The Baby Snatchers (13 page)

Georgie shook her head in dismay, trying to
come to terms with what her mother said. Sandra had given birth to
a healthy baby boy less than fifteen hours earlier.
How could he
now be dead?

“What happened?” she asked, still shocked
and confused.

Her mother shuffled a pile of papers on her
desk and then shrugged. “We don’t know for sure. I suggested
putting the baby in the nursery for a few hours so Mom could get
some sleep. When I went to check on him, he wasn’t breathing. The
poor little thing was suffering a severe withdrawal from heroin.
It’s possible he went into cardiac arrest. By the time I found him,
he was cold and unresponsive. There was nothing I could do.”

Georgie gasped in shock. “Sandra said she’d
been clean for three months! She’d given it up for her baby.”

Marjorie gazed at her sympathetically.
“Poor, Georgina. You really shouldn’t believe anything that comes
out of the mouth of a junkie. I thought you would have learned that
by now.”

“But…” Georgie shook her head helplessly,
unable to believe it was happening again. She’d worked on Ward
Seven for two years and not one of her babies had died. Now there
had been three over the course of a couple of weeks. Though the
deaths couldn’t be prevented, it seemed like things were spiraling
out of control. Panic surged through her and icy tendrils of fear
clutched at her heart.
What was going on?
What was
happening to the babies she delivered on Ward Seven?
She wished
she knew. She looked in desperation at her mother for answers, but
found only sad regret and then she remembered something else her
mother had said.

“You were here last night? On night shift?”
she asked.

Her mother nodded. “Yes, along with Rosemary
and Tammie. Someone called in sick at the last minute. It was just
as easy for me to come in, rather than to call around to find a
replacement.”

“So you’ve been here all night and now
you’re doing the day shift?”

Marjorie shrugged again. “I’m the head of
this ward. I do what needs to be done. Besides, I had to stay back
to complete the report on the Briggs baby.”

“Mom! You need to go home and sleep! You’ve
already been on your feet all night. Isn’t there anyone else you
can call to cover for you?”

Her mother brushed away Georgie’s concerns
and returned her attention to the paperwork that covered her desk.
“I’m fine. I’ll finish my report while the details are still fresh
in my mind. With a bit of luck, I might get to leave early.”

Georgie’s thoughts snagged on Sandra Briggs
and she pressed her lips together on another surge of emotion.
Blinking back tears, she nodded. “How is she?”

“Devastated, of course. She has yet to tell
her boyfriend. Neither of them have a phone.” Marjorie grimaced. “I
guess he’ll show up here sooner or later.”

“He’s going to be shattered. He was so
thrilled to become a dad. You should have seen his smile when I
told him he had a son. It was like I’d handed him the stars.”
Georgie’s voice faded away and once again, she was overwhelmed with
sadness and disbelief. “I should go to her,” she said numbly, “and
see if she wants me there when she tells Wes.”

Her mother nodded. “Yes, that might be
best.”

In a daze, Georgie pushed away from her
chair and stumbled toward the door.

“Have security on standby,” her mother
added. “You just never know how people like that are going to
react.”

Anger stirred in Georgie’s veins. She
rounded on her mother. “What do you mean, people like that?”

“Oh, come on, Georgina. We both know they’ll
be passed out in the gutter, with the drug of their choice rushing
through their veins, just as soon as they clear the hospital. I’m
just saying the boyfriend might be unpredictable. He might have
even celebrated fatherhood by getting high. Who knows? I’m just
trying to cover every possibility. You need to be careful around
people like that.”

Georgie stared at her mother like she was a
stranger. Marjorie had said it again: “People like that.” As if
they were lesser human beings; ones that didn’t quite fit.
How
had Georgie lived for twenty-nine years and never before seen her
mother’s prejudice?
It shocked and confused her even more.

But now wasn’t the time to deal with it. A
young mother needed her. With a heavy heart, Georgie turned away in
silence and made her way out onto the ward.

* * *

Tammie drew hard on the end of her cigarette
and sucked the nicotine deep into her lungs. Holding it there for
as long as she could, she eventually exhaled on a smoky blue sigh
that hung on the cool afternoon air. Winter had finally
arrived.

