Read The First Chapter
1 - Going Home
Saturday, November 30, 2019
Haley pushed the handle and exited directly into the parking garage. No matter how many times she walked out the employee door, fear set in. It was a temporary sensation, sometimes with the hair on her neck tingling along with tension in her stomach. Her blue eyes met with the guard on duty. She smiled at him, grateful for his presence. Fortunately, she now had a reserved parking spot close to the security office.
She took a deep breath of the outside air and her stress level began to drop, just as someone’s blood pressure would go down if administered nitroglycerin. Clicking the FOB on her key ring, she slid swiftly into her vehicle, locking the door. Shifting into reverse, Haley eased her blue Honda out of the reserved spot in the hospital garage. The security guard was kind enough to wait, making sure she exited safely. Smiling at him again, she pushed the driver’s side window button, lowering it. She was glad to finish another long shift and grateful the guards were attentive.
“Thank you so much. Enjoy the rest of your day.”
The guard smiled back with a nod. “No problem. You enjoy your time too.”
She began her descent into the darkness of the parking garage toward the exit.
“Hey Siri.”
“Uh huh?” the app responded.
“Send Jack a message.”
Siri asked, “What do you want it to say?”
“I just left work.”
Siri responded, “Your message says I just left work. Ready to send?”
“Yes, send,” she commanded.
Touching the steering wheel’s audio controls, her favorite play list was there waiting. The music cranked, a welcome distraction as she made her way out of the garage and into the day’s traffic, which was a tad lighter than usual since it was late Saturday afternoon in downtown Atlanta.
This was the first time she had worked through the Thanksgiving holiday — three days of patient care with over 38 hours in. The extra holiday pay was welcome, but taking care of the needs of the newly born arriving each day made shifts feel shorter. Rewarding as it was to assist these beautiful newborns, she would never delude herself about the heartbreak that occurs when one doesn’t make it. Unfortunately, Haley knew on a personal level how it felt with the miscarriage she had suffered. Carrying a child, giving birth and then losing it … that was a huge grief she prayed she would never experience.
Staffing changes at the old Mercy Hospital since the Lowen corporate buy-out had many of her friends moving to University hospital where the pay was commensurate and employees did not have to relearn everything they already knew. With Lowen taking over, the upper management had added what some felt was nothing but corporate nonsense. While they had tried to not change the branding of the hospital too much, the takeover included a name change to Lowen Mercy Hospital. Jokingly, Haley called it “lovin mercy”. Some days, it was anything but that. She hoped she would not lose track of friends that had moved on to University. It would take some scheduling and effort for that not to happen.
With the loss of staff, someone had to step up and be there during the Thanksgiving holiday. Working Thursday through Saturday, only coming home for short periods to sleep, she missed the Thanksgiving Day festivities with Jack and her in-laws. At least she had a video call with her Aunt Molly and Uncle Mike in Valdosta. It was short and sweet, but she said hello to them just before they were ready to dive into desserts.
Haley thought about how she would not take the Christmas shift, even though she loved putting the little Santa hats on the babies born that time of year. Family was important, and that holiday was not one she would negotiate on.
Picking up speed, she merged onto the freeway and began the trip home. The weather was typical autumn, sunny but chilly. She purposefully left the heat off in the car. If she turned it on, she’d likely become more tired than she was now. What she needed was a good hot shower and something to eat.
Jack seemed to truly miss her presence with his family for the holiday, saying it felt odd. Thank goodness he had brought home sumptuous leftovers — enough for both to dine on for two days. Haley missed Sharon and Joe. They had become like surrogate parents to her from the very start. She also would have loved to have caught up with her brother-in-law and his wife, Sarah, and their clan.
She did not miss being questioned at dinner on whether she and Jack had experienced any luck in having a little addition to the family. Everyone meant well and was eager about another pregnancy. They were trying to make that happen. She and Jack wanted to get pregnant again. The miscarriage of a little over a year ago left her devastated for a while. She moved out of pediatrics at Mercy for five months, before finally wanting her position in the department back. Touching and caring for those babies only reminded of her child that didn’t make it.
If the tester doesn’t turn blue sometime over the next year, she and Jack agreed they would consider in vitro. Haley had some hesitation over the idea, not wanting to have triplets. One baby at a time would be ideal for this couple.
Jack and Haley had purchased a home that was too large for the two of them after the miscarriage and the “incident” that happened while she was pregnant. Jack was determined to project her into the future where they would have a family together. While her drive to Mercy was longer, she worked three days a week. This put Jack closer to Chadwell Pharmaceutical’s complex on the outskirts of Atlanta.
The first thing he wanted to renovate was the master suite. It was nice, but he wanted that space to reflect them as a couple. The master bedroom and adjoining bath were made to feel more sensual in every way possible. They were magnetically attracted to one another. For Haley, Jack pushed all the right buttons with her visually and tactilely. The renovation was a way of Jack making his mark on the area, Haley thought. Plus, it was so luxurious. It made each feel like jumping each other’s bones. Certainly, that would create more chances for a pregnancy. Who can argue with that, Haley thought?
