CHAPTER NINE
~ April 28, 1973 (cont.)
Anxious as he was to check on Esther, Johnny knew she was in good hands with Roy, and, truth be told, with Morton, too. He also knew Leah needed him now more than her mother did, so he waited by the entrance, standing next to the squad, watching for Sarah's car. What seemed an eternity later, the three of them raced over to the desk, where Roy and Dixie were waiting.
"Well," Johnny asked.
"Where's Ima," Leah demanded. "Where's my new sister?"
Dixie smiled. "What makes you so sure it's a girl," she asked Leah sweetly.
"It has to be," Leah explained with the impeccable logic of a nearly-five-year-old. "Since Abba's gone, Ima says it's just us girls. So it has to be a girl."
Dixie's smile widened. "I don't know about that," she winked at Roy, "but your new brother is upstairs in a part of the hospital called NICU, where we take care of babies, and your ima is right in there," she nodded toward treatment four, "with Dr. Morton."
"Brother?" The emotions danced quickly across Leah's face. Disappointment, confusion, then excitement. "Brother!" she squealed.
At that moment, Dr. Morton joined them.
They all spoke at once:
"Well," asked Johnny.
"How is she," asked Roy.
"Where's Ima," asked Leah.
Dr. Morton laughed. "Easy," he chuckled. He turned to Leah. "Your mom's right in that room," he pointed to the door from which he had just come. "She's fine. Dr. Hamm's in with her now, and we're going to admit her, but, all things considered, she's just fine and should be out of here in no time.
"Before you ask, the baby's fine, too. He's been taken to the NICU for observation because he's so early, but Dr. Hamm is confident he can be moved to the regular nursery as soon as tomorrow." He squatted so he and Leah were eye-to-eye. "I think your family will all be together very soon." He stood, and offered Roy his hand. "You did a good job."
"You- " Johnny stammered. "You delivered him?"
Roy nodded and smiled. "Didn't you say the father ran track? Well, it looks like he's his father's son." Johnny seemed dazed. "You ok there, Junior?"
"Huh? Yeah. Yes, of course. It just happened so fast." He smiled. "Thanks, Partner."
"Is there any way to see the baby," Sarah asked.
"There's a window," Morton told her. "The NICU can be upsetting, but your little guy didn't need any IV's or assistance breathing, so it should be ok, but-"
Dixie cleared her throat as she came out from behind the desk. "We don't usually allow such young visitors," she told Leah, "but maybe, just this once, for a special mishpuchah." She offered the child her hand. "Family, right?"
"How'd you know that," Johnny asked.
Dixie and Leah laughed. "You told me," Dixie replied.
"I did?" Johnny searched his memory. "Oh, man. I did, didn't I?" He blushed. "I guess Esther was right to have you ride in," he mumbled to Roy.
Sarah took Leah's free hand. "You're a big sister now, Shayna. Are you ready?"
"I want Dohd Johnny to come."
The tones of the handie-talkie answered for him. "I wish I could, Kiddo," he tapped the radio, "but this says we have to go back to work. There are other people out there that need our help. You blow your brother a kiss for me, and I'll be back to see him and Ima as soon as I can."
~ April 30, 1973
Johnny sauntered into the room as Esther latched the small suitcase Sarah had brought with her toiletries and change of clothes. "Let me do that." He grabbed the bag and placed it on the floor beside the bed.
"What are you doing here," Esther asked, sitting gingerly on the bed. "I thought you were working today."
"I am, tonight. One of the guys is covering for me, but only half a shift, which leaves me plenty of time to drive you home." He grinned. "Doc says the little guy's following you out of here tomorrow."
She nodded. "With everything that's happened, and his coming early, I was so afraid, but Dr. Hamm said he's strong. We have to stay a few more weeks before he'll be clear to fly, but if things keep going the way they have been, we should be home in time for Leah's birthday." She sighed. "I am thinking about leaving Los Angeles right away, though. Maybe the train or a bus to my folks in New York." Johnny's face fell, but he remained silent. "I know. Sarah and Eli are amazing, and they've invited us to stay for as long as we want. And you've been wonderful, and Leah loves you all so much, but is it really safe here?"
"Sure," Johnny enthused. "I know there's been all that trouble around the program at the university, but nothing's happened off campus." She raised an eyebrow. "Ok, for a second I forgot that the temple isn't actually on campus, but that's the only thing to happen since you left there, right?"
"I suppose."
"And … well … " He took a deep breath. "We love you guys. Mishpuchah, right?"
She smiled, then finally said, "I'll think about it. No promises, mind you, but I will think about it."
He returned her smile. She suddenly reminded him of his own mother, whose promises to "think about it" in that same tone always ended well for him.
A few minutes later, the nurse showed up with the wheelchair. Esther got settled, Johnny placed her bag in her lap, then took charge. They were soon parked outside the nursery.
"I don't want to leave without him," Esther sighed.
Johnny laid a hand on her shoulder. "It's only one night," he pointed out, "and I'm off tomorrow. If you want me to drive you guys."
She reached up and patted his hand. "I'd like that."
It wasn't long before they were safely back at Sarah and Eli's, and after hugs and kisses all around, Esther was settled on the couch with Leah wrapped in her arms.
"We have to discuss the bris," said Sarah matter-of-factly. Esther sighed. "What's wrong?"
She smiled sadly. "Nothing. Not wrong, exactly. I just wish the whole family could be here."
"But Ima," said Leah, "the family is here. We have Sarah v'Eli and Dohd Johnny."
"Yes, Ahoovatee, but I wish Grandma and Grandpa and Saba and Savta could be here, too."
Leah furrowed her brow in thought. "We'll take lots of pictures," she stated. "And Sarah and Eli are like a saba v'savta, right?"
Esther grimaced slightly. "Yes, they are, but we can't call them that."
"Why not," Leah demanded.
"You don't want to hurt Saba and Savta's feelings," Sarah offered kindly.
Leah stuck out her lip in a pout, to which Eli replied, "If you insist, Shayna, you could call us Bubbe and Zaide."
Esther smiled. "That's lovely," she said. "Thank you."
"What does it mean," Leah asked.
"Well," her mother began, "you know that saba v'savta and grandmother and grandfather mean the same thing." The little girl nodded. "And for Abba's ima v'abba we use the Hebrew, and for my mom and dad we use the English."
"I know," Leah whined.
"Bubbe and zaide means grandmother and grandfather in Yiddish."
Leah giggled with delight and ran to Eli. "Zaide," she crowed, and threw her arms around his neck. She then popped over to Sarah and repeated the hug. "Bubbe!"
Esther yawned. "Why don't you head on upstairs," Eli suggested. "We can work this out later."
Esther nodded. "There is one thing I'd like to settle now." She turned to Johnny. "John, would you be our sendak."
His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open. Without even knowing what a sendak was, he knew from the expression Esther wore that it was important. "Um … uh … Yeah, yes! I'm honored … I think. What's a sendak?"
Esther smiled as she rose and stepped to him. "You'll hold the baby at the bris. It's very important, not unlike a godfather." Johnny was speechless. Before he could find the words, Esther had kissed his cheek and headed for the stairs.
He was suddenly aware of a tugging at his hand. "Dohd Johnny," Leah sounded exasperated. It was then he realized she's been calling his name. He bent to her, where she kissed his other cheek. She then turned, and she and her mother went upstairs.
