by Carrie Carr
The coffee that she had just sipped was spewed onto the expensive coverlet, and Liz gasped and sputtered. "I'm what? How is that possible?"
"You have two daughters, don't you? Not just the one who's living with another woman." Terence pulled a piece of paper from his shirt pocket and read from it. "Jeannie Rivers was admitted to a hospital in Los Angeles yesterday morning, pregnant with her first child. Your other daughter, Amanda, and a woman took a flight out yesterday afternoon." He looked up from his paper and felt very proud of himself. He had been up half the night with a friend of his in California, who had relayed the news to him. "So, I think you should be a bit nicer to me, Grandma."
Liz was halfway to the bathroom to get dressed when Terence finished his gloating. She turned around and pointed a long finger in his direction. "Don't you dare call me that! I won't allow myself to be that old." When she reached the doorway, she stopped. "Start packing, and then get on the phone and get us the next flight out there. And while you're at it, call room service and get me some decent coffee."
"Yes, Grandmama," Terence whispered, unable to contain his glee at finally breaking through Liz's icy demeanor. He picked up several silky items and tossed them into her suitcase, still chuckling at the way she'd spit coffee everywhere.
WHILE LEX FINISHED in the shower, Amanda gathered the clothes they had tossed around the room the night before. She picked up her dress jacket that was partially hidden under the bed, and frowned when an envelope fell from one of the pockets. "Where did that come from? Oh, right. Must be the one that I picked up before we left." Amanda sat on the edge of the bed and opened the envelope, pulling a folded piece of paper from it. She began to read, then gasped in horror, allowing the paper to fall to the floor.
Lex heard Amanda's gasp and limped heavily from the bathroom. "What is it?" She saw the paper on the floor, and bent down to pick it up before landing on the bed next to her wife. After reading a few lines, Lex was still confused. "I don't get it. So you closed out an account."
"No, Lex. This was my trust fund. I never closed out this account." Amanda looked at her lover, willing her to understand. "Someone else has taken it. All of it."
"But who? Maybe it's just some sort of computer error." The argument sounded weak, even to Lex. She had a sneaking suspicion that whoever was the mastermind behind her sudden loss of money was probably behind this, as well. She looked at the return address on the top of the letter. "This is a local bank. Why don't we run over there today and check it out?"
Amanda nodded. "That sounds like a good idea. But I'd like to go by the hospital and check on Jeannie first. Another few hours won't change anything at the bank."
"Whatever you say, love." Lex put her arm around Amanda and kissed the side of her head. "Besides, I'd like to check out this new niece of ours."
THE WARM BREATH on the back of her neck was like a soothing balm as Amanda looked through the glass at the tiny infant, Lex standing behind her. "Isn't she beautiful?"
"It's kind of hard to tell," Lex admitted truthfully. "She's awful little." Although in her eyes, the baby seemed to have Jeannie's nose and her dark hair. If it were a bit lighter, she could be Amanda's. A heavy hand squeezed Lex's shoulder, causing her to turn around. "Hey, Frank."
"Lex. Amanda." Still looking rumpled and exhausted, Frank gladly pulled Amanda into a hug. "I'm glad you both are here."
Amanda pulled away from her brother-in-law. "Frank, you look like you haven't slept at all." She reached up and brushed the hair out of his eyes. "How's Jeannie?"
"The same as she was last night. The doctors aren't holding out much hope, I'm afraid." He peered past the two women and through the glass. "At least Lorrie is doing okay."
"Lorrie?" Both women asked at once.
Frank's face broke out into a tired smile. "Yeah. Jeannie and I--" His voice broke, and it took him a moment to get himself back together. "Before she was born we discussed a name for her. Lorraine Marie, after her two godmother guardians." The names were also Lex and Amanda's middle names.
"That's so sweet, Frank." Oblivious to her partner's confusion, Amanda hugged the big man again.
Lex looked at the baby and then back at the embracing pair. "Godmothers?"
"Sure. Didn't Amanda tell you?" Frank asked, looking over Amanda's shoulder.
