by Barbara Ebel
“Sounds fine,” Casey said. Danny put the blinker on and started moving over for the next exit.
“Yesterday, Joelle and Ralph asked me about my recent health history. They wonder why I haven’t been a meningoencephalitis patient.”
“Being the astute ambulance driver that I am, you know I’ve thought the same thing.”
“You know, we joke about that,” Danny said as he drove down the exit ramp and made a right on red, “or I kid around at your expense. But you give top notch first responder treatment to folks whose lives sometimes depend on your quick judgment and care. That’s all I have to say about that, including thank you for your involvement with Melissa. I mean that.”
Danny didn’t glance at Casey. It felt good to get that off his chest as he’d wanted to do it for awhile. He pulled to the drive-in window while Dakota bounced up from the back.
Casey took out his wallet. “I know you respect EMTs, especially me. And, Melissa … well, I still think about what happened and feel so bad about it. I miss her, too.”
Danny felt a sadness sweep over him while his eyes got moist. Dakota let out a bark.
“We’re not forgetting you, you spoiled thing,” Danny said quietly. He ordered a small burger, two chicken sandwiches, fries, and drinks. He handed the hurried cashier Casey’s twenty-five dollars. After placing the heavy calories on the floor, Danny parked in a spot, pulled out the burger, and walked to the back end of the car. He opened the door and asked Dakota to wait patiently while he split it in half. “Take them politely,” he said. “Good dog.”
Danny and Casey changed seats. Danny wiped the burger and Dakota’s slob off his hand. “So getting back to the PAM,” he said, “we didn’t do anything extra to my hand injury when you put the Steri-Strips on, did we?”
Casey rubbed his mouth with his hand. “No. I didn’t even put any Neosporin on it, which we probably should have.”
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Casey dealt with the building traffic of a Friday night while Danny managed one telephone interview with The New York Times. Since the epidemic had reached the Empire State, he talked at length with an enthusiastic female reporter who tailored her questions into two areas: What was Danny’s personal background and to what extent do neurosurgeons deal with intracranial infections? She also wanted to delve into another spin on the story - the source of contamination - and she prodded him about preventive measures. What do swimmers need to be aware of? Where would an organism like this be found?”
Danny welcomed the questions and ended the call when they approached the halfway point between Nashville and Knoxville where he had arranged to meet Rachel.
“I’m escorting a celebrity,” Casey said as he parked in the rest area close to the information building. He popped out of the car as if he’d been tied down for a week, threw their trash in a can, and leashed Dakota. He took the dog to the pet area as a weary traveler walked by with two miniature poodles who barked with spirit, but Dakota ignored.
Leaning on the front of the vehicle, Danny scoured the area for Rachel. The descending sun and accumulation of billowy clouds made it harder to see people from a distance. However, the majority of folks coming and going seemed to be elderly vacationers or male truck drivers. Rachel would shine like a diamond in a pile of rocks.
“Let’s go in,” Casey said, letting Dakota jump back into the car and making sure all the windows were adequately cracked. The two men entered the building where the picture of motherhood sat on a bench.
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Rachel’s stunning eyes locked on Danny and made him catch his breath. When she opened her mouth and her seductive voice filled his ears, he was doubly sure why he’d been enamored with her. Julia sat on her lap facing them and he didn’t recognize his own child who’d grown out of the small infant stage. How could a baby be so pretty already? She looked like Rachel but Danny felt bad because she didn’t smile. Didn’t babies smile at almost anyone? It had been a long time since he knew what babies did and when.
“Danny, I said hello,” Rachel said. She nodded at Casey.
“Hello as well,” Danny said. “I’m sorry last weekend didn’t materialize but I’m looking forward to having Julia the next two days.”
“If it doesn’t interfere with your stardom appearances. Just make sure my daughter doesn’t get anywhere near that disease.” She rubbed her hand on Julia’s forehead and hair.
“Rachel, she won’t be going to the hospital.”
