Everything Changes with One Call
Charlotte's Web, Chapter 2
As Amber and Alex's phone call continued, Amber sighed heavily and paused. She did not know where to begin even though she'd rehearsed the conversation in her head for hours, "Alex, Sophie had a baby about 9 months after you guys broke up and graduated from college. She has always known the baby was yours, but she did not list you on the birth certificate. She didn't want you to be troubled by having to take care of the two of them while you were going to medical school." Jo was about half a step ahead of Alex, and Alex pulled back on Jo's hand.
Looking ashen, Alex tilted his head toward an empty waiting area they had just passed. Amber wasn't kidding when she'd asked if he was sitting down. They came to a set of chairs and he sat down, taking about three or four deep breaths and sitting in stone silence. He briefly let go of Jo's hand and ran his hand on top of his head. He looked at Jo, slowly shook his head, and reached out for Jo's hand again. Jo sat next to him, not having any idea whatsoever what was going on. Even so, she could tell that Alex was very troubled by what his sister had to share.
Alex was stunned and slowly said, "Wow… ummmm… I don't know what to say, Amber." Amber simply agreed, "I know." Alex asked, "Have you known about this all along?" Amber explained, "I knew Sophie had a baby – I mean, nothing goes unnoticed around here. Everyone knew she had a baby shortly after she graduated, but she'd never told anyone any details. Then yesterday, Sophie asked if I knew how to get a hold of you, and I told her I was pretty sure I could figure out how to be in touch." Alex shook his head and asked, "So… so… why does she want to get a hold of me now? This is so out of left field." Silence lingered on the line for a few moments before Amber offered, "Well, Alex, the news just keeps piling on. Sophie is in the end stages of breast cancer. She's dying, and she wants you to know the truth."
Alex breathed in and out heavily and looked at Jo. Jo, still oblivious to the content of the conversation, smiled gently and just held his hand. Alex responded to Amber while looking at Jo, "Holy crap. How sad. She's dying, huh? That sucks." Amber continued, "Sophie's parents died many years ago, and she doesn't have any siblings. She's hoping you'll take care of your daughter, Charlotte." Alex sputtered in response as he sat in a daze, "Umm..well, sure. I could … umm … send some money or help out or something."
Amber sighed, "Oh, Alex, don't be so clueless." Alex looked up at the ceiling and asked, "What do you mean?" Amber paused and let the silence linger once again. Finally, she said slowly, "Alex, Sophie wants to assign you custody of your daughter. She's hoping you'll agree and assume it. She has paperwork from a lawyer already drawn up that amends the birth certificate and states that you are Charlotte's father. The last thing any of us want is for Charlotte to become a ward of the state, but I guess what happens is really up to you." Alex sat looking at the wall and clenching Jo's hand without saying a word. Amber spoke, inquiring, "Alex?" Alex responded, "Yeah, I'm here, Amb. This is a lot to take in."
A voice came over the hospital PA system announcing, "Dr. Karev, call 516. Dr. Karev, 516." The hospital switchboard still hadn't gotten used to using Jo and Alex's first names along with their last name when announcing pages. Not knowing which Dr. Karev was being summoned, the couple was constantly answering one another's pages. Extension 516 was the NICU. Jo nodded and said softly, "I'll respond. Are you ok if I go?" Alex nodded his head and kissed Jo's hand as he spoke to his sister, "Amber, I… I just got married. Now you're telling me all this. I guess I'll fly out as soon as I can. Assure Sophie that we'll get this all sorted out. Does the kid know all this?" Amber explained, "The kid? Charlotte knows that her mom chose not to tell her dad about her all these years. She's heard he's a successful and smart doctor who doesn't know about her. She doesn't know her father's name or where he lives. She doesn't know it's you." Alex leaned back in his chair, slouched down and rested his head on the back of the chair. "I'll call you later, Amber. I gotta let this all soak in."
Alex sat without movement staring at the ceiling for at least half an hour. He wished there was an instantaneous way to take in all the information he'd just learned. Simply receiving a random phone call from Amber had been obscure enough. Now, he'd learned about Sophie's imminent death and that he had a daughter. He thought to himself, How in the hell am I going to explain all this to Jo? Oh, hey, Josie, guess what? You're a step-mom and the kid is coming to live with us!
As Alex sat in shock with his eyes closed, Meredith walked by and spotted him in the waiting area. Jokingly, she approached him and asked, "Excuse me, Sir, are you waiting for an update on a patient?" Alex lifted his head and Meredith could see the combination of numbness and shock on Alex's face. She asked compassionately as she sat next to him, "Oh my God, Alex, what's wrong?" Alex breathed in audibly and blinked his eyes, "Sheesh, Mer, I just talked to my sister, and my life was just turned upside down." Mer leaned in closer, asking, "Why? What happened? Is your mom ok?" Then Meredith stood up and walked over to the water cooler, returning with a full cup and handing it to Alex. "Thanks," Alex said, "Well, I'll just say it." Meredith nodded, "Ok." "So I just learned that my college girlfriend was pregnant when we broke up around the time we graduated. She had the kid and never told anyone I was the father. Now she's dying and is hoping I'll raise the kid." The two sat silently, then Alex added, "It's a girl, Mer. I've got a daughter. I don't know how old she is… ummm," he paused to do the math in his head, "probably around 15 and her name is Charlotte. At least Sophie chose a good name."
Meredith locked her gaze on Alex to assess how he was coping. "Alex," she offered, "this is huge news. What are you going to do?" Alex shrugged blankly, "Well, if I'm the kid's dad, then I have a responsibility. I guess I'm heading to Iowa to become a dad."