Twelve Across (24 page)

"I find that hard to believe, " Liza said.

"I'm sorry. " you're satisfied being a.. a trapper? "

"That's only one of the things I do, but, yes, I'm satisfied Very satisfied: '

"But the publicity zio.

"Means nothing to me. I don't need it, and I don't want it: His tone was a mellow one, but it held undisputable conviction, just as the glance he sent Darryl held more sympathy than apology. " I'm sorry you won't get your story, but I really have nothing more to say"

"Mr. Rodenhiser? Mr. Rodenhiser!"

His head shot up in response to the alarmed cry, eyes I flying in the direction of the voice. It came from a woman ' he recognized as being a secretary in the language department She was clutching a coat around her with one hand, " waving a small piece of paper in the other as she speed- q walked toward the car. ," Thank goodness you haven't left, "

she panted.

The sense of peace Garrick had experienced earlier was i gone. His blood ran cold. "You just received a call from a Susan Walsh. She said that you were to meet Leah at the hospital: '

"Oh, God, " he whispered hoarsely, but the words hadn't ' left his mouth before he was in the car, leaving Liza Schumacher to jump out of the way of the slamming door. She and her boyfriend, the secretary, the school, the newspaper -all were forgotten. The only things he could think of were LQAH and their baby. What had happened?

Over and over he asked the question, sometimes silently , sometimes aloud.

He drove as fast as he could, swerving after what seemed an eternity into a space outside the hospital's emergency entrance. After being directed from one desk to the next, he finally connected with Gregory, who quickly put a reassuring arm around his shoulder.

"Her water brokq. We re prepping her now. Come on. We'll both scrub up:

'

"How is she? "

"Terrified: '

"

" qqind the baby? " q,q'qso far, so good. I want to take it as quickly as possible: ' ck didn't ask any more questions. He was too busy , Besides, he knew that Gregory didn't have the anqr to the one question he most wanted to ask. Only time :qitld give that, and time was precious. He matched his step 'qi#he doctofs as they hurried down the hall. q sq I,eah's eyes were on the door when Garrick entered the qgq1ivery room. She held out a shakilig hand and clutched q finger fiercely. " They said you were on your way Thank God you're here: ' IN

hat happened? " -*." ZVIY water broke. I was lying in bed and it just broke. I hadn't moved, I ha ddt done anything-"

"Shhhh: He was bending over her, pressing his mouth lqo her matted bangs. 'you've done everything right, Leah. you've followed doctor s orders to the letter. Tell me, how did you get here? "

"I called Susan. wasn't that stupid? I should have called Gregory directly, but I remember thinking that Susan was closer and that I rvas glad we had a phone so I wouldn't have to walk from the apartment to the house: '

"It was smart of you to call Susan. She's cool under fire: '

"She called Gregory, and Gregory called the ambulance while I just sat there, trembling: '

"It's okay, honey" He had a hand on her hair but was looking around the room in bewilderment, trying to interpret every nuance of the bustling activity.

"Everything s going to be okay. " A cloth barrier was being lifted into place to shield the operation from their view. He knew that it was standard procedure for a cesarean section, but then it struck him that, since her water had broken, she had to be in abor His eyes shot to hers.

"Are you in pain? "

She gave a rapid little shake of her head. "I felt a few contractions before, but the spinal's taken effect. I don't feqel a thing: Her eyes widened and her fingers tightened arounti his. " I don't feel anything, Garrick. Maybe something'q happened-"

Gregory came up at that moment. "The babqs fine, Leah. We're monitoring the heartbeat, and it's fine: His gazq swung from her face to Garrick's, then back. All set to go? "

Their nods were identically jerky. Gregory moved off; The anesthetist came to sit by Leah's head, while a nurse slid a stool beneath Garrick.

"Please, let it live, " Iqah whispered to no one in the room.

"It will, " Garrick whispered back, but his eyes were worried as they sought out Gregory.

"We're all thinking positive, " was Gregory's response. He wasn't making promises, but he appeared fully confident, which was as much as Leah could have asked.

"Garrick? " she murmured. "Yes, love? "

"How did everything go at school today? "

He was momentarily startled. His thoughts weren't on school. It was an unlikely subject to discuss given the time, place and circumstance. But he quickly understood what Leah was doing, so he forced himself to shift gears.

