Bayview Heights Trilogy (80 page)

“Jerry, you have totally incorrect
information.”

The outer door to the ER flew open,
interrupting them. In rushed Evan and Rob. “Oh, God, what
happened?” Evan asked. “Did she...did she something go wrong with
the abortion?”

Bosco whirled on Zoe. “Incorrect
information?”

Ms. C said, “Yes, it’s incorrect.” She
grasped Evan’s hand and spoke directly to him “Ashley had a
miscarriage.”

“Is she all right?” the boy asked.

“A lot you care, you bastard.” This from
Rachel, who dragged Evan around. “You wanted her to get rid of it.
You wouldn’t stand by her.” She accented each accusation by
pounding her fists on his chest. “This is all your fault.”

Gently Rob pulled Rachel back. She turned,
crying, into his chest.

Julia pivoted in time to see Dan enter the
ER.

“I just finished at the nursery and came
right over.” He stared at her for a split second, then drew her to
him.

Erica watched Julia and Rachel for a minute,
then faced Bosco, Ms. C and good old Evan. Her hands began to shake
uncontrollably, so she stuffed them in the pockets of her
skirt.

“This is a zoo,” Bosco was saying as he
scanned the kids.

For once Erica agreed with the jerk.

“Jerry, you’ve walked into a very difficult
situation. You’re just making it worse.”

“Worse?” His voice raised. “You think this is
bad? You haven’t seen anything yet. I’m going to close down this
damn clinic.”

Erica caught sight of Dr. Lansing coming
through the gray doors again. For a minute he blurred, then came
into focus again.

“You say one false word against my clinic,”
he told Bosco, “and I’ll sue you for slander.”

Way to go Dr. L
, she thought. She
didn’t know he could be so tough, but she liked it.

Even Bosco stepped backward. “I’ll consult
the town’s lawyer first, then.” The creep scanned them all.
“Meanwhile, I’ll have the board yank these students from working
with you.”

Ms. C stood up as tall as she could get,
which wasn’t much. “And if you do that, Jerry, you’ll have me to
contend with. I’ll fight you with every resource I have.”

Well, well, well, everybody was getting tough
today. It was kinda cool to watch.

Dr. Lansing came up behind Ms. Caufield and
placed a hand on her shoulder. “I suggest you sit down with us or
with the ER doctors and get your facts straight, Mr. Bosco. Don’t
cause unnecessary trouble.”

Bosco’s beady eyes leveled on him. “I haven’t
even started yet, Dr. Lansing. I haven’t even started.”

The asshole stomped out of the emergency
room. Erica watched Ms. C lean back into Dr. Lansing and release a
huge breath. He squeezed her shoulder and said, “Whew.”

Erica shook her head. She sank onto a vinyl
chair, thinking about Ashley’s miscarriage and Dr. Lansing touching
Ms. C. She wondered how soon she could have another upper. She knew
she shouldn’t take more, for she’d been overstepping the limit
she’d set for herself. Also, she’d gone to great lengths to hide
any symptoms from Ms. C & Dr. Lansing, so she shouldn’t pop one
now when they were around. But she needed a pill. And she’d cut
back just as soon as things got better in her life.

o0o

“ARE YOU SURE you still want to do this?”
Cassie’s face was drawn with fatigue as she asked the question. Zoe
noticed again that her friend had lost weight since September, the
pressures of school and raising a family obviously wearing on her.
“What with Ashley’s miscarriage and Bosco’s being on the
warpath?”

Behind her, Mitch placed his hands on
Cassie’s shoulders and sighed. His green eyes were weary. It was
clear they both needed this weekend away from their kids.

“I’m sure. It’ll take my mind off what
happened with Ashley yesterday.”
And off Kurt
.

Cassie shrugged. “There’s more. Alexandra’s
got a cold. She slobbers all over Camille, so the baby might come
down with it, too.”

“I think I can handle the sniffles.”
Scowling, Zoe teased, “Doesn’t she want to go away with you, big
guy?”

Mitch looked a little lost. “Sometimes I
wonder. These kids take up so much time.”

To Zoe’s shock, tears formed in Cassie’s
eyes. “No, of course it’s not that.” She turned Mitch. “How could
you think that?”

Rolling his eyes, he pulled her close. “I
don’t, really. We’re both drained. We need to get away, love.”

“Uh-huh,” Zoe said dryly, “you do. Look I can
handle the girls. Did you leave medicine for the cold?”

