a soothing tone as Solae eyed the little girl. “I like her name.” He grinned. “She’s beautiful. You’re going to make a wonderful mother.”

“But I almost killed her,” Solae said softly.

When it seemed like she was about to fret, her parents joined him at her side. “This child came from the Lord. Don’t let the devil shake your faith,” her mother hushed her.

Solae nodded, closed her eyes, and drifted back to sleep.

“We’re going downstairs to get a bite to eat,” her father advised as he reached for his grandbaby.

“I’m not going anywhere. Do you mind if I hold her?”

Her father seemed reluctant until his wife came to his defense. “Hershel has small children. I’m sure he’ll be okay for a few minutes. If you run into any problems, you have our number.” After each one kissed Hershey on her forehead, they left.

With the baby safe in one arm, Hershel scooted the chair closer to Solae’s bed and stared into the face of Hershey, who made a sucking sound with her lips, but didn’t stir otherwise. Watching both ladies sleep, Hershel had very little doubt of his next move. “I always wanted a little girl.” Although he hadn’t thought of adopting, he would have a daughter if Solae would allow him.  There was no reason for them not to be married soon—maybe by Christmas.

For more than a week since leaving the hospital, Solae was touched by Hershel’s presence at her mother’s house and in the hospital. She praised God that her baby had survived, scratch free and was doing fine. The police said Hershey was lucky. Solae kindly informed them that her daughter was blessed.

“The next time I come, I want to bring the boys,” Hershel insisted. He had just gotten off work and his eyes were bloodshot, yet he made a detour to see her and Hershey. That touched Solae.

“I would love to see them.” Although her shoulder was still sore, Solae cared for her baby’s needs as much as she could. Even now Hershel had propped a pillow on her lap so she could feed Hershey before he left.

“Babe…” He paused. “Despite our differences, you’re the only woman for me. The ring is still waiting. Hershey needs a father and my boys need a mother.”

Solae lifted a brow. “Are you proposing?”

“You deserve better than this. I want that moment to be memorable for us. I’m only reminding you because you accused me of keeping you in the dark. Not this time, I want you to know I want to marry you as soon as you say yes—maybe by Christmas.”

Although she was touched by his declaration, during the course of the last months, it had somehow lost its punch. “I love you, but now I need time. I’m still adjusting to being a mother for the first time. I never thought I would be so happy changing stinky diapers or getting up in the middle of the night, but I want these first-time moments right now.”

“So, what are you saying? You don’t want to marry me?” Hershel looked irritated to say the least.

“I’m saying I’m not in a rush anymore.  I’m satisfied, I’m content, and I’m in a good place right now. I don’t have as much free time as a single mom to date right now.”

“What!” Hershel exploded then quieted when he saw that his temper startled Hershey. “Listen, I know you love me or you wouldn’t be calling Madison ‘Hershey’ which I’m elated about. We’ve already done the dating part. Call it what you want, but we’re in a relationship. Let’s make it official. ”

Solae shifted and cringed. Hershel was there at her side to support Hershey. “I’m not saying I don’t want to marry you ever, but my priorities have changed. I have a daughter now.”

Hershel eyed her. “If I didn’t know any better, I would accuse you of using me for my boys.”

“Well, it’s a good thing you do know better.” Solae jutted her chin in a challenge. “Because God doesn’t like liars.”

“Then maybe you’re the one who needs to tell the truth!” Spinning on his heel, he stormed out the room, nodding at her parents. Her mother came to her while her father escorted Hershel to the door.

“He’s a good man, you know, and he loves you,” she said softly, coming to sit next to her.

“I love him, too, Momma. I’ve never stopped, but I don’t want to be rushed. When I left for Chicago, my heart accepted that I might always be alone and without a family, but God said otherwise. I no longer need a man anymore.”

“I’m not talking about another man; I’m talking about Captain Hershel Kavanaugh.” Her mother got to her feet. “Hershey will grow up and leave the nest and then that man you wanted so long ago may have moved on. That’s food for thought.” She walked out of the room at the same time Hershey became fussy.

             
                                          ***

Hershel was not in a good mood, and he did his best not to snap when his sons begged to see Solae. The stalemate had gone on for more than a week and neither appeared to want to be the first to apologize.