"Uh, no," Amanda said, turning around and facing her partner. "We haven't really had time to discuss it. But it's pretty cool, isn't it, Lex?"
Was it? Lex thought about the implications, especially with Jeannie lying comatose. How far did a godmother's responsibility extend? Were there legal implications for a guardian? So much was uncertain about this little child's mother's situation. Could Frank handle Lorrie on his own?
Lex's leg ached, and she shifted in pain, wondering what Martha would have to say about it if they ended up taking responsibility for a baby. She's already raised me, and now has Ronnie to worry about. Would it be fair to her and the rest of the family? She chose her words carefully. "I don't know, Frank. I'm not sure if I'm ready for that kind of drastic change in my life."
Feeling the serious undercurrents of emotion from the two women, Frank tried to lighten the conversation. "Really, Lex, it's only a formality. Jeannie is a fighter, and she'll come out of this any time. And I'm not going anywhere. Besides, we already designated you two as our first choice in our wills and trust." He tapped Lex on the shoulder lightly and winked.
Lex sighed and turned back to look at the baby again. "If you say so." But she didn't sound very thrilled by the honor.
Beside her, Amanda felt her heart break. If Lex wasn't ready, then she certainly wasn't going to want to be the parent of their own children any time in the near future. She felt her dreams shatter along with her heart.
Chapter Eleven
THE REST OF the week went by quickly, especially since Michael, Anna Leigh and Jacob showed up to offer their support to Frank at the hospital. They had taken rooms at a nearby hotel and took turns sitting with Jeannie, whose condition hadn't changed. Lex and Amanda had continued to stay at Frank and Jeannie's house.
Amanda tied off the end of a crepe streamer, then began to wind it around the banister. Everything was out of order. Amanda and Lex's trip to the bank a few days earlier had been a bust. The banker had been very respectful, and had even shown them the signed papers. Although it didn't look exactly like Amanda's signature, it was close enough to pass. They had also spoken to the clerk who had talked to "Amanda" on the phone several times. He was happy to "finally meet Ms. Cauble in person" and didn't seem to note any difference between the real McCoy and the bogus woman. Even after Lex threatened the bank with a lawsuit, the bank president shrugged his shoulders and apologized, but assured them that, as far at they could tell, everything had been done legally and nothing could be done about it.
She wrapped another bit of the streamer around the banister. They were decorating the house for the baby's homecoming, although her heart wasn't really in it. Frank hadn't wanted to bring the baby home; once their daughter had gained a little weight, he was able to arrange to have her stay in Jeannie's room at least part of the time. He had hoped that the baby's presence might stimulate his wife to wake up. But now, due to a lack of space and available cribs, little Lorrie would have to come home. Amanda looked across the room at her grandmother, who was teasing Jacob about something she couldn't quite make out. Don't they realize that Jeannie won't be here? How can they be happy? Disgusted with everyone else's attitudes, Amanda tossed the crepe to the floor and rushed up the stairs.
Sad eyes watched Amanda's retreat. Lex was still nursing her injured knee, and although she hadn't needed the crutches for a couple of days, she still wasn't able to navigate the stairs too easily. She and Amanda had been using the guest bedroom off the formal den, although Frank had asked them to take the master bedroom once the baby was home, since it was across the hall from the baby's room. Before Lex could climb out of the leather recliner that she had been ordered to stay in, Michael sat on the
loveseat beside her.
"Is everything all right? You look a little upset." Michael had spent the entire morning watching his daughter and Lex, and he could tell that something was going on between them. He just wished one of them would confide in him so that he could try to help.
An upstairs door slammed, and Lex's eyes closed momentarily. When she opened them and looked at her father in-law, she couldn't keep the sadness out of her voice. "I'm not sure. Amanda's been quiet lately, and she won't talk to me." She didn't mention that they hadn't really been alone long enough to talk.
"Would you like me to go up and talk to her?" Michael offered.
"No, that's all right." Lex lowered the footrest on the recliner and got to her feet. "I think I'll try my luck with the stairs." She patted Michael on the shoulder and limped across the room.
