Holiday Baby

by Jenna Mindel

  He noticed that his phone flashed with a new text message. Swiping the screen, he saw that it came from Cat’s father, almost an hour ago. Opening the message, Simon read an invitation to breakfast at the diner in town.

  Simon took a deep breath and texted back that he could be there in an hour, after he shoveled his driveway. A quick response of agreement from Andy gave Simon the impression that there was something weighing on the man’s mind. Simon had a few questions of his own, especially after last night.

  Kissing Cat, he realized he had found someone worth coming back for. Even with Opal’s fussing, which had put a damper on the evening, Simon wanted to provide more than simply financial support for them both. Could he build a life here in Maple Springs? It’d be good for Opal. Good for Cat too, but could he open up enough to adjust?

  Simon wanted details of how Andy Zelinsky had been a good father with a big family when he’d been stationed all over during his military career. How had he done it?

  It didn’t take long before Simon was showered and dressed. He left a note on the table near Cat’s purse, letting her know that he’d take over the jewelry shop today and she needn’t come in. After she’d been up with Opal most of the night, he wanted her to stay home and rest.

  Stepping outside, he was shocked at the amount of snow that had fallen. He waded through the fluffy white stuff that reached halfway up his shins and reached for a shovel in the garage. He doubted it was any better at the Zelinsky house, and yet Andy had wanted to drive ten miles into town for breakfast?

  Simon’s gut twisted. This must be really important.

  He made quick work of shoveling his short driveway and made his way into town, parked his car and walked into the diner owned by Cat’s brother and his wife. The incredible aroma of fresh bacon and coffee stirred his empty stomach, making it rumble.

  “Hey, Simon,” Cam called out from the grill area.

  “Good morning. Mind if I sit at a table near the window?”

  “Go ahead. I’ll let Rose know. Coffee?”

  “Hot tea, actually.”

  Cam gave him a nod. “Got it.”

  Simon slipped into one of two red vinyl-covered chairs that matched a retro-style square table with silver legs. There were only a few patrons seated at the stools along the counter. Perhaps the weather had kept more customers away.

  Simon stared out the large window overlooking Main Street, watching for Cat’s father. Other merchants shoveled the walkways in front of their respective shops while a small tractor plow cleared the sidewalks. The heavy snowfall from the night before had changed to light snowflakes falling haphazardly from a pale gray sky.

  Seeing the tall man enter the Hometown Grille, Simon stood. He might be a man over forty, but he felt every bit an awkward youth around Cat’s father.

  He extended his hand. “Mr. Zelinsky, good morning.”

  “Call me Andy.” Cat’s father gave him a vigorous handshake in return. “I understand Cat stayed at your house last night.”

  “Because of the weather.” Simon felt compelled to explain.

  Andy nodded. “Michigan winters can be tough. How are you holding up?”

  Surprised by that concern-laced question, Simon responded with candor. “Pretty fair. Although I may need to invest in a snowblower.”

  If he truly planned to stay.

  Cat’s father chuckled. “They come in handy.”

  Simon got down to business, spearheading what this meeting might be about. “I’d also like to be a proper dad, but I don’t really know how.”

  Rose arrived with a small pot of hot water and a cup, along with a box of various tea bags. She also brought along a mug of black coffee for Andy. She set a dish of creamers down, as well. “We’re serving a sweet or savory waffle special today. Your choice of two pumpkin waffles with pecans, bacon and maple syrup or corn bread waffles with sausage gravy and two fried eggs.”

  Simon thanked her, as did Andy, when she handed them two menus. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  “Look, Simon, there’s no easy answer to that. Commitment is a big part. How committed are you to the baby and Cat if you’re leaving?”

  That was a direct hit, so Simon hit back. “I understand you were stationed away from Maple Springs for long stretches during your military career.”

  Andy tipped his head. “True.”

  “Gem hunting is something I do not want to give up.” Simon dunked his tea bag until the water turned dark and strong.

  “Ready to order?” Rose smiled.