Her partner, Wendy, frowned from her seat on
the balcony. “I wish you’d quit that filthy habit. It isn’t good
for either of us. We’re trying to get pregnant, remember? Smoking’s
one of the contributing factors to infertility and given that
neither of us are in the first blush of youth, we need every
advantage we can get.”

Tammie stared at the woman she loved above
all others and nodded. She stubbed out her cigarette. “You’re
right, I’m sorry. I’ll try harder to quit. I’ve cut right back, you
know. I’m down to half a pack.”

She sighed and shook her head. “It’s just
that I had a shit of a night at work last night and smoking helps
me clear my head.” She chuckled softly. “It’s funny, isn’t it?
Cigarettes fill my lungs with poisonous chemicals, but they
actually make it easier for me to think. How’s that for irony?”

“Why didn’t you tell me when you came home
this morning?”

Tammie moved closer to her lover of five
years and pressed a kiss on the top of her head. “You were rushing
off to work and to tell you the truth, I didn’t feel like talking
about it. All I wanted was to lie down and sleep it off.”

“What happened?”

“We lost another baby.”

“Oh, no! Tammie, you poor thing! Was it SIDS
again?”

“Yes, they think so.”

“That’s so sad,” Wendy murmured and reached
for Tammie’s hand. “I can’t imagine how hard it must have been for
you. Especially now, when we’re trying so hard for a baby of our
own.”

“Yeah. It’s probably the reason it’s hit me
worse this time.”

Wendy shook her head slowly and shot her a
sympathetic look. “How many is that?”

Tammie compressed her lips, feeling grim.
“Too many. At least ten this year, that I know of.”

Wendy frowned. “What do you mean? Do you
think there might be others?”

Tammie stared at her lover for a long moment
and then exhaled on a heavy sigh. “I don’t know,” she finally
replied. “It’s not something we discuss on the ward, even during
handovers. As far as I know, only the staff directly involved in
each incident are even aware that it happened. Marjorie decided the
less we talk about it the better. I guess she’s right. It’s not
something
I
want to dwell on.”

Tears glinted in Wendy’s eyes. “I feel sorry
for those poor mothers. Fancy going through nine months of carrying
a child inside you, only to have it die shortly after birth.”

“I hate that they get to fall pregnant at
all!” Tammie hissed suddenly, as anger flared to life inside her.
“Almost all of them are drug addicts or alcoholics. They don’t
deserve to be mothers! You should see them, Wen. Half of them are
still getting high, right there on the ward! Their babies are
suffering from withdrawals—twitching and crying and struggling to
feed—and all their mothers can think about is their next fix! It’s
criminal!”

To her horror, hot tears filled her eyes and
spilled out over her cheeks. She swiped at them angrily, furious
that she’d been brought to that point. She never cried.
Never
. It made her feel useless and weak.

Without a word, Wendy stood and put her arms
around Tammie, drawing her in close. “
Shh
, babe. It’s all
right. Don’t get upset. It’s okay.”

Her comforting words only made Tammie cry
harder. Her sobs came loud and fast. Tears soaked the front of
Wendy’s jacket, and still, Tammie couldn’t stop the flow.

“But, I…I…I…” she hiccupped, trying to make
Wendy understand.

“I know, babe. It’s all right. It’s been a
tough year on us both. Three failed IVF attempts is enough to get
anyone down. Coupled with the sudden loss of several infants, it’s
no wonder you’re upset.”

Tammie squeezed her eyes shut and accepted
Wendy’s comfort and support. She wished she could explain properly
to her partner about the strange goings-on that occurred on Ward
Seven, but she wasn’t sure if she had the courage—or if she even
knew how to make enough sense of it to talk about it.

After awhile, Tammie pulled back and offered
her lover a shaky smile. “I’m sorry. I don’t know where that came
from. It’s not at all like me to fall apart.”

Wendy smiled at her tenderly and reached out
and brushed the hair out of Tammie’s eyes. “Hey, cut yourself some
slack. You don’t have to be the strong one all the time. We’re
partners; a team. We have each other’s backs, right?”

Tammie nodded. “Right.”

Wendy drew in a deep breath. All of a
sudden, she looked a little nervous.

“What is it, Wen?”

