"But I heard a baby crying. Doesn't Alexis need her bottle?"
Donna laughed and wiped her face with a warm facecloth. "You don't remember, do you?"
"Remember what?"
"It's not Alexis you heard but Sophia, Ryan told us that was what you were going to call your little girl. Sophia was born three days ago by Caesarean Section. It's Sophia who was crying. Do you want to hold her?"
"Sophia? My baby is alive!"
"Very much so. She is a healthy little girl who weighed just a little under three thousand grams, which isn't bad considering that she arrived in our world a couple of weeks early."
The nurse walked out of view and returned with a little bundle in a pink blanket. She lowered it and Karla reached out to hold the tiny baby in her arms before she erupted into tears. It was Sophia that she had heard crying and not Alexis!
"Now you are awake we will be able to bring on your milk to feed Sophia. Meanwhile I'll get a bottle for her. Real demanding little girl she is, Ryan said she was just like you."
Karla smiled and attempted to sit up.
"Careful, your head is bandaged and your limbs are scratched and bruised"
"I can't remember," Karla had a tissue handed to her and being extremely careful not to drop Sophia, she wiped her eyes.
"You were in a car accident on the motorway during a thunderstorm. Your car ran off the road and ended up in a ditch. In some ways you were lucky for your car was well away from the explosion. Another car sideswiped a truck bounced back from the concrete median barrier and exploded. The truck driver was also lucky to get out alive but the other car driver wasn't so fortunate. He was killed in the explosion."
Karla stared at the nurse. She remembered seeing the car explode but that was all. She remembered nothing else nor had any recollection of her baby's birth.
The little girl in her arms began to cry.
"Can you hold her while I get a bottle?"
Karla nodded. "Yes."
She glanced down and hugged the little girl. "Sorry I thought you were Alexis, Sweetheart," she whispered and kissed her on the forehead. "I'm your mummy and Alexis is your big sister. I'm sure she is so proud of you and your daddy would be too."
Donna handed her a bottle and for the first time, Karla fed her second daughter. "Fancy me missing the first three days of your life, Sophia but I'll make up for it now," she whispered and kissed the tiny baby again."
A few moments later a doctor appeared, introduced himself as the surgeon who had drained fluid off her brain. He spent half an hour talking to her about seemingly casual topics but Karla sensed he was testing her short and long-term memory. Apart from remembering little about the accident she could answer everything he asked. He took her blood pressure, blood and urine samples, shone a light in her eyes and asked her to do various things such as wiggling her fingers and toes and telling where she could feel pricks to various parts of her body. She could and he pronounced that she appeared to have made a complete recovery.
Karla nodded. "So why didn't I wake up for three days?"
"You were hit the side of your head by the buckled car door but luckily your seat belt and the airbag protected you. You had to be cut out of your vehicle. As well as tending to your abrasions we had to relieve a pressure build up on your brain." The surgeon smiled. "We will take a few more tests tomorrow but I anticipate no problems, Karla. All going well, you should be able to go home on Wednesday," he said.
"It's Monday now; is that correct?"
"Yes. So just relax now and enjoy your lovely little girl."
*
It was dawn when Karla woke for a second time and glanced around. Beside her was a tiny bassinet and she could see Sophia asleep under a pink blanket. She turned and gasped for the room was filled with vases of flowers and as well dozens of cards and small gifts that covered a shelf, placed along a window sill and cards were even suspended across the room on a string.
Donna the nurse arrived. "We've given special permission for Ryan and Alexis to come in even though it is only a little after six in the morning. You must be hungry. Can I get you an early breakfast before I go off my shift?"
"Thank you," Karla said. "Just a light one, though."
"Fine," Donna replied. "Everyone was worried about you, you know?"
"No I didn't," Karla replied and Donna laughed. “So what's wrong?"
"Absolutely nothing. Ryan said you were the stubborn sort and to watch out if you woke up. Hear you run a thousand pupil high school."
