“I can’t feel a thing,” Kristi mumbled.
Dr. Anderson finished and pulled his mask down. “No, but you will. Dr. Krasnoff returns late tonight, so she will check on you tomorrow when she starts her rounds. The nurse is going to finish cleaning you up, and she’ll get you where you need to go.”
Kristi reached up and tugged on Mitch’s arm with her good hand. “Find my son.” He hesitated. “Go.”
Mitch found the baby in the NICU. Looking in the window he could tell that the babies here were smaller. He had no idea which one belonged to him and Kristi.
“Can I help you?” A nurse had approached, probably noticing the scrubs he hadn’t taken off.
“Mitch Robbins. My wife had a baby.”
“And your wife is?”
“Getting her wrist bandaged. It’s broken. She just delivered. Dr. Anderson did it by C-section.”
“And her name?”
“Oh. Kristi. Kristi Robbins.”
“Wait here.” The nurse entered the NICU, and through the window Mitch watched her progress. He saw her speak with a nurse sitting in the center of five bassinet-style units, and then she returned. “Baby Robbins is sleeping.”
“And? I have to go back and tell Kristi how he is. They didn’t even let her hold him.”
“Would you like to hold him?”
Mitch nodded. The nurse smiled sympathetically. “Then follow me.”
HOURS LATER, a nurse named Sally finally wheeled Kristi into a maternity recovery room. “This is your home away from home,” she said cheerily. “I’ll be with you for the next twelve hours and I’ll bring you some menus so you can pick out your meals.”
“I want my son,” Kristi said. She’d waited long enough, and her only consolation was that the NICU was on-site, and her baby hadn’t been airlifted anywhere. She’d been told that she had quite a few visitors in the waiting room. As for Mitch, he hadn’t come back.
Then again, she’d probably been difficult to find if he had tried to locate her. She’d been to Radiology for X-rays and a CT scan. She’d been fitted for a cast on her wrist. She’d been declared concussion free, although her head pounded and she had a nice bump from when she’d hit it on the pavement. Her stomach felt empty, and was painful to touch.
“Have you seen my husband?” she asked.
“I believe he’s in the NICU,” Sally said.
“Can you please take me there? I still haven’t seen my son.”
Sally kept smiling. “Of course.”
The first thing that struck Kristi about the NICU was the noise. Machines constantly beeped and mothers in rocking chairs tried to soothe their crying babies. Sally gave her a name tag. “This tells us who you are and what medical condition your baby has.”
“What does my son have?”
Sally pointed. “I’m not sure, but that’s your baby’s pediatric nurse. She’ll be able to tell you.”
Sally wheeled Kristi forward, and she saw Mitch sitting in a rocking chair, a tiny bundle pressed to his chest. He looked up at her arrival. “How are you?” he asked.
Anger flared in her chest. He’d even taken holding the baby first from her. What else did Mitch want? Kristi held up her wrist, trying to stay on a safe topic. “I’ve been casted.”
Mitch rose and brought the baby over. “Here’s your mom,” he told his son. He lowered the baby into her arms. “He’s been waiting for you.”
Kristi fingered the blanket. All she could see was a little red face. The rest of him was hidden beneath the small bunnies decorating the receiving blanket. But seeing her son’s face, even with the oxygen tubes taped to it, was enough. He was beautiful, like his daddy.
Her vision blurred with tears. She was holding her son. “Why the tubes?”
“A precaution. His lungs weren’t fully ready to work on their own, so this helps him breathe easier,” the NICU nurse said.
Her son made a fishlike pucker before closing his mouth.
“He’s feisty and strong and he keeps trying to remove his tubes. That’s why we have them taped to his cheeks.”
The nurse moved to check on another baby.
Kristi’s tears fell freely, and because her arms were full, Mitch found some tissue and dabbed her cheeks.
“He’s so little,” she said.
“Five pounds two ounces,” he replied.
Nothing in Kristi’s life had prepared her for this moment when every maternal instinct flowed into her.
