“Time to wake up, sleepyhead.” The voice was rich and deep with a slight Caribbean lilt. “Come on, darlin’.” The nurse touched her hand gently. “I know you can hear me.”
Quinn forced her eyes open. Thankfully, the overhead light was off, so the curtained cubicle was pleasantly dim. The nurse smiled kindly at her. She was an older woman with a face as round as the moon and almond-shaped eyes fringed with ridiculously thick lashes. “How you feelin’, love?” she asked as she removed the oxygen tube from Quinn’s nose and checked her vital signs.
“Groggy,” Quinn croaked. Her voice sounded as if she hadn’t used it in years.
“That’s normal. You’ll feel more alert in a few minutes.”
Memory came flooding back and Quinn tried to sit up, suddenly anxious. “My baby. Where’s my baby?”
“Don’t you worry, love,” the nurse crooned. “Baby is just fine and sleepin’ peacefully in the nursery. Dr. Young will be by in a moment to talk to you, so you just hang on tight.”
Not as if there was anything else Quinn could do. She was hooked up to an IV and a catheter, and her legs felt like something that had emerged from a jelly mold. “Where’s my husband?”
“Your man knows people in high places, I’ll tell you that,” the nurse joked. “He’s in the nurses’ lounge with your little one. She’s fast asleep, God bless her. She was worn out with worry for her mummy.”
Quinn teared up at the nurse’s words. Emma had been worried about her. The knowledge was strangely wonderful. “May I see them?”
“Of course, love. Just as soon as you get the all clear and get transferred to a room.” The nurse handed her a container of apple juice. Quinn wasn’t a big fan of apple juice, but at the moment it tasted like ambrosia. She was just sucking up the last drops when Dr. Young appeared beside her bed.
“Well, hello there, Mummy,” Dr. Young said, smiling broadly. “You came through with flying colors, and the little one is doing great. An on-staff pediatrician examined him, and he’s been given a clean bill of health. He’s a tad small, but given that he arrived three weeks early, that’s to be expected.”
“He?”
“Yes, a beautiful baby boy.”
“Phoebe Russell scores again,” Quinn said with a chuckle.
“What’s that?”
“Nothing. Can I see him?”
“Absolutely. I’ll have Nurse Winnie bring him to you as soon as you’re settled in your room.”
“When can I go home?” Quinn asked.
“We are going to keep you and the baby for a couple of days, just to make sure you’re both doing well. I should think you’ll be going home by Tuesday.” Dr. Young scribbled something in Quinn’s chart and turned to the nurse. “Mrs. Russell is ready to be transferred, Winnie.”
“Right. I’ll call the porters.” Winnie rushed off, leaving Quinn with Dr. Young.
“Well, congratulations, Quinn. I’ll check on you in a little bit. And so will Dr. Malik. I believe she’s already in the building.”
A broad smile spread across Quinn’s face as soon as Dr. Young left. A boy. A healthy, perfect baby boy. She couldn’t wait to finally see him and hold him. Now that she knew the baby was a boy, she couldn’t imagine him having been a girl. It was as if she’d known all along, just as Phoebe had, and Quinn’s grandmother Rae, who’d made the same pronouncement. Quinn would have liked to be the first to tell Gabe the news, but she assumed Dr. Young had spoken to him immediately after the surgery, to put his mind at rest, about both her and the newborn baby.
Chapter 75
“Happy birthday,” Gabe crooned as he sat next to Quinn and leaned down to kiss her.
“Is it?”
“It’s past midnight, so it’s September twenty-seventh. And we have a son.”
“I know. Isn’t it marvelous? Have you seen him?”
Gabe smiled guiltily. “Through the glass. He’s adorable. And speak of the devil.”
Nurse Winnie entered the room, wheeling a plastic bassinet. “Here we are, Mummy and Daddy,” she announced.