“Yes, along with the pediatrician’s number.
And a letter authorizing you to seek medical treatment.”

“I’m sure that won’t be necessary. Now go.
The girls are down for a nap, so this is a perfect time to escape.”
She gave the couple her best stern-teacher look. “After the great
friends you guys have been to me this last year, I’d like a chance
to do something for you.”

“You’re a godsend.” Cassie scrubbed at her
face impatiently, leaned over to hug Zoe and started out.

Mitch hugged her, too. “Thanks, Zoe. I want
her to get away, get some rest and some perspective.”

“Then go,” Zoe whispered. “We’ll be
fine.”

“If you need any help, my brother’s great
with the girls.”

Zoe eyed Mitch. “
Go
.”

The Lansing children slept another hour. Zoe
wandered about the house, glad to give her friends the opportunity
to spend the weekend in the city, envying them their bond and the
life they’d built together. In the living room, she picked up a
picture of them on their wedding day.

On either side of them, she and Kurt smiled
glowingly.

I was going to tell you that night...I
was going to ask you to marry me.

Sighing, she sank onto the couch, picture in
hand. She hadn’t allowed herself much time to think about Kurt’s
admission the night they found out about Ashley’s pregnancy. He’d
said he’d wanted to marry her. And for the intervening two weeks
she’d buried the notion she could be pregnant, although her period
was two days late. Not uncommon, she thought. She’d be fine.

You want to be pregnant
, a voice
inside her accused.

Zoe gripped the picture. “Of course I
don’t.”

It would give you an excuse to let him
back in your life.

“I don’t need an excuse. If I wanted him
back, I’d—”

The Banshee wail interrupted her. Quickly she
replaced the picture and mounted the steps two at a time, hustling
into Camille’s room. Zoe had helped Cassie pick out the
yellow-daisy wallpaper and matching green-with-daisies quilt and
bumper for the crib. The baby was alternately crying and sucking
her thumb.

“What’s the matter, love?” Zoe asked as she
picked up the child.

Camille quieted and stared at Zoe with huge
green eyes. When she realized her rescuer wasn’t Cassie or Mitch,
she started to wail again, big tears rolling down her cheeks. “Come
on, sweetie, it’s Aunt Zoe. You know me. I’m your godmother. We’re
buddies.”

The baby continued to cry.

“Hey,” Zoe said as she placed her on the
changing table, “we’re gonna have a great time when you get
older—reading books, watching movies, playing games.” As she
changed Camille’s diaper, Zoe noticed she felt warm. But babies
often woke up from naps warm, she remembered Lacey saying. Just to
be sure, she found a thermometer in the girls’ bathroom and took
Camille’s temperature—a feat in itself. It read ninety-nine. Juice
would help, Zoe thought, trekking downstairs with the
now-whimpering child.

Camille fussed through the bottle of juice.
Zoe walked her, sang, “I’m a Little Teapot” in French, then headed
upstairs again and rocked her.

Until Alexandra woke up. The four-year-old
wandered into Camille’s bedroom.

Zoe gave her a big smile. “Hi, Alexandra. How
are you?”

Cheeks pink, her braid messy, the child
rubbed her eyes. “Don’t feel good.”

“Uh-oh,” Zoe said, and got up to find the
thermometer again.

At ten o’clock that night, Zoe called the
pediatrician’s after-hours number. She spoke with the doctor on
call, who assured her both girls sounded as if they had symptoms of
the flu he’d seen lately, but to bring them in the next morning.
Meanwhile, she should give them lots of liquids and a pain reliever
every four hours.

The medicine had a marginal effect; Alexandra
didn’t go to sleep until midnight. Zoe rocked Camille till 2:00
a.m., when the baby finally conked out.

Zoe fell asleep on the twin bed in Camille’s
room, surrounded by a veritable zoo of animals. A huge giraffe
stood guard over her head.

She was awakened four hours later by a
soulful cry. Bolting up, she rushed to Camille. The infant felt
hotter than last night, Zoe noted as she struggled to change her
diaper. “Come on, love,” Zoe said, holding her while she fixed a
bottle of formula. “Please drink some.” Camille took about an
ounce, then spit out the nipple.

Just then Alexandra entered the kitchen,
dragging a teddy bear by the arm. Fortunately her forehead seemed
cooler. “Want juice. And Cheerios,” she said, climbing onto Zoe’s
lap. Zoe blew her hair out of her eyes and sighed heavily.

