Part 37 (1/2)
''Of course,” the nurse said, sht outside the roo the baby You'll see hiuside, still holding Tess's hand In the elevator going up, she looked up at hi, dizzy-like”
”Thats normal,” the nurse reassured her ”It's the Pentothal Don't fight it Just relax and drift with it Its just like sleeping And when you wake up you'll be a mother”
They came out of the elevator and went down another corridor The nurse stopped the gurney in front of the operating room ”Here's where we leave you,” she said to Daniel ”There's a waiting room just at the end of the hall The doctor will see you there afterward”
Tess turned her face toward him ”Promise me, Daniel If anythin' happens to me That you'll take care of the baby”
”Nothing will happen to you”
Her voice was insistent ”Promise me”
”I promise,” he said
She seeet that, will you?”
”Just you don't forget that I love you,” he said He bent over the guh the swinging doors, then went down the corridor to the waiting rooer, but it was less than an hour later that the doctor caratulations, Mr Huggins You have a son A big boy, like yourself Ten pounds four ounces”
Daniel grinned, shaking the doctor's hand enthusiastically ''I can't believe it”
''You'll believe it when you see hi
''And Tess-is she okay?”
”Just fine,” the doctor said ”She's in the recovery rooht now She should be back downstairs in about two hours That will give you tiars and make a few calls When you come back, you'll be able to see the two of them”
Daniel let out a deep breath ”Thank you, Doctor”
He crossed the street in front of the hospital to the restaurant and bar on the opposite comer No one was in the place when he entered except the lasses Daniel stepped up to the bar ”Double Jack Daniels straight, water back”
Expertly the bartender poured the whiskey and placed it in front of hilass of water up froirl?”
”A boy” Daniel stared at hihejd ”The only custo are from the hospital across the street” His hand went down behind the bar and caear It had a gold-imprinted wrapper IT'S A BOY!
”We also sell them by the box of twenty-five,” the bartender said ”Two dollars”
”I'll take a box,” Daniel said ”And let rinned at him ”I make it a rule never to take a drink before twelve o'clock But this time I'll make an exception I'm from New York, any- way, and it's twelve there already” He poured hiars on the bar all in the same motion ''What's the kid's nains, Junior”
The bartender raised his glass ”Here's to him”
They put away their drinks Daniel ordered a refill He drank half, then chased it doith some water
”If you want to make any calls,” the bartender said, ”there's a phone booth in the comer”
Daniel looked down the roo up his glass ”Give me another You have one too”
The bartender shook his head ”No, thanks, Mr Huggins I still have another eight hours to go If I begin putting theh lunch hour”
Daniel nodded He pulled the wrapper off the cigar and lit it He blew a cloud of sar”
”The kitchen's open if you'd like some breakfast,” the bartender said
Suddenly, Daniel realized he was fas with hash browns”
The bartender s, toward the kitchen in the back ”Hey, Charlie! Getcha ass out here and set a table We got a live one”
He bought a bouquet of spring flowers on the way back to the hospital The door was closed as he came down the corridor Cautiously he turned the knob and opened it
Tess was lying in the bed, propped up by the pillows behind her She had already put on some makeup and lipstick, but her skin seemed pale and almost translucent beneath it Her eyes were closed and she see attention to the nurse on the other side of the bed as straightening the sheets
He tiptoed quietly across the roo down at her She opened her eyes He sratulations, Mother”
She looked at the flowers ”They're beautiful,” she said Her voice seeth
He kissed her ”How do you feel?”
”Okay,” she said ”Weak I can't catch my breath It's like there's a band across et soes we have around your abdomen make you feel like that” She turned to Daniel ”I'll put the flowers in a vase for you, Mr Huggins”
Daniel gave her the flowers, and they watched as she took a vase froed the flowers in it
”Did you see the baby yet?” Tess asked
”No,” Daniel answered ”Did you?”
She shook her head
”The doctor said he's a big one,” Daniel said ”Ten pounds four ounces”
”My brothers were all ten pounds or more,” Tess said She looked at the nurse ”Can we?”
The nurse smiled ”That's just what I was about to do I'll be back with your son in just a minute” She closed the door behind her