Quinn’s vision blurred with tears as Winnie carefully picked up the baby and placed him in her arms. He was tightly wrapped in a hospital blanket and a knitted cap covered his head, but Quinn could see downy strands of dark hair peeking from beneath. The baby opened his eyes. His dark-blue gaze was unfocused, but it seemed to Quinn that he was looking right at her. She held her breath as she beheld his little face. The baby wasn’t red or wrinkly, since he hadn’t been pushed through the birth canal. He was the perfect shade of pink, and his little mouth opened and closed as he turned his face toward Quinn.
“He’s hungry,” Winnie explained. “Will you be breastfeeding?”
“Yes.”
“Then go on and put him to your breast. The milk won’t fully come in until tomorrow or the day after, but there’s enough colostrum to tide him over until then.”
Quinn pulled down her hospital gown and put the baby to her breast. It took him a few moments to latch on, but once he did, he seemed to know exactly what to do.
“Enjoy your midnight snack, little one,” Winnie said and walked away.
Gabe looked on with such reverence that Quinn couldn’t help teasing him. “We’re not the Madonna and Child, you know.”
“You are to me. I was so worried,” he confessed.
Quinn nodded in understanding. “Is Emma still sleeping in the nurses’ lounge? And what did Winnie mean when she said you know people in high places?”
“I didn’t want to wake her. I called Logan after they took you into the operating theater. He wasn’t on shift, but he immediately came over. He took us into the lounge and commandeered the sofa for Emma. He is with her, in case she wakes up.” Gabe smiled sadly. “God, Quinn, she really lost it. She was so frightened. I couldn’t comfort her. She thought you were going to die, just like her mum.”
Quinn pulled up her gown once the baby stopped nursing and fell asleep. His face looked like a tiny moon, round and serene. “Gabe, it will take years for Emma to come to terms with what happened. All we can do is be patient and understanding, and never belittle her fears. She has every right to be afraid. For a moment there, I was pretty terrified myself.”
“So was I. May I hold him?” Gabe carefully accepted the baby and cradled him in his arms. A look of pure wonder spread across his face as he smiled down at his son. “He looks like me.”
“That he does. That’s two for you, none for me.”
“Does this mean you’re open to doing this again?”
“Not in this decade. Check back with me closer to 2020,” Quinn joked.
“Don’t think I won’t. So what shall we name this little man?”
“Alex,” they said in unison.
“Alexander Graham, after your dad,” Quinn clarified. “What do you think of that?”
“Well, it worked out quite well for Alexander Graham Bell. Maybe he’ll grow up to be an inventor.”
“Stop projecting your own dreams onto him, Daddy. He’s only an hour old.” Quinn felt overwhelmed with love as she looked at the two of them, so natural together.
She was just about to say so when Logan walked into the room. He had Emma, who looked wide awake, by the hand.
“Are we just in time for the welcome party?” he asked. “Look, Em, it’s your baby brother.”
Emma inched closer to Gabe, but her expression wasn’t one of wonder but extreme jealousy. She glanced at the baby, then turned to Quinn. “Will you love him more than you love me?”
“Of course not. Come here.”
Quinn stretched out her arms and tried to turn onto her side, which hurt like the devil, but it was worth it. She was able to wrap her arms about Emma, who burrowed her face in Quinn’s neck.
“Don’t ever leave me, Mum. Not ever. I was so scared.”
“I know you were, but everything is all right, and now we have Alex.”
“Hmm.”
“Would you like to hold him?”
�
�May I?” Emma asked, her eyes lighting up. “You’ll let me?”
Gabe vacated the chair he’d been sitting in and invited Emma to sit down. “You get comfortable, and I will put the baby in your arms.” Emma did as she was told and Gabe handed her the baby. He stood directly in front of her, so the baby wouldn’t tumble to the floor should she let go.
“I’m Emma,” she announced to the infant. “I’m your big sister. You’re smaller than I thought you were going to be, but we’ll feed you up,” she said, echoing a phrase she’d heard Phoebe use. “You’ll get big and strong, and then we’ll play together. But you can’t have Mr. Rabbit. Not ever. You’ll have to get your own. Okay, I’m done.”