"Not bad. I aced the exam: ' " No kidding? "

His smile was wobbly. "Would I kid you at a time like this? I got a ninety-seven : ' "

"They say that older students do better " ' And I aced something else today"

"What? "

"Liza Schumacher. "

q qq tqq8 q hushed tones, eyes locked into each s with an urgency that acknowledged something mo "G tous was taking place. q;;.. qththat happened with Liza Schumacher? " Leah asked. q' "

" 5he appmached me with a local journalist in tow: ' q' journalist!"

"They wanted an interview. " q q' "Oh, no: Her fingers tightened around Garrick's, but it iqjdn't have to do with the interview as much as the quiet talk qoming from beyond the cloth barrier. She wanted to ask what was happening but diddt dare.

Garrick seemed in a similar quandary. He darted frantic eyes toward Gregory, who was concentrating on his work, his lower face covered by a mask. Garrick quickly calmed his expression when he looked down at Leah again.

"I said that I wasdt interested and it struck me that I wasn't. I really wasn't: ' '?emptation-"

"Isn't temptation. I don't want what's being offered. There s nothing to threaten me: '

"But if she s already told one reporter who you a-"

"It doesn't matter. She can tell ten reporters, and it still won't matter. "

"And if this one reporter writes something-" '"That's fine. He can write about how I've found a better life. It's not the kind of story that will sell papers, so one installment will be enough. He ll lose interest.

Other reporters will, too. And it won't bother me at all: '

"I'm glad, " she whispered, then added quickly, "What are they doing? "

"Baby s doing well, I.eah, " came Gregory s call. "You two keep talking.

It sounds like a fascinating discussion: '

"I want the baby, Garrick, " she whimpered.

"Me, tao, love. Me, too. Are you feeling anything? "

"No: '

"Any pain? "

"No: ' All too aware of the emotional pain she was undergoing, he sent a panicky glance toward the anesthesiologist. "Maybe you should have knocked her out: ' " No!" I.eah cried. " I want to know: '

"We re getting there, Leah, " came Gregory s utterly calm voice: ' It settled Leah momentarily. Tipping her head farther toward Garrick, she pressed their twined hands to her warm cheek. "When... when are finals?

" she asked in the same small whisper she d used before.

"Another week. I may skip them: '

"Oh, no-after all the work you've done? "

"I'm only taking the courses for fun: ' " Then take the exams for fun: '

"Exams aren't fun : '

"I'll help you study"

"That might be fun. But then you might be"

A tiny cry cut off his words. His heart began to slam against his ribs, and he jerked up his head.

Leah's breath was catching in her throat. "Garnck? " She raised her voice.

"Gregory? "

Another, stronger cry echoed through the room, followed by Gregory s satisfied, Ahhh, she s a lusty one: '

"She, " Leah breathed, tear filled eyes clinging to Garrick's face.

He was rising from the stool, tearing his gaze from Leah to focus on the small bundle Gregory held. A tiny arm flailed the air. Grinning through unchecked tears, he returned to leah.

"She waved: '

"She s moving? "

"See for yourself, " said Gregory as he held the baby high.

r Leah saw. Arms and legs batted the air to the tune of a qdy pair of lungs.

Leah started to cry too. "She s.. (qre... beautiful... Garrick... do you... see? " *qie had an arm curved around Leah's head. "I see, " he qiitaged to croak, then pressed his wet cheek to her forw "Show's over,

" came the decree from the pediatric ist who d been assisting in the proceedings. He gently qook the infant from Gregory. "Sorry, folks.

She s mine for ;' few minutes: ' It was just as well. Leah's arms were around Garrick's neck, and they were burying their faces against each other, quffling soft sobs of gratitude and joy.

q'atrlqqop be. IT's qs sq as she is: Leah was lying flat in bed, per doctor s orders, but Garrick was sitting by her side, so she didn't mind the temporary restriction.

Garrick's face was alight with pride. "The pediatrician cadt find a thing wrong with her. They 11 keep a close watch on her for a few days, but they don't foresee any problem: '

"Seven pounds, five ounces: '

"Not bad for an early baby"

"Oh, Garrick, I'm so happy!" She was smiling broadly as was Garrick, neither of them able-or caring-to stop.

"We did it. You did it. Thank you, I.eah. Thank you for giving me a beautiful daughter, and for giving me selfconfidence , and for loving me: ' Grabbing his ear, she tugged him down for a kiss. '"Thank you. I feel so complete: ' " That's good, " he said, raising his head a trifle.

