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snore sounded from her right. Turning her head, she found Tuck sitting, his head at what had to be a most uncomfortable angle against the wall. She tried to call for him and managed only a weak croak as her dry throat closed up. Before she could get the energy to try again, the door to the room slowly eased open.

  A young, pretty nurse poked her head around and seeing Bay awake, grinned hugely. She disappeared quickly and Bay frowned in confusion. Tuck snorted in his sleep loud enough to jerk himself awake. It seemed to take a moment for his sleepy brain to register that she was awake but before he could say anything, the door pushed open wider and the nurse returned, pushing a small hospital baby crib.

  “Someone’s been missing his mama,” she said in a warm soft voice. “Are you up to holding him? Maybe feeding him?”

  “Him?” Bay croaked out, tears filling her eyes. Her baby was here, right here.

  “Oh, here.” The nurse moved quickly to fill a clear plastic glass with ice water and pop in a straw. Lifting it to Bay with an encouraging smile, “You had quite an exciting time last night. Is this the first time you’ve seen your baby?”

  Bay drank deeply from the icy water. It tasted faintly metallic but was the best thing she’d felt in days. The water slid coolly down her throat, seemingly spreading all through her body. Finally, she leaned back again, her eyes drawn back to the crib and the tiny, unmoving body.

  “You up for this? He’s sleeping right now but its feeding time and this one, he’s a bit demanding. We’ve had to give him formula so far but it’s up to you to keep it up or switch to the breast.

  Bay swallowed hard. It seemed her first real decision as a mother was here. A quiet little squeak came from the crib and the baby began to move. She felt Tuck move to her side and place a hand on her shoulder. Warmth from his hand flooded through her, but this time it was a gentle, healing warmth; encouraging. She nodded to the nurse and began to shift the bed into a sitting position.

  Tuck and the nurse helped her to sit. She was now able to see that it was a cast on her leg and she had bruises all up and down her arms. Taking stock of all the aches and pains, Bay decided that it could have been worse, probably should have been worse, but the leg seemed to be the only thing broken. A quick discussion with the nurse and Tuck reaffirmed that her injuries were miraculously minor.

  The nurse handed her the tightly wrapped and squirming bundle and Bay fell in love. Touching a finger to the silky smooth cheek, Bay again felt her eyes fill with tears. A dusting of black hair covered his tiny head, his eyes so dark she knew they’d be black. But there, in the shape of his mouth, the curve of his chin, she saw Tuck’s features.

  Looking up at Tuck, Bay was surprised to see his eyes wet and full of emotion. Before she could speak, he nodded to her and left the room. Swallowing the sudden lump in her throat, she turned back to the baby. Reminding herself that she was the one who set the boundaries between them, Bay concentrated only on the baby.

  She found the young nurse extremely helpful and informative and discovered the immediate bond that formed from feeding her child from her own breast. Bay was consumed with love for this tiny little creature in her arms. She counted fingers and after struggling briefly with the tightly wrapped blanket, counted toes as well and then cooed like a silly goose over how cute those tiny toes were.

  Her first visitor was Melody. The young woman rushed in and held onto Bay tightly for a few minutes. When she raised her head, tears tracked down her face. Bay spent the next few minutes assuring her that she was okay, was going to be okay. When Melody voiced her feelings of guilt for leaving Bay alone, a short argument ended that. Bay refused for this tender woman to accept any sort of responsibility for her own choices.

 

  It was from her that Bay discovered the harrowing tale of the baby’s birth in the back of an ambulance right on Main Street in Miller Springs. Everyone was talking about it; how the Sheriff caught the bad guy, survived getting hit by the guy’s car and then gave birth on the street. Bay felt nothing but complete embarrassment as Melody told the story.

  Once finished, Melody turned suddenly shy. Ducking her head she picked up a gift bag sitting at her feet. “I uh, I have something for you. That is if you want it.”

  Frowning Bay sent Melody a confused look. “Why wouldn’t I want something from you?”

  Shifting uncomfortably, Melody took a moment before answering. “When I knew I was gonna have my first baby, I knew I didn’t have anything for a baby. Nothing. No blankets or clothes or anything. Daddy had made me pack up all mama’s clothes and put them in the attic. When he was gone one day, I went up and got some. I got some of her dresses and sweaters that I remembered her wearing.”