Gabe took the baby and placed him in the bassinet. “I’m going to take Emma home and put her to bed. Besides, Mr. Rabbit must be frantic with worry. We’ll be back first thing in the morning. Get some rest.” He kissed Quinn and escorted Emma from the room.
“Does Sylvia know?” Quinn asked Logan as soon as Gabe and Emma had gone.
“Yes. She’d like to come and see you. Shall I tell her she may visit?”
Quinn was tempted to refuse, but nodded instead. “Alex is her grandson.”
“Thanks, Quinn. That’s kind. I know how angry you are with her, and with Jude. He’s promised to start rehab. That episode with Emma really frightened him. He’d never have forgiven himself had anything happened to her.”
“I’m glad he’s ready to get help, but I don’t think I want to see him anytime soon.”
“Understandable.”
“Have you heard anything about our sister? Today is her birthday too.”
“No, I haven’t. Dead silence.”
Quinn didn’t mean to cry, but dissolved into floods, partially because she was a hormonal minefield, and partially because her heart longed for a sister she’d never met. Somewhere out there, Quentin had turned thirty-one years old. What would her birthday celebration be like? Was she married? Did she have children? Did she know that she had siblings who were searching for her and had she decided not to reach out to them?
“We’ll find her, Quinn. I know it.”
“We must. I will never feel complete until I see her and speak to her.”
Logan patted Quinn on the shoulder and left her to rest, but there was something she had to do before going to sleep. Gabe had left her mobile within reach, so she got hold of it and selected Seth’s number. It’d be around 8:00 p.m. in New Orleans.
Seth answered on the first ring. “Quinn, I’m so glad you called. How are you, sweetheart? Any news?”
“I’m all right. The news is that you have a grandson. He was born at eleven twenty-three p.m. local time. His name is Alex.”
Quinn gave Seth a moment to collect himself. The sharp intake of breath was followed by what could only be a joyful smile. “Oh, Quinn, that’s wonderful news. Will you send me a picture?”
“Of course I will. But I expect you to come and see him for yourself. Soon.”
“Try and stop me!” Seth exclaimed. He sounded jubilant at the thought of seeing his grandbaby, but then his tone turned anxious. “Quinn, any word on Quentin?”
“No, not yet. I sent the letter, but never heard anything back. I think we’ll need to start searching for her on our own.”
“Where do we begin?”
“I begin by recovering from a cesarean section, and you begin by scheduling a well-deserved holiday.”
“You just let me know when you’re ready, and I’ll be on the next flight. I’m ready to help in whatever way is needed.”
“Thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me. You’re my girl, and I love you. And I’ll move mountains to find your sister. Now, it must be past midnight in London, and you need your rest. Kiss my grandson for me, and give my regards to Gabe and Emma. I look forward to seeing them.”
“Talk soon.” Quinn rang off. She had one more phone call to make. Her parents would be asleep, but they’d never forgive her if she didn’t call them right away with the news. She rang her parents, then texted Jill and Phoebe.
She replaced the phone on the nightstand, tired and in pain, and happier than she’d ever been.
Chapter 76
November 2014
London, England
Quinn deftly changed Alex’s nappy, stuffed him into an unbearably cute outfit, and put him down for a nap, hoping against hope that he would just drift off. Alex was a happy baby, but he still woke up hungry at least once during the night and craved the company of his parents round the clock. As though leaving him alone in his cot was paramount to abandoning him to die on the side of a mountain, he whimpered and cried until someone came back into the room. He didn’t demand to be picked up, but he liked the presence of another person, particularly if that person was Quinn, because in her case, company also meant a snack. Perhaps she’d get a break once Seth arrived and Alex had one more adoring adult to manipulate.
Seth was coming in two weeks, just in time to treat them to an all-American Thanksgiving, something Quinn was looking forward to. She’d always thought it was a lovely holiday, and this year she had much to be grateful for. Seth had promised to cook the whole meal as long as Quinn stocked the fridge with the required ingredients, including raw cranberries. Lord only knew where she’d get those. Or yams. She’d leave that to Gabe. He’d always enjoyed a challenge. They’d invited Logan and Colin, Jill and Brian, and Pete and Brenda McGann for their upcoming feast. It’d be nice for Seth to meet their nearest and dearest, and feel welcomed into the fold. Quinn hoped Phoebe would come down as well to meet her fellow grandparent. She had more than twenty years on Seth, but Quinn thought they’d get on like a house on fire.
