CHAPTER 9
Sophie woke slowly. It was dark outside. The light from over her bed casting a soft glow over the room. Seeing Bosco sleeping in the recliner next to the bed, she smiled. Poor guy, she thought. She had been terrible to him when all he had been doing was trying to help.
"How are you?"
Sophie looked toward the door, where a nurse stood, light flooding in the room behind her. "Fine. How long has he -"
"He just came back about an hour ago," the nurse made some notations on her chart.
Sophie studied him again. He had helped her through childbirth, finished his shift and come back to the hospital. No wonder he was sleeping.
"Are you ready for your daughter?" The nurse didn't wait for an answer before rolling the plastic crib into the room.
Sophie was enthralled with her daughter. It seemed almost like a dream to finally see her. The fine dusting of hair on her head showed a light brown which was likely to get darker with age. Likewise, her eyes were the same shade of brown-green that her mother had. Sophie couldn't resist laying her down and unwrapping the blanket to examine the rest of her and marvel that the tiny person had been entrusted to her care.
The nurse returned to advise her on nursing and answer any questions Sophie might have. The baby took to nursing with no trouble and as the nurse was returning the baby to the nursery, Sophie requested a blanket and pillow for Bosco, who was still sleeping soundly in the recliner.
The nurse returned with the items, remarking, "That husband of yours must love you an awful lot; most husbands don't say at the hospital overnight and they sure don't threaten to arrest the night nurse."
The reference to Bosco being her husband caught her attention. The fact that he threatened one of the nurses held it. "Excuse me?"
The nurse went on. "When he came back, it was after visiting hours and Emma, the head nurse, told him to come back tomorrow. Well, he threatened to arrest her. My goodness, I never saw her back down so fast in all the time I've been under her. Anyway, he said he was comin' to stay with you whether she liked it or not."
Sophie extended apologies for her 'husband's' behavior and made a mental note to speak to Bosco about the incident before falling asleep again.
CHAPTER 10
Bosco slowly became aware of a baby crying and remembered where he was. At the hospital. With Sophie. And the baby.
"Good morning."
"Morning. What time is it?" He stood, working the stiffness from his body before joining Sophie at the sink where she was bathing the baby.
"A little before eight. I hope we didn't wake you," she dipped the tiny square of cloth in the sink before running it over the baby's flailing legs.
Bosco waved away her remark as the baby caught his full attention. "This her?"
"No, this is the one they bring to new mothers to practice on so we don't screw up our own," she turned to get a dry towel from the shelf behind Bosco and found him staring at her. "Of course, this is her."
He moved a little closer to observe the tiny girl. He thought she looked like Sophie - or she would very soon. They had the same eyes and coloring; no doubt she would look like her mother. He wondered if she would have her mother's sarcastic wit.
"Well," Sophie interrupted his thoughts. "what do you think?"
He moved to let her pass to the bed to dress the baby. "I think she looks like you."
"What'cha think, Gracie?" she said as she put the diaper on, followed by a tiny pink t-shirt.
Bosco watched her deftly dress the baby and wrap her in a blanket. She had to have experience with babies to be so proficient. "Gracie? That's her name?"
"Lillian Grace," she supplied. "Would you like to hold her?"
Bosco started to protest. He might do something wrong or something.
"Here," Sophie plopped the baby in his arms before he had time to finish. "Just hold her head; she won't break."
Bosco stared at the tiny face, from under the pink knit hat. And promptly lost his heart.
Sophie watched the play of emotion cross his face. All at once, he looked scared to death and honored to be trusted with the tiny being in his arms.
Gracie squirmed a little and let out a cry. Bosco thought she sounded like a stuck cat, albeit a very adorable stuck cat, and started to give her back to Sophie.
She crossed her arms, refusing to take her. She was going to make him do this. "She's fine; she's been fed, she's dry. Why don't you rock her? I'm sure she'll go to sleep. It's been a big morning for her."
