Chapter Thirty-Two

Gabby

Swan View Pond Adult Living Center

MIKE DREW GABBY’S car right behind the ambulance waiting near the curb by the front door. The lights were flashing, but the back was empty. Gabby was pleased to see that, hoping it meant Mrs. Lucas was well enough still to insist on having her way.

She flung open the door even before Mike had put the car into park. Opening the back door, she undid the carrier and lifted it out. She didn’t wait for Mike, but he caught up with her as she reached for the door. He held it open and gave her a bolstering smile when she went through the double set of doors.

The lobby was hushed. Many of the residents were gathered in the main lounge, speaking in whispers. With the speed of every bit of gossip at Swan View, they knew that Mrs. Lucas was failing. Gabby saw several residents glance anxiously at the ambulance and its flashing lights. When she heard Mrs. R’s voice, calming and promising information as soon as they had anything to share, she was amazed. She’d have thought the director would be upstairs with Mrs. Lucas. Then she realized that Mrs. R believed she couldn’t do anything else for Mrs. Lucas, but she could for the other residents.

Allison got up from her desk in the lobby and rushed ahead of Gabby and Mike to the elevator. Pushing the call button, she said, “Thanks for coming so quickly. I hope it goes well.”

“Me, too,” Gabby said as she stepped into the elevator. Mike followed her in and hit the button for the third floor.

Neither of them spoke while the elevator climbed. There was so much they needed to say, but now wasn’t the time.

When the door slid open, she pushed herself out into the hallway. Sandra, the care assistant, waved to her from near Mrs. Lucas’s door.

Mike’s hand stroked her back, giving her the strength to walk toward that door. In the carrier, Ceebee was becoming fussy. Gabby set it down and unhooked the baby. Lifting her out, she smiled her gratitude when Mike picked up the carrier and continued walking by her side.

“I’ll wait there,” Mike said pointing to a small lounge where the hall turned a corner. “If you need me...”

“I do need you, but I’ll be okay.”

“Honey, you’re always a lot more than okay.” He stroked her cheek, then walked toward the lounge.

She bit her lower lip as joy swelled up through her. Going into the room, she held onto the feeling that Mike was with her in thought, even if he waited outside.

Two men stood in the main room to the right of the doorway. A wheeled gurney sat between the sofa and the chairs. They glanced at Gabby, and she saw their frustration. One of them glanced at his watch. It was a silent request for her to be quick, so they could transport Mrs. Lucas to the hospital.

Sandra appeared from behind the open door. “She’s in the bedroom. She—”

“Are they here?” called a weak voice from the bedroom straight ahead.

Sandra gave a sad smile before stepping aside to let Gabby pass.

“We’re here, Mrs. Lucas,” Gabby said as she walked into the bedroom.

The blinds were partially closed to keep out the sunshine, but enough seeped in to reveal Mrs. Lucas propped up on pillows on the narrow bed. She looked half the size she had when Gabby last spoke with her. Every vein on her slender hands and across her temples was visible through her almost transparent skin.

“Don’t stand in the doorway. Come in.” Something that might have been a laugh rattled from the bed. “I don’t bite.”

“Your bark is worse?” She gasped at her own retort. “Mrs. Lucas, I shouldn’t have—”

“Yes, you should have, after how I’ve treated you. It’s nice to have someone speak plainly to me. I’ve always appreciated that about you, Gabby.” The rusty laugh sounded again. “Well, maybe not always.”

“Allison called to say you wanted to see me and Ceebee.”

“Close the door, then...” Mrs. Lucas’s fragile hand motioned for her to come nearer.

Gabby turned to obey, arching her eyebrows when Sandra regarded her with consternation. The care assistant wrung her hands, but she nodded to Gabby’s silent message.

Shutting the door, Gabby carried Ceebee the few steps to the bed.

Mrs. Lucas said quietly, her gaze focused on the baby, “I owe you an apology, Gabby, and I wanted to give it to you before I go.”

“You don’t owe me an apology. I should have left you alone, instead of asking what was wrong.”

“No, you were right to ask. I’ve watched you since you started here. You really care about the residents. When you see one of us unhappy, you try to make us happy.”

“But I shouldn’t have pushed about Ceebee. Everyone has a right to their own likes and dislikes.”

