Forever After (Unrestrained 5)

“She had a bottle and seems content to watch her mobile. She’ll probably go down for a nap soon, I would think. You should, too.”

I sighed. “You seem so in control of everything.”

Karen laughed. “I had five children of my own and worked as a pediatric nurse for fifteen years before I became a doula. Now, besides being a doula, I freelance as a lactation and nursing consultant. I love babies. Now, go to bed. I’ll wake you in 30 minutes.”

“Okay, if you insist,” I said, smiling.

“I insist. Everything’s fine. Look at her,” she said and gestured to Sophie while she chopped some carrots. “Her eyes are heavy. I’ll put her in her crib soon, on her side. You go nap.”

“I will,” I said and took one last look at Sophie before doing exactly what Karen said.

My bed never felt quit as good as it did at that moment and I slept within moments of my head hitting the pillow, the blankets warm around me.

I woke to the scent of delicious and very aromatic Beef Burgundy, wafting up from the kitchen on the main floor of the apartment. My bed was warm and comfortable, and I almost snuggled down into it for a longer nap, but I checked my watch and saw I’d already been asleep for almost an hour.

I jumped out of bed and quickly brushed my hair, adjusted my clothes, and went to see how Sophie was doing. I went to her bassinet, which we kept in the back bedroom, and saw that she was still asleep, so I smiled and went into Drake’s office to use my computer and check my mail.

I sat at the desk and opened my laptop, to find I had several new messages, from various junk mail providers, all of which I deleted.

There was nothing from my father, which made me frown, and so I decided to call the house. There was again no answer.

I left a message and then sat for a moment, my cell in my hand, and wondered where they were that they couldn’t answer the home phone. So, I tried my father’s cell and got the same response – no answer and then his voicemail. I left a new message there.

Hey, daddy. I hope you’re okay. I tried to call you at home but there was no answer so I’m assuming you and Elaine are out. Please call me back when you get this message and let me know everything’s okay. I love you, Kate.

Then I tried Elaine’s cell, thinking that she should be able to answer. On the third ring, just when I thought I’d be sent to voicemail, she finally answered.

“Hello,” she said, her voice a bit brusque.

“Hey,” I said, glad to hear her voice. “I’ve been trying to call you but you were out. How is everything?”

When I heard her sigh, I knew things were not good. “Your father’s in the ER here at NYP. He’s being examined right now, and so I’m out here in the waiting room.”

I frowned, a jolt of adrenaline coursing through me. “Why didn’t you call me right away? What happened?”

She paused on the other end. “I’m sorry, Kate, but he asked me not to. He didn’t want to worry you over nothing.”

“Nothing? Why would he be in the ER if it were nothing? What happened?”

“He fell,” she said, her voice wavering. “I wasn’t strong enough to get him up. That’s all, dear. It scared us both, because usually, I can get him up. I’m strong enough. But he was unresponsive for a couple of minutes and I thought he was unconscious.”

“Did he have a stroke?” I asked, fearing the worst.

“Maybe,” she replied, the fatigue clear in her voice. “The doctors are examining him now and he’s going for a CT with contrast to see if there’s been a new bleed. It could be a balance problem – you know, he doesn’t have the strength in his left side anymore and sometimes, he stumbles a bit.”

“I’ll be right down,” I said and took in a deep breath. “We have a new nanny working for us. She can keep Sophie until Drake gets home from his fitness club.”

“You don’t have to come down, Kate. I’m sure there’s nothing you can do until they get the results back from the CT scan. Why don’t you wait?”

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; “I want to be there with my dad,” I said insistently. “I can’t sit around here and wait. I’ll go nuts.”

“You have your new baby and you’re still recovering.”

“I’m fine and Sophie’s fine. I’ll be there in thirty minutes.”

I hung up, hoping that it was merely a minor loss of balance and not a stroke. I went right to the kitchen where Karen was busy tidying up the counter, putting things away from her preparations for our dinner.