Holding her close, Bosco returned to the recliner and rocked her gently, until Sophie returned her to the plastic crib. She didn't want to make the mistake of holding the baby while she slept.
Assisting her back into bed, Bosco noticed the weariness creeping into Sophie's eyes. "I think she's not the only one who needs a nap."
Sophie grinned sheepishly. He was right and he knew it. "Bosco, I want to thank you. I -"
"-know already." He interrupted. "Go to sleep. I'll get your overnight bag and be back before I have to go to work."
She caught his hand before he left, teasing, "Hey, don't threaten the nurses anymore, huh?"
He did have the decency to look a little embarrassed before she closed her eyes, hearing him whisper, "Get some sleep".
CHAPTER 11
Bosco returned to the hospital about three hours later, Sophie's bag and his own gear in tow, to find her room packed with guests - mainly grandmotherly types. He thought he might have the wrong room until he heard someone telling Sophie that she had another visitor - a male visitor.
Bosco felt himself grow warm at their teasing. He hung his uniform on a doorknob and dropped his and Sophie's bags to the floor before edging his way to her side. Gracie was being passed around, blissfully sleeping.
"The quilting ladies from church came to see Grace and bring her a quilt they just finished," Sophie explained, moving over so Bosco could perch next to her on the bed.
Taking in the various flowers and balloons placed around the room, Bosco commented for Sophie's ears alone, "Apparently that's not the only thing Gracie's gotten."
"Work and church," Sophie said by way of explanation.
The women oohed and aahed over Gracie for a few more minutes before the ringleader, as Bosco classified her, stood suddenly and announced, "Ladies, I think it's time we take our leave. Maybe if we depart these two will take the hint and get on with things."
"Mrs. Grayson!" Sophie felt her face grow warm at the implication the older woman had made of her and Bosco's relationship.
So this was the infamous Mrs. Grayson. This was the woman whose imaginary chest pain had caused him and Faith to transport Sophie to the hospital the day they met. Sophie was right; this woman was probably healthier than he was. Bosco smiled at the woman but otherwise remained silent.
Mrs. Grayson returned the baby to Sophie, making one last comment. "Well someone has to point out the obvious to you two; might as well be me."
Sophie waited until the door closed behind the group before speaking. "I am so sorry, Bosco."
"For what? You didn't do anything." He moved around the room checking out the mostly pink flowers. He hadn't thought to bring her any.
"It's just that the ladies are having a hard time believing that I'm having the baby alone," she went on as if he hadn't spoken, laying Grace in the plastic crib.
"Soph," he interrupted, returning to stand next to her. "in case you forgot, you already had the baby and you weren't alone."
Now she felt foolish. She'd been so busy babbling, trying to excuse Mrs. Grayson's matchmaking that she'd implied Bosco hadn't been with her when Gracie was born. "I just mean that I'm a single parent, not that you weren't a help to me."
"Was this before or after you accused me of picking a fight and telling me to shut up?" Bosco teased.
Sophie looked at him, confused. "I didn't - " The vague memory came back. "Maurice, I'm sorry. I never - " Tears gathered as feelings of guilt overwhelmed her.
Her use of his given name caused Bosco to wish he could take back his words; she always did that when she was feeling over-emotional. Instead, he moved to take her in his arms. "Soph, hey, I was jokin'. C'mon, nurse Emma's gonna throw me out." He felt useless. Leave it to him to make her cry.
Sophie pulled back but remained in his arms. "I really am sorry about that. I didn't mean it."
"It's fine, Soph. Faith explained it to me," Bosco reassured her. Faith had also explained about postpartum; he only hoped it didn't get any worse than this. "C'mon now, you're going to start Grace to crying if you don't stop and then I'm sure they won't let me back in to take you home."
She smiled at his really, really bad attempt to cheer her up. "By the way, new parents get a nice dinner before they leave and I know you're not Grace's father and we're just friends but you were with me when she was born and well - would you?"
Bosco really was trying to follow what she was saying. He hoped the experience of childbirth hadn't short-circuited Sophie's brain but he couldn't for the life of him figure out what she was asking. "Huh?"