Jack’s new favorite spot to corner her was in front of the long mirror in the bath. Both found something very intoxicating about watching themselves joined in ecstasy. Jack had thought of so many things to make it special, including music speakers, ambient lighting, and a steam shower with multiple heads. He took the design over the top though with the waterfall faucet. Combined with the faux stone tile and carefully placed live plants, it sort of felt like being in the jungle.
“Now, I can jump into that jungle shower,” Haley said out loud to herself. “I have the next four days off.”
But Jack would leave for South America on Tuesday morning. She knew that would give them all day Sunday to be with each other and part of Monday when she imagined he would be busy on the phone. It had been a while since Jack made an expedition and never one where he took three team members from his department. Haley thought about helping him pack and plans for a delightful meal that last evening together.
Jack’s position at Chadwell Pharmaceuticals kept him constantly engaged either in the laboratory performing research, writing scientific papers, and sometimes traveling into the field. He was now working on something quite substantial, but secretive. Because of proprietary rules about information, everything was always secret until perhaps right before a formal announcement. Still, Jack would hint from time to time about the nature of his work. This time, however, he had been silent lipped. This project had risen to a more important level, even though it commenced a while ago. Jack was diligent about not taking a chance of speaking on the phone or over the Internet with anyone about it. This gem of a discovery had to be kept in the tight circle of his team and two executives at the company.
With both working long hours, Haley determined she might have to take a leave from nursing if their little bambino — no, not if — when their baby finally arrived. Jack was not easily replaced at his job. As Chadwell’s chief research scientist, he earned three times Haley’s salary. They could afford to allow her to stay at home with their child. And that would make for a more relaxed mama who was available to work on producing a sibling.
Proceeding from the interstate onto her exit, it was a short drive now to the country retreat of a home Jack and Haley found. Making a turn onto the cul-de-sac, Haley noticed her neighbor, Alex, trimming weeds around the mailbox area. She waved, and he waved back. Rolling down the window, she idled the vehicle beside him. “Did you guys have a nice Thanksgiving?”
Alex showed his wide smile. “If it was any better, I couldn’t stand it. Delicious food and fine company. How about you?”
“I worked from the holiday through today. Jack had dinner with his parents and family. It was a bit strange, but I was so busy at the hospital, it didn’t feel like Thanksgiving anyway. Do you know how many new babies we had after their mothers ate more than usual for Thanksgiving? Just take a guess.”
Alex put his finger to his mouth and looked up as if the answer would come from the blue sky above. “I’ll guess ten.”
Haley shook her head. “Close! We had ten mothers, but eleven babies. Twins!”
“Haley, how can you take care of eleven babies at once? Jeez!”Alex said, with a puzzled look.
“Well, sometimes they cry and have to wait their turn. There are three of us in the unit right now, plus a trainee. Most of the mothers have their babes staying in the room with them. That helps. I am tired, though.”
Alex nodded. “I bet you are. Anything you want me to tell my other half?”
“Tell Jessie I will have to catch up with her after Jack leaves for South America. He flies out Tuesday morning.”
“Will do. Feel free to drop by before then if you guys want some company.” Alex said.
Haley readied the vehicle to move again. “Thanks, but I think we have plans to do some shopping and veg out at home. Talk to you later!”
Making her way toward the house, it pleased her each time she arrived home as soon as the structure came into view. Selling the condo was the best decision. The only thing she sometimes regretted was the steep backyard. Haley felt it could be difficult terrain for children to play. Jack said they would have powerful leg muscles. She thought of having some of the yard leveled out, but not without losing some of the beautiful live oaks and tall pines. There was a grassy area out front and to one side that was fairly level for play.
Pulling into the garage, she turned off the vehicle, grabbing her bag. As soon as she entered the kitchen, comforting food aromas hit right in her hungry belly. She gazed at Jack, who was standing with a glass of wine in one hand and a potholder in the other.
“There you are. Haley, I am so glad you are home. I’ve been laboring all day on this huge turkey meal for you,” he joked.
Matching the mood, she kissed him and patted his shoulder. “Oh, you poor thing. I just had dinner prior to leaving work.”
Jack’s smile faded. One could say his mouth looked like it was drooping on one side.
“Not really, honey. Just teasing you in return. Labored all day, huh?”
He hugged her tight and whispered in Haley’s ear, “I may have had a little help from my mom.”
Melting into his embrace, Haley giggled softly.
“Let me get my jungle on and then we shall talk turkey and eat it too, okay?”
Jack knew that was her little slang term for showering in the rain forest inspired bath.
With a playful pat on her behind, Jack said half sternly, “Get to it, beautiful lady. Dinner will be served in thirty minutes.”