*******
Nurse Susan Turnbull helped Wade get into the gown and mask. When he was ready, she led him into the operating room where Katie was already on the bed. The surgical team was busy putting antiseptic on Katie's stomach.
A small incubator, dials occasionally blinking, sat in one corner. Wade, guided over to the head of Katie’s gurney, sat on a stool placed next to her. He looked down and caressed his wife’s cheek. A sheet strung across Katie's chest prevented either of them from seeing her belly.
Dr. Phelps entered the room shortly after Wade. He stopped, had surgical gloves forced on by a nurse, then went over and looked at a monitor. Finally, he walked over to where Katie could see him.
He smiled through his mask. “We're gonna get started. You okay?”
Katie nodded, but didn't smile. The doctor turned and talked with his staff before beginning the delivery.
Wade wanted to watch, but at the same time, he was afraid. He was excited at the thought of his son's birth, but terrified of what he might see when their baby was delivered. Finally, he decided the sheet hiding the surgery was more of a blessing than a curse.
He looked down at Katie, her eyes closed, trying to imagine what she was thinking. Probably the same thing as him.
Let him be okay. Let him be okay. Let him be okay.
He knew neither of them could handle losing a third pregnancy, and the despair that would come with it.
Let him be okay. Let him be okay. Let him be okay.
In just a few minutes, their baby boy was delivered through an incision in Katie's stomach. Dr. Phelps held him up so both Wade and Katie could see him. Before they could even ask to hold him, he was handed to the neo-natal team. Wade noticed immediately his son was blue.
Dr. Phelps began stitching Katie up as the neo-natal doctors worked on their baby boy in the corner. When he finished, Dr. Phelps came over, and shook Wade's hand. They didn’t speak.
Wade realized he hadn’t heard his son cry.
The team working on their baby had stabilized their tiny son enough to move him to the neo-natal intensive care unit, and wheeled the small incubator out of the room.
Wade opted to stay with Katie, and for a long time, he just stood there. Dr. Phelps was gone, and the only noise in the room came from the hushed conversations and shuffling around of the medical team.
A few minutes later, an orderly came in to wheel Katie to recovery. Wade kissed her, and watched as she left, but his own feet didn’t move. It was as if staying in the room would protect him from what he had to face outside those doors.
Eventually, the nurses had finished their work and one came over to Wade, gently touching his arm. “Mr. Duncan?”
Wade looked at her through glazed eyes.
“Mr. Duncan, you can take the gown off. I'll take you to the see your baby.”
Wade started removing the gown without acknowledging her. The nurse took the gown and, with a hand on his back, guided him toward the door.
*******
Wade rode the small elevator that led up to the NICU. When the doors opened, he found himself in a hallway containing several long sinks and a shelf stacked high with surgical gowns and masks.
A nurse instructed him to wash his hands well before putting on a mask and gown. When Wade was ready, she led him through two sets of doors, into the NICU ward.
Two long rows of incubators stretched down opposite walls. A group of four or five nurses stood huddled around a bed at the far end of the room. The nurse leading Wade took him down toward the group encircling his son. As he reached the bedside, the group parted to let him come up next to the bed.
Wade began to cry. His tiny boy had tubes and wires coming from everywhere on his body. Lights blinked and needles moved all around him, only his son was motionless amid the chaos.
“Can I touch him?”
The nurse nodded and lifted the plastic canopy. Wade reached out with one finger and brushed his son’s forehead. No response came from the tiny infant.
An alarm started beeping, and Wade was pushed back from the bed. The nurse who brought him in took his arm and led him back out through the double doors.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Duncan, but you’ll have to go to the waiting room. Your son needs immediate care.”
“For what? What was the beeping?”
“I’m sorry. The doctor will come see you soon.”
Then she was gone. For the second time in less than an hour, Wade stood alone in a gown and mask. This time, he took them off without assistance and went to find his mother-in-law.
*******
Shirley was standing by the window when Wade finally got to the waiting room, and seeing his face told her something was terribly wrong. “Wade, what is it? Are Katie and the baby alright?”
Wade stood there looking at her with a vacant stare.
“Wade...Wade?”
Finally, he focused on her, and tears streamed down his face. She took him by the elbow and led him to a chair. When he was seated, he let out a long moan.
“Kate is in recovery...” He paused.
“…and the baby?” she asked, searching his face.
“They rushed him out of the room to the neo-natal ICU.” He looked at her. “I never heard him cry.”
Shirley gasped, as Wade continued.
When I went in to see him, he didn’t move. He’s so tiny. I had to leave because some kind of an alarm started going off.”
Shirley’s mind swirled. She also had mourned the loss of her first two grandchildren, and the thought of losing a third is something she’d refused to think about.
She got up and went to the desk. “I need information on my daughter and her baby. Katie Duncan.”
“I'm sorry, ma’am, but you have to wait for your doctor. I don't have any news.”
She turned and went back to Wade. He sat staring blankly at the TV. He’d stopped crying, but his eyes were still bright red.
Shirley was trying her best to keep it together. “The nurse said we have to wait for the doctor.”