"Junior high."
"I stand corrected." Donna laughed again and waved at the cards, flowers and gifts. "By the look of all these you must be pretty popular. The number of students in that flash yellow uniform turning up at our Nurses Station just about overwhelmed us." She grinned. "But who are those in the navy blue uniform?""
Karla frowned. "That would be Joseph Ward Senior High. Did one student come from there, too?"
"A whole group of them. The girls even held Sophia and said they liked the cooking at your place, whatever that meant."
"Quite a few of them come to our cafeteria for breakfast. It's run by a private firm and they do have great food."
Donna nodded. "Different from my day. I went to a boarding school and the food was pretty bland. The matron believed in healthy food but why does healthy food have to taste like cardboard?"
Karla laughed. "I guess if it tastes nice it's not healthy."
They were interrupted when there was a patter of feet and Alexis ran in. "Mummy!" she screamed and leaped into her arms. "Daddy said you were just having a long sleep." She cuddled into Karla before smiling at her. "Did you know I've got a baby sister, Mummy and she's called Sophia?"
"Yes, Sweetheart," Karla whispered. "There she is in the bassinet over there." She nodded at the other side of the bed.
"So it is,” Alexis said. "Daddy said I used to be that tiny but Sophia will grow big like me one day."
"Oh she will but where is Daddy, anyway?"
"He's coming," Alexis said with a shrug. "You know he always takes ages."
It was Donna who laughed. "I'll get your breakfast," she said and glanced At Alexis. "Would you like a chocolate drink, Alexis?"
"Yes please," Karla's elder daughter replied.
Ryan walked in and just stood there grinning. "Hi," he said and just sort of waved his hand.
"Well aren't you going to give me a kiss?" Karla retorted.
"Don't know," he replied. "After wiping the car off, ignoring your daughters and sleeping for three days...."
"Ryan!" Karla almost yelled and turned to the grinning nurse. "And he said I was the stubborn one!"
*
After Ryan told her everything about the accident that he had found out, her memory was jogged and most of the events came back to her mind.
"The driver of the other car purposely tried push me off the road, Ryan," she said. "He rammed into the side of me at least three times."
" I know," Ryan replied. "The truck driver witnessed everything and confirmed exactly that."
"The nurse said the car driver was killed. Is that right?"
Ryan nodded.
"So who was he?"
Ryan shrugged. "The police know but have not released a name yet. All I have found out is that it was a middle-aged man. They want to come and speak to you but I said you still aren't fit to be interviewed until tomorrow." He frowned. "I was worried about both you and the baby so gave my permission for you to have a Caesarean Section. The surgeon said Sophia would not suffer by being two weeks early and by doing that they could administer more powerful drugs into your system without worrying about affecting her. I hope I made the right decision."
"You did, Sweetheart. She seems all right but is there anything they haven't told us?"
"Sofia is perfect. It was you that they were worried about. After they drained fluid off your brain, they expected you to awaken earlier and said there was a slight chance that you could be affected."
"Yes, th
e surgeon gave me quite a rigorous examination last night and I've got some more tests today. He did say I was okay, though."
Ryan nodded. "Yes, he said the same to me a few minutes ago. That's why I arrived so long after Alexis ran in."
*
Ryan stayed until mid-morning to wait until she had had her tests. Again, the surgeon said she did remarkably well but he would still wait until Wednesday before she was released. After the day nurse had to almost throw Ryan out Karla found herself quite sleepy and dropped off.
She awoke to find it was early afternoon and a lunch arrived. She fed Sophia with the bottle again but was told her own milk should arrive before she was discharged. After lunch she was lying back with Sophia in her arms when the nurse came in.
"There's a young woman who who'd like to see you. She said she's a teacher at your school. Is that okay?"
"Sure," Karla replied.
She was a little surprised when a serious looking Avery Francis walked in with a huge bunch of flowers in her arms.