She was a mother. She and Mitch had created this little person, and she’d brought forth this life.
Raw, unconditional love. That was the only description for what she was feeling. She could do this. She was a mom. More tears sprung to her eyes.
“Hey, he’s going to be fine. He’s tough.”
Like his father. Only, his father had betrayed her, and any future they had had been built on lies, the biggest falsehood of all being that there would be no more lies.
Her baby’s nose wrinkled as a wayward teardrop touched his skin. She moved the blanket, seeing the white heart-monitor circles taped to his chest. Except for a diaper, her son was naked. The monitors and tubes made dressing him impossible.
The nurse returned. “It’ll only take a minute to check him and you can have him right back.”
Kristi’s arms felt barren the moment she passed her child over. The nurse drew a blood sample by pricking the baby’s heel. Kristi winced.
Mitch placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and she was too tired to shrug it off. “I’ve watched them work with him since I got here. Don’t worry. He’s getting excellent care.”
“Is that your family?” the nurse asked, placing the baby back in Kristi’s arms.
Kristi turned. Faces lined the length of the window.
Her parents. Alison. Mitch’s family. Everyone who’d worried and wondered what was going on.
Because of the monitors, she couldn’t move closer, but Mitch turned her wheelchair so she could face them.
Her mother touched her chest, and her father held his wife close. Mitch’s brother Logan gave a thumbs-up. Alison was nodding and smiling, as if saying good job.
Kristi was a mother now, and Mitch was her husband. For better or worse. Unfortunately, their marriage had been built on quicksand.
Chapter Sixteen
Two weeks later, Kristi and Mitch still hadn’t talked about what had happened. She’d been at the hospital for three nights, and the baby had remained for another three days after that to ensure that he’d be strong enough to breathe on his own.
Mitch had been with her for the first forty-eight hours, until accusations that a recent sports promotion had deliberately targeted underage drinkers had required the skills of Jensen’s new Communications VP.
She’d seen Mitch on TV, answering the allegations. He’d done an admirable job. Then, ever since he’d been called back to work, they’d barely seen each other. When he was home, he managed to give Kristi a wide berth while still helping her with chores and the baby. Every time he tried to broach the subject of his agreement with her father, she came up with an excuse to avoid talking.
“So when is everyone getting here?” Alison asked. She’d arrived early to prepare for tomorrow’s baptism, which would be held at Mitch’s family’s church. She sat on Kristi’s couch, baby Jackson Talbot Robbins in her arms. He was named for Mitch’s and Kristi’s grandparents, but they called him Jack—Jackson seemed like a big name for such a little guy.
The baby gurgled and Alison made a face and cooed. “You’re such a sweet thing. It’s hard to believe you’ll grow up to color on the walls and drag mud inside.”
Kristi laughed. “Carly’s being adventurous again, I take it.”
“Always. Jack is such a good baby. And you better be if I’m going to be your godmother,” she teased him.
Kristi’s pride and love overflowed. “Don’t worry, he’s always going to be a sweetheart. Unlike his daddy.”
“You two need to kiss and make up.”
“He took my job.”
“You get a six-week maternity leave and you’re going to take all of it or deal with me. You already look wiped out and Mitch has been helping.”
“He does a great job,” Kristi admitted.
“So start talking. Clear the air. For both your sakes and Jack’s.”
“What Mitch did was wrong. And now he’s over my head in the chain of command. At least until I get back.”
“Are you returning to work?”
Kristi sighed. “I haven’t decided. I’m not even getting a full night’s sleep, and since you swear that doesn’t happen until Jack weighs at least eleven pounds, I have a long wait.”
“You could use a break. How about I babysit tomorrow night after the baptism? Amazingly enough, my ex is in town to visit with his kids. You and Mitch can get out of the house and onto some neutral ground so you can talk.”
Before Kristi could respond, the doorbell rang. Mitch, who had been in their finished basement, where he’d set up a home office, came up the stairs and opened the door.