“I don’t dislike babies. I...” Her voice faltered, and Gabby took a half step toward the door, ready to call the paramedics in if Mrs. Lucas didn’t catch her breath. She finally drew in air and went on, “My dear child died so young.”

“I know, and I’m sorry. I should have understood.”

“How—Oh, the records in the office. What those records don’t show is that after my daughter died, my sister gave birth to a daughter out of wedlock. She asked me to take it, and I did. That baby contracted polio and died.” Mrs. Lucas stared at Ceebee. “For the rest of my life, I haven’t dare to let my heart be touched again by a child, but my heart’s been empty too long. Just once before I go I want to hold a baby again.”

Gabby leaned over and put Ceebee in the old woman’s arms. She kept her hands close, not sure if Mrs. Lucas could hold onto the wiggling baby. It was almost as if she could see strength returning to Mrs. Lucas as she gathered Ceebee close and smiled as the baby reached up to explore her face.

Tears filled Gabby’s eyes, blurring the sight of the dying woman and the baby who’d touched her heart. Gabby blinked rapidly, but some spilled over to wash down her face as she realized how much courage it’d taken Mrs. Lucas to make this request. If she and Mike had half that courage, they might not have let themselves be torn apart as they were. They’d have found a way to fight for what they wanted.

“You sweet child,” Mrs. Lucas murmured, “don’t be foolish like your elders. Make your mistakes, but don’t let them remake your life.” Raising her eyes, she said, “If you would, Gabby...”

She took the baby, who was smiling as if she’d comprehended each word Mrs. Lucas had spoken.

“I’m ready to go now,” Mrs. Lucas said, sinking more deeply into the pillows.

Gabby opened the door and signaled to the paramedics. She backed out of the room as they edged the gurney into the bedroom. When she stepped into the corridor, Mike hurried to her. He must have been watching for her. She drank in the sight of him. He looked so handsome and every inch the doctor poised to make a breakthrough that would have an impact on so many lives.

“How are you?” he asked, his eyes searching her face, showing how difficult the waiting had been for her.

“Okay.”

As she was explaining what had happened, one of the paramedics came into the hall and said, “You may want to step back. We don’t want to bump into you.”

Mike put his arm around her shoulder and drew her to his strong chest. She couldn’t remember ever feeling so surrounded by love as now when she leaned against him and held the baby.

Mrs. Lucas’s eyes were closed as she was wheeled out of her room, but they popped open as she ordered, her voice weak, but still imperious, “Gabby, come here.”

She edged forward. “Yes.”

Mrs. Lucas’s hand reached toward her. Gabby clasped her hand gently.

“Thank you,” the old woman whispered. “You’ve helped me believe again that life is a glorious journey, and there are special angels who listen to our prayers.”

“There are special angels, and they definitely act in mysterious ways.” She glanced down at Ceebee, who was tapping Mrs. Lucas’s wrist with her small hands.

Mrs. Lucas released Gabby’s hand, and Mike laced his through it as they watched the paramedics wheel the old woman along the hall. Sandra followed them into the elevator. The doors closed, leaving Gabby with Mike and the baby.

“She’s right, you know,” Mike said as Gabby put the baby back into the carrier.

“I know, and we’ve got our own special angel.”

“I never thought a special angel’s name would be Jack.” He smiled.

“So you believe he’s an angel?”

“As you said, when all the logical answers aren’t true, it’s time to consider the illogical ones. I can’t say I believe he’s an angel, but I don’t disbelieve it after seeing that Ceebee arrived just at the right time to help so many people. like Mrs. Lucas.” He kissed her lightly before whispering, “And you and me.” He picked up the diaper bag, and several things fluttered to the floor.

She bent and picked up the envelopes Mr. Shepard had given her. Glancing at them, she saw two were junk mail credit card applications. The third didn’t have her name on it.

“Mike, this is yours. Mr. Shepard must have given it to me by mistake.”

He took it and glanced at the return address. “It’s from the lab where I sent the new DNA samples.” He opened it and drew out a single sheet. Snapping it open, he whistled softly.

“What does it say?” she whispered.

“Read it for yourself, Mom.” He held it out to her. When she took it, he said, “You know, I could use a navy tie for Father’s Day.”

The page fell out of her numb fingers as she looked up at his broad smile. Her heart thudded as if it were trying to break out of her chest to be next to his. Putting her hand on the shirt button directly over his heart, she whispered, “So this is enough proof for you?”