"Hi Avery," she said. "What wonderful flowers. I didn't expect to see you but it is so nice of you to come."
Avery smiled slightly. "Felicja is putting a reliever in my room after lunch hour and said I don't have to rush back." Her chin sort of quivered. "I'm so sorry, Karla."
Karla studied the young woman. It did seem a little strange that she came to visit before any of the other teachers, not that she minded. There did, though seem to be something on her mind.
"I'm fine and so is my little girl. There's nothing to be sorry about."
Avery still looked serious as she accepted an invite to sit down in the chair beside the bed. "What is it, Avery?" Karla asked.
"Oh Karla, that guy who tried to run you off the road was my step-father, Elliot Jones. He was granted bail on a technicality and was due to come up on trial in February next year." She was almost in tears. "I told the police I was prepared to give evidence and they upped his charges to rape."
"But wasn't he recalled to jail after he attacked you?"
"Apparently the parole board reviewed his case and he was allowed parole just two weeks ago. Neither Mum nor myself were told this had happened. His lawyers argued that he should be allowed bail until his trail and they were successful." Avery grimaced. "When I heard you had awoken, I wanted to explain everything to you. It was Felicity who said I should come here and gave me the time off."
Karla smiled. "And I'm so glad you did but don't blame yourself. I was told that the driver of the other car had died."
"Yes. Mum and I had to identify him in the morgue," Avery shuddered. "He was barely recognisable with all the burns. That's something I wouldn't want to go through again."
"So if he's dead, it takes all the worry of both you and Natalie having to give evidence at his trial, doesn't it?"
"That's what Mum said. I know we shouldn't speak ill of the dead but I'm so glad it was him who was killed and not you."
"Thanks Avery," Karla said. "Sophia's due to wake up for her bottle soon. Would you like to give it to her?"
Avery smiled. "Oh Karla, I love to. And how is she... you too."
"We're both fine." Karla grinned and asked a nurse if she'd find a vase for the flowers. "So how's everything going with Hunter and yourself?"
Avery grinned. "Pretty good. Next week we're going to...." She continued on with all the news and made Karla feel a little ashamed. With everything else that had been going on at school she should have spent more time just dropping into Avery's room to chat.
"And your Mum? I'll have to go and visit her some time."
"She's good. I think she's coming into see you." Avery laughed. "I reckon half the staff will be paying you a visit. You'll probably need to stay an extra couple of days to recover from exhaustion. The kids, too. My class are doing the sewing unit in manual and most of the girls have elected to make baby clothes for wee Sophia."
"How grand. Thank you but what about the boys?"
Avery laughed. "They love sewing too, you know but are mainly making t-shirts with printed slogans on them. One's making a tiny raincoat with a cape for Sophia, though."
"A raincoat?"
"That's what I asked Mark. He said that babies also get wet if it rains. He's got a baby brother at home so seems quite keen on them."
"And why not?" Karla laughed. "Tell him I'm looking forward to seeing it."
"No," Avery said with a chuckle. "It's mean to be a surprise. All of the baby clothes are."
*
CHAPTER 16
It took Karla a few days to admit that she was somewhat weakened by her accident, wounds and Caesarean Section. She had also forgotten how about the sleepless nights there were with a new baby. Ryan rose to the occasion and often she would awaken to find him giving Sophia a bottle. Her own milk had arrived but in a small quantity so at night she supplemented it with a bottle, hence the ability of Ryan to help.
"Hi," he said as he changed the baby on one such occasion. "Just relax."
Karla did and lay there with thoughts crossing her mind about school to why Avery's step-father had sort her out for vengeance. She tossed and turned before finally falling asleep to awaken to find the sun shining in the front windows. Their bedroom was upstairs above the shops and faced east so was perfect in the morning. She lay there and noticed that Sophia was gone and a large note on the dresser stated that the girls were both fine, he'd taken them both and was dropping Alexis off at the crèche, the washing was in the machine and she was to enjoy her solitude for an hour or so. After a relaxing bath, she dressed and made herself some breakfast. It was almost ten o'clock and the latest breakfast she'd had in years.
