Fiona Hayes was in trouble with the Sisters again, she'd taken out the van on a late night joy ride and crashed into a utility pole, luckily she'd only gotten a cut on her forehead and only needed a few stitches, but this was her strike three, after cutting school and then sledding down the stairs of the Missionary with a makeshift sled and accidentally breaking the Statue of St. Katherine that Jonathan Hart had donated.
Growing up in the Orphanage in San Francisco, Fiona had always been mischievous but it seemed like lately, she just wanted out and was rebelling more and more, the Streets of San Francisco had become her playground and she was finding more and more reasons to stay out than in and it was getting her into constant trouble.
Fiona Hayes had been at the Orphanage since she was two, after her mother had died in a fire started by her then ex -boyfriend, who was jealous that Cecily Braddock had dumped him for another man, somehow Fiona had gotten out but Cecily had perished as well as her new boyfriend, the ex- boyfriend who set the fire had been arrested just blocks from the crime scene, having spilled gasoline on himself and was in the process of committing suicide when the police caught up to him, Luckily Fiona had only mild scars from the blaze and had been hiding under her bed when a firefighter recovered her and taken her to the fire station wait until a relative could be reached to take her in.
But Cecily Braddock had no living relatives and the identity of Fiona's father was limited to the name Jake Hayes and there was nothing that could be found, Fiona had never met him and as she had gotten older, she had no desire to.
Because no relatives could be found, she'd been brought to Mission Street and the Sisters had hoped that someone would adopt her but overtime it seemed like that Fiona was going to be with them long term.
After crashing into the Utility pole and the police brought her back, Sister Margaret practically dragged her to the Monsignor O'Brien's office, so she could be read the riot act.
"Fiona, I don't know what we're going to do with you, Girl," The sister said with her thick Irish accent, "You keep getting yourself into trouble"
Fiona rolled her brown eyes and pushed back her red hair, "I'm a teenager, it's what we do"
"Yes but you are going to be tossed out on your behind if you don't stop this rebelling foolishness ," The Sister finished dragging her across the parish and stopped in front of the Monsignor's door, she knocked and heard Father O'Brien through the door, "Just a moment"
"What's he going to do to me?" Fiona wasn't afraid, she'd always known that this day would come, that her days of running amok throughout Mission Street would come to end; she'd just hoped she would be 18 when that happened.
"I don't know, Child, but you can be sure you'll be on Kitchen duty for the next month and that you won't be seeing your afterschool activities for even longer. "
Fiona sighed; she supposed it could have been a lot worse
Father O'Brien opened the door, "Ah Miss Hayes, back again?"
"Well, you know how much I love our little meetings," Fiona smiled and heard a gasp from the inside
Jonathan Hart had been making his yearly visit to the Mission Street Orphanage, to donate a check and to check in with the people who'd had such a hand in his upbringing, He'd been talking with the Father when someone knocked on the door and when Fiona opened her mouth, he could have sworn it was Jennifer
And when he got a look at the voice to match the face, He could have sworn he was looking at a mirror image of his beloved wife, everything about this girl screamed Jennifer.
From the bright red hair to the shape of her face and eyes, even the way she was standing spoke Volumes of Jennifer.
"Jennifer?" Jonathan whispered
"No," Fiona smiled, revealing dimples exactly like his "Fiona Hayes, Sir"
16 years earlier
The Night Jocelyn was born had started like any other night, Jennifer who'd been in and out of the hospital her entire pregnancy, a few times she'd had bleeding, another she'd been walking downstairs to get some juice and fainted on the stairs, each time Thankfully Max and Jonathan had been home each time.
The last time she'd gone to the hospital was for premature contractions but the doctors later determined them to be the baby hiccupping, they'd said she was at least a month away from delivery.
Reluctantly, Jonathan had to go to New York for an emergency board meeting, he'd been resistant but at her insistence and the promise Max would give him a daily update, hourly, she walked with him and kissed his lips one last time before he climbed into the Taxi and left.
That night after dinner and a game of Scrabble with Max, She'd suddenly became exhausted and decided to go to bed early, she figured because the baby was coming soon, this would be her opportunity to sleep as much as possible.
Upstairs, she'd changed into her night gown and started to watch an old Gable and Lombard picture, she remembered putting her head down and then she'd been out cold.
She'd been dreaming about rushing water and swimming when she felt a contraction go through her body, she woke up to find that somehow she'd slept through her water breaking.
"Max," She called through the intercom, "Max!"
No answer
She'd forgotten everything they'd learned in birthing class, Jonathan was supposed to be there to help her but clearly this baby was stubborn like her father.
Jennifer wondered how long it would take her to drive by herself to the hospital if Max wouldn't answer then quickly shook her head, that would put her and the baby in danger.
The contractions lessened and she wondered if she had enough time to take a shower, she figured it would be hours before the baby would be born, she quickly dialed Jonathan's room in New York but the hotel switchboard operator said that He'd just left for a business dinner but when he came back, they would tell him immediately.