“Neither of you should have to worry about cooking, so I brought a lasagna,” Sue Ellen said as she entered. Mitch took the pan from her. “Now, where’s Jack?”
“In here,” Kristi called. Sue Ellen hurried into the living area.
“He’s gotten bigger. Such a cutie.” Arms already outstretched, she took him from Alison.
When the doorbell rang a few minutes later, Emma Jensen entered. Sue Ellen reluctantly shared.
Then, after another round of holding, Kristi fed Jack and put him in his crib so they could discuss tomorrow’s baptismal ceremony. Mitch’s brother Nick would be the baby’s godfather, and Alison would serve as godmother.
“Did you put that lasagna in the oven?” Sue Ellen asked as Mitch stuck his head into the dining room over an hour later.
He arched an eyebrow. “That’s for tonight?”
“Kristi, what are you and Mitch feeding us for dinner?”
Kristi shrugged. “Mitch has been planning most of the meals lately. Pizza?”
“Putting the pan in the oven,” Mitch announced.
Sue Ellen was close enough so that she could pat Kristi’s knee. “You’ll have to train him a little more. He’s clueless. I did the best I could, but now it’s up to you. Oh, and while I’m thinking of it, I brought you something that I hope you’ll like. Mitch.” He leaned around the door frame. “Go to the car. I brought your baby albums.”
Mitch didn’t appear to be too excited about that. “Mom. No one wants to see those.”
“Of course they do.” Sue Ellen waved him out of the room. “After I had Lauri, I began getting duplicate prints of all the pictures I took. I kept individual albums for each of the kids so that someday it could be a keepsake for their children.”
“That’s a good idea. I still have Kristi’s albums at the house. Do you want them?” her mom asked.
Kristi hadn’t ever thought about it. “Oh, I’m fine.”
“Maybe a few pictures,” Sue Ellen suggested.
“I can do that,” Emma said.
“I’ll show you how to make a scrapbook,” Sue Ellen offered.
“That would be nice.”
Kristi watched the exchange. It was interesting having another mother figure around, and one who could manage Emma, too.
“So we’ve settled on white lilies and blue ribbon in the church, and the florist will deliver those,” Alison said, directing the subject back to the real reason everyone was here.
“That’s right,” Sue Ellen said. Kristi shot Alison a grateful glance.
“But there is so much more left to do,” Emma reminded everyone, and they got back to work. Mitch set the photo albums down on the coffee table, and disappeared to the basement again.
The women stopped only to eat dinner, and by 7:00 p.m. everything for the next day was finished. “Done?” Mitch asked. He came upstairs just as they were getting to their feet and stretching.
“Yes. It’s going to be lovely,” his mother announced.
“I think you’ll be pleased,” Emma added. “I am.”
“I’m sure it’ll be wonderful. I saw Kristi plan enough events. She got all her skills from you,” Mitch complimented his mother-in-law. Then he turned to his mom. “And after raising all of us, you can manage just about anything.”
“Flatterer,” Sue Ellen said.
“Kristi, I have to go. Who knows what your father’s gotten into while I’ve been gone.” Emma hugged her daughter.
“I’ll walk you out,” Mitch offered.
Sue Ellen winked. “And while he’s out, I have a naked baby picture to show you.”
Mitch’s mom went into the living room and picked up one of the photo albums. She flipped two pages. “Here. Take a look.”
At that moment, Jack began to wail. “I’ll get him.” Alison got up.
“Okay,” Kristi replied as she and her mother-in-law sat on the couch. In the photo Mitch was lying stomach down on a shaggy white throw rug. He’d lifted himself onto his arms, and laughed for the camera. “That’s cute,” Kristi said.
“I knew he was going to be a heartthrob even back then. But don’t worry, he’s only had eyes for you.”
Yeah, because her dowry was a vice-presidential position. Her father had even had all her e-mail rerouted to his in-box. She pushed her anger aside. It wasn’t Sue Ellen’s fault.