It took Lex longer than she'd expected, but she finally made her way to the closed door. She tapped lightly on the wood. "Amanda?" An incoherent mumble was the only answer, so Lex opened the door slowly.
Amanda sat on the floor in the middle of the room, which had been decorated as the baby's nursery. Bright yellow walls were accented by pastel stripes of blue, pink, and green. There were butterflies and flowers decoupaged all over the walls, and the white crib, rocker, and changing table looked ready for use. Amanda held an oversized stuffed teddy bear in her arms, and her face was buried in its soft fur. She didn't even look up as Lex limped into the room.
"Amanda?" Lex's knee throbbed from the abuse of climbing the stairs. She gritted her teeth and knelt beside her lover, reaching out and running her hand through Amanda's hair. "Hey."
Finally realizing who was with her, Amanda looked up. "Lex? What are you doing here?"
"Coming to see if you're okay." Lex finally sat down, stretching her legs out in front of her. "Whew."
Amanda put the bear down. "You came up here for me?"
"Yep."
Amanda scooted closer. "You didn't have to do that, you know."
"I know." Lex felt Amanda's arm go around her back, and she countered by putting her arm across her wife's shoulder. "But I hated the thought of you being up here alone, upset."
"Have I told you lately how much I love you?"
Lex grinned, and leaned her head into Amanda's. "You may have mentioned it at one time," she teased. "But I never get tired of hearing it."
THE BEEPING AND the low whoosh of the machinery were the only sounds Frank heard as he stepped into the room. He held Lorrie carefully, still not used to the squirming bundle that was dwarfed by his hands. "Hi, Jeannie. I brought our little girl by." His voice was soft, and he painstakingly placed her in the crook of Jeannie's arm, moving his wife's limp hand to lie across the baby. "She's a lot like her mama, you know. Feisty little thing." He swallowed back his tears and touched Jeannie's face. "She's got my hair, but I think she's going to have your eyes. I wish you'd wake up and see her."
Jeannie remained unresponsive, but Frank continued to talk to her for several minutes. He checked his watch, and knew that the nurse would be coming in soon to attend to Jeannie's needs. He leaned forward and kissed his wife on the forehead. "I'm going to take her home, honey. Your dad and your grandparents are here, and they'll be helping me with her until you get on your feet again. I hope that's soon, because I miss you so damned much, Jean. I love you." His lips quivered against her skin, and he stood back up and wiped his face with a handkerchief, which he stuffed back into his pocket.
Frank gently picked up Lorrie, tucking her blanket around her. "Tell Mama that you love her, Lorrie. You'll be back to visit soon." He cleared his throat and left the room, hating having to leave his wife behind while he took their daughter home.
Almost to the outer doors of the hospital, Frank felt as if someone was watching him. He turned to look over his shoulder and saw someone duck back around a corner. The single glance he was able to get sent shivers down his spine. That's impossible. She's still locked up in a mental hospital in Texas. I must be imagining things. Not wanting to take any chances, especially with Lex and Amanda in town, he decided it would be best to tell Lex what he thought he had seen, just in case.
Outside, Frank walked the short distance to his car, a silver Lexus GS, which he had pulled up close to the hospital exit before going in to get Lorrie. He unlocked one of the back doors and buckled the baby into her car seat, cooing softly at her while his inexperienced hands figured out all the buckles. "Blasted thing is more complicated than it looks," he mumbled. Once his daughter was safely in the center of the rear of the car, he climbed behind the steering wheel and pulled slowly out of the parking lot.
He took the city streets instead of the freeway, thinking back to when Jeannie teased him about that very thing. He hadn't driven them on the highway since he'd found out Jeannie was pregnant, and had also stayed well below the speed limit any time she was in the car with him. As he stopped at a traffic light, he remembered one of the last conversations they'd had about that particular subject.
"Frank, you can drive faster than this, you know," Jeannie had teased her husband. "I'm just pregnant, not made of crystal."
Stopping at the light, Frank turned to look at his wife, who glowed with beauty. "As the mother of my child, you're more precious than crystal. You always have been, Jean." With the traffic light still red, he leaned over and kissed her, love filling his heart. He sat back in his seat, waiting for the light to turn green. "I will love spending the rest of my life with you, Jeannie Rivers. I can't wait to show you how much."