Wade just nodded. Shirley sat down next to her son-in-law, put an arm around him, and tried not to give up hope. She had no idea what she would do if the baby didn't make it, and she couldn't fathom the pain Katie and Wade would suffer. She closed her eyes and tried to steel herself.
*******
Wade and his mother-in-law were the only ones in the waiting room when Dr. Phelps came around the corner. Shirley remained seated as Wade stood up to meet him. “How's Katie?”
“She's fine. She'll be in recovery room six, and you can see her in about an hour.”
“And my son?”
The half-smile Larry Phelps had been wearing disappeared. “I'm sorry. The baby didn't make it.”
Wade slumped back into the chair and buried his face in his hands. Sobbing seemed to flow out from every pore of his body.
“What happened?” Shirley asked, watching her son-in-law.
“The baby had been too long without sufficient oxygen...I'm sorry.”
“Thank you, Doctor.”
The unthinkable had happened. Shirley found no words because there were none. She wrapped her arms around Wade and their sobbing filled the empty room.
*******
As soon as Wade felt strong enough to face Katie, he went to the recovery room. Walking up to the bed, he took her hand. “I love you.”
She smiled weakly. “I love you, too.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Tired, drugged, sore.” She paused. “How's our baby?”
He realized no one had told her. Pain raked at his soul, as he slowly shook his head. Katie’s eyes filled with tears.
The doors opened at the far end of the room and a nurse wheeled in an incubator. She stopped several feet from the bed and looked at Katie. “Would you like to say goodbye?”
Katie nodded her head and the nurse brought the tiny blue body, wrapped in a small blanket, over to her.
Wade and Katie each took a turn
holding their son. They kissed his forehead and asked God to take care of him.
After a little while, Katie nodded to the nurse and she took the tiny bundle back, put him in the incubator, and wheeled him out.
Katie closed her eyes and Wade watched as her body shook with sobs. He knew what she was feeling. A physical pain in the stomach that made you want to throw up, an emotional agony that made you long to curl up and die.
He crawled up next to her on the bed and held her. They clung to each other and tried to let the pain flow out through their tears.
Chapter 2
The small, white box lay on top of a green carpet, suspended over an equally small hole in the ground. Next to the tiny coffin, sat a shade canopy that covered several rows of chairs. The sun’s brightness conflicted with the sense of sadness hanging over the proceedings.
Wade and Katie sat in the front row, both dressed in black. Shirley sat next to them, also in black, holding a Kleenex box. She and Katie plucked from it occasionally.
Behind them were seated several rows of family and friends. Standing opposite them, the pastor was just finishing the service with a prayer.
“...and in Jesus name we pray, amen.”
A low chorus of “amen” came from the onlookers. People slowly made their way to where Wade and Katie sat. Each person said how sorry they were, and to call if the couple needed anything. Wade nodded and thanked them as Katie sat silent, seemingly unaware of what was going on around her.
When the last of the mourners had said goodbye and headed to the long line of cars parked along the road, Wade took his wife's hand. “You okay, Kate?”
After a moment, Katie looked up and nodded.
Wade turned to his mother-in-law. “Can you take Katie to the car? I want to speak to the pastor.”
“Sure. Come on dear, let’s go.”
Wade watched as his wife stood at her mother’s urging. Katie stepped toward the tiny white casket, laid her hand on it ever so softly, before walking away. It broke Wade's heart to see her in such pain. He could deal with his own suffering, but watching his wife's anguish was torture.
Wade turned to the pastor and, after a brief conversation, walked toward his car. The only other vehicle still parked on the road was a long, black Cadillac. Wade assumed it belonged to the pastor until he saw a large, redheaded man get out, and walk directly toward him.
Wade didn’t remember ever meeting him, and thought for a minute the man was going past him to speak to the pastor. However, when Wade got right up to the big man, the stranger stopped and extended his hand.
“Mr. Duncan, my name is Zebulin Johnson. I want to tell you how very sorry I am for your loss.”
“Thank you, Mr. Johnson.”
Wade shook his hand and went to continue toward his car, but Mr. Johnson slipped sideways into his path. Wade was instantly annoyed. “Do I know you?”
“No sir, we’ve never met.”
“Well, Mr...Johnson, is it? This is not a good time.”
“I know, and I apologize, but I was given your name by St. Luke’s Hospital. They felt I might be able to help you and your wife.”
“How so?”
Zeb took out a business card and handed it to Wade. It identified him as a lawyer.
Wade shook his head. “We don't need any legal representation, Mr. Johnson.”
“Mr. Duncan, I assure you I’m not here in an effort to gain you as a client. In fact, I’m here on behalf of a current client who wishes to make an offer to you and your wife.”
Wade was now both annoyed and impatient. He didn't try to hide it. “What kind of offer?”
The lawyer seemed undeterred by Wade’s tone. “I fear this is neither the time nor the place to go into the details. However, when you and your wife have the time, I would very much like to come by and discuss the offer with both of you.”
Wade stared at the card for a long moment.
Johnson & Carr, Attorneys At Law.