Her mobile rang!
Damn, so much for the solitude! She answered and recognised Vivian's voice.
"What's wrong, Vivian?" She suppressed a sigh.
"Little irritations that I thought you might like to be brought up to date on."
"Can't one of the DPs deal with it?"
With Belinda over in her new position at Westview Intermediate there were now three deputy principals who agreed to share the last few weeks of the academic year."
"No, they're the trouble. It's like the Goldilocks and the three bears here."
Karla grinned. "An interesting analogy but I don't see the connection."
"You know the beds in the fairy tale."
"Oh I get it, one's too hard and the other one's too soft?"
"Yes, Michael stood up at assembly yesterday and roared his head off about all the sports equipment being left out in the field after lunch hour and moaned on about the bus line behaviour after school... need I go on?"
"Sounds like Michael but I get the picture."
"Felicja is the complete opposite and tries to be chummy with everyone. It works in her syndicate where she is well liked and known but throughout the whole school the kids just have her on."
"Okay so we have the hard and soft beds. What about Sandra over at Gannet Syndicate; wouldn't she make a bed that was just right?"
"Unfortunately no. She's coming across as being indecisive. I guess she realises that Michael is trying to be the big guy and that Felicja is being too friendly but finds she cannot balance their differences. I think she's becoming stressed out. We've had more than double the parents’ complaints in just a few days and the whole school tone has gone down. You know, petty arguments in the corridors, kids getting back to classes late and so forth." She continued on with quite a list of what was happening. At the end of the year, especially with those leaving, the more relaxed classroom work and hot weather, this always happened but it did seem to be worse than it should be.
"I haven't told any of the DPs I was ringing you, so can you keep it confidential?"
"Sure Vivian. I'll come across."
"Thanks Karla. Sorry to bring this all to your notice."
"No. I'm glad you did. I’ll try to be there before lunch hour."
*
Karla arrived at school at quarter to one and lifted Sophia
out of the car from her back seat restraint that converted to a carrycot. The little girl was asleep as she carried her across the car park towards the cafeteria. She frowned for she could hear loud voices coming from within. As she stepped into the foyer, a boy rushed by and almost bumped into her. He turned, noticed who it was and apologised. She watched as he headed inside and heard his words before the automatic doors closed.
"Shut up you guys," he shouted. "The boss is outside!"
"So what?” a muffled voice responded.
"The real boss, you idiot. Karla's here!"
By now Karla had stepped to the door that slid open again to let her in. At the same time the loud voices stopped as she walked through a second door and just stood there. The cafeteria was crowded and the only noise was that of footsteps and the sound of chairs being banged against tables as twenty or more students made a hasty retreat to sit behind a table. She had no idea what they had been doing but by the expectant looks on the diners' faces, it was something stupid.
A congested muddle of students waiting to be served became a neat row with a couple of embarrassed looking boys even stepping aside for a group of girls to slip into place. It appeared that just seconds before they had been trying to squeeze the same girls out. Further out in the seating area, not everything could be hidden in such a short time. Paper littered the floor and in one place someone had spilled a drink. Heads were down as the students made mad pretences of eating their food.
Karla said nothing but walked forward in now complete silenced. Nearby was a girl carrying a tray of food that she had just purchased. As she walked by one of the tables, a youth who also had his back to Karla purposely stuck his foot out, the girl tripped and her tray, including a glass of flavoured milk crashed to the floor. The glass splintered into a thousand pieces and milk splashed everywhere. As well, a filled roll splattered tomatoes, lettuce and other ingredients splattered across the floor.
"Clumsy," the boy laughed before he must have realised there was complete silence in the room. Karla saw him turn, see her and heard his oath. "Oh hell!"
The girl who had fallen to her knees stood and stared at her ruined lunch before she also caught Karla's eyes.
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