Page 90 of Mia Amata

“Yes,” Jacob replied.

“I’m Dr.Patel. I’m taking care of your daughter.”

Jacob nodded at him, “She isn’t in an incubator?”

Dr.Patel smiled and shook his head. “She is doing very well for her size and being born a few weeks early. I want to keep her here for a day or two, make sure she is eating well, and her vitals and lab work remain stable.”

Jacob reached out and touched Jayden’s hand. She is so small. She was beautiful. Jacob looked at Dr.Patel, “Can I hold her?”

The doctor nodded. “In fact, it is time for her feeding, would you like to give her a bottle?” Jacob nodded.

The doctor told Jacob the best way to pick her up, then led him over to the rocking chair. Jacob sat down, cradling his daughter in his arms. “I’ll have the nurse bring a bottle. Here is the button, if you need anything, just push it.”

Jacob nodded, but he couldn’t take his eyes off his daughter. She looked like a miniature version of Mattie but with light blonde hair. He could see Mattie in the shape of her face, her eyes, her nose, and her mouth. Jayden opened her eyes, looking up at Jacob. She didn’t cry, just looked up at him intently.

“Hey, little one,” Jacob said. “I’m your daddy.” He smiled down at her, a tear sliding down his cheek. The nurse brought him the bottle, instructing him on feeding and burping her. Jayden took the bottle eagerly, eating well. He burped her as instructed, and then Jayden nestled her head into his neck, falling asleep there. The nurse came back in, telling him he was a natural.

“I do need to take her through,” she said. “The doctor wants to check some lab work.” Jacob nodded, kissed his daughter on the head, then handed her back to the nurse.

Jacob left the NICU, taking off the gown, mask, and gloves. The doctor was standing at the nurse’s station, so Jacob walked over to him. “When do you think I can take my daughter home?”

Dr.Patel looked at him, “She may be able to go home late tomorrow if she continues to do well, but it may be the following morning. We will know more tomorrow morning.”

Jacob thanked him, heading back to where his family was waiting. They were all sitting there waiting for him. He walked in, sitting down, putting his head in his hands. His mom rubbed his back, asking “How was Jayden?”

He raised his head and smiled, “She is perfect. I fed her a bottle and talked to the doctor. I may be able to take her home tomorrow night or the following morning. We will know more tomorrow.” He noticed that Randy wasn’t there. “Where’s Randy?” he asked.

Josh spoke up, “She is at home, taking care of Lucky.”

“Lucky is alive?”

Josh nodded, “The vet came and saw him and said that he lost some blood and would be a little weak for a few days. He should be fine. There is a slight concern he may be a little lame on that back side where he was stabbed, but time will tell.”

Jacob shook his head, “I just can’t figure out what happened.” There was a knock on the door just then, a man walked in.

“Mr.Jacob Vance?” He looked at the men in the room.

“I’m Jacob Vance,” Jacob stood up.

“I’m Detective Ron Miller. I’m sorry for your loss, I hate to intrude, but I have some questions I need to ask all of you if that is OK.” Jacob nodded, motioning to a chair. The detective shut the door behind him, sitting down.

“Do you know who the man was that killed Mattie, Detective Miller?” Jacob asked.

“Call me Ron. Not yet, but we are working on it. We should know soon,” Ron said. “Has there been anything strange going on that you have been aware of? Any strangers in the neighborhood? Cars pulling in the driveway, then turning around? Catch anything on your video cameras?”

Jacob shook his head, “No, nothing out of the usual.” He thought for a few minutes, “Well, there was something, but I don’t know that it is of any importance.”

“You never know,” Ron said. “What is it?”

Jacob told him about the way Lucky had been acting, looking out over the lake, going into the trees on one side of the house to come out at the lake, his attitude toward Mattie, and shutting the basement door. This was all news to Josh, Nora, and Donald. They looked at Jacob in surprise. Ron took notes. “We just chalked it up to his being protective of Mattie and the baby. Then we would catch a glint of light, like a reflection across the lake in the area the Lucky was staring.”

“Does anybody live over there?” Ron asked.

“No, that is all national forest grounds. We didn’t think anything of it, but it kept happening at different times of day when the sun was out.”

“You said that it was right across the lake from you?”

Jacob nodded, then asked, “Do you think that is important?”

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