“Okay, I have her things in my car. I couldn’t carry them. I also wrote down her feeding schedule and have some jars in a bag to get you started. She already ate dinner and probably only needs a bottle before going to bed.” She turned Julia around and stood.
“I’ll take her if you want,” Danny said.
“Okay,” she said and placed Julia into Danny’s arms. The baby reached out for her mother and stayed that way during the walk to the car. Rachel’s thin, airy blouse caught a breeze and fluttered against her chest while she grasped her keys from her pocket.
“Casey, her car seat is on this side,” she said, opening the door. “And those two bags go with her.”
Casey transported the three items to Danny’s car where Rachel made sure he buckled the infant seat in properly. Dakota made circles of excitement behind them.
“Well, well, Dakota, look at you,” Rachel said at the same time. She put her hand over the back seat and rubbed his head.
“Are you working yet?” Casey asked.
“I’m not doing that Monday through Friday thing right now,” Rachel said. “I have Julia to take care of.”
Danny put Julia in the car seat and fastened the strap.
“So, same place on Sunday at 6 p.m.?” Rachel asked.
“I’ll be here,” Danny said.
“Bye, Dakota,” Rachel said into the car. “Bye, Julia.” She threw her baby a kiss as Julia’s arm again begged for her mother.
Chapter 16
Danny settled comfortably again in the driver’s seat for the easy trip west as he wouldn’t be fighting traffic heading out of Nashville. They drove in silence for the first few miles.
“She seems to be a good mother,” Danny finally said. “I’ll at least say that about her.”
Although Casey realized there were many years yet to come, he nodded. He turned around and noticed Julia’s eyes immediately dart to him. What was it about her? She seemed like a frightened animal watching his every move. She put part of her fist into her mouth. Her hand was wet and juicy when she took it away. Dakota edged his head over the seat trying to give her a lick.
Casey narrowed his eyes and turned towards Danny. “I just thought of something that happened after you sliced yourself with the saw. When Mary and I first saw you, Dakota was licking the dickens out of your hand.”
Danny raised his eyebrows. His pulse quickened as he tightened his grip on the steering wheel and he shot a glance at Casey.
“And who knows how long you let that happen before Mary admonished you,” Casey added, having clearly gotten his friend’s attention.
“Jeez, do you really think?” Danny asked. He didn’t wait for Casey’s reply, but forged ahead. “I’ve heard the possibility of dog’s saliva having antimicrobial effects, but we never heard anything about that in medical school or residency. What about paramedic training?”
“No, me neither. Maybe it’s a myth that circulates around without substantive documentation.”
“However, we make drugs from all sorts of mammals and organisms. Come to think of it, a new anticoagulant just came on the market that’s made from leech saliva.”
“And we’re looking for possibilities. You are an exception to the patient population getting PAM.”
Danny spied the image of his dog and baby in the rearview mirror. “I may have something to tell Joelle after all.”
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Arriving home, Danny cuddled Julia as he entered the kitchen with Dakota and Casey close behind. The girls were at his side in a momen
t looking wide-eyed at their half-sister.
“Who would like to hold her?” Danny asked.
Annabel and Nancy exchanged glances and both nodded.
“Wow, you both agree on something.”
“She’s really cute,” Nancy said.
“Which doesn’t make sense that she’s related to you,” Annabel said.
Nancy shot her arms beneath Danny’s and eased Julia into her arms. She stuck her tongue out at Annabel and walked gingerly into the great room where Mary got up from a chair to see them.
“I think she wants to get down,” Nancy said as Julia looked around at her new surroundings. After Nancy placed her on the rug, Dakota fetched his fringed pillow, dropped it and settled face-to-face in front of Julia, gently sniffing and nuzzling her. The baby’s serious facial expression melted away and, fascinated, she stared at Dakota while her hand patted at his face.
“Dad,” Annabel asked, “did Dakota know Julia from before?”