"I wanted to know if you would like to share that dinner with me?" She explained.
He didn't need to be asked three times. "Sure. When?"
"The night before I'm discharged."
"Which will be -?"
"Tomorrow night. Can you get time to come by? I know that's in the middle of your shift so if it won't work, then that's fine too." She was babbling again.
"They're letting you go that soon?" He thought she'd be in the hospital longer. But then, he'd never been around anyone who'd just given birth. He didn't know how long a woman stayed in the hospital.
"That's longer than most hospitals keep new mothers," Sophie explained. "So can you?"
Dinner. "Sure. I've got some personal time."
Grace had been returned to the nursery so Sophie could nap; Bosco changed into uniform in the tiny bathroom in her room so he could stay with Sophie longer. He would have preferred to not go in at all but knew that would fuel whatever rumors were going around at the station; no doubt everyone had heard when Sully had summoned him yesterday. He was going to have to face it sometime.
"You need to go home tonight." He heard her order softly as he was straightening his tie.
He kicked his bag out of the way, crossing to her bed. He had been so intent on being quiet, he didn't realize Sophie had roused from her nap. "I'll be back after my shift."
Sophie shook her head. "No, I want you to get some sleep tonight."
"I slept just fine last night," he adjusted his belt so he could perch next to her on the bed.
"Bosco, I'm serious. I want you to go home tonight."
"So am I. Now, I'll call you and see you later." Without thinking, he leaned down and brushed his lips across her cheek. "Now, go back to sleep."
He left before she could protest again.
CHAPTER 12
"How's Sophie?" Faith met up with her partner on her way to roll call. Not too surprised to see him already in uniform.
"Fine. So's Grace," Bosco took his seat and hoped that would be the end of the issue. At least until they got in the car.
"Hey, Coach Bosco," Davis called upon entering the room. "How'd that game turn out?"
Bosco rolled his eyes. Oh, the fun was just getting started. "Fine."
"Fine?" Sully repeated. "We find out that your some woman's labor coach and all you can say is 'fine'? C'mon Bosco, you got an announcement to make?"
Faith watched her fellow officers giving her partner a hard time and waited for the explosion from Bosco. She discovered when it came to Sophie, he was extremely protective. Quietly, she advised, "Bos, don't make a scene."
"C'mon, Bosco, we're waiting," Davis ribbed.
"No, I don't have any 'announcement'," Bosco tried to ignore the teasing. It might have worked if someone hadn't made a lewd comment regarding Sophie's reputation. He could take it when it was dished out to him but leave Sophie out of it. Bosco lost it and lunged for the offender.
It took Davis and Sully holding him physically and Faith standing in front of him to keep him from doing the other officer physical harm. One look at the Don't-Make-Me-Tell-Sophie-About-This expression on Faith's face, calmed him enough to take his seat as his commanding officer came into the room, narrowly avoiding a lecture on controlling his temper.
"Don't let them get to you," Faith advised, once they were in the car.
"They don't even know Sophie," Bosco refused to look at her. He didn't want her advise at the moment.
"I know. And I know Sophie isn't like the others. And so do Sully and Davis," she paused so he could digest the comment. "She means a lot to you."
It wasn't a question and they both knew it.
"What'd she name the baby?" Faith broke the silence. She knew Bosco was more attached to Sophie and her baby than he had let on. He couldn't shut up about the birth after he left her the night before.
Bosco wasn't mad at Faith and it wasn't right to take out his anger on her. "Lillian Grace. She calls her Gracie or Grace."
"Lillian Grace," Faith repeated. "That's nice. Did you see her today?"
He answered before thinking. "Spent last night and this morning at the hospital."
Faith hadn't quite expected that announcement. "You went back last night and again this morning?"
He nodded, adding. "Someone needed to be there," as if that was explanation enough.
"You going back again tonight?" Faith couldn't resist asking even though she knew the answer.
He nodded in response and smiled to himself when she chuckled.
