Part 15 (1/2)
”Is he badly hurt?”
”Badly enough that without more surgeries, he may not walk again.”
Dana stopped. ”That certainly puts things in perspective.”
”You don't know the half,” he went on, thinking that Dana liked hearing about his work. ”The boy's father-who refuses to acknowledge him-is Stan Hutchinson.”
Her eyes widened. ”The senator?”
”The senator. And Crystal has no health insurance.”
”Huh-uh. There's your case. Does your father know?”
”No.” He looked out toward the street. ”I can't get myself to call.”
”Anger? Pride? Fear?”
”Anger,” Hugh said. It wasn't the whole truth, but it would do.
”Anger lingers,” she remarked.
”Yes.” Hugh continued walking toward the car. ”Has Lizzie been okay?”
”Perfect. She's the easiest baby.”
”Spoken by one who's had a slew,” he teased, and opened Ellie Jo's door. ”That's quite a wad of a foot, Ellie Jo. Is it hurting?”
”A little,” said Ellie Jo.
”Hugh,” Dana called from inside the driver's side. With a knee on the seat, she gestured toward the back. ”Have you met Saundra Belisle?”
Hugh extended a hand. ”I think I've seen you at the shop.” He remembered her. She had a certain authority.
Saundra put her hand in his. ”It's my pleasure. Congratulations on the birth of your baby. She's a marvelous little being.”
Hugh believed her. Feeling better, he tried to see Lizzie, but couldn't from where he was. He closed Ellie Jo's door, rounded the car, and opened the one by the baby.
”Hey, you,” he said softly.
She closed her eyes, shutting him out. Apparently, she hadn't liked the DNA test any more than Dana had. He wished he could make her understand that he was only building their case. He wished he could make Dana understand it, too.
”I have to get Ellie Jo home,” Dana said. She was speaking pleasantly enough, but there was little warmth in her eyes. She was angry, still. And the longer the anger lingered, the more it worried him. This wasn't the Dana he knew.
He wanted to talk about it, but this wasn't the time. So he leaned in to kiss Lizzie, then straightened and closed the door. ”When will you be home?”
”That depends on what I find at the shop. I have to talk with Olivia and the part-timers to make sure one of us is there every day to open and close.”
”One of us?” he asked quietly. ”You just had a baby.”
”Lizzie loves the shop,” Dana said with enthusiasm. ”You should see the cradle there, and the women made the most beautiful quilt. The shop is a perfect place for her. It's quiet, and there's always someone around to help.”
Hugh could imagine. ”Is that a dig?” he whispered.
She didn't deny it. But her eyes did soften. ”I have to go, Hugh,” she said and slipped into the car.
He closed the door and stood back. She hadn't asked when he would be home, he realized, and wondered if she was preoccupied, or if she just didn't care.
He was well out of the city when he put in a call to his father. He wasn't surprised when his mother answered. She was the gatekeeper while Eaton was at work.
”Hi, Mom.”
There was a skipped beat, then a relieved ”Hugh.” She spoke softly. ”I'm glad you had the good sense to call, at least. Your father's been impossible. I've been after him, but he's too stubborn for his own good. How is the baby?”
”She's fine.”
”I'd like to get over to see her, but it's difficult with Eaton right here. Do something about this, Hugh. He thinks that you have mortally offended him.”
”Me?”
”You said something while we were at the hospital.”
”I did? You two stood there suggesting I wasn't Lizzie's father!”
”Eaton was upset.”
”Hold it, Mom,” he said, because much as he hated attacking his mother, she wasn't innocent in this. ”You didn't say he was wrong. What was it you said? 'Stranger things have happened'?”
”Well, they have, but I was just making an observation. Anyway, it's during times like these that we have to stick together. We have to support each other, not refuse to talk.”
”Stick together, as in you, me, and Dad against my wife and child?”
”That's not what I mean.”
”Do you have a problem with Lizzie's color?” he asked bluntly.
”I don't,” she protested. ”You know I don't. Wasn't I the first one over at the Parkers' to greet that little grandson who was adopted from Korea? Wasn't I the first to suggest that the hospital auxiliary honor Leila c.u.mmings, one of our brilliant African-American doctors? I was even the first to encourage your Uncle Bradley to set up a college fund for the children of minority employees. How can you call me a bigot?”
”I haven't called you a bigot. But Lizzie is one of us. Why haven't you been over to see her, even without Dad?”
”Because your father is set against my going, because you offended him, and he won't get...off...his...duff until you apologize.”
”Fine,” Hugh said. ”Is he there?”
”Yes,” she snapped. ”You can be as unpleasant as he is. Hold the phone.”
Hugh held. He was in the middle lane of the highway, being pa.s.sed right and left. Had someone honked to speed him up, he might well have made a rude gesture.
A minute pa.s.sed. Clearly, Eaton didn't want to talk. Hugh was beginning to wonder at what point he would simply hang up-when there was a click, then Eaton's voice, all business.
”Yes, Hugh.”