Danny moved a pile of Mary and Casey’s wedding invitations to the side of the coffee table and sat on the edge. “They met one day in Knoxville’s downtown market district. This may be rejuvenated love on their second visit.”
“It may end up being a special time for her,” Casey added, plopping down on the floor. “Maybe she’s never had so many people around that care about her.”
“Or a dog,” Annabel said, petting Dakota’s rump.
“I wish Grandma and Grandpa were still here,” Nancy said.
“They probably are, sweetheart,” Mary said. “They’re probably smiling at all of us and proud of such a close-knit family. We should count our blessings. The only thing we have to worry about right now is your dad, who is precariously close to a major health scare.”
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An hour later, Danny eyed his watch and the half-sleeping group before him. Dakota lay on his side and didn’t move a muscle as Julia had fallen fast asleep, tucked in between his front and back legs.
“I’ll help with Julia,” Annabel said when Danny rose and they all grabbed something to carry up the stairs. Danny placed Julia’s things in the set-up spare bedroom. Leaving her with his two older daughters, he went back downstairs to let Dakota out one more time.
Annabel placed Julia on the nursery table when she began to fuss and Nancy pulled out a diaper from the bag.
“I really don’t mind if you do this part,” she said as she put diaper wipes on the changing pad.
Julia squirmed like a wiggly worm. “Guess she’s overtired,” Annabel said. “It’s probably past her bedtime.”
Nancy unpacked the clothes Rachel had sent and put them away while Annabel unsnapped Julia’s playsuit and slid out her arms. Julia scrunched up her face and started to cry.
“Like me, she doesn’t like you messing with her,” Nancy said.
“Shut up.” Annabel pulled off Julia’s outfit and then removed her diaper. Julia stopped crying, almost holding her breath. “Here’s a present for you,” she said, handing it to Nancy who sat cross-legged on the floor.
“You idiot, just wait,” Nancy replied.
Annabel grabbed a wipe from the container then pulled up Julia’s legs. “Oh my God. What is that? A birthmark or something?”
Nancy jumped up alongside her sister. “Beats me, but it doesn’t look too good.” Julia flailed her arms while they studied her. “There’s another one,” Nancy said, “on the back of her arm.”
Dakota bounded into the room, Danny close behind. Annabel and Nancy’s earlier light-hearted expressions had soured. Also gone was the usual teenage look of confidence that they had mastered the world and needed no adult advice. Annabel’s slack jaw and Nancy’s wide eyes alerted Danny that something was amiss.
“What? What’s wrong?”
“I’m not sure, Dad,” Annabel said.
Julia continued to look warily at them as Annabel pointed to Julia’s buttocks and arm. Danny took the center position as the girls moved over.
As if someone had punched him in his gut, Danny felt winded; his heart sped and his mouth clenched as anger welled inside. He wanted to knock a hole in the wall, hug his baby close, and never let her go.
“Will one of you go rap on Mary and Casey’s door and ask them to come here?” he asked.
Nancy disappeared out the door without a word. Danny carefully examined Julia’s arms, legs and torso as well as her head and then turned her over for another critical look. Mary and Casey and Danny figured Nancy must have disturbed them because Casey was shirtless and his sister’s hair was a mess.
He stared into Casey’s eyes. “You two take a look at this,” Danny said. “Girls, we’ll talk tomorrow. Please go to bed now.”
“Dad …” Annabel pleaded.
“Really,” Danny said. “We’ll talk about this tomorrow.”
Mary patted them on the shoulders and they reluctantly left though they positioned themselves down the hallway as close as possible to eavesdropping.
Danny tempered his anger. “See these?” He pointed out the round, scab-like areas on Julia’s body. “From my days in medical school doing a pediatric rotation, I believe these are cigarette burns from a child abuser.”
Mary gasped. She had never seen physical marks on a baby like that nor was she even familiar with the topic. Tears welled in her eyes and she rested her hand on Danny’s arm.
