Two Weeks (The Baxter Family #5)(42)

Everything they needed. As she packed up the car that day, Lucy checked the time on her phone. She still had thirty minutes. That’s when an idea hit her. Maybe a special blanket. Yes, that was it. Something to wrap around this little boy for the ride home. Lucy laughed out loud.

They didn’t even have a name for him. Of course they didn’t. She’d only just found out the baby was theirs.

Whatever his name, Lucy drove to the nearest Nordstrom and picked out the softest, most beautiful blue blanket. Something she would keep forever as a reminder of this day. He might not have been born into the world with anyone ready to care for him. But no one would love him and treasure him the way they would.

Lucy could hardly draw a breath she was so excited.

Finally, at twelve-forty-five, she parked her car in the hospital employee lot and took one bag—with an outfit and the blanket—from the passenger seat. Her hands were shaking. “We’re coming, Son.” She whispered the words out loud. “Mommy and Daddy are on the way.”

Aaron told her later that after her call he had taken a break and gone up to the maternity ward. He was an administrator, and this had been an unconventional case, so Bonnie had let him into the unit. There, Aaron had held the little boy and cradled him to his chest. Aaron said he would never forget the way he had felt in those moments.

“I’m your daddy, little one,” Aaron had told the newborn. “Me and your mommy will help you grow up big and strong. No one’s ever going to hurt you.” For the next hour he stayed there, holding the baby. Only when he was called back to his office for a briefing did Aaron leave.

Neither he nor Lucy could wait for one o’clock.

At 12:55, Lucy was standing in the hospital lobby when Aaron stepped off the elevator and came to her. The look of love and elation was one Lucy had never before seen in his eyes. At the same time their social worker walked through the hospital front doors.

The three of them had a quick meeting to explain the situation in greater detail and then they headed up to the maternity ward. Aaron put his arm around her and kissed her as they reached the right floor. “We’re parents, Lucy,” he whispered. “Can you believe it?”

The social worker gave them their space, but even she smiled. “Things like this don’t just happen.” She shook her head. “God must be really looking out for you two.”

There wasn’t a single thought that something could go wrong, that this baby wouldn’t be theirs. What could mess this up? The baby was an orphan.

At least that’s what they had thought.

They hurried with the social worker down a long corridor, and Aaron led the way into the nursery. He must have immediately noticed something was off, because he stopped short as soon as he entered the unit.

There a few yards away was another couple—about the same age as Lucy and Aaron. The woman was holding the newborn and next to them was a stern-looking woman in a navy blazer and business skirt.

“That’s our baby.” Aaron pointed, his voice low.

Lucy couldn’t draw a breath. What was happening? She hadn’t even met the little boy and now . . . Who were these people and why were they holding Lucy and Aaron’s son? Lucy was still trying to figure it out, still trying to keep herself from falling to the floor, when Bonnie walked up.

She had clearly been crying. “Please. Follow me.” She motioned to them, and Lucy and Aaron and the social worker followed her into a small room. Bonnie shut the door behind her. “I’m so sorry.” She looked from Lucy to Aaron and back. “I have no words.”

The room began to spin. No, Lucy remembered thinking. No, this couldn’t be happening. Not again. Not with another baby. She was the first to speak. “Wh-what do we have to do? The baby is ours. You said so.”

Before Bonnie could respond, the social worker cleared her voice. “Look, I’m not sure who those people are, but we’re prepared to sign paperwork. The baby is going to be adopted by my clients.”

Her words turned out to mean nothing.

Bonnie shook her head. “A doctor in the unit had the same idea. His sister and brother-in-law have been trying to have a child. He made arrangements with them at the same time.” Fresh tears filled her eyes. “It was miscommunication on my part.” She covered her face for a moment, obviously distraught. “I’m so sorry, Lucy. Aaron. It’s too late.” Her next words seemed almost impossible to hear. “The papers are already signed. The baby is theirs.”

Lucy dropped the bag with the blanket and new outfit. How could they lose another baby? Just when they were so close? She felt the floor fall away.

Aaron put his arm around her. His entire body was shaking. “Is . . . there anything we can do?”

The social worker looked defeated. “Have the other parents passed a background check?”

“Yes.” Bonnie looked sick to her stomach. “They’re licensed foster parents. Just like Lucy and Aaron.” She turned to them. “I’m so sorry. I feel terrible.”

The memory stopped there. It was as much as Lucy could take. She blinked and let the images fade. There had been a dozen other times when their social worker called with what seemed like certain news that a baby was about to be theirs. But always the situation didn’t work out.

Still, Bonnie’s baby—as they had come to call him—was right up there with Rio and Sophie. Three losses that stood like wooden crosses on the highway of infertility.