The Best I Could Give
Chapter 4
Stephanie thought her apartment looked like baby central. Mary Lou's portable crib was in the corner near her bed having moved the upholstered chair to in front of the window. There were two boxes of boy clothes, a wind-up swing, and by the sofa Mary Lou had Austyn on an activity mat decorated like a circus with colorful clowns and animals.
"Was Austyn born at St. Francis?" she asked pointing to the small teddy bear with the 'Welcome' blue shirt on the sofa. "I got one when Abby was born, but hers had a pink shirt to match the blanket."
"There was a blue blanket in the bag with his few things," Stephanie said holding up the blanket and reaching for her cell phone.
"Yo."
"Tank, Austyn has a teddy bear with a blue shirt and blanket. Mary Lou just told me that was from St. Francis."
"OK, I'll have Lester and Bobby run a search just of newborns in the last 3 to 4 months at the hospital, maybe we'll find something. Thanks, Bombshell."
"I'll see you tomorrow, Tank."
"This is the last," Lenny carried a plastic baby bathtub, diaper bag, and a small plastic bin marked 'Bedding'.
Stephanie just looked at her best friend with fish lips.
"Trust me, the bedding will get wet and you'll be glad to have extras."
"OK, I'll take your word."
Mary Lou asked as she picked up the baby boy, "Did you buy a few extra bottles, baby bath, diaper rash cream, and the fever reducer drops?"
"I got everything on the list you gave me," the would-be mother told her best friend.
Mary Lou handed Stephanie a wide eyed Austyn, "He's so adorable." She gave her husband dreamy eyes.
"We have a handful with three, Mary Lou, and no more room!" Lenny said crossing his legs.
"Call me. The baby book I brought is a good reference. Call me anytime, and, Steph, you'll be fine. Krys is right about you being a caring person and I've know that all our lives."
Stephanie hugged Mary Lou and Lenny before they went out her door. "Thanks for all your help."
"Well, this place is a mess," Stephanie began talking to the baby in her arms. As it was turning into evening, she was getting a little nervous realizing it was just her, a baby, and Rex. "You didn't meet Rex." She walked them over to the counter, Rex's nose and whiskers were peeking out of his soup can. "This is Austyn, Rex. He'll be staying with us maybe for a few days until I find his Mommy. I'm Rex's Mommy," she told Austyn. "The Merry Men and I will find your Mommy, OK?"
Carefully bathing him like she had done the few times with her nieces, she put him in a blue striped onesie Mary Lou left, and gave Austyn a bottle of formula while they watched a little of 'Ghostbusters'. The baby fell asleep and she put him in the crib covering him with a white receiving blanket. She turned on the baby monitor and took the other into the living room where she stacked and organized all the baby stuff thinking there was too much for only having him a few days until she located 'Krys'.
Checking on a sleeping Austyn before a shower, Stephanie stood beside the crib watching his small chest go up and down for a moment, then went running when she heard the 'Batman' theme. Ranger called her at night from this out-of-town office.
"Hello."
"Babe."
"How's things in Miami, Ranger?"
"Long and tiring. This used to be my favorite office between Boston, Atlanta, and here, but I can't wait to get back to Trenton. My men seem whiny to me. It's too hot. It's so busy. I need this."
Stephanie was giggling, she never heard Ranger speak with a churlish pitch in his voice.
The brisk Ranger was back, "I should send them somewhere and give them something to complain about!" He was chuckling she could hear.
"Anything interesting today, Babe? Wait, are you in Point Pleasant?"
"No!" She had forgotten all about her getaway with everything else in the day. "Mary Lou needed my help with something and maybe Lenny will take a weekend off later in the summer when it's slow so we girls can go together."
"You were looking forward it, Babe."
"I was, Ranger, but once it got here, going alone didn't have as much of an appeal."
"When I get done here, Babe, I'll take you."
She liked that idea better. Maybe by the time the man in black returned, Austyn would be back with his mother. She thought about telling Ranger about the baby left in her backseat, but he couldn't do anymore than she and the Merry Men were doing. He didn't do babies, so she would tell him about her guest of a few days when he returned.
"Hold you to it, Batman."
"Babe. I'm going out with a couple of these cry babies down here. They'll probably order Shirley Temples!"
"You don't have to worry about a designated driver then."
"Thanks. Night, Babe.'
"Night, Ranger. Have a good evening with the girls!"
"Babe."
Stephanie couldn't sleep. She was trying to imagine an image of 'Krys' in her mind but it was blank. She thought of things she might have done to help a skip or someone she might have encountered on a regular basis because 'Krys' knew which was her vehicle while she was at Vinnie's, so she felt positive she and Austyn's mother made contact near the bond office. She would have remembered a baby like Austyn. His big dark eyes, chubby cheeks, and the light reddish brown hair you wanted to touch because it was so soft made him a beautiful baby. Without realizing it, her fingers were smoothing his soft baby hair as he slept so peaceful not knowing one mother was missing him not far away, but knew she had the right person to take her place when her body could go no more. She gave her son the best person she could give. And, the woman gazing at him sleeping hoped she could fill the spot of his mother giving him the best she could give even if it was only for a short time.