Baby In A Million

She sucked in her breath. “I can’t wait.”

“Neither can I. Two nights away from you are killing me. After tomorrow we’re never going to be parted again.”

“No. Never.”

“Ashley—” He started to say something, then she heard voices. “Darling? It looks like I have to get off. Someone else needs to use the phone.”

To have to hang up now came as a crushing blow. She fought to stay composed, but her voice cracked when she said, “I understand. Goodnight, my love.”

“See you in my dreams.”

The phone went dead.

Sister Bernice had just said goodnight to one of the children and was returning to her office when she saw Ashley. “Is everything all right with your husband?” Ashley nodded.

“Good.” The older nun smiled. “But I sense the next twelve hours or so are going to be hard to get through without him.”

At that comment, Ashley blushed. “I’m transparent. I know.”

“It’s wonderful to see you so happy. I want you to stay that way when you go home with him tomorrow. No matter what problems you have to face, always remember how you’re feeling tonight—and you’ll get through them.”

She nodded. “I plan to take your advice.”

“Good. Now let’s talk about tomorrow. I have an expectant mother coming to see me in the morning. She’s thinking of giving up her baby.”

A subject Ashley understood only too well. Her own biological mother obviously couldn’t have given Ashley a good life and did the right thing by bringing her to the orphanage.

“She’ll be here at the time I normally conduct the singing and stories for the Sunday school.”

“I’ll be glad to do it for you,” Ashley said without having to be asked. Sunday school was a favorite time for the children and staff, and it was the kind of job she could handle at this late stage in her pregnancy.

“Bless you. I’m afraid you’ll have to handle everything by yourself. Sister Clarisse is still sick and won’t be able to accompany you on the piano.”

“That’s all right. We’ll get along fine.”

Before Ashley went to bed, she set things up in the room where she herself had attended hundreds of religious instruction classes. After mentally working out a program for the next morning, she went to bed exhausted but excited because tomorrow afternoon Cord would be coming for her.

Sunday turned out to be a warm, beautiful day. Ashley woke up feeling euphoric and set about her tasks with joy.

Following procedure, as soon as the closing song and prayer had been given, the children were excused from class to go outside on the enclosed grounds and play until lunch.

Satisfied that everything had gone well, Ashley put all the pictures and charts back in the cupboard and then headed for the kitchen to grab a bite of lunch.

But an all too familiar figure in a stunning lime green dress had just come out of Sister Bernice’s office. Ashley’s heart dropped to her feet, and she came to an abrupt standstill.

Sheila.

For the moment they were alone. Obviously she had either phoned or gone by the hospital to see Cord. When she had discovered that he was unavailable, she’d somehow managed to wangle Ashley’s whereabouts from the clerk on the floor.

It would be dangerous to ever underestimate Cord’s stepmother who allowed nothing to get in her way when she wanted something. Or someone.

Cord would be furious, but no more so than Ashley. Dispensing with civility she demanded, “What are you doing here, Sheila? What is so important that you couldn’t have waited until Cord and I arrived home tonight?”

The other woman’s eyes silently mocked her. “You have an inflated sense of your own self-importance, Ashley. As it happens, I didn’t come to see you and had no idea you were here. But I should have guessed. After all, this is where you belong.”

“That’s correct. St. Anne’s is my home away from home. I have the legitimate right to be here.”

“If you’re implying that I don’t, then think again. It’s a state-run institution. Anyone from the streets is welcome here.”