Legacy of the Dreams

Chapter 82 - The First Thing

Everybody in the Abernathy's household except Melody went to work or school on January 4th, but all of them felt they were waiting for Neil's call. The day came and went. The family had dinner, and the girls were put to bed, and still nobody called. Greg eventually called Cathy, his friend and colleague, who was also Rosemary's mother, at her house. She wasn't there, but her husband, Leo answered. All he could tell him was that everyone was at the hospital and had been since mid-afternoon. Aside from that, he didn't have any news. As Greg told Susan when he hung up the phone, Leo was waiting too.

The call finally came mid-morning on Friday, January 5th. Susan and Melody were the only ones home. Matt was at Starbucks, Greg was at the studio, and Zack and Jessie were at school, so Susan answered the phone. She talked to Neil for a few minutes, smiling while she took down the information. They didn't talk long, but as soon as Neil hung up, Susan called Greg. She left a message on his cell phone and he called home when they broke for lunch around noon.

"So what did Neil say?" Greg asked.

"He was exhausted," Susan told him. "It sounded like he was up much of the night."

"That is to be expected," Greg said with a knowing tone. "What did he say about Rosemary and the baby?

"The baby was born a minute before mid-night last night, so her birthday is January 4th, but just barely. It's a girl, like Matt said, and she weighs 7 pounds 7 ounces, so she is a good-sized baby but not big. They haven't decided on a name yet, and mother and baby are doing fine. The father on the other hand it is beside himself."

Greg smiled on the other end of the phone. "I remember the feeling ... and I'm sure Alan does too. Has anyone called him and Cindy?"

"I don't know. It sounded like Neil had a list of people to call he was making his way through," Susan told him. "He sounded like he was in a hurry. They expected the pediatrician around noon and he was trying to finish his calls so he could go back to Rosemary's hospital room in time to see him. Neil seems to think they'll send her and the baby home later today."

"So soon?" Greg asked in surprised.

"They don't keep mothers more than 24 hours anymore unless there is a reason to. Since officially the baby was born on the 4th and today is the 5th, hospital policy is saying they should be discharged," Susan explained.

"Are they coming to our house?" Greg wondered.

"I don't know. It probably depends on what the doctor says," Susan told him.

"Probably," Greg agreed. "I was going to suggest we could visit them at the hospital tonight, but if they are coming to our house there would be no point."

"Yes, exactly," Susan said. "I'm sure Neil will call me back to let me know sometime this afternoon."

"Let me know when you know," Greg said.

"I will," Susan promised. She could tell from his tone Greg needed to go and so they hung up the phone.

c

"Baby Momma?" Melody asked as she got up from where she was playing to talk to Susan.

"Yes. We have another new baby in the family. Rosemary's baby was born last night," Susan told her as she lifted Melody onto her lap.

"Who?" Melody asked as she cradled her current favorite doll in her arms, along with one of her stuffed animals. This particular one looked like a puppy.

"We don't know yet. We haven't seen her, and her parents haven't decided on a name," Susan explained.

"Waiting?" Melody asked.