Baby, You're Mine. Peggy Moreland

own tears, she caught the baby’s hand and brought it her cheek, held it there. A tear slipped over her bottom lid and fell to splatter on the infant’s gown, leaving a wet spot to spread on the delicate pink fabric.

      Oh, Renee, she cried silently, as the crack in the dam opened, releasing a flood of emotion. Why did you have to die?

      Ace sat on the edge of his chair, his elbows on his knees, the heels of his hands dug into his forehead. Maggie paced in front of the fireplace, one arm hugged at her waist, nervously worrying a thumbnail between her teeth.

      Reared back on the sofa, Woodrow watched them. He’d never seen two more uptight people in his life. But he supposed he understood their concern. Even shared a bit of it. After all, the doc had been in the nursery for over ten minutes with the kid.

      “Do you want me to go and check on her?” he asked.

      Maggie stopped her pacing. “Oh, Woodrow,” she said, her face crumpling in a mixture of relief and desperation. “Would you?”

      Ace glanced up. “No,” he said, shaking his head. “She’s entitled to a little time alone with the kid.”

      “But she’s been back there forever!” Maggie cried. “Laura’s bound to be hungry. I’ll get a bottle,” she said and headed for the door.

      Ace bolted from his chair and caught her by the arm. “No, Maggie. Give the woman some time.”

      She struggled to break free. “But, Ace—”

      He caught her by both arms and gave her a firm shake. “Maggie. It’s only fair.”

      She dropped her forehead to his chest. “Oh, Ace,” she cried, clinging to him. “Please don’t let her take Laura away. Please. Don’t let her take her.”

      “Ah, Maggie.” Cupping a hand at the nape of her neck, he rested his chin on the top of her head, his Adam’s apple bobbing convulsively. “We’re going to do everything we can to keep Laura with us. I promise, we will.”

      Unable to sit by and watch his brother and sister-in-law suffer a minute longer, Woodrow pushed to his feet. “I’ll check on the doc. See if she wants to give the kid a bottle.”

      Ace looked up. “Thanks, Woodrow,” he said gratefully. Murmuring softly to Maggie, he drew her back to the chair and pulled her down onto his lap.

      Blowing out a long breath, Woodrow headed down the hall for the nursery. He stopped outside the closed door, unsure if he should knock or just walk in. Undecided, he leaned his ear close to the door and listened. Not hearing a sound, he pressed his ear against the wood but still didn’t hear anything. Frowning, he straightened and twisted open the door.

      The doc sat in the rocking chair in front of the window, the baby clutched to her breasts. She had her cheek pressed to the infant’s and her eyes squeezed shut.

      He took a cautious step inside. “Doc?” he said quietly.

      When she didn’t respond, he crossed to the rocker and dropped down on a knee in front of her. “Doc?” he said again. “You okay?”

      She opened her eyes and the grief, the sadness he saw behind the lenses of her glasses, nearly broke his heart.

      “R-Renee,” she said and clutched the baby tighter against her chest. “She l-looks just like Re-Renee.”

      Woodrow was at a loss as to what to say, what to do. “I wouldn’t know.”

      “I—I—” A sob rose, choking her. She dropped her head back and gulped, blinking furiously. “I c-couldn’t stop h-her. Sh-she kept running a-away.”

      He laid a hand on her knee, sure that she was talking about her sister. “I doubt it was your fault.”

      She dropped her chin to look at the baby and a tear slid down her face. “It-it was my fault. I was s-supposed to take c-are of her. W-watch after her.”

      The tears fell faster now, a steady stream of misery that Woodrow was helpless to stem. Sobs shook her shoulders, seemed to wrack her entire body. He gave her a knee a reassuring squeeze.

      “Come on, Doc,” he said, trying his best to calm her down. “Crying so hard like that…you’ll make yourself sick.”

      She hugged the baby tighter, rocking slowly back and forth, sobbing uncontrollably.

      “Woodrow?”

      He glanced behind him and saw Ace standing in the doorway. Maggie stood behind him, straining to see over his shoulder. Both of their faces were creased in concern.

      Scowling, he stood. “Here,” he said quietly to the doc and reached for the baby. “Let me take her.” He quickly carried the infant to Ace and handed her over. “The doc’s upset,” he said, stating the obvious. “I’ll take her home with me and see if I calm her down.”