Chapter 62
"Oh Edie how awful! Was there any news about the baby? Is he or she alright?"
"Surprisingly, the baby is fine. I guess she's a little small from being early, but barring that she is okay."
"Thank heavens he didn't lose them both!" Catherine exclaimed, just as a hush fell over the room.
Looking up the two girls saw a gray faced Joe Maxwell walk by and enter his office.
Catherine had learned her tunnel lessons well. Her first instinct was to rush to Joe's side to find out what she could do to help. Her pre-tunnel self would have just stood there and wondered if someone in the office would go and help him. As she got up to head to his office, a hand on her arm stopped her.
"Cath, what are you doing?!" Edie questioned.
"Going to see if I can help Joe," she answered.
"Do you really think you are the best choice right now?"
"Me!? What's wrong with me wanting to help?!"
"Nothing with that. But he just lost his wife while giving birth, while you just went through the same thing and lived to tell about it..."
"That may well be Edie, but do you see anyone else rushing to get in there to help him?!"
"They might have a few months ago, but after he got married he changed! You saw it! He either treated everyone like dirt or ignored them completely. I don't think there is much love lost for him right now."
"But he just lost his wife Edie! And even if what you say about me is true, there is no one else going to check on him so I will," Catherine told her friend firmly.
"Okay Cath good luck."
"Thanks," she said heading for Joe's office.
Giving a brief knock on the door, Catherine opened it and went in without an invitation.
Joe's head was buried in his arms resting on the desk. He didn't even look up when the door opened just muttered, "Go away."
"I can't do that Joe. A friend of mine is in pain and I want to help. I am so sorry to hear about Gina. Is there anything at all I can do to help?" Catherine asked resting a hand on his shoulder to offer her quiet support and sympathy.
"I have to call both sides of the family and let them know, but I just couldn't do it within earshot of all those crying babies." Joe's head had finally come up and he stared at her with blood shot dazed eyes. "You can't have any idea how many times I wished her dead since we had to get married, but I never thought it would come true, and never like this!"
"Of course you didn't Joe! It was only the pain and frustration of your situation. I know you could never really wish her harm!"
"You're wrong Radcliff. I really did wish Gina dead, more times than even I could count. We never once slept together after she told me she was pregnant. I just couldn't get past the fact that she wasn't Jenny, and now she's gone and my first thought when they told me was to wonder if there was any chance in the world Jenny would take me back! I didn't even ask about the baby! What kind of person does that make me?!"
"A very confused, stressed and traumatized one Joe! I know you well enough to know that even if you wished Gina were out of your life, or 'dead', that you were wishing that without any thought it would come true. But now you do have a daughter and you need to think about her…"
He interrupted, "How in the world am I going to be able to raise a baby on my own?!" he gasped.
To be continued…..