Sophie woke slowly. It was dark outside. The light from over her bed casting a soft glow over the room. Seeing Bosco sleeping in the recliner next to the bed, she smiled. Poor guy, she thought. She had been terrible to him when all he had been doing was trying to help.
"How are you?"
Sophie looked toward the door, where a nurse stood, light flooding in the room behind her. "Fine. How long has he -"
"He just came back about an hour ago," the nurse made some notations on her chart.
Sophie studied him again. He had helped her through childbirth, finished his shift and come back to the hospital. No wonder he was sleeping.
"Are you ready for your daughter?" The nurse didn't wait for an answer before rolling the plastic crib into the room.
Sophie was enthralled with her daughter. It seemed almost like a dream to finally see her. The fine dusting of hair on her head showed a light brown which was likely to get darker with age. Likewise, her eyes were the same shade of brown-green that her mother had. Sophie couldn't resist laying her down and unwrapping the blanket to examine the rest of her and marvel that the tiny person had been entrusted to her care.
The nurse returned to advise her on nursing and answer any questions Sophie might have. The baby took to nursing with no trouble and as the nurse was returning the baby to the nursery, Sophie requested a blanket and pillow for Bosco, who was still sleeping soundly in the recliner.
The nurse returned with the items, remarking, "That husband of yours must love you an awful lot; most husbands don't say at the hospital overnight and they sure don't threaten to arrest the night nurse."
The reference to Bosco being her husband caught her attention. The fact that he threatened one of the nurses held it. "Excuse me?"
The nurse went on. "When he came back, it was after visiting hours and Emma, the head nurse, told him to come back tomorrow. Well, he threatened to arrest her. My goodness, I never saw her back down so fast in all the time I've been under her. Anyway, he said he was comin' to stay with you whether she liked it or not."
Sophie extended apologies for her 'husband's' behavior and made a mental note to speak to Bosco about the incident before falling asleep again.
CHAPTER 10
Bosco slowly became aware of a baby crying and remembered where he was. At the hospital. With Sophie. And the baby.
"Good morning."
"Morning. What time is it?" He stood, working the stiffness from his body before joining Sophie at the sink where she was bathing the baby.
"A little before eight. I hope we didn't wake you," she dipped the tiny square of cloth in the sink before running it over the baby's flailing legs.
Bosco waved away her remark as the baby caught his full attention. "This her?"
"No, this is the one they bring to new mothers to practice on so we don't screw up our own," she turned to get a dry towel from the shelf behind Bosco and found him staring at her. "Of course, this is her."
He moved a little closer to observe the tiny girl. He thought she looked like Sophie - or she would very soon. They had the same eyes and coloring; no doubt she would look like her mother. He wondered if she would have her mother's sarcastic wit.
"Well," Sophie interrupted his thoughts. "what do you think?"
He moved to let her pass to the bed to dress the baby. "I think she looks like you."
"What'cha think, Gracie?" she said as she put the diaper on, followed by a tiny pink t-shirt.
Bosco watched her deftly dress the baby and wrap her in a blanket. She had to have experience with babies to be so proficient. "Gracie? That's her name?"
"Lillian Grace," she supplied. "Would you like to hold her?"
Bosco started to protest. He might do something wrong or something.
"Here," Sophie plopped the baby in his arms before he had time to finish. "Just hold her head; she won't break."
Bosco stared at the tiny face, from under the pink knit hat. And promptly lost his heart.
Sophie watched the play of emotion cross his face. All at once, he looked scared to death and honored to be trusted with the tiny being in his arms.
Gracie squirmed a little and let out a cry. Bosco thought she sounded like a stuck cat, albeit a very adorable stuck cat, and started to give her back to Sophie.
She crossed her arms, refusing to take her. She was going to make him do this. "She's fine; she's been fed, she's dry. Why don't you rock her? I'm sure she'll go to sleep. It's been a big morning for her."