“Speaking of pictures, the ones we took at the hospital were in today’s mail. Mitch and I got you copies. I can’t believe I forgot. I had some to give my mother, too,” Kristi said. She rose, went to the kitchen and took the envelope she’d prepared off the desk.
She returned to her seat and pulled the photos out. “We got you a five-by-seven and some wallet-size shots.”
“That’s perfect. Jack will hang in the hallway next to Jane.” Sue Ellen took the pictures and studied them. “He is such a darling. He looks just like Mitch did. Oh, a little smaller, but almost identical. Babies are so adorable, aren’t they?”
Mitch walked over and his mother removed the photo from the album and held both out, side by side. “If I didn’t know better, I’d swear this was you. Jack even has your ears.” She smiled warmly. “You are all so lucky. Such a loving family.”
Such a lie, Kristi thought.
“I should be going,” Alison said, as if sensing the growing tension. “Mrs. Robbins, can I walk you out?”
“Oh, my, it is getting late.” Sue Ellen replaced the baby picture, pocketed her photos of Jack and stood. “Let me hug my grandson again before I go.”
After a cooing session, she reluctantly passed the baby to Kristi, who put the bottle in Jack’s mouth. Alison followed Mrs. Robbins out, and a few seconds later, only Mitch remained in the room.
He reached for Jack, but Kristi clutched him to her. “I’ll put him in his crib myself.”
“I was only trying to help.”
“You’ve done enough,” Kristi replied, strapping Jack into his bouncy seat instead. She’d put him in the crib later.
“You have to let this go,” Mitch told her.
“Why? You have my job. You know my father isn’t going to want me back.”
“It’s not about the job. It never has been.”
“Please. I’m not stupid. Every guy I ever dated seemed to either want something from me or find me lacking. You fit into the first category. You just hit the mother lode by marrying me.”
“I love you. I want us to be happy,” Mitch protested.
“Do you really think we can be like this?” She used one hand to flip open his baby book. The love that his parents had for each other was obvious in their eyes and smiles.
“Yes, I do believe we can be like that,” Mitch said.
“I don’t.”
He exhaled his frustration. “Why not? What’s so wrong with us?”
“Everything. You lied even after we said no more lies. You should have told me about the promotion.”
“How many
times do I have to tell you it’s not about work?”
“Yes, it is. You want me to stay home and raise Jack, don’t you?”
“That has nothing to do with—”
“If I stay home, you keep my job permanently. It’s what my dad’s been wanting this whole time and what you’ve been angling for. It’s why you married me.”
“You asked me to marry you. I said I’d be fine if we didn’t get married.” Mitch rubbed the back of his neck.
“Where else were you hoping things would go?”
“I don’t know. Not here. I hate fighting and I don’t want to fight with you. Not now, not ever. Kristi, I love you.”
“How do I know what you feel for me is real? How can I trust anything you say after you conspired with my father to take my job from me?”
“I didn’t take your job deliberately, but as you are on maternity leave, someone needs to do it and I’m the most qualified.”
“Admit it, you like doing my job.”
“Of course I like the job. I’ve always wanted this type of opportunity. But none of that matters compared to what I want with you.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“You don’t love me, either. You’ve never said the words.”
“Well, that’s because I don’t.”
He could see the lie written all over her face and it broke his heart. Lies kept coming between them.
“If you can’t even be honest with yourself, how are we going to have a chance?” he demanded.
She made the protective gesture of covering her chest with her arms. “Maybe we don’t. Maybe you should just go.”
“Is that what you really want?”
“Yes.”
“You’re lying.” He reached out to touch her arm, but she flinched and stepped back. He dropped his hand.
“I’m going to go out for a while. We both need some space.”
Her eyes widened. “Where are you going?”
“I don’t know.”
“Will you come back?”
“You told me to go. Now you want to know when I’ll be back. What is it you want from me?”
A cloud of darkness settled over Kristi’s face and the fire in her eyes died. “You said you’d never leave. Was that a lie?”
Baby in the Boardroom Page 14