  Simon hadn’t even looked at the menu, so he decided on the sweet waffle special. Andy ordered the same, along with a refill on his coffee. He’d guzzled his first cup.

  “Any advice on being a father would be greatly appreciated.”

  Andy looked thoughtful. He was a stern-looking man to boot. “Be flexible, but expect the best from them and they’ll deliver.”

  Sage words, but not anything like what he’d experienced with Margo and Barry. He’d expected far more than they had delivered. He needed practical advice, not slogans. Simon sipped his tea.

  “Above all else, love them and pray daily.”

  Simon nodded, even though he knew love wasn’t always enough. Every person he’d ever trusted had crushed his love with rejection or lies.

  Cat had, in a sense, lied to him by never telling him about Opal, but the lie was at least somewhat understandable. She’d been protective of Opal and perhaps rightly so. They hadn’t known much about each other.

  There was still so much he wanted to learn about her. Last night, Cat had wanted to talk about something, but they’d been sidetracked by Opal, who’d fussed all night. Zach’s words that Cat hadn’t had an easy time of it growing up echoed through his thoughts.

  Looking at Cat’s father, he asked straight out, “Is there something that happened to Cat? Something I should know?”

  Andy rubbed his chin and leaned back but didn’t answer right away. “All that is in the past. It’s Cat’s story to tell, not mine.”

  That didn’t ease his mind at all; if anything, it only made matters worse. It was obvious that something had happened, but Andy wasn’t sharing his daughter’s tale. Terrible things crossed Simon’s mind only to be discarded. Cat’s family was genuine and loving, so he didn’t think the problem lay there. Cat hadn’t feared him in Africa, so it couldn’t be about men, in general or specific.

  She’d been enthralled with the Welo opal adventure, even though they’d been chased. She’d been afraid but had thanked him for a great time after he’d put her on that plane back to Addis Ababa.

  Andy set his mug of coffee down with a thud. “Cat cares for you. I can tell. What her mother and I want to know is, what are you prepared to do about it?”

  “Do?” The warmth of hearing Cat cared paled in light of what Andy didn’t say. His comment about commitment had been about their expectations. Cat’s parents wanted them to tie that knot a little tighter by making his commitment legally binding.

  He couldn’t really blame him. If the roles were reversed and Opal had been the one in Cat’s shoes, Simon would probably expect the same.

  Andy merely raised his eyebrow.

  “Give us some time.” Simon was just getting used to the idea of a lifetime commitment.

  Again, Andy nodded, appearing satisfied with that answer.

  Opal tied him and Cat together, sure, but Simon wanted their knot to be secure. It wasn’t. Not yet. Not after only a few kisses.

  Chapter Twelve

  Cat stared at their Christmas tree and yawned. She’d finished decorating it while Opal slept. The baby wouldn’t nurse much. After a short and fussy feeding that morning, she’d fallen asleep while Cat rocked her, so she’d tucked Opal in the crib and taken a quick shower. Too bad she had to put back on the clothes she’d worn the day before, but she’d h
ead home and change into something fresh after Opal’s nap.

  Bright sunlight shone in through the windows, making the glittery red Christmas balls glimmer and shine. Maybe she’d buy some extra lights. Or maybe not. He’d even strung popcorn while Opal had fussed through their evening together. Simon had given her this tree as a gift, so she didn’t want to change a thing.

  Simon.

  Her heart tumbled every time she thought about him. The kisses they’d shared had been tentative, even sort of searching, as if testing this new dynamic out—until they’d been interrupted by Opal.

  Staying over had been awkward too. Simon had tried to insist on her taking his room, but Cat had put her foot down about sleeping near Opal in case she woke up. She had, with a vengeance. Cat hoped Simon had slept through it all, but she didn’t know. Simon had left early this morning, while she and Opal had finally grabbed some sleep.

  She glanced at the clock. Opal’s midday nap was running long. But then, she’d fussed so much overnight that she must be tired. Even though she’d slept late, Cat was tired, as well.