Alex glared at Quinn from between the bars of the cot, preparing to holler if she so much as considered leaving the room.
“Okay, you little rascal, perhaps a walk will lull you to sleep,” Quinn said. She was tired, but fresh air would do her good, and besides, she had much to consider.
She dressed Alex for the outdoors, settled him in his pram, and headed out the door and toward the lift. Emma was at school, and Gabe at work, so she and the baby were on their own. The day outside was overcast, but not unpleasant. Falling leaves twirled in the air, landing at Quinn’s feet as she walked down the street, enjoying the autumn chill. She used to hate this time of year, when everything began to shrivel up and die, but she’d learned to see the beauty in bare branches interlaced against the cool blue of the autumn sky, and enjoy the anticipation of the upcoming holiday season, since for the first time since her parents had retired to Spain she had a family to spend Christmas with.
Got you! Quinn thought gleefully as Alex’s eyelids began to droop after nearly half an hour of walking. Perhaps now she could find a bench and sit down for a while. What a blessing mobile phones were for new mums. While Alex slept, Quinn was able to catch up on her correspondence, return calls, send texts, and even do some research. She’d been reading up on the Wars of the Roses, but still hadn’t returned to the past to see what had happened after Kate’s death.
Now that Alex was six weeks old and Quinn was almost fully healed from the cesarean section, it was time to return to work. Rhys was patiently—or more accurately, impatiently—waiting for her report, desperate to begin the casting process for the new episode. The series finale was already in production, being filmed on a sound stage in Wales that had been transported to the pre-Civil War South, and the first episode of Echoes from the Past was due to air in a few weeks. It was time to complete her presentation for this episode and move on to the next one, yet to be determined, though Rhys had said he had a few ideas in the works.
There was much to accomplish on a personal front as well. After much deliberation, Phoebe had decided to sell the manor house and move into a retirement community in Berwick. Her guilt at parting with her husband’s ancestral home was diluted by the promise of being closer to her dear friend Cecily Preston-Jones and the lure of all the activities they could enjoy toge
ther. The retirement community offered a wide range of classes for seniors, which appealed to Phoebe, who’d never really pursued any hobbies besides looking after her husband. She’d always wanted to try pottery and was warming up to the idea of chair yoga. Gabe fully supported Phoebe’s plan to sell, and had promised to do everything in his power to make the process easier for his mum.
“Once the house is sold and the death duties are paid, I will give what’s left to you,” Phoebe had promised. “With the proceeds from the sale of your own homes, you’ll be able to afford a nice, spacious house in London for your growing family.” Phoebe had been barely able to keep the smile off her face as she contemplated more grandchildren. “Your father would have wanted you to have the money,” she’d explained, silencing Gabe’s protests. “He left me comfortably provided for.”
Quinn had to admit that the prospect of a house of their own thrilled her. Perhaps it would even have a garden where the children could play and she and Gabe could enjoy on fine days. They were terribly cramped in Gabe’s flat, but Quinn’s little chapel in Suffolk was even smaller, never having been intended to house a family. She’d be sorry to part with it, but now that she was married with two children, she no longer had any use for it. She hoped whoever bought it would get as much pleasure and solace from it as she had.
The wind picked up and the sky darkened, threatening rain. Quinn put away her mobile and sprang to her feet. It was time to return home. She set a brisk pace, hoping to outrun the downpour and actually made it into the foyer of the building just as fat, lazy raindrops began to plop onto the sidewalk. Tonight, once Alex was down for the night, she would ask Gabe for the sword and see what had transpired after Kate hemorrhaged to death. Quinn didn’t relish witnessing Guy’s heartbreak, but it was time to find out how this sad tale ended.
The Forsaken (Echoes from the Past Book 4) Page 39