Page 8 of Mine to Keep

Chapter2

Bryn picked up her cell. The battery power was at fifteen percent, and she had no way of charging it. She pulled up the internet and googled a few key phrases about a woman giving birth in the middle of the street in Lighthouse Cove.

A few tweets and Instagram posts popped up, mostly about the man who’d delivered Zadie but it had little about her, which calmed her nerves some. She stared out the window, concentrating all her energy on her daughter. This had to be the longest six hours of her entire life. When they told her that her baby appeared to be strong and healthy, despite being born six weeks early and having had the cord wrapped around her neck, the idea that she had to spend any time in the NICU made Bryn want to crawl right out of her skin.

She set her phone onto the bed and let out a long sigh.

The nurses had taken her down there twice. They’d told her that Zadie weighed in at five pounds three ounces and was eighteen inches long. They considered that to be big for a little one born that early. The doctor had also told her that her daughter’s lungs were healthy, and that he saw no reason that Zadie would have to stay in the hospital more than maybe two days—three, tops.

“Here she is,” a nurse said as she pushed open the door and rolled in a bassinet with a sleeping Zadie swaddled safely inside. “She’s doing great. I wouldn’t be surprised if she woke soon looking for her mama. Will you be nursing?”

“I’ve tried a couple of times. The first time it didn’t work so well. The second time, we did pretty good.”

“It takes a bit of practice for both baby and Mom.” The nurse patted Zadie’s belly. “Hit the call button if you need anything.”

“Thanks.” Bryn hadn’t even had a chance to unpack. The crib hadn’t been set up—not that she would be using that anytime soon. However, she hadn’t even shopped for a car seat. How the hell was she supposed to get her baby home? Heck, she didn’t even have bottles or diapers at the house. She dropped her head back and squeezed her eyes closed.

A tear burned a path down her cheek. She blinked, reaching her hand into the crib to rest it on her baby.

Her precious Zadie.

Knock. Knock.

Zadie startled. Her little body twitched. Her eyelids lifted but quickly closed as she turned her head and settled back into her deep sleep.

Another tap at the door made Bryn swallow her breath. “Who’s there?” Bryn called. Her heartbeat sped up. Normally, the doctors knocked but then waltzed right through the door.

“It’s Jamison. May I come in?” He stuck his head inside her room.

“Oh. Sure.” She sat up in her hospital bed and smoothed down her hair. Never in a million years had she expected to get company. However, shehadplanned on finding Jamison and personally thanking him for what he’d done. She knew that she’d never be able to repay him for saving her baby, but he deserved the gesture, nonetheless.

“How are you feeling?” Jamison held a bouquet in one hand and a teddy bear in the other. He set the vase on the windowsill and stood awkwardly at the foot of her bed. “How’s Zadie?”

“We’re both doing great. Thanks for asking. And thanks for coming. I was going to try to reach out to you so I could thank you properly. I don’t want to even think about what might have happened to me or my little girl had you not stopped.”

“I’m glad you’re okay.” Jamison shifted, squeezing the teddy bear. “I wanted to check in and make sure there weren’t any complications. And to let you know I had your car cleaned and dropped it off at your place.”

“What do I owe you for that?” No way would she become beholden to anyone for anything. Not even a Good Samaritan.

Jamison glanced down at the stuffed animal before setting it at her feet. “Nothing. Really. Consider it a welcome-to-the-neighborhood gift.” He caught her gaze. “You mentioned you had no one to call, and I couldn’t help but notice that you had a suitcase and a couple of boxes in your car. Chip, your landlord, who is also a close personal friend, confirmed that you literally moved in today.”

“I wouldn’t say I moved in,” Bryn admitted. Why she felt compelled to tell this stranger anything baffled her. Perhaps it was because he’d delivered her baby. They’d certainly shared an intimate moment. Or maybe it was because she’d spent months not talking with anyone while zigzagging her way across the country, doing her best to disappear from the face of the Earth. “I made a deal with Chip that I’d do the cleaning. I just hadn’t expected it to be so dusty. And I’m a little weird about my cleaning products, so I was on my way to the store to get some when I went into labor.” She spoke so fast, she became winded by the time she finished her statement.

Jamison smiled. It was kind and sweet and it made his blue eyes sparkle like a million stars in the sky. “Chip loves making deals. And he hates cleaning.”

“That’s obvious, though the place was in good shape. Just dusty.”

“I’m sure. That was his mother’s place. She passed away a little over a year ago, but he can’t bring himself to sell the place, so he’s been renting it.” Jamison made himself comfortable in the big, ugly chair next to Zadie. He crossed his legs before taking off his baseball cap. He rested that on his knee and fiddled with the bill.

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“She was a good woman. Everyone loved her,” Jamison said. “So, I’m sorry to keep bugging you about this, but you don’t have any family or friends here who can help you unpack and clean and get ready for Zadie’s homecoming. And you’re going to need a ride. This place won’t discharge you without an exit plan.”

She fought the tears. No way would she cry in front of Jamison. Not about this. She couldn’t allow him to see the most vulnerable parts of her life. It was bad enough that she owed him everything. “I’m going to look into one of those medical cabs.”

“It’s a small town,” he said. “I’m not sure one will come out here. And if they do, it’s going to cost a small fortune. Besides, it’s not necessary. I’m happy to help out.”

Being reliant on a man was the last thing Bryn wanted or needed. Her chest tightened. “That won’t be necessary.”

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