Page 7 of Not the Bodyguard's Baby
“Don’t look so worried. I am covered. They gave me a special nursing shirt, so I am not about to flash you. I made some poor choices after you left, but I am still not that kind of girl.”
“Thank you, I—” The questions burned his throat, but he held them in.
“I understand Harmony’s existence will shatter my reputation. When Shyla learned about my pregnancy, she went ballistic and tried to force me to... which I refused. I don’t know what her plan is for me to return to the stage. I’m afraid if she finds out I am here, she will try to get Harmony taken from me. The only reason she is helping me at all is because of my money. She isn’t the person I thought she was. But you warned me about her, didn’t you?”
Adam only nodded. He hadn’t been on the job long before he’d understood the biggest threat to September’s life wasn’t some crazed fan trying to touch her but the manipulation she had lived with for years from her “loving” manager. He had tried to explain the danger to the music star, but September couldn’t see the truth.
“She thinks I am in Seattle. After what she asked me to do, I can’t work with her, but because of our agreement, I believe I need to wait for the contract to expire before I can get rid of her. She knows too much for me to fire her, so I am stuck with her for two more years. Right now I am paying her to keep her mouth shut.”
Adam clamped his jaw to keep from asking what the doctor asked him not to.
She draped the baby over her leg and patted her back. “Come on, give Mama a big burp and you can eat more.”
A belch loud enough to make a ten-year-old jealous echoed throughout the room.
“I thought you were supposed to burp babies over your shoulder.” Adam hoped burping was a safe topic.
“According to my midwife, there isn’t a proper way. She picks up a baby with her palm on the baby’s chest and gets the most amazing burps. I’ve tried it, but I think my hand is too small. Your hands might work.” September positioned the baby on her other side, and Adam studied the back of the door.
“We are covered. I told you I wasn’t going to flash you. Did Harmony do all right with the bottle?”
“I’m not sure. She spit up a lot and kept pushing the bottle out of her mouth. Mom will be back tomorrow, and she can teach me more. I think she kept some in because she slept.”
“I’m kinda glad she didn’t take to it. I’m worried she will switch over and not need me. I didn’t realize the hospital would allow her up here with me before I checked in. My doctor didn’t mention the pilot program. Patients’ babies can stay on the floor from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. They have someone to take care of them in a special nursery. Dr. Brooks’ philosophy is that having the baby nearby and having the new moms take care of them as much as we are able helps us to heal faster. If we get overwhelmed, help is right there.” She looked down at her daughter. The baby reached a tiny hand toward her mother’s face. Though invited, he felt like he was intruding on something special. September looked up and caught him staring. “I do love her very much. But there is something not quite right with me. Every time she cries, I want to cry. Then she cries and cries and I think crazy things. But then I experience a moment like this, and I can see how crazy I was. Please don’t think less of me for doing what I did.”
“Choosing to check yourself in shows you are brave and strong.” He repeated the words Dr. Brooks had used. “I don’t understand why you chose me to care for your daughter, but I will support you.” Emotions he’d never felt before threatened to cut off his air supply as September lowered her head and talked to her daughter again. For months he’d told himself he had done the right thing by walking away. There was no way they could have made a relationship work—was there?
* * *
The minute hand moved again, their time almost over. Harmony’s breathing changed, the little sucking noises now quiet. Letting her daughter go this time would be almost as hard as it was early this morning. But this morning she’d thought she would be without her daughter for days. Now she had hope she could learn the skills she needed and keep her daughter with her much of the time. September needed to clear her first twenty-four hours before she and Harmony would be assigned to the PPD unit. There would be more counseling sessions if Adam agreed to continue to play father, but that could get very awkward.
“You are probably wondering about the note.”
“It has crossed my mind a few times.” His folded arms were not a good sign.
“I try not to lie.”
“I believe you called it ‘fudging the truth.’”
“I’m not ready to explain, but please believe I chose you for Harmony’s sake.”
He closed his eyes and leaned back. He was thinking. How quickly his mannerisms came back to her. “I’m not supposed to ask you questions, but I need to know—are you or the baby in danger?”
How should she answer? “I received a very credible death threat.”
Adam raised his brows. “Can you tell me more?”
Not here, not now. She shook her head slightly. The light by the door indicated someone was monitoring their conversation. If he was the same Adam, her not answering would make him wonder, and if he wondered, he would go find the answer himself. For now, that would have to do. She moved Harmony to her lap and straightened her top before removing the blanket. “This is how the midwife burped her.” September attempted the one-handed lift while supporting her daughter’s head and back with the other hand. “See? I can’t get this method to work.”
Adam reached over and took Harmony from her. “Let me try.” He lifted Harmony using the hold she had demonstrated, and the expected belch came. He smiled as big as if he’d produced the sound himself. “I hope it works with the bottle too.”
“If you get all the air out, she is less likely to spit up.” She handed the blanket to him. “I’m not sure when they will ask you to come back. Dr. Brooks says I need to complete my twenty-four-hour evaluation period first. Normally they don’t allow visitors the first day, but they want to see if allowing PPD mothers a few minutes with our babies the first day will help with overall recovery time.”
“That is what they told me on the phone. Don’t worry about your little one. I’ll keep her safe.”
“I know you will. Despite everything, that is the one thing I know.” She stood and crossed to the door where she pressed the buzzer. “I’ll see you both tomorrow.”
Fortunately, the attendant arrived before any tears started to fall. At least she hadn’t cried in the room with Adam and Harmony. She didn’t need him seeing how crazy she was—no, not crazy. Depressed. Dr. Brooks specifically said she wasn’t crazy. But it sure felt that way.