She decided to forgo the shower instead she got dressed, she'd gotten so big that she couldn't see her own feet and sometimes Jonathan would laugh at her because she was wearing two different shoes, at two different heights, she put on a fresh pair of sweatpants and Jonathan's Lakers Sweatshirt that had massive holes in it from all the times he swore was a reason why they were in first place.
She managed to grab her suitcase and was nearly at the landing when her body was wracked with a contraction
"MAX!" She screamed
Max flew out of the kitchen, he had a half a sandwich in his hand and Freeway at his feet "Mrs. H, what's going on"
"This baby is coming," She tried to breathe through her nose but all it was doing blowing her hair into her eyes.
"But Mr. H isn't here," Max was panicking, sure he'd read all the baby literature right along with them but he had always known that Jonathan would be the one who would be there to make sure they all got to the hospital in one piece and he would just be the proud Poppa in the waiting room.
"Yes, well unfortunately this baby is just like her father, impatient.." She was sure she was going to have this baby on the stairs if Max didn't put her in the car soon.
"Mrs. H, it's too early to have the baby!" Max was panicked, she could see it and hear it in his voice
"Max, I know, please we have to go to the hospital" Any longer and he would start quoting Gone with the Wind about don't know nothing about birthin no babies.
"Sure thing, Mrs. H!" Max reached for her hand just as the contraction hit stronger and she slipped on the stairs, luckily she didn't fall forward on her belly but between the contractions and the spot she landed on her back, it was enough to make her black out, for a minute. For a minute she was positive her heart actually stopped, Until She heard Max's gruff voice saying he was calling an ambulance and realized that by the time the Ambulance would arrive.
So would the baby..
"Max, let's just go to the hospital," She struggled to get up
"Are you sure?" Max held out his hand and she grabbed it.
"Positive."
The drive to the hospital felt like it was taking forever, Max was so afraid to go even past the speed, he figured he might jostle the baby out of her, for the first time in her in life with Max and Jonathan, she felt like screaming at him.
This was not her birth plan, Jonathan was supposed to be there to support her, she was supposed to be scheduled for a C-section, she was supposed be having a zen experience with lots of music and serenity.
Not feeling like her insides were being ripped apart or that she would wind up on the 11'oclock news for delivering her baby by the side of the road, she thought she would cry with relief when she saw the sign for the Hospital.
"Max, just drop me off and then park the car" Jennifer said leaning against the door.
"No, No Mr. H would have insisted on making sure you are taken care of," Max was adamant
"I promise, Max, I'll be waiting right in the doorway" She tried to breathe through her nose.
Max wouldn't listen and circled the parking lot for another 10 minutes before finding a space.
By that time, she nearly ripped the arm rest of the car door, Max finally found a space and then insisted on getting her a wheelchair.
45 minutes on a normal 10 minute trip to the hospital.
He wheeled her through the Hospital and up to the maternity ward.
Jennifer was pretty sure that the baby was seconds away from being born when she and Max got to the desk.
Breathing through her nose, she spoke to a Nurse through her teeth
"My name is Jennifer Hart and I think I'm having my baby right now"
The nurse didn't even look up and just slid forms across the desk, "Fill these out and take a seat,"
"I can't take a seat! I'm having a baby!"
Max pulled the wheelchair back and leaned forward "Ma'am, is it possible to fill out the paperwork after we get Mrs. Hart checked in?"
"Sorry, policy states that the forms must be filled out before" This time the nurse looked up as Max leaned forward even further into the desk and said quietly,
"I think it would be in everyone's best interest if you took Mrs. Hart in" Whatever Max had done in a previously life was his business but Jennifer was sure at that moment, He'd shaken people down for information without actually hurting them.
The nurse must have sensed that and immediately signaled for an intern to take Jennifer to a room and to get hooked up to a fetal monitor.
Dr. Kendall come in and checked her dilation, "Jennifer, you are only five centimeters, you need to get to ten, It's going to be a long night"
"Only five ?!" Jennifer was sure the baby was ready to come, it felt like it was getting ready to walk out of her body and if this was only at five, and ten centimeters was going to be even worse.
"We'll give you something to make you comfortable, and you can try to rest as much as possible, you are going to need it later on," Dr. Kendall left her and Max, who was sitting in the chair, looking like he lost his best friend.
"Max, I have a deck of cards in my bag, let's play some gin rummy" Jennifer figured if they could get a few rounds in, it might take her mind off the baby and the pain.
"Are you sure? I mean shouldn't you be biting down on a bullet or a leather strap, something?" This was Max's first birth and he wasn't sure what protocol was.
"Childbirth has come a long way since the dark ages, Max" She had to laugh.
For the next few hours in between contractions, trying to get through to Jonathan, who'd checked out of his hotel hours and for some reason, the phone on Hart One wasn't picking up, She'd heard that there was a storm coming in from the East Coast but she'd hoped that he was able to get in before it become worse.