Holding her close, Bosco returned to the recliner and rocked her gently, until Sophie returned her to the plastic crib. She didn't want to make the mistake of holding the baby while she slept.
Assisting her back into bed, Bosco noticed the weariness creeping into Sophie's eyes. "I think she's not the only one who needs a nap."
Sophie grinned sheepishly. He was right and he knew it. "Bosco, I want to thank you. I -"
"-know already." He interrupted. "Go to sleep. I'll get your overnight bag and be back before I have to go to work."
She caught his hand before he left, teasing, "Hey, don't threaten the nurses anymore, huh?"
He did have the decency to look a little embarrassed before she closed her eyes, hearing him whisper, "Get some sleep".
CHAPTER 11
Bosco returned to the hospital about three hours later, Sophie's bag and his own gear in tow, to find her room packed with guests - mainly grandmotherly types. He thought he might have the wrong room until he heard someone telling Sophie that she had another visitor - a male visitor.
Bosco felt himself grow warm at their teasing. He hung his uniform on a doorknob and dropped his and Sophie's bags to the floor before edging his way to her side. Gracie was being passed around, blissfully sleeping.
"The quilting ladies from church came to see Grace and bring her a quilt they just finished," Sophie explained, moving over so Bosco could perch next to her on the bed.
Taking in the various flowers and balloons placed around the room, Bosco commented for Sophie's ears alone, "Apparently that's not the only thing Gracie's gotten."
"Work and church," Sophie said by way of explanation.
The women oohed and aahed over Gracie for a few more minutes before the ringleader, as Bosco classified her, stood suddenly and announced, "Ladies, I think it's time we take our leave. Maybe if we depart these two will take the hint and get on with things."
"Mrs. Grayson!" Sophie felt her face grow warm at the implication the older woman had made of her and Bosco's relationship.
So this was the infamous Mrs. Grayson. This was the woman whose imaginary chest pain had caused him and Faith to transport Sophie to the hospital the day they met. Sophie was right; this woman was probably healthier than he was. Bosco smiled at the woman but otherwise remained silent.
Mrs. Grayson returned the baby to Sophie, making one last comment. "Well someone has to point out the obvious to you two; might as well be me."
Sophie waited until the door closed behind the group before speaking. "I am so sorry, Bosco."
"For what? You didn't do anything." He moved around the room checking out the mostly pink flowers. He hadn't thought to bring her any.
"It's just that the ladies are having a hard time believing that I'm having the baby alone," she went on as if he hadn't spoken, laying Grace in the plastic crib.
"Soph," he interrupted, returning to stand next to her. "in case you forgot, you already had the baby and you weren't alone."
Now she felt foolish. She'd been so busy babbling, trying to excuse Mrs. Grayson's matchmaking that she'd implied Bosco hadn't been with her when Gracie was born. "I just mean that I'm a single parent, not that you weren't a help to me."
"Was this before or after you accused me of picking a fight and telling me to shut up?" Bosco teased.
Sophie looked at him, confused. "I didn't - " The vague memory came back. "Maurice, I'm sorry. I never - " Tears gathered as feelings of guilt overwhelmed her.
Her use of his given name caused Bosco to wish he could take back his words; she always did that when she was feeling over-emotional. Instead, he moved to take her in his arms. "Soph, hey, I was jokin'. C'mon, nurse Emma's gonna throw me out." He felt useless. Leave it to him to make her cry.
Sophie pulled back but remained in his arms. "I really am sorry about that. I didn't mean it."
"It's fine, Soph. Faith explained it to me," Bosco reassured her. Faith had also explained about postpartum; he only hoped it didn't get any worse than this. "C'mon now, you're going to start Grace to crying if you don't stop and then I'm sure they won't let me back in to take you home."
She smiled at his really, really bad attempt to cheer her up. "By the way, new parents get a nice dinner before they leave and I know you're not Grace's father and we're just friends but you were with me when she was born and well - would you?"
Bosco really was trying to follow what she was saying. He hoped the experience of childbirth hadn't short-circuited Sophie's brain but he couldn't for the life of him figure out what she was asking. "Huh?"
