Disclaimer: I do not own these characters
Chapter 22: A Mother's Decision
Randee glanced nervously at the clock above the kitchen sink. 5:15pm. Bryan would be home from work any minute.
She had spent much of the day at the hospital with her daughter, and thinking about what the young woman at the park had said to her that morning.
She felt torn. Torn between the love she felt for her husband and her daughter.
The slamming of a car door made her jump, and Bryan came in seconds later. As he leaned over to kiss her, Randee pulled away.
"Bryan, we need to talk."
"Okay, but can't I at least have a kiss first?" Randee stood from where she had been sitting at the kitchen table and began pacing the floor. Bryan watched her in silence for a moment.
"What's going on, Randee?" He finally asked. Randee stopped pacing and turned to face him.
"What you're asking me to do isn't right, Bryan. Noone should have to choose between her husband and child."
"I'm sorry, babe. Don't you think this hurts me too?" He asked. "We've been wanting another child for over two years. And now..." Bryan's voice trailed off.
"Maybe you can turn your back on your daughter, but I can't." Randee said, a hint of anger in her voice.
"What are you saying, Randee?" Bryan questioned.
"I am not going to give my baby girl to someone else to raise. I am not going to turn my back on her. She is our daughter, just like Taylor. And I love her just as much as I love Taylor. And so should you, Bryan."
"Honey, I never said I don't love her."Bryan replied. "I said that I can't stay and watch her die. And I just don't think I'm strong enough to care for a sick baby. I can't stand to see her the way she is."
"You think this is easy for me, Bryan? Well, it's not. I spent most of the day at the hospital with her. She is a tiny baby fighting for her life. She's got tubes and machines all over the place. She can't even breath on her own. All I wanna do is hold her and tell her everything will be okay. But I can't. All I can do is sit there and watch her fight. Do you think I want to watch her die? I know her chances aren't good, Bryan. But I want to be with her for as long as I can, for as long as she lives. Even if I can't bring her home, I can be at the hospital with her."
"Honey, I'm sure Dr. Harrison is doing whatever he can for her. She's in good hands." Bryan answered.
"Yes, she is in good hands...with Lu." Randee said, knowing he would be upset.
"What?" Randee nodded.
"Yes, Bryan. I talked to Lu, and I told Dr. Jackson that I want Lu back on Mckenzie's case."
"Randee, how could you make a decision like that without even talking to me first?" He questioned.
"The same way you decided to sue Lu without talking to me first." Randee replied. "You wouldn't even listen to me."
"But look at what she did to our baby, honey."
"That wasn't Lu's fault, Bryan. None of it was. She did the only thing she could do." Bryan shook his head.
"Randee, I think you're making a mistake. A big mistake. I know we would have won the malpractice suit against Dr. Delgado. I think you know it too." Randee nodded.
"Yes, I know that we probably would have won. But the decision would have been based on a lie...a lie that I told because I didn't want to go against you. A lie that could have destroyed Lu's career. And I couldn't do it. I had to tell the truth. I had to tell our lawyer that Lu did the only thing she could do to save our daughter's life."
"Have you thought about what I said?" Bryan asked after a few moments of silence. Randee nodded slowly.
"I can't turn my back on her, Bryan. And that's what you're asking me to do. You are making me choose between you and our daughter, and that's not right. Neither is it right to abandon her. I'm not giving her up." Randee said softly, knowing how angry he would be.
"Okay. You've made your choice then. I'm sorry it has to end this way, Randee. I thought I meant more to you than that." Bryan said.
"You mean everything to me, Bryan. And so do our children. Both of them. I thought we would be a family. But a family doesn't turn their backs on a member of the family who is sick. Especially when that family member is a newborn baby." Bryan was silent for a moment, then leaned over and kissed her gently on the lips.
"Bye, Miranda. I'll be back later to pick up my stuff and say good bye to Taylor."
"She's going to be heartbroken, Bryan." Randee said, her voice trembling.
"I'm sorry, Randee. I love you." With that, Bryan turned and hurried out the door. Randee sat down at the table, fighting the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks. She didn't want Taylor to come home from her friend's to find her crying.
"I love you too, Bryan." Randee whispered as she got up to start preparing supper.