Little by little, the tension eased between Leah and Charlie. For one thing, she knew he wasn't wrong. Apologizing to her mother had been tough. She'd explained that the strong laxative had been intended for Seth, and it wouldn't be dangerous to his superhuman body. It had never occurred to her that a human (and a pregnant one at that) would intercept some of it. Sue had forgiven her, but of course she agreed completely with Charlie. It did cast a shadow over Christmas, but by January things were mostly back to normal.
Charlie sat on the couch, munching on popcorn and taking occasional sips from his glass of light beer. Sue lay with her head on his lap, watching the Mariners game on TV with him. She absently caressed her huge stomach, smiling to herself.
"A penny for your thoughts," Charlie asked, twirling a stray tendril of her hair around his finger before tucking it behind her ear. She rolled onto her back and smiled up at him.
"Names for the baby," she said softly. "I'd really like to name him Charles if it's a boy. Would that be okay with you?"
Charlie smiled. "I guess there are enough nicknames to avoid confusion, as long as you promise not to call him Junior," he agreed. "I have an idea for a girl's name," he said hesitantly.
Sue smiled again. "That's only fair. I got to name our son, so you can name our daughter."
"It's just a suggestion," Charlie cautioned. "It's your decision, since you're doing all the work. What do you think about Emeline? That was my mother's name." He was quiet for a moment, then added, "I know she would have loved you."
Sue considered the name, then said it aloud. "Emeline. It's lovely, Charlie. I think we have a winner. And we could call her Emmy, or Em. Yep, I like it."
He leaned forward and kissed her. "I love you, Sue. Now, if she turns out to be half as gorgeous as her mother, I'll be a happy man."
Sue pulled herself into a sitting position and Charlie took her hands to help her up. She started to laugh at herself but suddenly gasped and doubled over.
"What is it, Sue? Please don't tell me you're in labor. It's too early," Charlie pleaded. He scooped her up in his arms. "You're bleeding, honey. We're going to the hospital."
Sue moaned, wrapping her arms around his neck, but didn't argue. He set her gently in the passenger seat of his cruiser and jumped into the driver's seat, activating the roof lights but not the siren as he called the doctor's number. He clasped her hand and tried to reassure her. "Hang in there, Sue. It's only a ten-minute ride, and the doctor will meet us there."
A nurse met them in the parking lot with a wheelchair, and Sue was wheeled into an examination room, still doubled over in pain. While Charlie paced outside, he dialed Leah's number. He explained the situation quickly. "I know it's a month early, Leah. Okay, I'll be watching for you. And try to get Seth if you can. I think he's with Paris. Here's your mom's doctor – I'll see you soon."
The doctor headed straight for Charlie, his face grave. "We have to take her in to surgery, Charlie, and deliver the baby by C-section. At eight months, the baby should be okay. It's Sue I'm worried about. We have to find the source of the bleeding and get it stopped."
Charlie put his hand on the doctor's shoulder and looked into his eyes. "My wife is the most important one, doctor. Do whatever you have to do to save her. Do you understand?"
The doctor nodded. "You can see her for a minute while we get the OR ready, Charlie." He entered the room and smiled, trying to hide his shock. She was as white as the sheet that covered her, and her hand was cold when he took it in his. Her other hand held an IV drip. He kissed her forehead and whispered, "It looks like our baby didn't want to wait another month to be born. I love you, Sue."
She smiled bravely and whispered something he couldn't quite hear. He bent over her, putting his ear near her mouth, and she repeated, "Don't forget. Charles or Emmy. Love you." He gave her hand a squeeze and kissed her quickly as the nurse wheeled her out.
The nurse patted his shoulder and said, with a reassuring smile, "You can come to the surgical waiting room on the first floor when your family gets here. We'll keep you informed."
Leah and Jacob arrived first, and Charlie tersely explained what was happening. They all paced while they waited for Seth, who came in just a few minutes later. Charlie led them to the waiting room, and they spoke in hushed voices. Leah said to Charlie, "I'd give my right arm to help her, Charlie, and we can't even give blood!" She slammed her fist down on the magazine table, and the flimsy legs collapsed with a loud crack.
The next half hour seemed like a week. The doctor walked into the room and went straight to Charlie. "You have a beautiful, tiny daughter, Charlie," he said softly, but he still looked grave.
Charlie looked him in the eye. "I want to know about my wife, doc. How is Sue?"
"I'll be honest with you, Charlie. She lost a lot of blood, but we're giving her transfusions. You might want to ask her kids if they'll donate. We had to do a complete hysterectomy, but it's still touch and go. If you held a gun to my head, I'd say her chances are 50/50."
"Her kids aren't eligible to donate blood, but I am. Just point me in the right direction, right after I see her."
The doctor wondered briefly what could prevent such healthy looking young people from donating blood, but he figured Charlie knew what he was talking about. "Follow me. You can see her for just a few minutes, but she needs to rest."
Sue was terribly pale and still. Charlie leaned over and kissed her forehead. Although she was unconscious, he spoke softly to her. "The baby's fine, honey. Now it's up to you to get better. You're my whole world, Sue. Please don't leave me." His voice cracked and he turned away, stumbling back to the empty waiting room.
