Page 46 of Holiday Haven

“There you are, Krista, I've been looking for you.” He abruptly paused when he saw Joy's mother holding the baby. “Nancy?” He took another step toward the woman. “Are you Nancy Williamson?”

The woman went still, staring at them with wide, frightened gaze. She looked between her and Adam as of trying to figure out what they wanted.

“Are you Nancy Williamson?” Adam asked again.

Slowly the woman nodded.

“You’re Joy’s mother? You left her in my clinic, but now you've come back to claim her?” Adam persisted.

A shadow of uncertainty darkened the woman's gaze. Krista could tell she didn't understand what Adam had said.

Suddenly the puzzle pieces slipped into place. She probably should have realized sooner. Stepping forward, she mouthed the word mother and used her right hand to spell out the word in sign language.

Nancy looked relieved and nodded again. She raised a hand and made several sign language gestures that Krista didn't understand.

“I don't believe it.” Adam glanced at Krista in amazement. “Joy's mother is deaf, too? How did you figure it out?”

“I could tell she didn't understand. I think you spoke too fast for her to read your lips.” She turned back to Nancy, realizing this additional news clarified things. “It makes sense now why she felt she couldn't take care of a baby all alone,” she murmured. “I'm sure it's been very difficult, caring for a child when you can't hear the baby crying. She may not have any help, maybe she’s been caring for Joy all by herself.”

“Good point.” Adam blew out a breath. “We need to get Shirley in here as soon as possible. Before she leaves for the day.”

“I agree.” she moved closer to Nancy and Joy. Using the only sign language she knew, the alphabet, Krista asked if Nancy knew her baby was also deaf.

The shocked expression on Nancy’s features confirmed she hadn't known. It must not have occurred to Nancy to have Joy tested, maybe because the baby was so young. Nancy slowly shook her head, closed her eyes, and held Joy close.

“She didn't know about Joy's deafness,” Adam said in a low tone. “No wonder she didn't turn around when I spoke to her that first day.”

“You spoke to her?” That was a surprise.

“I saw her outside my clinic and suspected she was Joy's mother. When I called out to her though, she ignored me and hurried away.”

Nancy stood and carefully set Joy in the crib. Then she pulled a small notebook and stubby pencil from her pocket and began to write. Krista exchanged a glance with Adam as they waited for her to finish. She ripped the page out of the notebook and handed it to Adam.

He read it out loud. “The note you left in my door gave me hope. I came here to the hospital and found Joy. But being a deaf woman raising a child who could hear seemed unfair. I couldn't talk to my child and sometimes I would see her crying and wondered how long she'd been upset. I didn't know how I was going to cope. I missed a few house payments and the bank is about to foreclose on my loan. I love Joy, but I was scared. I wanted a better life for her than she'd have with me.”

Krista blinked back tears.

Adam turned the note over and wrote back. Krista stepped closer to read over his shoulder. “I will help you. There are plenty of resources available. There are ways to help you learn to take care of a baby, systems that can be used to alert you to her crying. You are not alone in this.”

Nancy took the note and her expression turned hopeful when she read what Adam had written. Then she wrote again, ripping the note off and handing it to Adam. “Am I too late? Does Joy belong to someone else?”

Krista shook her head. “No, you are not too late.” She spoke slowly emphasizing each word then she used sign language to spell the word yours. She picked Joy up and placed the baby back into Nancy’s arms, demonstrating what she meant. “Yours,” she repeated. “Joy is your daughter.”

Nancy’s eyes filled with gratitude. “Thank you.” She mouthed. Nancy lifted her fingers to her lips and drew them away, making the sign for thank you.

“You’re very welcome.” Krista would miss the baby but could rest easy knowing Joy would be well cared for with a mother who loved her very much.

She couldn't ask for anything more than that.

* * *

Adam had wanteda few moments alone with Krista, but Nancy 's arrival had caused a flurry activity. There were forms to fill out, arrangements to be made before he could legally discharge Joy into Nancy's care. He was willing to make her payments himself to help get her back on her feet financially. Seeing as it was Christmas Eve, he couldn't imagine a better Christmas gift than reuniting a woman and her daughter.

Krista disappeared shortly after Shirley had arrived, saying something about needing to get to work. At first he was worried she was upset, but when she gave Nancy a hug, he realized she wasn't. She'd claimed she wanted the best for Joy and she'd meant it. As usual, Krista was being her normal, generous self.

He knew he'd messed up, badly. Last night, after leaving Alec and Jillian at the hospital, he'd gone back to Children's Memorial, only to discover Krista wasn't there. He’d been surprised to learn she’d worked the day shift to cover a sick call. He'd wrongly assumed she'd left work to find him at Trinity Medical Center.

He wished he could go back and do things differently. Like telling her the truth first, before blurting out the details to his family. To explain why he kept the secret in the first place.

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