By the time she reached the pediatrician’s,
Zoe was exhausted and frantic. Camille’s temperature had soared and
she cried all the way to the medical building.

Struggling to open the office door, she hoped
like hell she could handle two sick girls for three whole days. A
class of At Risk kids never caused her to bat an eyelash, but this
was something else.

Leaving the office armed with prescriptions
for more medicine—Camille had an ear infection on top of whatever
flu she had—Zoe prayed she could get the antibiotic and make it
back home.

Never in her life has she experienced
anything like dragging two little ones into the drugstore, waiting
interminably for the pharmacist to dispense the drug while she held
Camille and kept an eye on a restless cranky four-year-old.

When she pulled into the driveway with both
girls crying loudly in the back seat, she felt like joining
them.

At eight that night, with no end in sight,
she gave in. She picked up the phone and dialed a number beside it.
After two rings, it was answered. She said, “Kurt, this is Zoe. I
need some help.”

o0o

HE’D NEVER SEEN HER so disheveled. Grateful
brown eyes locked on him “Thanks for coming.” In her arms she held
a sleeping Camille; at her side was a pale Alexandra. He leaned
over immediately to lift his niece into his arms and cuddle her
against the sweatshirt he’d hastily thrown on with jeans and
sneakers. He’d still been dressed from work when Zoe called.
“What’s the matter baby? You don’t feel good?”

Alexandra whimpered, “I want my mommy.”

“What’s this? My best girl doesn’t wanna be
with her favorite uncle tonight?”

That made Alexandra smile, and Zoe give him a
weak facsimile of one.

The four of them traipsed into the living
room. Zoe took the rocker and Kurt sat on the couch. “What did
their pediatrician say?”

“Mild flu for Alexandra. But she’s a bit
better tonight. Camille has the flu
and
an ear infection.
I stopped to get the antibiotic at the drugstore, and I’d rather
have my fingernails pulled out before I’d repeat that experience. I
thought Cassie and Mitch were exaggerating. I had no idea these two
could be so...” She stopped, realizing Alexandra was listening
intently.

“We was bad, Aunt Zoe?” the little girl
asked.

“Oh, honey, you were fine. Aunt Zoe’s just
new at taking care of children.”

Kurt leaned over and took the book Alexandra
held, then pulled her onto his lap. “Aunt Zoe might be learning how
to take care of children quicker than she thought,” Kurt said
mischievously.

“No, she won’t be.” Zoe’s tone was
confident.

Damn. Though he knew, logically, chances were
slim, he’d hoped for a positive outcome. “Got confirmation
already?” he asked as lightly as he could.

Zoe stared at him blankly. “Confirm...Ah, no,
not yet.”

He frowned. “Shouldn’t you know by now? It
was a couple weeks ago that we...” He let the words hang.

“I don’t want to talk about it now.”

“Just answer that.”

“All right, I’m late, but only by a couple of
days. It’s not unusual for me.”

That little piece of news cheered him. He
read
Good Night Moon
to Alexandra while Zoe rocked
Camille, part of his mind on the possibilities. When the baby
started to cry, he watched Zoe try to calm her, then eased
Alexandra off his lap and stood. “Let me see her.” Taking Camille
in his arms, he felt her face and neck. “When did she have the last
analgesic?”

“Two hours ago.”

“She’s hot. I think I’ll give her a tepid
bath.”

Alexandra’s eyes brightened. “Me, too. I
wanna bath, too.”

“Camille’s too fussy for you two to bathe
together, honey. But Aunt Zoe can give you a bath in the big tub in
Mommy and Daddy’s room.”

“With bubbles?”

“Sure.” He winked at Zoe. “Aunt Zoe likes
bubbles.”

What are you doing?
she’d asked once
in his bubble-filled Jacuzzi.

Making pyramids on you.

You’re crazy, you know that?

Crazy about you.

Kurt banished the memory and concentrated on
the child. Upstairs in the girls’ adjoining bathroom, he drew the
water, whipped off his sweatshirt and bathed the sick baby. When he
was done, he wrapped her up in a big towel, dried her gently,
dressed her in clean pajamas and headed downstairs. At the master
bathroom, he realized Camille was almost asleep. “I think Camille
feels bet—” He stopped midword. What he saw took his breath
away.

The big tub was indeed filled with bubbles.
In it was Alexandra, covered from head to toe in froth.