by Syndi Powell
Ruby huffed and got out of the car.
So maybe she could let up a little with the hovering, but until they knew Ruby and the baby were out of the woods, Page would insist on not leaving her charge alone.
Together, they entered the center. April waved them over. “I saved these two chairs for you.”
Ruby took a seat while Page checked in at the table and wrote out name tags for them. She returned to the circle of metal folding chairs and handed a sticker to Ruby. “They like knowing our names.”
“Why do I have to wear one? Not like they’re going to be talking to me.” But she removed the paper backing from the tag and stuck it to the front of her T-shirt.
April put an arm around the girl. “You never know what’s going to happen at one of these meetings. We could all end up with our arms around each other singing songs.”
Ruby’s head snapped toward Page, her eyes wide. Page laughed. “Don’t worry. We don’t make you join in the singing until the second meeting.”
Her friend Sherri leaned over and held out her hand to Ruby. “I’m Sherri. I’ve heard a lot about you, Ruby.”
April grinned. “I might have told her how we had a face-off on musical trivia. And that I won.”
“There’s no way you won. I recited the last eight years of Tony winners.”
“But I could name all the Sondheim musicals,” April countered.
Page held her hands up in the formation of a T. “I thought we agreed you were both musical divas.”
Ruby crossed her arms and leaned back into her chair. “Some of us more than others.”
Lynn, the support group leader, walked to the center of the circle and swept her gaze around to each member present. “We’ll get started in a moment. I understand Page has brought a special visitor. Would you like to introduce her, Page?”
Page stood and said, “This is Ruby, who will be staying with me for a while.” She sat down quickly.
April looked over at her. “That’s all you’re going to say?”
“If Ruby wants to share more information, I’ll let her do it.”
April whispered to Ruby, “She doesn’t like sharing much in circle time.”
“I share plenty,” Page replied. A few of the members mumbled responses to this, and Page narrowed her eyes. “I first talked about my divorce here. And when the cancer came back.”
Lynn walked over to her and put a hand on her shoulder. “We know how difficult talking about yourself can be. Maybe it was because your mother made herself the focus when you were growing up.”
“Whoa.” Page looked around the room. “When did I become the topic of the night?”
“All I’m saying is that how we were raised tends to influence who we become.” Lynn glanced at the rest of the support group. “In fact, I’m changing what I was going to talk about. Let’s discuss our families and their role in our recovery. Would you like to start, Page?”
“No. Because there’s nothing I have to share.”
April leaned forward. “You know you’ll feel better once you get it off your chest.” When Page didn’t respond, her friend sighed. “Fine. I’ll go. My family was amazing. Once we learned it was cancer, my mom moved down here to take care of me even though her life is four hours away.”
Sherri nodded. “Mine moved in, too.”
Other women started to share how their families had stepped up after their cancer diagnoses. They told about meals cooked and heads shaved and a thousand things that Page had never had. When she’d told her parents the first time, they acted as they always did, and had ignored her and her needs. No offers of driving her to chemo. No words of encouragement. Nothing. But then they’d never been involved in her life before. Why would cancer change that?
“We were blessed with great families.” April reached over and took Page’s hand. “But I’ve also been blessed with a best friend who is just as close as a sister. I don’t think family means just the one we’re born into. It includes those we bring into our circle and I wouldn’t trade a million blood relatives for you, Page.”
Page sniffed and squeezed April’s hand. “I couldn’t ask for a better friend. You’ve always been there for me.”
“And I always will be.”
Page joined in now. “If my parents have done anything, it’s to show me about how I don’t want to live. I want to be involved in my child’s life, if I ever get lucky enough to become a mom. For now, though, it means being a foster parent to Ruby. That’s why I brought you tonight. Why I’m overprotective. I don’t want you to ever think that I don’t want you to be in my life.”
The girl blinked back at her, a single tear making a jagged track down her cheek. Ruby swallowed and gave a short nod, then stood and walked out of the meeting. Page raised an eyebrow at April, who pointed to the door.
Page excused herself and walked outside to find Ruby clasping her belly and crying. She jogged up to the girl. “Are you okay? Is it the baby?”
Ruby raised her eyes to Page’s. “I’m okay.”
“Then what’s wrong?”
“What you said in there?” Ruby wiped at her wet face. “You mean all that?”
“I care about you, kid.”
Ruby nodded, and the tears came faster.
“Hey, I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
“Maybe it’s hormones.” The girl dropped her gaze. “Or maybe it’s because no one’s cared about me since my mom died. And I really, really miss her.”
Page pulled Ruby into a hug. “I know you do.” She rubbed the girl’s back until her sobs quieted. “It’ll get easier with time. I promise.”
“Doesn’t seem like it.”
“You’re never going to forget your mom, but it won’t hurt as much when you think about her as time goes by. You’ll remember the good times and they’ll make you smile.” She rested her cheek against the girl’s forehead. “And soon you’ll be a mom yourself.”
Ruby backed away, keeping her eyes on the ground. “No. I’ve decided to let someone adopt the baby.”