Now Frank's eyes brimmed with tears at that precious memory. He glanced in the rear view mirror, glad that the baby was sleeping peacefully. While he tried to regain his focus, the two cars in front of him proceeded, and he followed them through the light.
He never saw the delivery truck that sped through the intersection from the left, and slammed so hard into the front panel and driver's door of the sedan that the car went into a spin. The car careened onto the sidewalk, barely missing several pedestrians before crashing through a plate glass window of a closed restaurant. The car came to a rest, the only sounds the falling of broken glass, the hissing of the car's engine, and the wail of a baby.
IT HAD TAKEN some doing, but Lex was able to talk Amanda into going back downstairs. She used the excuse that she needed help, which got her a doubtful look, but Amanda went along with her. Now they stood by the foot of the stairs, listening to Michael's comments about the baby gifts which covered the formal dining room table.
"That's not what I mean at all, Mom. I just said that I've never seen this many packages the last few holidays combined." He yelped when Anna Leigh walked behind him and swatted his rear.
"This baby is the first great-grandchild, Michael. Of course she's going to be showered with gifts." Anna Leigh pointed to the couple standing in the entryway. "Although I think those two should shoulder some of the blame."
Lex limped into the living area, then took her seat in the recliner when her partner gave her a gentle shove in that direction. "Don't blame me. Amanda is the one who kept going shopping all the time." She raised the footrest on the recliner and accepted the pillow that Amanda placed beneath her leg. "Thanks."
"You're welcome." Amanda turned and put her hands on her hips. "I don't suppose that you bought anything at all, did you, Daddy?"
"Well, maybe a small little something," Michael blustered.
"Mmm-hmm," Amanda teased, on her way to the kitchen. When the phone rang, she changed direction and picked up the cordless phone on a nearby table. "Rivers' residence." She listened for a moment, then paled and fell back against the wall, the phone falling from her hand.
Lex saw her wife collapse and jumped up from the chair to rush across the room, heedless of the pain in her injured leg. She caught Amanda before she could completely fall to the floor. "Amanda? What's the matter, sweetheart?" Her heart pounded in her chest, even as she heard the anguished answer.
"Frank. He's--" As the family gathered around them, Amanda could
n't stop her tears. She turned and buried her face in Lex's shirt.
"Hold on, Lex. Let me check this out." Michael picked up the phone from the floor. "I'm sorry, who is this, please? I'm Michael Cauble, and this is my daughter and son-in-law's home." He nodded slowly as the person on the other end of the line continued to speak. Finally, Michael uttered a low "thank you" and replaced the phone on its cradle. He cleared his throat in a fruitless effort to control the desolation in his voice. "There was an accident. We need to, ah--" His voice cracked. "The baby is okay. We need to get Lorrie. Frank is--" Michael couldn't continue.
Jacob stepped forward and put his arm around his son, trying to offer what comfort he could, even as his own heart broke. His wife took a position on the other side of Michael, rubbing her son's back as silent tears tracked down her face.
With her arms wrapped around Amanda's body, Lex held her close and watched as Michael leaned into his parents, sobbing as if he were a small boy. As she gazed at the uncomprehending and heartbroken faces in the room, Lex knew with a quiet certainty that none of their lives would ever be the same again.
THE OVERWORKED NURSE went about her duties briskly, knowing that she had an entire floor of patients yet left to attend. Her tasks complete, she was about to turn and leave when the patient's eyes blinked open. "Mrs. Rivers? Can you hear me?" When the eyes blinked in confusion, the nurse patted her arm. "It's all right. Let me get the doctor, dear. I'm sure he'll be happy to know you're awake." She picked up the phone and dialed the nurses' desk, asking for the doctor on call to come to the room.
Soon afterward, the doctor hurried into the room. "Mrs. Rivers. It's so nice to see you awake." He pulled out a small penlight and aimed it into her eyes. "Let's just see how you're doing, then we'll get rid of that nasty tube."