  Hearing no sounds from the baby monitor, Cat went in to check on Opal. Entering the nursery, Cat saw that Opal lay still, swaddled as she always was for crib sleep, but something didn’t feel right.

  Cat rushed to the crib and sighed with relief when she saw the even up and down of Opal’s breathing. Then she touched her baby’s cheek and nearly cried out from how hot her daughter’s skin was. She quickly unwrapped the swaddling blanket.

  “Opal, Princess, wake up.” Cat tickled the baby’s sock-covered feet.

  Opal’s eyes seemed unusually heavy, and when she finally opened them, she didn’t focus. Suddenly, she twitched all over. Her toes pointed and her fingers fluttered in a jerky rhythm.

  “Oh no, no.” Cat turned Opal onto her side and stroked her forehead and back, but the spasms didn’t stop. “Stay with me, Princess.”

  Images from the past clouded her thoughts, but Cat pushed back against the memories of little Muriel Jensen, limp and lifeless on that dock. This wasn’t the same!

  “God, please don’t do this.” Tears blurred Cat’s eyes, so she wiped them with the heel of her palm.

  Opal went limp and Cat froze.

  “No!”

  Opal uttered a mewling cry.

  Cat picked her up and held her close as she searched the changing table for the thermometer she’d used last night. Last night, Opal’s temp had been only a little higher than normal. Where was it? Too much time. She grabbed her phone instead and hit her mother’s name.

  “Come on, come on. Mom!”

  “Cat, what is it? What’s wrong?”

  “Opal must be sick. She’s burning up and I think she just had a seizure—”

  “You’re still at Simon’s?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m in town. I’ll be right there.”

  “Hurry!” Cat pocketed her phone and resumed her search for the thermometer. Finding the thermometer by the bathroom sink, where she’d left it after washing it, Cat stashed it in the diaper bag and ran into the living room. She didn’t dare lay Opal down for fear that something might happen and Cat wouldn’t see or hear her.

  Why was her baby so quiet? Last night she’d hollered enough to bring the house down, but now—Cat slammed her feet into her boots. Why hadn’t she checked on her earlier? Why had she wasted time decorating that tree?

  Her baby rubbed against her neck, fussing, and then lay still again, limp. “Opal!”

  Startled, and then another weak cry.

  Cat didn’t bother with a coat. She grabbed her purse and ran outside, hoping the cold air would stop the raging fever in her daughter. She unsnapped the onesie and fluttered the neckline, trying to cool her.

  In minutes, her mother pulled into the drive. “What are you doing? Get in the back seat.”

  “I’m trying to cool her down.” Cat didn’t recognize her shrill voice.

  “Did you take her temp?”

  “No.”

  “You can take it on the way to the doctor’s office. Let’s go!”

  Cat slid into the back seat and lay Opal down. She then fished the thermometer out of the diaper bag and stuck it under Opal’s arm and waited. “Mom, please hurry.”

  “I’m driving as fast as I can in these conditions.”

  Cat blocked the scary sounds of sloppy snow and slush slapping under the car’s tires. Her mom had all-wheel drive. She checked Opal’s temperature. “Close to 102, and that’s under the arm, so you know it’s really higher than that.”

  “I’m heading straight for the ER.”

  “That’s twenty minutes away.”

  “We’ll make it in fifteen.” Her mother sped up as she took a curve, causing the back of her car to fishtail before straightening out.

  Cat opened the window, letting cold air blow in over the baby.

  Opal’s eyes fluttered against the wind, but otherwise she didn’t move.

  “Call Simon,” her mom said.

  “I can’t.” Tears ran down Cat’s cheeks. She couldn’t bear scaring him or, worse, hearing blame in his voice. “Not yet.”

  This was her fault, dragging Opal back and forth in the cold every day. Maybe it had been the crowds in town for the shoppers’ walk. They’d been crammed on that carriage ride.

  “Cat!”

  “Not now, Mom. Just drive.” Cat rolled Opal onto her side like she did before and stroked her baby’s back. Bone-dry and hot. The fever hadn’t broken. Not even with the cold air. This was not good.

