“Oh?” was all she could answer without betraying her thoughts.
“I’m sorry, that was mean. But Jess is convinced that she can do anything she wants on her own. She’s too stubborn and independent for her own good. For her sake, I hope she’s right.”
The more Lena learned about Jess, the more she wondered how she could be so different from her mother. But that wasn’t fair. She probably had lots of redeeming qualities.
After twenty minutes, the fancy sat-nav in Maggie’s car announced that they had to leave the highway, and Lena concentrated on the unfamiliar roads until they arrived at the hospital. She stopped in front of the main entrance.
“You go on in, and I’ll park the car. I’ll wait in the lobby until you’re finished.”
“Nonsense. Come with me. I’ll introduce you. And who can resist a peek at a newborn baby?” Maggie talked rapidly in an uncharacteristically high voice.
Honestly, Lena wasn’t eager to meet Jess, but she did love babies. And beneath the reasons Maggie had listed probably lurked the wish for backup. “You’re right, I can’t resist.”
After lucking out with a parking spot close to the entrance, they made their way inside. The main hall was cool and empty, and their steps echoed on the stone floor. Lena followed Maggie to the admission desk, where a bored-looking young woman worked behind a glass wall.
“Hello, I’m Mrs. Riley. I’m here to see my daughter, Dr. Jessica Riley.”
“Oh my God! Yes!” The woman’s oversized bun wobbled as she nodded. “Diana…um, I mean Dr. Petrell delivered the baby all on her own in the garden. Half-naked! She tore off her scrub shirt to cover the baby, like a superhero. It was awesome! Come in!” She pressed a button, and a door opened. “They’re in room seven.”
Garden? Maggie hadn’t said anything about that, and by the way she paled, maybe she hadn’t known. She stood frozen in front of the admission desk.
“Room seven. Thank you,” Lena said to the woman.
As Maggie hadn’t moved yet, Lena took her arm and led her through the door. The smell of disinfectant and fear assaulted her as soon as they entered the ER proper, reminding her of her grandma’s last day.
She leaned into the roses she carried and breathed against the knot in her stomach until it dissolved. Concentrate! Signs with numbers and arrows led her in the right direction. They reached room seven without meeting anyone. Lena was unsure of the protocol but decided knocking was the polite thing to do.
“What now?” A loud voice barked from the other side.
That seemed to rouse Maggie from her shock. She opened the door. “Jessica Eleanor Riley. Is that the way to answer a knocking?” Her tone was more exasperated than angry.
Suppressing a snicker, Lena followed Maggie inside. That was exactly the tone her grandma would have used on her. The last time she’d needed to, Lena hadn’t been older than fourteen.
A woman in her late thirties rested on a gurney. The headrest was up so she was more sitting than lying, and she cradled a tightly wrapped bundle in her arms. Her dark-blue scrubs contrasted with her pale face. Short dark hair was curly where sweat had plastered it to the temples. Her frown faded as she recognized her visitor. “Oh. Mom. Hi.”
And that sheepish tone was the same in which Lena would have answered fifteen years ago. Finally, something she could relate to.
“Here’s Ella, your granddaughter.” A proud smile spread on Jess’s face, and she glowed with the joy of new motherhood. It transformed her completely. Now her natural attractiveness outshone her exhaustion, and the cornflower blue eyes sparkled with the same beauty as Maggie’s.
Lena couldn’t help but smile with her.
Carefully, Maggie hugged her daughter and grandchild at once. After a moment, she retreated and stroked Jess’s face. “Oh, Jessi, you look tired. Are you okay?”
The love in her voice pricked Lena like the thorns of the roses she held. Her chest tightened until she had trouble breathing. She needed to get out of here. This was a private moment, and she had no right to intrude. She took a step back and collided with someone.
Strong hands grabbed her shoulders and steadied her. “Whoa. Careful. Beautiful roses.”
Lena turned around.
The woman she had bumped into smiled down at her. She was clad in the same dark-blue scrubs as Jess. Her dark hair was fastened in a short ponytail, but several strands had escaped and gave her a slightly informal look. “Hi, I’m Dr. Petrell. You must be family.”
Family? No amount of wishful thinking would make Lena part of a family again anytime soon. “No, no. I’m here as a friend to Maggie. She’s the family.”
Maggie witnessed the exchange with arched eyebrows.
“I have to leave now. Call me if you need anything. I’ll take the bus home.” Without meeting Maggie’s gaze, Lena held the flowers and the car key out to her.
As soon as Maggie took them, Lena fled from the room. This is not your family. She was alone and that had been her decision. Now she needed to own it.
All the way outside, she balled her fists and bit the inside of her cheek to keep the tears from falling.
Chapter Three
Jess stumbled over a stuffed penguin in her kitchen and nearly lost her precious cargo. If she hadn’t been so out of breath, she would have laughed at the absurdity of juggling half a dozen containers of breast milk.
Shouldn’t it be easier to get ready for work now than during her pregnancy? She no longer resembled a whale about to beach, but instead of feeling rejuvenated, Jess was tired and weak like never before. Even in the worst times of her residency, she hadn’t felt as sleep deprived as she did now.
Every time her mom had visited during the last four weeks, Jess had fallen asleep talking. She still hadn’t decided if she was embarrassed or grateful her mom had taken to sending her to bed like an overtired toddler.
And that had made her too
