Chapter 21: Alexander
(takes place immediately following the events of Chapter 20: Aftermath).
Hitch had returned to Isla's bedside after giving his family an update. A nurse remained in the room to make sure all was well. Mary Ellen stood talking to her to give the couple some privacy. Isla had insisted she stay in the room in case anything happened. She trusted Mary Ellen. She didn't know the nurse who had introduced herself as Wanda, so she wanted Mary Ellen close by to answer any questions. She knew Mary Ellen would tell her the truth without sugarcoating the situation.
For her part, Wanda recognized Mary Ellen's obvious training and experience as a labor and delivery nurse, so she had no problem with her presence in the room, whether or not she was connected with the hospital.
Hitch and Isla were holding hands and having a quiet conversation when suddenly Hitch noticed the color drain from his wife's face.
"What's wrong?" he asked and both Mary Ellen and Wanda were at the bedside.
"Something's happening," Isla said, wincing. "I don't know if I'm bleeding or if my water broke, but it's not right." The nurses quickly examined her, and Wanda went to the wall phone to have Dr. Grafton paged.
"There's some blood, not a lot, and your water has broken. The baby's coming and fast. You're already dilated six centimeters. The doctor is on his way." Mary Ellen explained as Wanda held a nurse's surgical down for her to put on, tying it down the back.
"I want to Mark to stay," Isla insisted weakly. "No matter what happens, I need him here, by my side."
"If I have anything to say about it, he will," Mary Ellen assured her. "I'm going to step out and let them know things have changed. I'll be right back." While she was gone, Dr. Grafton entered the room.
"So, baby is being troublesome," he said to Hitch. "Your wife is in good hands."
"My wife is lying right there," Hitch was not impressed with the doctor's condescending manner. "You can address her, she is capable of responding."
"I think it's better if I speak to you," the doctor continued patronizingly, "Don't want to confuse the little lady with complicated matters. Need her to stay calm," Hitch was starting to fume, and Isla squeezed his hand. Hard. Mary Ellen reentered the room to hear his response.
"I can assure you, my wife is quite intelligent and can comprehend what is happening to her body. She is not a little woman, and I will not tolerate your speaking to her in such a manner."
"She's fully dilated, and the baby is deep into the birth canal," Wanda announced. Dr. Grafton turned and saw Mary Ellen, demanding to know who she was and why she was in the room. She explained the situation and relationship and as he put on surgical gloves he haughtily said,
"You will need to leave. You have no standing in this hospital and cannot remain." Turning to Hitch he said, "You, too. Father's are not allowed in the delivery room. You'll need to go to the waiting room."
"NO," Isla loudly insisted, clinging to Hitch's hand. "He stays and so does she." The look in Hitch's eyes made the doctor pause long enough for Mary Ellen to pull him aside and say,
"Maybe I can help," she spoke barely above a whisper so the others couldn't hear. "When you walk into this wing of the hospital, what does the sign say that you pass by daily?" He hesitated and her look encouraged him to respond,
"Over the large archway, in big, bold, letters, it says, Hitchcock Wing," he was growing angrier by the minute at this upstart female who was speaking to him in such a manner. "If you don't leave and take him with you, I will call security."
"Well, honey," Mary Ellen poured on the Southern accent, "you can do that if you'd like but I'd suggest you think it through. That young man is the only son of Matthew Hitchcock, who donated this wing of the hospital, and I'm sure makes annual donations large enough so they can afford to keep doctor's like you on staff. He happens to be a genuine war hero with a chest of medals to prove it, including the Congressional Medal of Honor. That young woman is Matthew Hitchcock's beloved daughter-in-law who is about to give birth to their first grandchild. Now you and I both know there is almost no chance in the world, this baby is going to survive. So, how do you think Mr. Hitchcock's going to react when he discovers you acted like a patronizing ass to his daughter-in-law at such a tragic moment and tried to throw his son out the room, depriving her of the comfort she needed to get through this ordeal?"
During her speech, Dr. Grafton's face had turned several shades of red and he had prepared to give her hell and have her thrown out, along with that upstart father. As her words sank in, he realized he needed to take a different tack. "Since you are such a trusted friend, you can explain the situation to them."
Going back to the bed, he swallowed his vitriol and said, "My apologies, of course your husband may stay, Mrs. Hitchcock. I am sorry the two of you are having to experience such a distressing experience." He took his place on the stool at the foot of the bed, ready to deliver the baby.