  It seemed like a lifetime before they pulled up to the emergency entrance of the hospital. Cat scooped Opal up and ran inside, leaving her mom to take care of the car.

  “My daughter had a seizure and she’s limp and feverish,” Cat shouted at anyone who would listen.

  A woman behind the counter handed her a clipboard. “We need your information with insurance.”

  “I don’t have time for that!”

  “Ma’am. The doctors need the information. They’ll be with you soon.”

  Cat shifted Opal so she could take the clipboard and started filling out the trillion questions listed with shaking fingers.

  “Ma’am, can you step aside?”

  Cat turned to see someone behind her, holding their arm, and Cat growled back, “I have a sick infant, please hurry!”

  The receptionist gave her an encouraging smile.

  Cat sat down and wrote furiously fast before handing back the clipboard. She knew it had been minutes, but it seemed like hours. She paced the waiting room, rubbing Opal’s back when her mother came in from parking the car.

  “Anything?” her mom asked.

  “Still waiting!” Cat paced some more.

  Finally, a nurse called them back and the ER staff went into action, whisking Opal away and ushering Cat alongside.

  “Is she okay? Please, tell me she’s going to be okay.” Desperate questions that no one answered.

  “Tell me what happened.” A man with a doctor’s name tag touched her arm.

  Cat closed her eyes and recounted Opal’s seizure, reliving the moment with terrible clarity. “I shouldn’t have taken her out in the cold. Last night she was cranky, but no temp. I didn’t know she was sick...”

  “Did she have her two-month shots?”

  “Yes.”

  The doctor looked relieved as he quietly took Opal’s vitals and then barked out quick orders for a full workup. Whatever that meant.

  Cat started to pray but stopped as a frightening thought took hold of her and wouldn’t let go. What if God was finally punishing her?

  * * *

  Simon opened the vault and pulled out the plastic bag with the raw opals he’d purchased with Cat. He should make something special out of the largest one for her for Christmas. He imagined a rin
g. It was what Cat’s parents wanted, what they expected. What did Cat want?

  The bell on his front door rang, scattering his thoughts. Someone was in the store.

  Heading toward the front of his shop, he spotted a tall woman with her back toward him. She had dull blond hair, which was pulled into a ponytail at the base of her neck. She was looking at a display of local Petoskey-stone and Leland-bluestone jewelry.

  “Is there something I can pull out for you to see up close?” Simon asked.

  The woman turned. “I’d love to see the bracelets.”

  She looked familiar, really familiar. “I’m sorry, have we met?”

  Recognition registered across her face too. “You were with Cat. Simon, is it? Her husband?”

  “Uh, no.” After last night’s embrace and this morning’s breakfast with Cat’s father, admitting such a thing seemed wholly inadequate and incomplete.

  Simon remembered this woman from the tree lighting and the hot-chocolate stand. She had made Cat uncomfortable. He extended his hand. “Simon Roberts. And you are?”

  She returned the handshake. “Sue Jensen. I’ve been meaning to come into your shop for ages. How are you and Cat?”

  She seemed awfully interested in Cat’s welfare. “Fine.”

  “It’s good to see her back home, in Maple Springs.” Sue smiled.

  “Yes.” He was definitely missing something here.

  “And so blessed to see her with a baby.”

  What an odd statement for someone to make. Tipping his head, he pushed a little. “Why’s that?”

  The woman shook her head and gave an awkward-sounding laugh. “Simply a beautiful baby, is all. Well, I’ll have a look at those Petoskey-stone bracelets.”

  He pulled them out from behind the glass case. He waited as she reviewed each bracelet, hoping she’d elaborate on what she’d said about Opal.

  She didn’t.

  Finally, he asked, “See anything you like?”

  The woman closed her eyes a moment as if gathering strength or courage, and then she whispered, “I’m sorry. Another time, perhaps.”

  “Another time.” How had he upset her? This was why he had to get out of dealing with the customers.