“This probably isn’t a good time, with you
feeling so down, but then again, maybe it’s the perfect time to
give you some news that might cheer you up.”

Tammie frowned. “What do you mean?”

“We’re pregnant!”

Tammie stared at the woman she loved with
all her heart and couldn’t believe her ears. “You’re… You’re
pregnant? We’re having a baby?”

Wendy laughed and nodded and more tears
sparkled in her eyes. “Yes! Isn’t it amazing?”

Tammie smiled so wide her cheeks hurt, even
though a tiny part of her was disappointed it hadn’t happened for
her. She forced the thought aside. “It’s more than amazing, Wen!
It’s… It’s the best news I’ve ever heard! How far along are
you?”

“Four weeks.”

Disbelief, wonder and happiness rushed
through Tammie until she thought she might burst. She threw her
arms around Wendy and hugged her tight. “Four weeks! How
wonderful!”

“It is, isn’t it?” Wendy grinned.

“How are you feeling?” Tammie asked, all of
a sudden beset with concerns.

“Fine. A little tired, maybe, but otherwise
I feel great.”

“You need to cut back your hours at work.
That law firm can do without you for the next little while. It will
do them good to lose you. They might have more appreciation for the
number of hours you bill if you’re not around all the time.”

Wendy chuckled. “Hey, let’s not get ahead of
ourselves. It’s early days yet. Besides, many women work right up
until a week or so before the birth.”

“Yes, but you’re not going to,” Tammie said
firmly. “We’re going to make sure you’re as rested and relaxed as
you can be. This baby deserves to meet you at your very best. I’ll
take extra shifts to cover your salary. We’ll be fine.”

Wendy smiled softly, her delight and
excitement at the thought of their baby plain for Tammie to see.
“I’m not going to argue with you,” she said. “From now on, you’re
the boss.”

“I was always the boss,” Tammie grumbled,
but followed it with a grin. Finally, they were pregnant! It was a
dream come true.

Cameron stepped out onto his balcony for the
third time and checked the street below. The morning sun shone
bright and cheerful, mocking his concern. It was a couple of
minutes past eight. Georgie was meant to be there by now. It was
ridiculous how worked up he was getting over the fact she was a
little late.

It was a weekday. People were commuting to
work. The traffic was heavy, as it usually was during peak hour.
She’d probably been held up. He didn’t know where she lived, so he
had no idea how far she had to come to reach his condo in Bondi. If
she lived on the other side of the harbor, it could take her quite
a while.

A red Mazda CX-3 swept around the corner and
then slowed, as if the driver was unsure of their directions. Cam
wondered if it could be her. A moment later, the driver pulled into
the curb directly below him and climbed out. Cam’s heart leaped in
his chest and a rush of nerves kicked into overdrive.

She wore a bright yellow sundress that was
in stark contrast to her nurse’s uniform and looked way too flimsy
for the brisk June day. It floated around a pair of shapely legs. A
matching jacket was draped around her shoulders. Her
chestnut-colored hair was loose around her shoulders and made her
appear younger than he remembered. Her high heels clacked on the
pavement as she headed in the direction of the lobby.

Quickly, he ducked back inside and hurried
over to the kitchen counter. A pot of coffee brewed on the stove
and a plate of fresh pastries he’d bought from the delicatessen
around the corner were piled high on a plate nearby. It was
probably overkill. More likely than not, she’d collect Cynthia and
leave. She probably wouldn’t have time for coffee, or feel inclined
to linger. She was only there to help his sister, after all.

He should have left for work already. He was
usually at the station by six. He’d asked his boss for a late start
so that he’d be home when Georgie arrived. It was stupid the way he
was getting all worked up about a girl he barely knew, but the
truth was, he couldn’t remember ever feeling so drawn to a
woman.

He was well aware of the good looks and easy
charm he’d been blessed with and he was grateful for these gifts.
He’d be lying if he didn’t admit they’d smoothed his way somewhat
during his path from teenager to adulthood. Women found him
attractive and he was flattered by their attention. But he never
took it for granted and until now, he’d never craved it.

The speed and depth of his feelings for
Georgie were a little scary and he was nervous about messing things
up. Until now, he hadn’t seen her since their initial meeting at
the hospital. He was equal parts nerves and anticipation at the
thought of seeing her again.