Leah, Jacob, and Seth were at the nursery, looking at the baby through the large window. She was in a warmer because she was so tiny, but at just over five pounds she didn't need an incubator. She was perfectly formed, with a pretty little face and a mop of black hair, and she was squalling. As they watched, a nurse walked by and rocked the bassinet, talking softly to the baby. She reached in and patted her back, and the baby quieted.
Leah clung to Jacob, smiling through her tears. "She's beautiful, isn't she?"
Jacob smiled back and whispered "Of course she is. She looks like her big sister."
Seth poked her in the ribs. "Here comes Charlie. Let's hope he has some news about Mom."
Charlie walked up to the window without a word and looked in at his daughter. The nurse came to the door and looked at the three men clustered around the window with Leah. "Which one of you is the dad?"
Charlie cleared his throat and raised his hand slightly. The nurse asked, "Would you like to hold her for a minute?" Charlie shook his head. He was trying to hold it together, but he just couldn't bring himself to hold her…not yet. In his mind, she represented a possible trade he was not willing to make.
The nurse was sympathetic, and she spoke directly to Leah. "It's important for them to bond in these first few hours. Would you hold her for a bit?" Leah nodded, not trusting her voice. She stepped into the nursery, where the tiny pink-wrapped bundle was placed gently in her arms. She freed the baby's hand from the wrappings and brought it to her lips. The tiny fingers closed around her index finger, and a tear coursed slowly down Leah's cheek.
"Sue's in the intensive care unit right now," Charlie was explaining to Jacob and Seth. I'm going to the blood bank to donate some blood. I'd let them take it all if it would help her," he said in a choked voice. "I won't lie to you, kids. She's very weak, but your mom's a fighter. She'll be okay. She HAS to be. Emeline needs her, and so do all of us.
Seth looked at Charlie. "Emeline?"
Charlie colored slightly. "Yeah, that's the name we decided on. It was my mother's name."
Seth forced a smile and wrapped his arm around Charlie's shoulder. "It's a very nice name. Congratulations, Charlie."
Charlie smiled. "Thanks, Seth. You kids should go home and get some rest. They won't let you in to see Sue anyway, and I'm planning to stay. I can go in for five minutes every hour. If there's any news I'll call you right away."
Seth asked if there was anything Charlie needed done at the house. He said he didn't think so. The crib was set up, and Sue had washed all the new baby clothes and put them away. He looked at his watch. "I'd better get back to Sue. I can go see her in about five minutes, and I'll give you all a report and then you can be on your way."
Charlie walked into the room and took Sue's hand in his, squeezing it slightly. He felt a return squeeze and looked at Sue's still face. Her eyelids fluttered, then opened. "The baby?" she gasped.
"Shhhh, she's fine, Sue. And she's a real beauty, just like her mom." He smiled and brought her hand to his lips, kissing it gently. "You've been through a tough time, so you need to rest. Leah, Seth, and Jacob are right outside, waiting to hear that you woke up and you're going to be okay."
He leaned over and kissed her cheek, and she mumbled "Love you, Charlie," before she drifted off to sleep again. She was so still he pressed his lips to hers to make sure she was breathing.
It was a long night. There was a recliner in the ICU waiting room, and Charlie caught a nap now and then, but every hour, on the hour, he went in to check on Sue. She didn't wake up again, but she seemed to be sleeping peacefully. By morning, her cheeks were pinker. The doctor came by about 6:00 and Charlie paced outside while he examined her and checked her chart.
Charlie breathed a sigh of relief when the doctor came out smiling. He led Charlie into the waiting room and sat down, indicating the other chair. "She's much improved today, Charlie. We gave her two units of blood, and her vital signs are all good this morning. She'll have to stay for a couple of days, but I think she'll be just fine."
Charlie couldn't speak. He shook the doctor's hand, then pulled out his cell phone. Leah answered on the first ring. "Charlie? How is she?"
She could hear the smile in his voice. "She's much better this morning, Leah. I'm going to stop in the nursery, and then I'm going home to shower and take a nap. The doc said she'll sleep most of the day, but you and Seth can visit her for a few minutes when you're ready. I'll be back by noon. My whole life is in this building right now, and I don't want to be anywhere else."
Charlie was back at 11:30, and Sue was awake. She reached for his hand. "I really need to see her, Charlie, to know that she's okay. Will you see what you can do?"
He kissed her brow. "Of course. I'll be back." Ten minutes later, he returned with a nurse wheeling a bassinet. Charlie reached in and picked up the sleeping baby, laying her in Sue's arms. Sue smiled and kissed her daughter, murmuring "Welcome to our family, Emmy. I see you've already met your dad."
Sue held the baby firmly in her left arm, but her right arm flopped loosely to her side. "I'm sorry, Charlie," she whispered as tears started to her eyes. "I don't have the strength to hold her."
Charlie took the baby and sat in the chair next to Sue's bed. "Don't worry, honey. You'll get stronger every day. Let's just see if old Dad remembers how to do this." Sue smiled weakly as he took the bottle and started feeding the baby. He talked soothingly to her, telling her all about her big sisters and her brother.
When she had been fed and burped, the nurse reappeared to take her back to the nursery. Charlie looked at Sue and realized she was sound asleep again, but this time there was a small, satisfied smile on her face.