“I'll talk with my wife, and we'll let you know if we're interested.”
“That's fine. Just call my office and let me know when we can meet.”
Zeb stretched out his hand once again. Wade shook it, mumbled a goodbye, and headed for his car. When he got in, Shirley was waiting with questions. “Who was that?”
Wade looked back at the spot where the two men had spoken, but the lawyer was already gone.
“He's some lawyer. He said the hospital referred him to us.”
Wade could tell Shirley shared his annoyance.
“Kind of bad timing, isn't it?”
“Indeed.”
“Did you tell him you don't want to sue anybody?”
“Yes, but he said that's not what he was here for. Apparently, he has an offer for Katie and me, from one of his clients.”
Wade looked back again, trying to remember the details of the odd meeting. He caught sight of Katie in the backseat. She still seemed to be in her own world.
Shirley was suspicious and not done asking questions. “What kind of an offer?”
“That's what I wanted to know, but he said it would have to wait until he could meet with both of us at a suitable time.”
“Well, this surely isn't a suitable time.”
Wade started the car.
“Exactly what I was thinking.”
*******
Stan Turnbull called his sister as he headed out of the cemetery.
“Hi, it's me. I made contact with the couple you suggested. They have the card, so watch for their number on your caller ID.”
“Did they seem interested?”
“Hard to say, but I'm going to call my Texas contact anyway.”
“Okay, I’ll let you know as soon as I hear.” She hung up.
Stan wheeled his car into traffic and punched Benny's number. It rang several times before he finally picked up.
“Hello?”
“Benny, this is Zeb.”
“Hey, I got the package you sent last month.”
Stan narrowly missed a moped on the side of the road and swore into the phone.
“Zeb, you there?”
“Yeah...yeah, I'm here. It's time to start the scouting. You understand the drill?”
“Yeah, got it.”
“Good. It’ll probably be several weeks, but I'll be in touch.”
Stan hung up without waiting for Benny to respond. If his instincts were right, this couple would eventually call.
*******
It was two months later when Susan finally saw the number she'd been waiting for pop up on her caller ID. She quickly stepped into one of the empty hospital rooms and closed the door.
“Johnson and Carr, may I help you?” she said in her best southern drawl. She didn't want to risk Wade Duncan recognizing her voice.
“Yes, is Zebulin Johnson in?”
“May I ask who’s calling?”
“Wade Duncan.”
“Very well, Mr. Duncan,” she drawled. “Let me see if he's free. Please hold.”
Susan covered the phone and waited an appropriate amount of time before coming back on the line.
“Mr. Duncan?”
“Yes.”
“Mr. Johnson is in a meeting, but said he should be done shortly. Do you have a number where you can be reached in the next half hour?”
Wade said the lawyer could call his cell phone and gave her the number. As soon as she hung up, Susan called her brother. “Stan?”
“Yeah, what’s up?”
“Duncan just called. I told him you were in a meeting and got his cell phone number.”
*******
Wade picked up on the second ring. “Hello?”
“Mr. Duncan, this is Zebulin Johnson returning your call.”
“Yes, Mr. Johnson. Do you remember giving me your card at the cemetery in March?”
“Of course.”
“Well, you mentioned you had an offer for my wife and me. Is that still the case?”
“Yes, sir, it is.”
&
nbsp; “Can you elaborate further, Mr. Johnson?”
“I'd really rather not over the phone. Is there a time I could come by and meet with the two of you?”
Wade cupped his hand over the phone and looked at Katie. “He wants to come over.”
Katie shrugged and said tonight or tomorrow night would be okay.
“Tonight or tomorrow night would be fine,” he repeated into the phone.
“Okay, say…seven tonight?”
“Sure, see you then.”
Wade hung up and looked at his wife. Curiosity had got the best of them, and they needed a distraction anyway, Katie especially. “Mom will be here, so she can listen in, too.”
Wade nodded. “Good. I don't imagine it will make any difference if she's here.”
*******
At seven o’clock sharp, there was a knock at the door. Wade opened it to find the same large man from the cemetery, only this time he was carrying a brief case. Wade invited him in and they went into the living room, where Katie and Shirley were waiting. After making introductions and getting a cup of coffee for Zeb, a lull came in the conversation.
Wade brought the focus around to the purpose of the meeting. “Mr. Johnson, you said you had an offer for us. What sort of offer are we talking about?”
“Actually, I'll get to the offer in a minute, but let me say again how terribly sorry I am for your loss.”
Katie looked uncomfortable, but managed not to break into tears. “Thank you.”
“Also, what I am about to tell you is highly confidential and, regardless of the outcome, must not be shared with anyone outside of this room.”
He looked at each of them individually, as they nodded, before continuing. “My clients are a couple who have suffered a loss similar to yours.”
“Oh, I'm sorry,” Katie and her mom said at the same time.
Zeb nodded. “I'm sure they would appreciate that. And, like you, their loss took place in childbirth.”
WHERE'S MY SON? (Det. Jason Strong (CLEAN SUSPENSE Book 1) Page 2