"I wanted to know if you would like to share that dinner with me?" She explained.
He didn't need to be asked three times. "Sure. When?"
"The night before I'm discharged."
"Which will be -?"
"Tomorrow night. Can you get time to come by? I know that's in the middle of your shift so if it won't work, then that's fine too." She was babbling again.
"They're letting you go that soon?" He thought she'd be in the hospital longer. But then, he'd never been around anyone who'd just given birth. He didn't know how long a woman stayed in the hospital.
"That's longer than most hospitals keep new mothers," Sophie explained. "So can you?"
Dinner. "Sure. I've got some personal time."
Grace had been returned to the nursery so Sophie could nap; Bosco changed into uniform in the tiny bathroom in her room so he could stay with Sophie longer. He would have preferred to not go in at all but knew that would fuel whatever rumors were going around at the station; no doubt everyone had heard when Sully had summoned him yesterday. He was going to have to face it sometime.
"You need to go home tonight." He heard her order softly as he was straightening his tie.
He kicked his bag out of the way, crossing to her bed. He had been so intent on being quiet, he didn't realize Sophie had roused from her nap. "I'll be back after my shift."
Sophie shook her head. "No, I want you to get some sleep tonight."
"I slept just fine last night," he adjusted his belt so he could perch next to her on the bed.
"Bosco, I'm serious. I want you to go home tonight."
"So am I. Now, I'll call you and see you later." Without thinking, he leaned down and brushed his lips across her cheek. "Now, go back to sleep."
He left before she could protest again.
CHAPTER 12
"How's Sophie?" Faith met up with her partner on her way to roll call. Not too surprised to see him already in uniform.
"Fine. So's Grace," Bosco took his seat and hoped that would be the end of the issue. At least until they got in the car.
"Hey, Coach Bosco," Davis called upon entering the room. "How'd that game turn out?"
Bosco rolled his eyes. Oh, the fun was just getting started. "Fine."
"Fine?" Sully repeated. "We find out that your some woman's labor coach and all you can say is 'fine'? C'mon Bosco, you got an announcement to make?"
Faith watched her fellow officers giving her partner a hard time and waited for the explosion from Bosco. She discovered when it came to Sophie, he was extremely protective. Quietly, she advised, "Bos, don't make a scene."
"C'mon, Bosco, we're waiting," Davis ribbed.
"No, I don't have any 'announcement'," Bosco tried to ignore the teasing. It might have worked if someone hadn't made a lewd comment regarding Sophie's reputation. He could take it when it was dished out to him but leave Sophie out of it. Bosco lost it and lunged for the offender.
It took Davis and Sully holding him physically and Faith standing in front of him to keep him from doing the other officer physical harm. One look at the Don't-Make-Me-Tell-Sophie-About-This expression on Faith's face, calmed him enough to take his seat as his commanding officer came into the room, narrowly avoiding a lecture on controlling his temper.
"Don't let them get to you," Faith advised, once they were in the car.
"They don't even know Sophie," Bosco refused to look at her. He didn't want her advise at the moment.
"I know. And I know Sophie isn't like the others. And so do Sully and Davis," she paused so he could digest the comment. "She means a lot to you."
It wasn't a question and they both knew it.
"What'd she name the baby?" Faith broke the silence. She knew Bosco was more attached to Sophie and her baby than he had let on. He couldn't shut up about the birth after he left her the night before.
Bosco wasn't mad at Faith and it wasn't right to take out his anger on her. "Lillian Grace. She calls her Gracie or Grace."
"Lillian Grace," Faith repeated. "That's nice. Did you see her today?"
He answered before thinking. "Spent last night and this morning at the hospital."
Faith hadn't quite expected that announcement. "You went back last night and again this morning?"
He nodded, adding. "Someone needed to be there," as if that was explanation enough.
"You going back again tonight?" Faith couldn't resist asking even though she knew the answer.
He nodded in response and smiled to himself when she chuckled.