"I am so sorry to have to tell you this," Mary Ellen said, with a catch in her voice, "the baby is coming very quickly. It's actually more of a miscarriage. I am so sorry. It's way too early and it's very unlikely to be born alive. Do you understand?" The two nodded in disbelief and Isla breathed in sharply.
"Are you having contractions?" Mary Ellen asked.
"It feels more like cramping. The pain isn't as intense as I thought labor would be," Isla answered.
"Basically, your body is expelling the baby. It's lungs haven't had a chance to fully develop, and it will probably only weighs about 3 lbs. and is maybe a foot long. I just want you to be prepared," Mary Ellen's heart was breaking as she broke the news.
Hitch kissed Isla's hand again and cleared his throat in an attempt to keep his emotions in check.
"I can feel it coming," Isla said, her breathing constricted by her injuries."
"Baby's head is born," Dr. Grafton said, "If you can, try to gently push when you feel the next contraction. We don't want to exacerbate your other injuries." A few moments later, Isla moaned aloud, and Dr. Grafton handed the baby off to Wanda as he cut the cord. The nurse wrapped the baby in a blanket and cleaned the mucus from its nose and mouth, then vigorously rubbed its back. A tiny, mewling sound was heard, and she quickly placed the baby in Isla's arms.
"It's a boy," she said softly.
Both she and Hitch had tears in their eyes as they gazed upon their much-loved and anticipated Peanut. He was very tiny, his skin almost translucent. He continued the mewling and took several shallow breaths before growing quiet. The doctor listened to the baby's heart through his stethoscope and shook his head. Both Isla and Hitch sobbed at the passing of their child.
"I'm so relieved he breathed," Isla said between sobs. "He lived. He was an actual person." Hitch understood what she was trying to convey and stroked her hair. While they were dealing with the rawness of their grief, Wanda and Dr. Grafton delivered the placenta and made sure Isla wasn't bleeding out. Leaving Wanda to finish, Dr. Grafton swallowed his pride and went to tell those in the waiting room of the circumstances.
"How about I clean him up and then you can hold him as long as you need. If you want your family to come in to say goodbye, I'm sure there would be no objection," Mary Ellen took the baby from Isla, while Wanda cleaned up the new mother. The young couple consoled one another and waited.
An hour later, the family and friends, along with the family pastor, were invited into the room. They were heartbroken to see Isla holding the still, tiny little bundle with Hitch perched next to her on the bed, his arm around her shoulder and his other hand stroking the still infant's cheek. Moira and Ellanora held hands as they struggled to maintain their composure. There wasn't a dry eye in the room. The sadness and grief were palpable. Hitch cleared his throat a few times and looked at the gathered loved ones.
"This is our son, Alexander Mark," he croaked, fighting back the emotion that threatened to envelope all of them. All who wished were allowed to hold Alexander to say both hello and goodbye to him. When the baby was handed back to his mother, Hitch turned to the pastor.
"Reverend Knack, would you please baptize him?" he asked. Reverend Knack came forward to perform the sacrament. He was the Associate Pastor of their church and someone who had gotten to know the young couple well. Matthew had called him since he knew the Senior Pastor might want to argue the theological reasons for not needing to baptize a non-living infant. Somehow he felt Rev. Knack would be more progressive and open.
He minister opened a small bag he carried and took out a lovely, palm size clam shell, asking Wanda to fill it with a small amount of warm water. He placed a small white stole around neck and began the ceremony. It knew it was far more important for the comfort of the bereaved parents than any theological debate. After taking the baby into his arms, he recited the Scriptures of Jesus blessing the children and the familiar phrases of baptism being an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. He altered the ceremony to reflect Alexander's brief life and his being in God's presence. Having Hitch hold the shell, he blessed the water, wetted his fingertips and baptized Alexander Mark in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, while making the sign of the cross on the infant's forehead. He closed with a blessing and prayer, then gently handed the baby back to his mother.
"Why don't you guys go on home," Hitch said, "We're going to have a little while longer with him and then Isla needs to go for more tests. I'll keep you posted." Slowly they each said goodbye and left the room, with Hitch thanking all of them for being there. He softly asked his parents to contact their preferred funeral home. He thanked Mary Ellen and Tully for everything they had done and promised to see them in the next day. Troy was the last one to leave. Hitch asked him to stay and wait with him while Isla went for testing.
"Sure thing," Troy said, "I'll be in the waiting room when you need me."
"Thanks, Sarge," Hitch used Troy's former rank. Troy impulsively pulled his former driver into an embrace before leaving the room. It wasn't the first time he had comforted the younger man, and he was honored that Hitch still valued their close, brotherly, relationship.