Chapter 64

"After calling Gina's parents, I called my mother and then Aunt Maria. She told me she would notify the rest of the family so I could go back to the hospital."

"Alright Joe, and," gesturing to the receiver she held, Catherine added, "Jenny knows."

A resigned look came over his face and he said, "Thank you Cathy," then he turned and walked out of the office.

Wondering what his look meant, Catherine returned to her call, "Jenny, Joe just left for the hospital."

"Okay…Cathy could you meet me there? It might look a little less odd if two friends from his office stopped by to offer support…"

"That sounds like a good plan. I'll meet you at the hospital in an hour."

Catherine tried to get as much work done as she could while she waited for the time to pass until she needed to leave to meet Jenny. The problem was, she kept getting distracted with thoughts of how this was all going to turn out.

Somewhere in that span of time, she realized that with all that had happened since arriving at work that morning she hadn't had a moment to fret about being away from Tereasa for the first time. A momentary thought flashed through her mind that she was a bad mother for that, but then she remembered what Joe was going through and instantly forgave herself.

Tuning into Vincent through their Bond, she knew that he was able to sense the turmoil she had been in since getting to work. She quickly sent him reassuring thoughts hoping he could tell that her morning's unrest hadn't been about leaving Tereasa. She thought about sending a message through Bennie, but realized that if she didn't leave for the hospital right then she would be late meeting Jenny.

Striding quickly into the lobby, Catherine was only slightly out of breath as she searched the room for her friend. She spotted Jenny coming through the automatic sliding doors.

"I'm sorry Cath! Traffic was a bear!" Jenny greeted in a rush.

"It's okay, I only just got here myself. Let's find out where Joe is and head on up."

"I hope he wanted to see me and that I haven't gotten my hopes up again for nothing."

"Why would he have had me call you if he didn't want to see you?" Catherine questioned.

"I don't know! I guess I just don't want to end up broken hearted again!"

In the elevator Jenny fussed with the pants suit she was wearing and asked Catherine, "Do I look okay?! If I had known I was going to see Joe when I got up this morning I surely would have worn something different!"

Catherine put her hand on Jenny's arm and waited until her friend was looking her in the eye before she spoke, "Jenny, with all that is going on, the last thing Joe is going to notice is your clothes, he will just be happy to see you."

A look of comprehension crossed Jenny's face and she sighed. "Oh Cathy, why don't you just slap me up side the head when I start saying stupid things like that?!"

"Because I love you too much to do that! Now why don't you take a deep breath and try to calm down?" Catherine suggested as the elevator doors opened on the maternity floor.

Just past the nurses' station Joe was standing in the hall in front of the nursery room windows. He was surrounded by crying women, and stoic men, most of which looked like they were related to him. Catherine figured the others must be Gina's family.

She put her arm through Jenny's and after a brief stop at the nurses' station to tell them they were there to see Joe Maxwell, they continued down the hall to the group. A path cleared so they could get to Joe who was looking through the window at the babies.

A woman, who Catherine guessed was his mother, touched Joe on the shoulder and nodded at the newcomers. Joe turned and saw them for the first time. An instant look of joy was quickly followed with one of anxiety as he remembered he was surrounded by family.

To be continued…..