They played until she was given her epidural and then she fell asleep, waking up in time for the fetal monitor to start screaming
"What's happening?" Jennifer woke up to a team of nurses and doctors surrounding her, Poor Max was being pushed out of the room
"We've lost the signal to the baby's heartbeat and we can't get it back, we think the cord might be wrapped around the baby's neck and we need to get her out now"
"My baby, Wait, My husband isn't here, please" Jennifer begged, knowing that Jonathan had been waiting for this moment since he found out she was pregnant
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Hart but we can't wait," an intern pulled up the sides of the bed and began wheeling her past Max, who was going out of his mind
"Mrs. H, what's happening?!"
"Are you Mrs. Hart's Father-in law?" a nurse asked, noticing he'd been with Jennifer all night
"Yes," Max ran beside the gurney
"Are you coming in with Mrs. Hart while she delivers?"
Max stopped suddenly and became white, he was pretty sure his heart stopped for a minute but he realized this was something he would never again get to experience.
The birth of his granddaughter
"Yes!" Max answered quickly, a nurse handed him some scrubs and showed him a bathroom, "How the hell am I supposed to wear these things"
The nurse, named Sally laughed and told him that they would go on over his clothes.
They quickly wheeled Jennifer into the OR and gave her medication that made her drowsy but still aware of what was happening.
Max, wearing full length scrubs and a scrub cap was brought in to sit at Jennifer's head, he looked so nervous and frightened for her, she wanted to tell him that he didn't have to be there, he could wait and they would bring the baby out to him later but she didn't want to be alone.
"Mrs. H, I bought a camera so Mr. H wouldn't miss a thing," Max said
Dr. Kendall laughed, "Max, my advice to you would be to stay behind the curtain because this is going to get very messy,"
"It's okay, I can handle it," Max took a deep breath,
"Just remember, when you pass out, lean backward because if you fall forward, you might land on Jennifer and rip out her IV" Dr. Kendall put gel on Jennifer's stomach to begin the incision.
Max's stomach started to turn at the sound of the instruments clanking together but he knew that he couldn't get sick.
"You okay, Max" Jennifer asked noticing his face whiter than normal
"I'm okay, you okay?" Max said putting all his weight into his feet so he wouldn't pass out.
"I've had better days, remember that New Year's we thought it would be fun to drink Champagne then at midnight we switched to Tequila until Sunrise?" Jennifer remembered that for the next few days, they all kept a low profile until they sobered up
"Yup, even Freeway had a hangover" Max dared to take a peek through the curtain and instantly regretted it, "It's okay, everything's okay"
"Are you telling me that or yourself" Jennifer asked
"Both" Max swallowed hard
The Operating room was silent for a few minutes and suddenly a baby was crying.
"It's a Girl, Jennifer" Dr. Kendall held up the baby, who was bright pink and screaming
"That's my girl," Jennifer cried as Max kissed her head and walked over to where the nurses were weighing the baby.
"6lbs 12oz, 24 inches long" a Nurse called to the Doctor, who was sewing up Jennifer.
"Look, she's got Mr. H's dimples" Max called to Jennifer, who was desperate to hold her baby.
"We're going to take her to the NICU just to make sure she's 100 percent and then we'll bring her to you," a Nurse brought the baby over to Jennifer for a second, long enough for her to notice a birth mark on the baby's shoulder.
"She's so beautiful," Jennifer cried even harder
"Have you picked out a name," Dr. Kendall asked
"I think we're going to call her Jocelyn Max, after the two most important people in Jonathan and mine lives" Jennifer sighed
Max was touched but This Baby needed her own name, "Mrs. H, She's more a Mae, for Mae West than a Max"
"Then Jocelyn Mae she is" Jennifer was so tired she would have agreed to anything
A few hours later, Jennifer was resting in her room when they finally brought the baby in.
The nurse who was assigned to Jennifer, brought the baby over and placed her in Jennifer's arms, Jennifer expected to feel a rush of love but instead she didn't feel a connection, she looked down at the baby and noticed that the baby's face looked different, much more rounder and she was less pink than she was at birth, and the dimple Max had pointed out were gone.
"Are you sure this is my baby? This doesn't feel like my Jocelyn" Jennifer knew that something was wrong.
"Yes, see the bracelets match, this is your baby…All new mothers have the fear of their babies being switched but it never happens," The nurse was manhandling Jennifer, trying to get her to feed the baby but she was making Jennifer uncomfortable.
"Maybe you are right but something doesn't feel right,"
"You've just had a baby and your exhausted, I'm sure when you've rested a bit, you'll feel differently,"
Max came back into the room; he'd gone down to the payphones to see if he could locate Jonathan, What he found out instead was frightening.
"Grandpa Max, we missed you!" Jennifer said looking up and seeing Max in the doorway, "Max, what's wrong?"
"There's been an accident" Max barely got the words out