" Because we're expecting visitors in a few minutes, and 1 want you at your best : '

"Victoria? " she asked in excitement.

"Nope. She 11 be here later in the week. Insists on helping you out when we take baby home : ' Her smile grew dreamy "Take baby home. I never thought we'd be saymg those words: For the first time her smile faltered. Her eyes went wide behind her glasses.

"Garrick! Clothes, diapers, a crib-we haverit got anything!" After two pregnancies when shed been fully equipped, only to find herself without a baby, she d been superstitious.

Garrick was unfazed. "No sweat. I'll pick up a crib-I think maybe a cradle-tomorrow. Victoria s buying the rest:'

"Victoria7 But she can' the arched a brow. " Victoria? "

"Well, she can, but we can't let her!"

"I'm afraid we call t stop her. She was in a rush to get off the phone so that she could get to the stores before they closed: ' Leah was smiling again. "That does sound like Victoria: '

"She feels responsible for the baby, " he said, eyes twinkling !

"Maybe we should let her think she is. We couldn't very well make her,fnterrupt her shopping to research the facts of life, could we? "

He kissed her nose. "Certainly not: '

"Garrick? "

But it wasn't Garrick who answered. "Hello, hello came Susari s singsong voice from the door. Gregory was wheeling her in, followed closely by a man Leah had never seen before. " Ah. Our visitors: Garrick stood up quickly, kissing Susan, shaking hands with Gregory, then with the other man, whom he brought forward. "Leah, say hello to Judge Hopkins. He s agreed to marry us: '

"Marry us? " Leah cried. "But... but I can't get married now!"

"Why not? "

because I look a mess! My hairs tangled and I'm tq you are wearing white, " Garrick pointed out in a ous tone. qpital gown, " Leah returned in dismay. "They won't qlet me sit up to change!"

"No problem, " said Susan as she tugged a box from where had been stowed between her hip and the chair. She rned to the men as a group. "Out: Then to her husband. Iqa sweet and send a nurse in here to give us a hand: Then q.the judge. " we'll only be a minute, Andrew: Then to qrrick. "Think you can control yourself that long? "

"None of them answered, because Gregory was busy qhina them toward the door.

qgqw As qxxqed in the gown and matching robe that Suaqct had somehow known to buy in pale pink. Garrick, wearing the same sweater and cords he d worn to school that day, stood by her bedside, holding her hand, while the judge conducted the brief ceremony. When, at its conclusion , Gregory produced a bottle of champagne, Leah threw an apprehensive look at Garrick, who leaned low and spoke for her ears alone. , "You can't have any for another few hours, but then we 11 share a little. Just a sip in token celebration. I don't need any more of a high than the one I'm on now. I don't think I ever will: '

Five days later, Garrick and Leah brought Amanda Beth back to the small garage apartment. Leah was healing well, and the baby was as strong and healthy as they d prayed she would be.

Victoria, who was staying in the Walsh's main house, was in her element.

Declaring that Amanda was more interesting than the Maori any day, she fought Garrick for the honor of bathing, diapering and dressing her.

Since LQAH was nursing, the feeding chores were hers alone. She loved those times when Amanda was suckling and the rest of the world became a warm, fuzzy periphery.

Even more, though, she loved the times at night when Garrick would stretch out beside her and watch.

"What does it feel like? "

"When she nurses? "

"Mmm. Does it hurt? "

"Oh, no! It's a delightful kind of gentle tugging: '

"Like when I kiss you there? " He drew a light forefinger across the upper swell of her breast. ' A little. There s a sense of dqpth. I feel like there are strings inside me that she's pulling on. Sometimes I feel contractions. But it's different, too: '

"How? "

"Wh'i he does it, it's satisfying in and of itself. When you do it, it makes me want more: She blushed. " Different kinds of sensations: '

Garrick moaned and shifted his legs, making no attempt to hide his problem.

The light in the eyes he raised to hers wasn't one of uncontrollable desire, though, as much as love. "I ca:it conceive of life without you, Lqah. You..

Amanda.. when I think of the sterile existence I had before.. : '

"Don't look back, " she urged in a whisper as she bent forward and brushed his lips with hers. "we've conquered the past. We have a wonderful present.