Page 86 of The Forsaken (Echoes from the Past #4)
SEVENTY-FIVE
“Happy birthday,” Gabe crooned as he sat next to Quinn and leaned down to kiss her.
“Is it?”
“It’s past midnight, so it’s September twenty-seventh. And we have a son.”
“I know. Isn’t it marvelous? Have you seen him?”
Gabe smiled guiltily. “Through the glass. He’s adorable. And speak of the devil.”
Nurse Winnie entered the room, wheeling a plastic bassinet. “Here we are, Mummy and Daddy,” she announced.
Quinn’s vision blurred with tears as Winnie carefully picked up the baby and placed him in her arms. He was tightly wrapped in a hospital blanket and a knitted cap covered his head, but Quinn could see downy strands of dark hair peeking from beneath.
The baby opened his eyes. His dark blue gaze was unfocused, but it seemed to Quinn that he was looking right at her.
She held her breath as she beheld his little face.
The baby wasn’t red or wrinkly, since he hadn’t been pushed through the birth canal.
He was the perfect shade of pink, and his little mouth opened and closed as he turned his face toward Quinn.
“He’s hungry,” Winnie explained. “Will you be breastfeeding?”
“Yes.”
“Then go on and put him to your breast. The milk won’t fully come in until tomorrow or the day after, but there’s enough colostrum to tide him over until then. ”
Quinn pulled down her hospital gown and put the baby to her breast. It took him a few moments to latch on, but once he did, he seemed to know exactly what to do.
“Enjoy your midnight snack, little one,” Winnie said and walked away.
Gabe looked on with such reverence that Quinn couldn’t help teasing him. “We’re not the Madonna and Child, you know.”
“You are to me. I was so worried,” he confessed.
Quinn nodded in understanding. “Is Emma still sleeping in the nurses’ lounge? And what did Winnie mean when she said you know people in high places?”
“I didn’t want to wake her. I called Logan after they took you into the operating theater.
He wasn’t on shift, but he immediately came over.
He took us into the lounge and commandeered the sofa for Emma.
He is with her, in case she wakes up.” Gabe smiled sadly.
“God, Quinn, she really lost it. She was so frightened. I couldn’t comfort her.
She thought you were going to die, just like her mum. ”
Quinn pulled up her gown once the baby stopped nursing and fell asleep.
His face looked like a tiny moon, round and serene.
“Gabe, it will take years for Emma to come to terms with what happened. All we can do is be patient and understanding, and never belittle her fears. She has every right to be afraid. For a moment there, I was pretty terrified myself.”
“So was I. May I hold him?” Gabe carefully accepted the baby and cradled him in his arms. A look of pure wonder spread across his face as he smiled down at his son. “He looks like me.”
“That he does. That’s two for you, none for me.”
“Does this mean you’re open to doing this again?”
“Not in this decade. Check back with me closer to 2020,” Quinn joked .
“Don’t think I won’t. So what shall we name this little man?”
“Alex,” they said in unison.
“Alexander Graeme, after your dad,” Quinn clarified. “What do you think of that?”
“Well, it worked out quite well for Alexander Graeme Bell. Maybe he’ll grow up to be an inventor.”
“Stop projecting your own dreams onto him, Daddy. He’s only an hour old.” Quinn felt overwhelmed with love as she looked at the two of them, so natural together.
She was just about to say so when Logan walked into the room. He had Emma, who looked wide awake, by the hand.
“Are we just in time for the welcome party?” he asked. “Look, Em, it’s your baby brother.”
Emma inched closer to Gabe, but her expression wasn’t one of wonder but extreme jealousy. She glanced at the baby, then turned to Quinn. “Will you love him more than you love me?”
“Of course not. Come here.”
Quinn stretched out her arms and tried to turn onto her side, which hurt like the devil, but it was worth it. She was able to wrap her arms about Emma, who burrowed her face in Quinn’s neck.