Casey looked from Julia to Danny and shook his head. “You’re probably right. And look here.” Casey pointed to Julia’s left upper arm. “This looks like faint bruising. It’s what happens when someone grabs a baby’s arm real tight or even shakes it.”
“This is unmerciful!” Mary cried.
Danny’s thoughts now went straight to a neurosurgeon’s perspective of child abuse – shaken baby syndrome. He shuddered to think that someone had intentionally harmed his baby girl. Physical signs may not be visible, but medical findings of a subdural hematoma, retinal hemorrhage, and cerebral edema could be present. He clenched his fist. That scenario could result in a child’s permanent disability: blindness, behavioral and cognitive problems, even cerebral palsy.
As sadness washed over the three of them and the spell of their good fortune splintered, Danny put a clean diaper and sleeper on Julia and laid her in her crib. But not before giving her a tender hug.
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Casey closed their bedroom door as Mary settled Indian style against a pillow propped against the headboard.
“That bitch!” Casey blurted out. “That woman needs a dose of her own medicine.” He paced back and forth at the foot of the bed. “How could anyone do that to a baby, especially a mother? It’s implausible.” He tightened his hand into a fighting punch but then sunk to the floor and did twenty pushups, trying to divert his anger.
Mary dropped her head into her hands and slowly began to weep. When Casey made his last push off the floor, he noticed her distress. He got on the bed facing her and brought her soft hands into his.
“How does my brother get into these situations?” she sobbed. “Now his own innocent baby has been mutilated like an unwanted stray dog.”
“Shhhh. It’ll be okay. We’ll figure out what to do about this. That woman needs to be put behind bars.”
“She’s too conniving for that, Casey. She’s not like a common thief. She’s more sophisticated than that.”
Casey wrapped his thumbs over hers and gently stroked them. He leaned in and kissed her neck, savoring the fragrance of her hair; he licked her ear graced that was graced with a small birthstone.
“I love you,” he whispered. The back of his arm settled behind her while he pulled her flat along with the pillow. At once, he was on top of her as passion replaced sorrow and anger. Their lips found each other and their sparse sleepwear landed in a clump on the floor.
Chapter 17
What Danny had expected to be a joyous, eventful Saturday with all three of his daughters had turned into a quagmire.
He threw on a pair of blue jeans and a short-sleeved tee-shir
t, changed Julia, and went downstairs. No one else stirred, except for Dakota. He put milk in Julia’s bottle instead of the toddler cup Rachel had packed and went barefoot outside holding his daughter while Dakota disappeared down the hill.
A light rain had fallen during the night, leaving little beads of raindrops on the white dogwood petals and the hostas growing in the flower beds around the deck. Danny sat on the lounge chair with Julia, grateful that she seemed content. While she drank, she fixated in the direction that Dakota had run and when he galloped back, she dropped her bottle in Danny’s lap, swayed her hand and babbled at him.
Danny had two immediate concerns that needed to be dealt with and he wished he could snap his fingers to make them resolve them.
People were dying from meningoencephalitis. Talking again to Joelle and Ralph, perhaps seeing one or both of them, was imperative. As for Julia … his brain practically froze just thinking about her. If she was being abused, it would be sinful to give her back to her mother. He only had her for two days and yet the legal turnings of a family court didn’t spin on a Saturday or Sunday. And, in essence, he needed stat verification of the injuries she had.
For the first time in months, he was getting to see his baby girl and now it would be one big scramble to sort out this new development. Rachel sure knew how to dump on him. He felt high intracranial pressure inside his head like he was one of his own patients.
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Danny remembered his patient, Wanda Robinson. She had her infant with her the last visit, commented about her well-baby check, and had good things to say about the pediatrician in Danny’s building. On rare occasions in recent years, Danny had dealings with pediatricians for his youngest patients and he would occasionally see Dr. Thomas coming and going. The man had prematurely lost most of his hair and compensated with a ridiculously obvious toupee; Danny wondered if kids stared at his ‘rug’ while he examined them.