CHAPTER 28
Arriving at the hospital earlier than she needed to the next morning, Bobbie stepped off the elevator onto the fourth floor. Approaching the nurses' station, she said good morning to Amy and wasted no time asking her if she had seen Tony.
"He said he was going to see the baby and then complete his rounds."
"Thanks."
Bobbie made her way to the ICU ward determined to talk to Tony. He was conversing with the head nurse when she entered to check on Carly's baby. Their eyes met. Tony's demeanor and appearance confirmed Bobbie's worst suspicions. Something was seriously wrong in his life. She realized he did not want to see her, but once the nurse left, she crossed to him and said good morning.
"Morning," he said, looking uncomfortable.
"Congratulations on the birth of your daughter," she said, trying to gauge his mood. "She's adorable."
"Don't congratulate me just yet," he said, holding up his hand.
"Why not?" she asked, confused.
"I found out I might not be the father," he said, still reeling from A.J.'s news. Every time he thought about Carly and A.J. being together, it made him ill.
"Tony," Bobbie said, placing her hand on his arm. "I'm shocked."
"Not as shocked as I was," Tony replied. "Look, I don't want to discuss this. I came to check on the baby. I have rounds to make."
"Of course. I understand. I'll be around if you do want to talk."
Tony nodded. He turned to leave and saw A.J. looking through the glass, admiring the baby. Bobbie caught the look on Tony's face, and putting the pieces of the puzzle together, she drew the only conclusion she could: A.J. was the other potential father!
"Tony," Bobbie said carefully, "Is it A.J. who might possibly be the father?" She needed to know if she was right.
Tony looked at her, debating whether or not to involve her. He decided he might as well tell her the truth.
"Yes," he said, running a hand through his hair in exasperation. "A.J. told me that he and Carly had slept together. Can you believe it?"
Bobbie wasn't sure what to think. After all, they were talking about Carly. But she had believed, for all her twisted ways, Carly loved Tony. The last thing she thought was that the baby's paternity would ever be in question.
"Why haven't you found out who the father is?" she asked.
"A.J. and I decided to wait until she's healthier, stronger, before we have a DNA test performed."
"What about blood types? I'm sure the baby's is in her chart."
"You're right. I've been so caught up in the emotional aspects of this, I never thought about that. Let's talk to A.J."
A.J. had noticed Bobbie and Tony talking inside the ward; his curiosity was piqued as he watched them approach.
"Hi," Tony said.
A.J. acknowledged Bobbie and Tony with a nod.
"A.J.," Tony began. "I told Bobbie the issue of the baby's paternity, and she indicated her chart would show the blood type. We can tell from that who the father is instead of waiting for the DNA test because I know Carly's blood type. It's A-. Mine is B+. I'm assuming you know your type."
"I'm type O."
"I don't know about you, but this not knowing is making me crazy."
"I agree. Not knowing who's the father is just one more thing on my list of stressful situations. I'm ready to find out if you are."
"I'm more than ready."
Bobbie looked at both of them and knew they needed to hear the truth. She just wasn't sure she liked being the one to tell them.
"I'll be right back with the baby's chart."
She returned and asked them if they were sure they were ready. They looked at each other and then at the baby, knowing full well one of them was headed for a heartbreak. They nodded to Bobbie who opened the chart and stopped when she saw the blood type. She looked up and saw anxiety written on their faces.
"Are you ready?"
They nodded.
"The baby's blood type is B-."
Tony couldn't believe it. A.J. was saddened. They both took a moment to realize what had just taken place. A.J. then offered his congratulations.
"She's a beautiful girl, Tony."
"Thank you," Tony said, feeling humble and proud at the same time.
He had the first reason to smile in days, although it was tempered with the knowledge that Carly had deceived him and that they would not be raising the child together in a loving home the way he had envisioned. Yet, despite those circumstances, he felt blessed to have a chance to be a father again. And to another lovely girl. He would make this work, he told himself.
He looked at A.J. and saw the disappointment on his face, but there was something else in his eyes. Relief? He couldn't be sure.
"I know this isn't easy, A.J."
"No, Tony," A.J. said, digging deep within himself for strength, "It's fine. I know how much you wanted this baby, and I know you're going to do right by your child. That's been my concern all along, and the reason I made certain choices: I wanted the welfare of the baby to come first. I have to say, I don't envy your position with Carly, but I'm sure you'll be able to agree on a workable solution. I guess it's not my worry anymore, is it?"
A.J. laughed sardonically and shook his head. It was over. Any ties he had to Carly had been severed with the knowledge he was not the baby's father. He had been wanting the freedom to move on, and it had been granted. Why then, did he feel so empty?
They shook hands while Bobbie tried to absorb the fact that Tony was a father again. Even though she had believed, all along, that Carly's baby was Tony's, now that it was true, she felt pangs of envy and sadness that Carly gave Tony the one thing she never could: a child of his own. When she offered congratulations and told Tony she was happy for him, she tried her best to mean it.
A.J. walked to the glass and took one more long look at the baby before turning to leave the neo-natal unit for the last time. A nurse's voice calling Bobbie's name stopped him.
She turned. "Yes?"
"Bobbie, Ms. Roberts, Ms. Carly Roberts. She's asking for you. Her doctor asked me to find you."
"What's wrong with Carly?" she asked. When she had left her the night before, she felt comfortable that the medicine would reduce her fever and help the infection. She admitted to herself that she hadn't thought to stop by to see her or to check her chart.
"Her fever shot up again during the night. Her doctor is administering a stronger medication, but she's delirious and in and out of consciousness. When she comes to, she asks for you. Her doctor knew how good you were with her yesterday. He'd like you to visit her to reassure her."
Bobbie and Tony looked at each other. Tony encouraged her to go to Carly. He asked her to page him with any news. She said she would.
A.J. watched as Bobbie and the nurse headed for the elevators and offered up a prayer that Carly would be all right.
Bobbie quickly made her way to Carly's room and found her in a feverish and semi-conscious state. Bobbie's nursing, as well as maternal, instincts took over. She immediately took Carly's temperature while brushing her matted hair away from her face. She placed a cool compress to Carly's forehead and cheeks and held her hand while the doctor examined her.
Carly never took her eyes off Bobbie. She wanted to see, one more time, the woman she had hated for so long, but she couldn't find a trace of her in this concerned, caring woman. She stayed with her, holding her hand and offering soothing, comforting words as a new medication was given to her. She continued to make her as comfortable as she could. She encouraged Carly to close her eyes and to sleep, but when Bobbie tried to extract her hand from Carly's, she wouldn't let go.
"Please stay with me until I fall asleep," Carly pleaded, her voice barely audible.
"I will. I'll be right here. You rest. I'm not going anywhere."
Bobbie smoothed her brow and helped her to get comfortable in the bed. Carly could feel the medicine begin to take effect. Her eyes were heavy, and her voice sounded as though it were coming from far away.
"Thank you for coming and staying with me, Mom," Carly said, as she drifted off to sleep.
Bobbie was stunned. Carly had called her Mom?! That had to be the fever and the medication talking, Bobbie told herself. But was it? Of course it was, she scolded herself. There was no way she could be Carly's mother. Her daughter had died. Yet, Carly's words made her feel very unsettled. She planned to ask Carly why she had called her Mom as soon as she was lucid enough to hear what Bobbie was saying. She left Carly's room in a daze.