Page had wondered a lot about how Ruby was going to handle things. It was probably for the best. “If that’s what you want.”
Ruby looked up into Page’s face. “It is. And I want you to be the one to do the adopting.”
CHAPTER SIX
DR. ACHATZ CLEARED her throat and snapped her fingers at Page. “Are you with us?”
Page blinked and shook her head to clear the cobwebs. “Sorry. I wish I could say it was chemo brain, but I’ve got something on my mind.” She double-checked the tray of instruments and saw that everything was there. “Once they bring in your patient, I’ll be fine.”
“Good. Because I need you to be focused on this.” Dr. Achatz turned as the OR doors opened and the expectant mother arrived, sitting on a gurney and clutching her belly. “Amanda, are you ready to meet your daughter?”
The patient nodded and Dr. Achatz started giving orders to her staff. Page concentrated on handing the instruments as they were called for and following the doctor’s directions. When the baby slipped from her mother’s body, Page had to blink the tears away as she performed all the necessary checks and cleaned her off and carried her to the parents.
It had been a routine delivery, but it had felt different. Full of more mystery and awe somehow. Could it have been Ruby’s request that she adopt her baby that had changed things? Page had to admit that she’d been preoccupied by it ever since she’d asked.
She smiled, but shook her head. Was she really considering this? Adopting Ruby’s baby and becoming a single mother? Could she do it? Would she?
The new mom and baby were soon sent to the maternity wing. Page started to reset the OR, checking and counting each instrument, sponge and roll of gauze. Dr. Achatz approached her. “Would you mind telling me what’s distracting you?”
Page winced
. “I’m not sure.”
Dr. Achatz gave her a look that told her that she didn’t believe her. “Somehow I don’t think it’s the midwife program we’ve been talking about.”
If she did adopt the baby, her college plans would have to be put on hold. She doubted she could work, go to school and take care of a baby. She was already finding it difficult to juggle Ruby and her job. And the teenager could take care of herself for the most part. “I got a strange request that came out of the blue and my mind has been considering all the scenarios ever since.”
“How strange?”
“My foster daughter asked me to adopt her baby.”
Dr. Achatz stopped scrubbing her hands and left the water running, and she faced Page. “Wow. Did you know that she was thinking about that?”
“I honestly didn’t know what she was planning to do about the baby until she asked me.” She handed Dr. Achatz a towel to dry her hands. “I figured that I’d never be a mom after all I’ve been through. But now? It’s like a different future is dangling in front of me, one I’d given up on. It’s a lot to think about.”
“She’s six months along, right? You’ve got time to consider it.”
“And so does she. What if I agree and she changes her mind? Or what if, because of my cancer, I can’t adopt?” Page took a deep breath. “I’m getting ahead of myself, aren’t I?”
Dr. Achatz nodded. “What you should do is contact a good family lawyer.”
Page allowed a grin to grace her face. “Just so happens I know the best.”
* * *
MATEO BALANCED HIS cup of coffee, briefcase and office keys as he opened the door to his law office. Then someone was taking the coffee before it tipped and spilled down his front. He turned to thank the Good Samaritan and stared into Page’s stormy green eyes. “Thanks.”
She gave a nod and followed him into the office. He placed his briefcase on the desk and she put his coffee next to it. “I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.”
“Good thing you were.” He shrugged out of his suit coat and draped it over his chair. “Did we have an appointment?”
“Actually, I got off work early and drove right here. I wanted to discuss a legal question with you.”
“About Ruby?”
She took a seat across from him. “What are my chances of being able to adopt her baby?”
Mateo took a deep breath and considered her. “I didn’t expect that question.”
“Believe me, this wasn’t part of our original plan. She sprung it on me last night.” She sat back in the chair and crossed her arms over her belly. “I was approved as a foster mother, so it wouldn’t take much more, right?”
“A temporary foster parent. And of a teenager still years away from being an adult.” Mateo tapped his fingers against his lips. “A single, adoptive mother fighting cancer? In midtreatment? I don’t know, Page. I don’t want to get your hopes up, but it sounds like an uphill battle.”
“But you’re not saying it’s impossible? Look what happened with Ruby. You thought the cancer would preclude me from that, too.”
He looked across the desk at her and doubted the word impossible was part of her vocabulary. She seemed to be the kind of woman who would take on any type of challenge and wouldn’t take no for an answer. That kind of attitude could help. “I’ll make a search for a precedent that will back up your case.” He leaned forward. “Are you sure that you want to take this on? I don’t mean caring for the baby, but the court battle we could face.”
“I’ve wanted to be a mother since I can remember. And I thought that cancer had taken that away from me. But now, there’s this door that’s opened, and I don’t want to walk by it without finding out if I can have what I’ve always wanted.”
“Okay. I’ll look into it.”
Page stood and extended her hand to him. “Deal.”
He put his hand in hers, covering it with his other. He watched her intently for a moment. “It’s not going to be easy,” he said.
