But Never Doubt I Love

By Felicia Ferguson

See intro for disclaimer.

Rita and Norman

The nurse at the emergency room had rushed Charley up to the Labor and Delivery floor as soon as they'd entered, leaving Rita and Norman twiddling their thumbs. Well, Norman twiddling his thumbs. Rita grabbed his hand and glanced around. The ER lobby was filled with irritated patients, shooting dark glares their way for breaking the waiting line. Pushing her glasses back over her ears, she shot a nervous glance toward Norman.

He returned her gaze with a confused light in his eyes. "How long does it take to have a baby anyway?"

Rita tugged on his arm, pulling him toward the main part of the hospital. "Oh, several hours at least. Sometimes it can even be days."

Norman's mouth dropped open as he stopped in his tracks. "Days? We've got Shane and Oliver's wedding tomorrow. Charley needs to get a hurry on this."

Rita gasped and tugged her phone out of her purse. "Oh! I need to let Shane know. Mrs. McInerney was cooking for all of us tonight. There's no way we'll make that dinner." She tapped open her phone and found Shane's number in her list of favorites.

Shane answered on the third ring. "Hey, Rita. What's up?"

Reluctant to disappoint Shane by canceling so last minute, Rita blurted, "Charley went into labor."

"Another false alarm?"

Rita shook her head. "No, I mean labor-labor. I'm sorry, but we're not going to make it over to your house for dinner tonight." She paused and replayed her apology, then decided she needed to explain further. "I mean I know we can't be in the delivery room with her, but we want her to know we're at least here. She doesn't have anyone else."

Shane's acceptance was immediate and easy. "Oh, it's no problem at all. I'll let Mom and Joe know."

Rita heaved a sigh of relief as she wound up her story. "Okay, but we'll see you at the wedding. How did it go at the station today?"

Shane's voice warmed with good news. "Oliver and I actually found Owen's mom during our visit to his father's old station. She's now a firefighter there. We're going to deliver Fred to Owen tomorrow morning at his house before he leaves for his next round of treatment. Do you think you can be there?"

Rita nodded. "We wouldn't miss that. Just text me the location, and we'll be there." After saying her good-byes, she tapped End and looked around, finding Norman wandering around the hospital gift shop. She joined him and relayed her conversation with Shane. Sighing, she said, "Now, I guess all we have to do is wait."

With smiles for the desk clerk, they poked around the shop, checking out the stuffed animals and balloons. Overhead, various announcements and pages blared from the PA system. As the last page for a doctor faded, the soft tones of Brahms' Lullaby filtered through the air.

Norman's brow furrowed as he glanced to the ceiling. "Oh, that's an interesting choice for background music."

The desk clerk smiled and said, "That means a baby was just born here in the hospital."

Norman's jaw dropped and worry blanked his eyes. "Baby?" He looked at Rita as his fingers fidgeted.

She placed a calming hand on his arm and gave the clerk a grateful nod. "I'm sure it's too soon for Charley, but we'd better get up to the Labor and Delivery floor anyway."

After a quick stop by the cafeteria for a take-away dinner, they checked in with the desk nurse on the Labor and Delivery floor.

"Are you family?" the nurse asked, a slight edge tingeing her words.

Well, kinda, sorta, maybe, but not officially? Surely, they wouldn't need to pretend to be carolers again. . .but would that even work. . .it was June, not December. . .Rita flicked a worried glance to Norman, who offered an encouraging nod. Let's go with the sort of truth. "Yes. We are."

The nurse scanned through her computer file and flashed an easy smile. "Norman and Rita Dorman, right? Charley put you on the approved visitors list."

Rita heaved a sigh of relief and squeezed Norman's hand. We're officially a family.

The nurse clicked through her screen then nodded. "It looks like Charley is in active labor, so you can't go back to see her now." She stood and pointed to a room just down the hallway. "But you can wait over in our lounge. The couches are comfortable, and there are TVs and plenty of magazines, so feel free to settle in."

Norman nodded and, taking Rita's hand, tugged her toward the waiting room. "Thank you so much."

The nurse offered an encouraging smile. "We'll let you know when the baby's here. But it could be a while."

The spacious, but darkened lobby area held three other groups of people scattered through the room. Rita fiddled with the to-go bag as they found seats on a leather couch near the windows. She pulled out the Styrofoam boxes and handed Norman a package of plastic silverware. As she took a bite of her salad, she shook her head. "We're going to be parents. . .or. . .wait. . .are we. . . grandparents? What are we going to be, Norman?"

He laid down his knife and fork, eyes blanking as he searched for a possibility. "Um. . . village people?"

She heaved a frustrated sigh. "Norman!"

"Hmm." Brow furrowed and lips pursed, he shook his head and searched again. "Co-parents?"

Rita grabbed his arm and squeezed. "Oooh, yes! That sounds perfect." A moment later, another, bigger question flitted through her. "But what will she call us? I mean we can't be Mom and Dad." She paused and pushed her glasses back. "Well, at least, I can't be Mom because Charley's going to be Mom."

A thoughtful light gleamed in Norman's eyes as he considered her question. "Oh, I know. What about Rita and Norman?"

Rita turned in her seat and placed a sweet kiss on his cheek. "Oh, Norman. I love our family."

A few hours later, dinner finished and TV droning a dull white noise, Rita fell asleep in Norman's embrace. She dreamed about their new life together until the soothing cadence of Brahms' Lullaby combined with a light pat to her shoulder jostled her awake. Opening her eyes, she reached for her glasses and pushed them into place. The blob in front of her formed into a nurse in white scrubs.

"Mr. and Mrs. Dorman, Charley and the baby did great. Are you ready to go back and see them?"

Rita turned to Norman, elation and joy filling her heart, and read the same emotions in his eyes. Nodding, she said, "Oh, yes."