When he mentioned to Royce that he was thinking about pawning the ring he purchased for Solae—not for the money, but because it was apparent she no longer wanted him and his family—his brother called another family meeting. When he arrived at Royce and Candace’s house, there was only one car in the driveway and it wasn’t Trent’s or Julia’s.

Getting out of his vehicle, he walked up the driveway to the house. He peeked inside and saw the car seat in the back. “Set up,” he griped as he thought about turning around and going home, but Candace opened the door and waved him inside.

He stomped up the steps and cleared the doorway, barely acknowledging his sister-in-law. “This is becoming more of a headache than any woman is worth,” he mumbled and he didn’t care if Candace heard it or not.

“Solae isn’t like every other woman. She’s my sister and you better be on your best behavior,” Candace ordered in a tone he had never heard before.

Women
. Shaking off his jacket and slipping it on a brass hook in the closet, he strolled into the family room, not in a mood for a confrontation. Hershel didn’t anticipate a favorable outcome because he was done with chasing after Miss Solae Wyatt-Palmer.

But two things happened to shake his resolve when he turned the corner. First, Solae no longer looked as if she was recovering. She wowed his senses with her rust-colored sweater, denim jeans, and boots. She looked nothing like a mother to him, but more like the diva that enticed him without trying that first day they met more than a year earlier. Hershel did his best to keep a straight face.

What did make him smile was Hershey’s reaction to him. She seemed excited to see him with her tiny arms beckoning for him to pick her up. Hershel swallowed. How could these two women in front of him have him wrapped around their fingers?

“May I?” He asked permission, although he didn’t think Solae had a choice. Hershey was already bouncing in her mother’s arms.

Solae stood to hand over her baby. They were so close he wanted to kiss her, but refrained.

“Now that the offending parties have arrived, we can begin the proceedings,” Candace said as Royce placed two chairs directly in front of him and Solae.

“There is nothing—” Hershel began to argue.

Royce cut him off. “First, let us begin in prayer. Let’s join hands.”

Solae seemed reluctant, but she scooted closer to his side while Hershey seemed to be content in his other arm. Hershel noted he was next to Solae’s injured shoulder, so he was mindful of his hold.

“Lord, in the mighty name of Jesus, we come before You because of the stubbornness of your people. Lord, we need You to convict their hearts and seek Your will concerning their lives…”

The more his brother prayed, the weaker Solae’s hold in his hand. He didn’t know how much strength she had regained, so he took the liberty of loosening his hand and slipping an arm around her waist to steady her, but didn’t want to break their connection.

“Love is patient, love is kind, love bears all things…” Candace prayed.

When Solae lifted her voice, Hershel joined the endless circle of petitions before the Lord. He didn’t lose hold of Solae as she began to cry out to the Lord in praise. Hershel surrendered his pride, misunderstanding, and all his imperfect thoughts that he had blamed on Solae.

“Amen,” Royce murmured.

Hershel opened his eyes to find Royce and Candace were sitting and grinning. Solae sniffed and turned into his free arm for a hug. He kissed the top of her hair.  “I’m sorry, babe.”

“Me too,” Solae mumbled against his chest.

Surprisingly, Hershey was asleep. Solae reached for her, but Hershel resisted as he kissed the child’s cheek. “I’ll hold her.”

Nodding, Solae sat on the sofa and Hershel joined her instead of in the chair that he had pegged for himself when he first arrived.

Candace folded her hands and cleared her throat. She looked dead at him. “Hershel, in my opinion, this is all your fault.”

Keeping a straight face, Royce nudged his wife. “Stick to the script, babe.”

“Okay.” Candace twisted her lips as he had seen his defiant son do many times. “I’ve known Solae all my life. I think you know firsthand how much love she has to give unselfishly. Her love is pure. All she wanted in return was someone to love her unconditionally.” She stopped and looked to her husband.

“Solae.” Royce gave her a stern look and then grinned. “You have been the best thing that has ever happened to my brother—the best. But I feel that you’re playing with his heart—”

“Royce.” Candace gritted her teeth. “Watch it.”