“Who am I to argue with three labs and one angel?”

A clock chimed the hour somewhere along the hallway.

Gabby flinched and said, “I didn’t realize how late it is. If you leave now, you can probably catch your plane.”

“I’ve already missed it. Don’t worry. As I told you back at the house, there are other planes today.”

“True.” She bent to pick up the letter. Had anything really changed?

“Gabby?”

“Yes?” Straightening, she folded the letter and put it in her back pocket.

“Let’s not do the scene from Casablanca where Bogie sends Ingrid Bergman away on the plane.”

“I wasn’t planning on doing that. You’re the one leaving, not me.” She tried to smile as they walked toward the elevator. “Or does that mean I’m supposed to play the Bogie part? I’d rather be Bacall in To Have and Have Not. That ‘you know how to whistle’ line is the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen on the screen.”

“You’re babbling.”

“I am.” She set the baby’s carrier on Sandra’s desk. Ceebee would need a bigger carseat soon. “I do that when I don’t know what to say. I just keep talking and talking and—”

“Will you please be quiet for a minute?”

“Yes. Of course, I will. I—”

He grasped her shoulders and tugged her to him. His mouth over hers should have been so sweet, but she couldn’t help wondering if this would be one of the last kisses they shared.

She wondered anew if he could read her mind when he raised his mouth and whispered, “Bogie didn’t kiss Bergman good-bye, and I’m not kissing you good-bye. Don’t you know the truth, Gabby? I love you.”

“You do?”

He gave her that mischievous grin that she’d seen hints of on Ceebee’s face. “When logic doesn’t work, it’s time to go with the illogical.”

“It’s illogical to love me?” She sifted her fingers through his hair as she kept one hand on the carrier.

“It is if you don’t love me, too.”

“Then I’m afraid, Dr. Archer, you’re going to have to be fall back on logic once again, because I do love you.”

This kiss was everything she had been aching for since Jack’s visit to her apartment. His arm around her welcomed her into his embrace, and she savored the wonder of kissing a man who loved her.

Ceebee’s squeal warned that the baby didn’t want to be left out. When Mike took the baby from the carrier and cuddled her close, Gabby doubted she’d ever been so happy. The sight of him holding the little girl with such tenderness was just one of the reasons she’d fallen in love with him.

Then his face screwed up, and he held the baby out away from his coat. One sleeve had a dark stain. “I think my suit’s been properly christened.”

“Oh, Mike! I’m so sorry.” She reached beneath the desk and pulled out some tissues and dabbed at the spot. “I’ll have it dry cleaned for you.”

“You don’t need to do that.”

“Yes, I do.”

He smiled. “I like that answer. Will you give it to me again when you marry me?”

She stared at him in disbelief. In all the ways she’d imagined being proposed to, she’d never thought it would be while she was trying to clean up from a leaky diaper. She hesitated, even though every beat of her heart was urging her to shout she would. “What about the new job?”

“I’ll talk to my boss. Maybe he can pull some strings and have the grant committee reconvene especially to consider my project because of the extenuating circumstances that set everyone back.”

“Is that possible?”

“I don’t know, but I can ask him to try.” He curved his hand along her face. “You called me a coward, Gabby, and I guess I was. I was afraid to listen to my heart because it’d betrayed me before. Logic had never failed me.”

“Until Ceebee and Jack arrived?”

“Yes.” He laughed. “And I’ll give you a logical reason why we should get married.”

“Spare me.” She rolled her eyes.

“No, it’s very logical.” He gave her that roguish smile that made her want to be in his arms. “If we get married and live together as man and wife, Mr. Shepard will be happy that I can give him thirty days’ notice before I move out of my place.”

“Man and wife and family.” She put her fingers on Ceebee’s head.

“You two are a family, Gabby.” He put his hand over hers. “Will you let me be a part, too? As I’m supposed to be?”

Again she hesitated and said, “If you’re asking because the DNA test results make you feel obligated—”

He kissed her again so deeply that her knees threatened to collapse beneath her. “Who cares what they showed?”

“I don’t. And, yes, I’ll marry you.”

When he drew her close to kiss her, Ceebee nuzzled her face against theirs. At that moment, Gabby realized she’d been looking for the perfect happily ever after ending when what she’d really wanted was the perfect happily ever after beginning.