  Pausing Melody reached into the bag and pulled out a folded bundle of cloth. Shaking it out, she held up a small patchwork blanket. “So I made this. Out of her clothes. I put the sweater pieces on the back so it would be warm.” The girl held the blanket close to her. “My first baby, she didn’t get to use it really, but Daisy did. She loved it, carried it around with her. Daddy never figured it out, never even asked where it come from.”

  Bay was more touched and amazed than she could have ever imagined. “Oh, Mel.” Reaching out to touch the blanket, Bay smiled gently. “This is what you went back for the day that you came with me?”

  Melody only nodded, sniffling back tears.

  “I would be so, very honored to share this blanket with you. Because you made it. Out of love for your mother and love for the babies you had, even so briefly. I’m just blown away amazed that you’d want to use it, that it doesn’t bring back painful memories, though.”

  Melody smiled. “Not all the memories are bad. My Daisy was the best baby. You’ve given me so much, Bay, there’s no way I can ever repay you. So using this blanket for your baby… that would mean so much to me.”

  “Here, help me switch.” Bay carefully pulled away the hospital blanket and together they tucked the baby into Melody’s patchwork one. “There, he likes it. He smiled.” She announced.

  Melody laughed, “Bay, babies just born don’t smile on purpose.”

  Bay pretended to send a fierce glare at her best friend, “I say he smiled so he smiled.” They broke out in laughter just as the door opened once more.

  Flossie strode into the room and scowled at the laughter. “Hmph. Someone told me you broke your leg when you tried to stop a burglar by jumping on top of his car.” She sniffed, “I think that story getting passed around is a little exaggerated.” She plopped her own gift bag down on the end of the bed.

  With a huge grin, Bay provoked the older woman, “Why Flossie, I didn’t know you cared.”

  The large woman snorted but Bay could see the smile she was hiding. “Here.” She shoved the bag at Melody. “Give me that baby.” Gruff as she sounded, Flossie was incredibly gentle when she took the baby from Bay. Turning away and walking over to the window so they couldn’t see her smile, Flossie talked softly to the baby.

  Melody reached in the bag and pulled out a soft blue crocheted baby hat and booties. On the hat was a tiny gold police badge patch that looked hand-made as well. The two exclaimed over the cuteness and thanked Flossie profusely.

  Turning back to Bay, Flossie demanded, “So, what’s this little man’s name?”

  Bay’s mind went blank. Completely and totally blank. Staring huge eyed at Flossie she only shook her head.

  Flossie rolled her eyes and sighed down at the baby. Walking back to the bed she said to the baby, “Well kid, I hope you get a name before you start school. Be hard for the teacher to know what to call you without one.” She handed the baby to Melody, said her good-byes and left.

  “So you didn’t pick a name?” Melody asked cuddling the baby close.

  “Well, not really. I had a few I was thinking about.” Bay shrugged. She was a little worried herself about coming up with a name. Pretty stupid of her not to have one by now she thought to herself.

  Melody noticed the time and exclaimed. “Oh! I wa
sn’t going to stay so long. I have class and I have to get back to town.” She handed the baby back to Bay, kissed both Bay and the baby’s cheeks and quickly left.

  Alone again, Bay settled back and considered names while she watched her baby boy sleep.

  - 8 -

  Tuck strode into the Sheriff’s Department and went straight to Bay’s office. Even though she hadn’t changed anything in the office, it no longer felt like his. He could smell her, feel her, even hear her in the small space. Right now that was comfort to him. Sitting in his old chair, he felt her wrap around him.

  Never in his life had he been so scared as when he’d found her bleeding and broken on the street. He’d even had nightmares about it. Him, big bad Tucker Adams, having nightmares over a woman he truly didn’t know all that well. He and Bay hadn’t exchanged much personal information over the past year and a half because of that damned tension between them.

  He remembered standing in the doorway of the ambulance, nearly sobbing with fear for Bay as the medics worked to deliver the baby that refused to stay inside his mother. Even unconscious, Bay’s strength was