Page 21 of Holiday Haven

He shook his head. “No, thanks. Go home and have a good evening.”

“I’ll try.” She turned and left the room.

The results of Joy’s auditory testing we're not good. Yet he couldn’t help but smile as Krista cradled the baby against her chest.

“How are you, sweetie?” She pressed a kiss on the top of Joy’s soft head. “I feel as if I neglected you today.”

She dropped into the rocking chair, holding the baby on her knees so Joy was facing her. He had noticed Joy was very animated now that she was feeling better, making funny facial expressions while she waved her arms in uncoordinated movements.

“Aren't you just the cutest thing?” Krista smiled at the baby.

“I'm sorry to tell you, but her auditory test results have confirmed a pretty significant hearing loss, in the ninety percent range,” he said with regret. “She can't hear you.”

Her startled glance met his. “I thought so. During the test I could see she didn't react to the sounds except for maybe the very highest pitched ones. But I read that it's important to talk to deaf children face to face so they can eventually learn how to lip read. Which is what I’m doing now, right Joy?”

She’d been reading up on deafness in children? He was impressed that she'd taken the time to learn more about what Joy might be facing. He couldn't seem to tear his gaze from the beautiful picture they made together. Yet despite the amazing image of the two of them, he could tell Krista was emotionally invested with this baby. Maybe too much.

“I guess she'll need a cochlear implant,” Krista said.

“Yes, when she's eligible for surgery, at twelve months or so.” A cochlear transplant was only the beginning. Joy would need extra care, special schools, speech therapy, and so on. Was he doing the right thing to search for Joy’s mother? As far as he knew, Alec hadn’t come up with anything on the mystery woman outside his clinic. And even if they did find Joy’s mother, maybe she couldn't afford all of this. Sure, there were state programs that would cover basic medical care. But would the state insurance for low income mothers go as far as to cover a cochlear implant? He honestly didn't know.

Yet he firmly believed the child needed to be with her mother. The rapt expression on Krista’s face bothered him. “Your shift is over, isn’t it?”

“Yes. I'm off duty, don't worry. I’m spending time with Joy on my own time.” Her defensive tone grated on his nerves.

“I'm not worried about your work ethic, Krista.” He frowned. “I'm concerned you're getting too attached to her.”

“Joy. Her name is joy.” Her defiant gaze met his. “I am attached to her. I had hoped to take Joy into my home as her foster mother.”

“Really?” He couldn't hide his shock at the news.

“Yes. A similar situation came up a couple of months ago with a baby who needed a temporary home and I went through the whole application process to be a foster parent. I was close to being approved, but there is one recommendation that I haven't been able to take care of yet.” She frowned. “One that might hold me back from having Joy placed with me.”

He realized this must have been part of her discouraging news. He didn't know what to say. Should he tell her he may have found Joy's mother? Or wait until he knew for sure. Wait, he decided. For all he knew, Joy’s mother wasn’t fit to take care of her, anyway.

His cell phone rang and he recognized his brother's number. Did Alec have information? “Hello?”

“Hi, Uncle Adam.” Shannon's childish voice made him smile.

“Hi, yourself. How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine. I was fine before, too, but Daddy wouldn't listen to me. He and Mommy ganged up on me and told me I couldn't come to the party.” Her indignant tone made him laugh.

“I think you need a baby brother or sister so that one day you can gang up on your parents and even the odds a bit.”

“Me, too,” she confided. “Anyways, I'm supposed to tell you there's a family dinner at Grandma's house this Sunday. Will you come? Please?

He knew that Krista was listening to his one sided conversation. Memories of their heated kiss washed over him. He forced his gaze away. “Sure. Tell Grandma I would love to come.”

“Goody!” Shannon shrilled in his ear. He pulled the phone away to salvage his eardrum. “Grandma and Aunt Amber want you to bring your friend Krista, too.”

“Oh, yeah?” He glanced at Krista and her startled expression confirmed she'd heard her name. Kind of hard not to when Shannon was practically shouting into the phone. “I'll ask her, but she might have to work.”

“I hope not, but maybe she can switch with someone?” Shannon knew more about hospital shift work than most kids her age, thanks to her mother who was an emergency department physician.

“I'll ask,” he repeated. “Bye, Shannon.” He slipped his phone into his pocket and cleared his throat. “I'm sure you heard. You are formally invited to our family dinner this Sunday. If you're not working and if you're interested in coming.”

“I'm off work this weekend.” She paused her expression uncertain. Then as if solving some internal debate, she nodded. “That would be nice. I'd love to come.”

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