“Story of my life.” She grabbed her purse and slung it over her shoulder. “I should go home and try to get some sleep. I’ll be glad when these night shifts are done.” She started to leave the office, but paused in the doorway. “April said they invited you to the wedding. Are you going?”
“That was the plan.”
“Are you taking a date?”
He hadn’t even considered it. There wasn’t anyone he could think of to ask except for the woman before him. And she was off-limits. Not only was she a client, but he also still didn’t want to get involved with someone whose life was so fragile. He had moments when he thought about a relationship with Page, but in the end he couldn’t. “No. You?”
She shook her head. “Maybe you’ll save a dance for me?”
That he could do. “Sounds like a plan.”
She smiled and left the office. Mateo started his computer, waited for it to load his programs. He glanced at the door through which Page had disappeared. For someone he’d sworn not to get involved with, the more time he was in her presence, the more he grew to admire her spunk and grit. She was no pushover or victim. Yes, she might have cancer, but she wasn’t going to let it stop her from following her dreams.
But then he’d once thought that about his mother.
With his computer booted up, he brought up a law search engine. He wouldn’t be more for her than her lawyer, but he could do the best job he could and help her get what she wanted.
* * *
THE ALARM SOUNDED and Page removed the eye mask and winced at the light that streamed through the closed blinds. She shut off the alarm, got out of bed and went to check on Ruby. She opened her bedroom door. “Ruby?”
The teenager sat on the sofa and was watching television while eating from a bag of chips. She sat up and brushed crumbs from her belly. “Was the TV too loud? I could turn it down.”
“It’s fine.” She took a seat next to Ruby and helped herself to some chips. “What are you watching?”
“Don’t know. I was flipping channels. You should go back to sleep.”
“I don’t want to sleep the whole day away. Besides, I have tonight off and can go to bed early.” Page peered at her foster daughter. “How are you feeling?”
Ruby shrugged. “Okay, I guess. No pains if that’s what you mean.”
“Did you take your vitamins?”
She rolled her eyes. “Yes.”
Page held up the bag of chips. “And what have you eaten besides these?”
“PB and J. And a banana.”
“Maybe we should go to the fruit market and get you some fresh produce. You want to be sure you’re eating the right things for the baby.” Page knew she should get off the sofa and take them to the store, but the idea of going anywhere made her more tired.
Ruby looked over at her. “Have you thought about what I asked?”
She’d done little else. “You know I have cancer. And while I’m still in treatment, my chances of survival are questionable.”
Ruby shifted on her end of the sofa. “So you don’t want the baby?”
Page put a hand to her chest. “I do. And I talked to Mateo to find out if a judge would grant me the adoption based on my condition. But he thinks it could be a tough sell.”
Ruby gave a huge sigh. “But what if that’s what I want and you want? Doesn’t that count for anything?”
“It will certainly help. But let’s not think about that right now. We’ll let Mateo do his job, meanwhile, we’ll concentrate on making sure you stay healthy and happy.”
“Happy?” Ruby gave a derisive chuckle. “I’m not sure what that would look like.”
Page sat up straighter. Happiness seemed to be as elusive to Ruby as it was for herself. “What do you want to do after the baby’s born? Have you thought about your future?”
“Go back to school. Get my diploma, I guess. Maybe college.” Ruby rubbed her belly. “When my mom died and I got pregnant, I stopped thinking about tomorrow. Only focused on the day ahead of me. How to find food to eat. A place to stay. I guess I had an idea of finding my dad, which is why I’m in Detroit.” She stopped and rested. “Do girls like me get a future?”
“Of course you do. And I’ll do whatever I can to make sure of it.”
“Why?”
“Because you deserve it.”
Ruby smiled and took Page’s hand and placed it where she could feel the baby moving. “That’s amazing. The baby’s pretty active.”
“The doctor asked me if I wanted to know the sex of the baby, but I didn’t then.” Ruby raised her eyes to Page’s. “Would you want to know?”
Once upon a time when she was still married to Chad, she’d imagined leaving their baby’s gender to be a surprise. But then, she wasn’t a big fan of surprises, either. “I don’t think I would.” Page closed her eyes for a moment. “I have some good news and bad news. Which do you want first?”
Ruby screwed her mouth to the side. “Give me the good news first.”
“I’m not working nights anymore. In fact, I’m taking some time off. A few days. The bad news is that I go for my next chemo treatment tomorrow, so I’ll be spending a lot of time sleeping.”
Ruby brightened at this. “I can take care of you. I know how to make soup and toast and stuff. I’ll bring you blankets and magazines and whatever you need. I promise.”
“I’d appreciate that. Hopefully this time won’t be so bad.” She rested her head on the back of the sofa. It would be nice to have someone take care of her. “And then I have April’s wedding coming up soon after that. Hopefully I’ll be feeling better by then.”
“She invited me. Did she tell you?”
That sounded like something April would do. In fact, April’s fiancé, Zach, had told her she had to stop inviting random people to the wedding since the banquet hall only held so many. April was generous to a fault, though, and kept adding more guests.