Part 35 (2/2)
”She's having a caesarian,” Daniel said
The man stared at him ”Hey, why didn't I think of that? I wind up blowin' three days' pay every tioin' to talk to the doctor”
The nurse appeared in the doorway ”You can see your wife now, Mr Huggins”
Tess was sitting up in bed, a small silk bed jacket over her shoulders, as he came into the room She was in the bed near the ; the other bed in the room was empty He crossed the room and kissed her ”You look comfortable”
She sled self-consciously ”They made me pee in a bottle And look ” She held up an are in the crook of her elbow 'They also took some blood It didn't hurt at all”
Daniel nodded without speaking
'They won't let onna clean ht, Mrs Huggins,” the nurse said, coht now” She opened a cabinet next to the bed and took out an enema can and hose, then looked at Daniel ”You'll have to leave now, Mr Huggins We want her to sleep afterward, so that she'll be strong and fresh in the ”
A note of fear came into Tess's voice ”You mean I won't see him until afterward?”
The nurse so upstairs But now it's et here at seven o'clock, you'll be in plenty of time”
”I'll be here,” Daniel said He bent over Tess and kissed her ”Be a good girl and do what they tell you I'll see you in the ”
”You won't be late?” Tess said anxiously ”You better set the alarly ”You just don't worry about a thing Everything's going to be just fine”
Chapter 14
The telephone was ringing as he opened the front door Leaving the door open behind hi room and picked it up ”hello?”
It was a e Browne,” the voice said
”Yes, Mr Browne”
”Did your wife mention that I had called?”
”She did”
”I would like to see you,” Browne said
”That's what Tess told me”
”You didn't call,” Browne said
”I just ca to have a baby”
”I see,” Browne said ”I hope everything turns out well”
”Thank you”
”When do you think we can meet?”
”Maybe after the baby is bom,” Daniel said
”It's important,” Browne said ”Hold the phone ato someone else at his end of the line; then he caht?”
Daniel looked around the house It seely empty ”No”
''Good,” Browne said ''Do you know Lucey's on Melrose?”
”Fll find it,” Daniel said
'' I can send a car for you''
”I have a car”
”In an hour Okay?”
”I'll see you there”
”Just ask foryou”
Daniel put down the telephone and went back to the front door and closed it The telephone began to ring again
This time it was Chris Her voice was hushed as if she didn't want it to be heard past the earpiece of the telephone ”I had to call you”
”It's okay,” he said
”If your wife answered I was going to hang up”
”She's in the hospital”
”Is she okay?”
”Fine”
”I'lad,” she said ”Christ!”
”What's the matter?” he asked