“Don’t ever leave me, Mum. Not ever. I was so scared.”
“I know you were, but everything is all right, and now we have Alex.”
“Hmm.”
“Would you like to hold him?”
“May I?” Emma asked, her eyes lighting up. “You’ll let me? ”
Gabe vacated the chair he’d been sitting in and invited Emma to sit down. “You get comfortable, and I will put the baby in your arms.” Emma did as she was told and Gabe handed her the baby. He stood directly in front of her, so the baby wouldn’t tumble to the floor should she let go.
“I’m Emma,” she announced to the infant.
“I’m your big sister. You’re smaller than I thought you were going to be, but we’ll feed you up,” she said, echoing a phrase she’d heard Phoebe use.
“You’ll get big and strong, and then we’ll play together.
But you can’t have Mr. Rabbit. Not ever.
You’ll have to get your own. Okay, I’m done. ”
Gabe took the baby and placed him in the bassinet. “I’m going to take Emma home and put her to bed. Besides, Mr. Rabbit must be frantic with worry. We’ll be back first thing in the morning. Get some rest.” He kissed Quinn and escorted Emma from the room.
“Does Sylvia know?” Quinn asked Logan as soon as Gabe and Emma had gone.
“Yes. She’d like to come and see you. Shall I tell her she may visit?”
Quinn was tempted to refuse but nodded instead. “Alex is her grandson.”
“Thanks, Quinn. That’s kind. I know how angry you are with her, and with Jude. He’s promised to start rehab. That episode with Emma really frightened him. He’d never have forgiven himself had anything happened to her.”
“I’m glad he’s ready to get help, but I don’t think I want to see him anytime soon.”
“Understandable.”
“Have you heard anything about our sister? Today is her birthday too. ”
“No, I haven’t. Dead silence.”
Quinn didn’t mean to cry, but she dissolved into floods, partially because she was a hormonal minefield, and partially because her heart longed for a sister she’d never met.
Somewhere out there, Quentin had turned thirty-one years old.
What would her birthday celebration be like?
Was she married? Did she have children? Did she know that she had siblings who were searching for her and had she decided not to reach out to them?
“We’ll find her, Quinn. I know it.”
“We must. I will never feel complete until I see her and speak to her.”
Logan patted Quinn on the shoulder and left her to rest, but there was something she had to do before going to sleep. Gabe had left her mobile within reach, so she got hold of it and selected Seth’s number. It’d be around 8:00 p.m. in New Orleans.
Seth answered on the first ring. “Quinn, I’m so glad you called. How are you, sweetheart? Any news?”
“I’m all right. The news is that you have a grandson. He was born at 11:23 p.m. local time. His name is Alex.”
Quinn gave Seth a moment to collect himself. The sharp intake of breath was followed by what could only be a joyful smile. “Oh, Quinn, that’s wonderful news. Will you send me a picture?”
“Of course I will. But I expect you to come and see him for yourself. Soon.”
“Try and stop me!” Seth exclaimed. He sounded jubilant at the thought of seeing his grandbaby, but then his tone turned anxious. “Quinn, any word on Quentin?”
“No, not yet. I sent the letter, but never heard anything back. I think we’ll need to start searching for her on our own. ”
“Where do we begin?”
“I begin by recovering from a cesarean section, and you begin by scheduling a well-deserved holiday.”
“You just let me know when you’re ready, and I’ll be on the next flight. I’m ready to help in whatever way is needed.”
“Thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me. You’re my girl, and I love you. And I’ll move mountains to find your sister. Now, it must be past midnight in London, and you need your rest. Kiss my grandson for me, and give my regards to Gabe and Emma. I look forward to seeing them.”
“Talk soon.” Quinn rang off. She had one more phone call to make. Her parents would be asleep, but they’d never forgive her if she didn’t call them right away with the news. She rang her parents, then texted Jill and Phoebe.
She replaced the phone on the nightstand, tired and in pain, and happier than she’d ever been.