Timeless

51

1998-May-Lindsey

            Stevie finally wakes up around eight that night, her bladder most likely screaming at her. Before she even looks at me, she presses the call button and the nurse comes. Protocol I guess. When she finally looks around panic crosses her features.

            "Lindsey, where is she?" She asks

            "Steph," I sigh taking her hands and going to sit on the hospital bed.

            "Where is she?" Stevie's starting to cry, biting her lip.

            "Angel, I'm more worried about you." I explain
             "Lindsey, I'm fine they're taking it out tomorrow...it's only really uncomfortable but I'm more worried about our baby. Where is she?" Stevie demands
              "She was a little underweight. Four pounds even. So, they took her back for some more tests. Sara came in a few hours ago to tell me that her low weight was because she has a hole in her heart. Sara and Dr. Walton assured me that she is in good hands and the hole may close up on its own but she may need heart surgery if it doesn't. Sara said that no matter what, she won't be affected by it and she'll live a normal life." I explain the tears streaming down my wife's face.

            "Can we see her?" Stevie asks.

            "I can answer that," We turn around to the door, "Dr. Charles Walton. Neonatologist, Sara is job shadowing under me. She is a very bright young girl, and she'll make an amazing Doctor. As for your baby. No, you can't see her. We have her under twenty-four-hour observation and screening. If the hole doesn't close by the first of the month, we'll go in and close it ourselves. Between Sara and I, you will be updated every five hours." The doctor explains.

            "But all of my appointments, everything was fine." Stevie cries.

            "I know, but things like that aren't always picked up on sonograms. We don't have that kind of technology yet. The heart murmur was probably hidden by your heartbeat and the hole wasn't visible because the sonograms can only see through you, not the baby." Dr. Walton sighs.

            "What did I do wrong?" She sobs

            "Mrs. Buckingham, you did nothing wrong. This happens with many babies. And the reasons are unknown. But your family is lucky. Her hole isn't very big. I've seen holes as big as quarters. Her hole is only about the size of a pen cap. I'll be back in the morning." Dr. Walton says placing his hand on her shoulder.

            "I failed her Lindsey." Stevie sobs.

            "You did not. It's no one's fault. She'll be okay." I sigh holding her tightly.

***
            We were able to convince the hospital to let us stay until we knew everything about Baby Buck. Stevie's Balloon thing was taken out on the twenty-third and she was cleared on the twenty-fourth. Today is the twenty-sixth. Stevie's forty-ninth Birthday. It's going on ten in the morning and Stevie is still sleeping. I'm dozing in and out when the door quietly opens. I don't pay much mind to it, it's probably someone coming in to tell us there's no change with the baby. However, I do a double take when I see Sara holding the baby.

            "Sara?" I whisper.

            "Daddy, here she is. The hole closed about ten last night. They've been monitoring her and she's breathing correctly and she's keeping herself warm and she's been bathed, changed, and fed. Now all you have to do is get discharged." Sara smiles handing me the baby girl.

            "She's good?" I ask.

            "She's great." Sara smiles kissing my cheek and walking out.

            I look at the blue-eyed blonde baby staring wide-eyed at me and I smile.

            "Hi Dove, I'm your daddy. You look so much like your momma, yes you do. Come on, let's get you dressed in the cute outfit that momma picked out for you." I say grabbing the hospital bag and laying the baby on Stevie's lower stomach. I have both arms and a leg in the onesie when the baby starts wiggling. Stevie hitches and wakes up.

            "Lindsey?" She asks

            "Yes?" I ask snapping the buttons.

            "Is that?" She questions...hesitantly, almost like she's hoping but she's not positive.

            "Yeah, she's okay, happy Birthday Angel." I smile picking the newly dressed baby up and placing her in her mother's arms. Stevie admires her for a while tears streaming down her face and a cheesy smile and then she stares up at me.

            "Lindsey, I want to name her Emmeline Buckingham. It fits her doesn't it?" She gives me wide hopeful eyes.

            I take the baby back into my arms and look at her.

            "Emmeline Belle Buckingham," I say as a flash comes through the room.

            "I hope I am not in that photo. I look like death and I'm wearing my nightgown." Stevie bellows.

            "No, Just Daddy and Emmeline, did you say?" Sara says going over to hug her mother.

            "Yes, Emmeline." Stevie smiles.

            "Stephanie, are you ready to finally go home?" Dr. Smith asks.

            "I think I am, yes." She smiles.

            "Alright, here is Emmeline's birth certificate once you sign it you may leave. Dr. Walton." Dr. Smith looks back.

            "Yes, the hole has closed and she can go home. However, she does still have a heart murmur. That will most likely never go away. In five years she'll have to get a chest x-ray to check up on the murmur, but for now, she's perfect." Dr. Walton explains.

            "Thank you Dr. Walton." Stevie smiles.

            "One last thing...Mrs. Buckingham, my wife is a huge fan of yours and Fleetwood Mac. I was wondering if you could sing these." He pulls our Bella Donna and The Dance.

            "Of Course." Stevie laughs taking them from him.

            "Why didn't I think of that. MY sister-in-law would love me." Dr. Smith sighs.

            "Hey, you took her to The Dance, I think that's pretty good." Stevie laughs.

            "Not as good as an autograph." Dr. Walton wiggles his eyebrows. I also sign The Dance and I fill out the Birth Certificate as Stevie gets ready to go.

            As we're leaving, Sara stops us. "Do you want me to pick the boys up after school?"

            "No, I'll go get them." Stevie shocks us all by saying.
       
            "Are you sure?" I ask

             Stevie just nods and takes her baby back admiring the small creature.
           
             "Alright." Sara chuckles.

            "Are you leaving me with Emmeline?" I ask when we finally get back home.

            "Only while I shower and change and then she is coming we me." Stevie smiles leaning down and kissing the baby.