Chapter 4 - The Baby in the Blue Blanket
The emergency C-section happened faster than Leah could understand.
White lights.
Cold air.
A curtain across her chest.
Nathan beside her wearing surgical scrubs.
Dr. Rusk giving instructions.
Mae had followed them into the operating room.
Leah clung to Mae’s warning.
Every time someone touched her IV, she asked what they were giving her.
One medication order disappeared after Mae questioned it.
Dr. Rusk looked annoyed.
Leah noticed.
Nathan pretended not to.
Then the room changed.
A cry pierced the sterile air.
Leah forgot everyone else.
Her son was alive.
“Baby boy,” someone announced.
Leah began crying.
Nathan did too.
For one brief moment, he looked like the man she had believed she married.
Then the baby was placed against her chest.
Warm.
Tiny.
Furious.
Perfect.
“Hello,” Leah whispered.
His crying softened.
“You’re okay.”
She kissed his forehead.
“Mommy’s right here.”
The words from the nightmare returned.
But this time, the baby was not falling into a river.
He was in her arms.
Safe.
Nathan touched the baby’s cheek.
“Caleb.”
They had chosen the name months earlier.
Caleb James Carver.
Leah looked at her husband.
“Don’t let anyone take him.”
Nathan’s expression changed.
Only slightly.
But she saw it.
“Why would anyone take him?”
Leah did not answer.
After surgery, she was moved to recovery.
Doreen appeared within twenty minutes.
“How is my grandson?”
Leah looked at Mae.
Mae answered professionally.
“Baby and mother are stable.”
Doreen reached toward the bassinet.
Leah’s hand moved instinctively.
“Wash your hands first.”
Doreen stopped.
Then smiled.
“Of course.”
She washed them slowly.
When she returned, she lifted Caleb without asking.
Leah’s incision burned as she pushed herself upright.
“Give him to me.”
“He’s fine.”
“Give him to me.”
Doreen looked at Nathan.
“See?”
Nathan whispered.
“Mom.”
Leah held out her arms.
Mae stepped forward.
“The mother asked for her baby.”
Doreen finally returned Caleb.
But her eyes stayed on Leah.
Evaluating.
Recording.
Waiting.
That night, Leah barely slept.
Caleb remained in the bassinet beside her.
At 2:11 in the morning, she woke to voices near the nurses’ station.
Doreen.
Nathan.
Dr. Rusk.
Leah reached for her phone.
She opened the voice-recording app.
The voices were faint but recognizable.
Doreen said.
“She’s already displaying attachment anxiety.”
Dr. Rusk replied.
“That alone isn’t enough.”
Nathan asked.
“What else do you need?”
Leah stopped breathing.
Dr. Rusk lowered her voice.
“Disorientation.”
“Paranoia.”
“Threats.”
“Something documented by staff.”
Doreen answered calmly.
“Then document it.”
A long pause followed.
Then Nathan said the words Leah would never forget.
“And once the hold is approved?”
May you like
Doreen answered.
“The baby goes with us.”
