Page 7 of Holiday Haven

His brother stared at him. “The whole point of a safe haven baby is that we don't find and persecute the mother.”

“Yeah, I get that. And if we find the mother, and she has substance abuse issues or psychiatric issues then we'll just let it go. But I feel the need to try.”

His brother sighed. “We don't have anything to go on.”

“Please, Alec. What if this baby was taken by someone?”

“There would be a missing person report.” Alec could tell he wasn’t going to give up, so he added, “Okay, but be prepared to be disappointed. I have a feeling there's a good reason she left her baby in your clinic.”

“I know. I'm grateful for anything you can do.” He was secretly relieved Alec had agreed to help. His unborn son hadn't stood a chance, the odds had been stacked against him even before the truck had hit them.

He wanted, needed, things to work out better for Joy.

* * *

Krista staredat Joy with a troubled frown. The baby was getting worse instead of better. Joy's respiratory rate impulse had increased significantly, despite the breathing treatments and antibiotics Adam had ordered.

She bit her lip and inwardly debated her next step. Normally, she'd call the mother—if the parents weren't already at the bedside—and then the resident on call. But in this case the only person other than herself who cared about Joy's condition was Adam Monroe.

How did he feel about being called at home? Eleven o’clock at night wasn't horribly late, but he'd only been gone two hours. For all she knew, he'd be irritated at being woken up. She gazed back down at the sleeping infant tucked in the curve of her arm. Should she wait or should she call?

She tried to remain objective when her feelings toward Adam were anything but. Even as she watched, the baby let out a barking cough. That sealed the deal. Joy was getting worse. There was no doubt about it. She'd extended her shift another four hours to cover a sick call on the night shift. And that meant notifying Adam of Joy’s change in condition was a necessity.

To her surprise, he'd put a note in Joy's chart to call him at home on his cell with changes in her condition. Holding the baby in the crook of her arm, she quickly placed the call.

“Hello?” His deep voice, husky with sleep made her knees go weak.

She took a calming breath and told herself to stop being an idiot. “I'm sorry to bother you, but Joy is getting worse. Her respirations are up to 48 per minute and her pulse is over 160.” She bit her lip, trying not to show the depth of her concern. “She's more lethargic, too. And has not taken a full ounce of formula.”

“What's her oxygenation status?” He sounded more awake now. “And how do her lungs sound?”

“Her lungs sound the same, we just finished giving her a breathing treatment. Unfortunately, her pulse ox is still hanging in the low 90s. I think we should try a croup tent.”

“Yeah, that's a good idea.” There was a brief pause, before Adam added, “I'll be right in.”

“No!” The word slipped out before she could catch herself. “I mean,” she hastily amended, “that isn't necessary. I've been keeping a close eye on her. I won't take any chances. If her condition doesn't improve, I'll contact the resident and arrange a transfer to the PICU.”

“I trust you, Krista. But it's after eleven. Isn't your shift over?”

“No, I agreed to stay four more hours to help cover the night shift.”

“Good.” The relief in his tone warmed her heart. “I feel better knowing you're there to watch over her. Her lethargy worries me.”

“I agree.” The increase in Joy’s vital signs could mean the antibiotics were trying to fight off the infection, yet the decreased oxygenation status and her lethargy were bad signs. “Is there anything else you'd like me to do?”

“If the croup tent doesn't work, call me back. She may need to go to the PICU to be intubated.”

“I will.” Krista knew babies who needed to be intubated at this young age often suffered other adverse effects, like potential damage to their lungs. She hoped and prayed Joy's respiratory status improved so it wouldn't come to that.

“Thanks for calling.”

Thank heavens he couldn't see the goofy smile on her face. “You're welcome.”

Feeling better, she hung up the phone and quickly arranged for a croup tent to be set up. For it to work, she'd need to set the baby down, which little Joy didn't seem to like much.

Krista’s other tiny patients were doing fine, all of them had their mothers present in the room. Except of course for Joy. After the croup tent was set up and Joy was safely nestled inside, she made rounds on her other patients, feeling guilty at how she'd rather be at Joy’s bedside.

She tried to rationalize that Joy needed her more because there wasn't anyone else to stay with her. Yet she knew that wasn't the only reason. In the few hours she's been assigned to take care of her, the safe haven baby had touched her heart.

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