Forever My Baby

“Why are we here?” Ryker asked, getting straight to the point.

Dr. Walter Rainey, the chief of staff, looked like a cornered animal. He straightened his tie for the fourth time since they had entered in his office. “As you may know, certain information has come to light that two baby girls born in this hospital on September eighth may have been switched.”

“We are well aware of this situation,” Ryker stated. “I’ll ask again. What is it that you want from us?”

“We are asking that parents agree to DNA testing to determine whether this was, indeed, what happened.”

“Dr. Rainey, what I’d like to know is how the hospital staff is really so incompetent as to make a mistake like this? I was under the impression that babies were tagged with a wristband immediately after birth.”

Garland gripped the edge of her chair as panic whipped around the perimeter of her anger. How could they screw up like this? Didn’t they understand the preventable angst caused in this unfortunate situation?

Before Dr. Rainey could respond, Ryker added, “What about the other baby girls born that day?”

“They have all been tested and match,” Dr. Rainey interjected. “Miss Warner’s daughter was born within ten minutes of your daughter’s birth.”

“Have you considered that the nurse simply assumed that she made a mistake?” Ryker inquired. “When my wife had the heart attack, I know things got a bit hectic, so maybe the nurse isn’t really sure what happened that day.”

Garland glanced at Ryker, noting his pained expression. His wife had had a heart attack during her delivery. From the look on his face, she could only assume that she had not survived. She wanted to reach over and offer him comfort but decided it was not what he needed now.

“Yes, we have considered this and it is the outcome that we hope for,” the chief of staff stated. “However, in order to be sure, we would like to test your daughters.”

“I’m not interested in having a DNA test done,” Garland blurted out, her emotions out of control. “Amya is my biological daughter and I know it.”

“Miss Warner, I’m very sorry for having to put you and Mr. DuGrandpre through this, but the only way that we can clear this up is through DNA,” Dr. Rainey explained. “We are only following up on the possibility that the babies were in fact switched.”

“He’s right,” Ryker stated. “We need to know for sure.”

“You have doubts?” she asked.

“No, I don’t,” he responded. “Kai is my daughter and I’m absolutely sure of it. I just want this over and done with.”

“I can’t believe this is happening...” Garland muttered. “My baby was with me the entire time I was in the hospital.”

“According to the notes, there was a point when she was taken to the nursery,” Rainey said.

Garland thought about his words. “The nurse took her out of the room shortly after she was born, but it was only for a little while.” She glanced over at Ryker. “It wasn’t that long.”

“I know how unsettling this is, Garland, but as soon as we get the results of the DNA tests, our lives can return to normal,” Ryker told her.

She gave a slight nod. “This is crazy. I know that my daughter is my child. I’m surprised that you don’t feel the same way.”

“Regardless of how I feel, we need to know the truth.”

After the appointments were set for the DNA testing, Garland and Ryker walked out of the office together.

“Ryker, I had no idea about your wife,” she said. “I’m sorry.”

“It happened so quickly,” he said. “She never even got to see our daughter. At least she was spared this situation.”

Trina walked over to them in haste. “You okay?” she asked Garland.

“They want to do DNA tests on our daughters.”

“Are they saying that they were switched?”

“The hospital is hoping to prove that they were not,” Ryker stated. “I suppose they hope to avoid any lawsuits over this situation.”

“I don’t think there will be any lawsuits coming from us,” Garland said. “We have the right children.”

Ryker agreed. “After the tests, we all can put this behind us.”

“It’s nice seeing you again, although I wish it were on better terms,” she told him.

“After this is over, we’ll go out for drinks and laugh about this.”

Garland smiled. “Absolutely.”

Ryker nodded and walked off in the opposite direction.

Once inside the car, Garland said, “I remember seeing a photo in the newspaper of a little boy screaming and reaching for the only parents he’d ever known while the biological father carried him away. Only now when I think about that picture, I see Amya being ripped out of my arms.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Trina assured her. “You know Ryker DuGrandpre. Do you think he’d do something like that to you? Parker’s little sister?”

Garland began to shake. She could hear herself gasping and panting for air.

Trina reached over and took her hand. “Relax, sweetie. Slow down your breathing.”

Tears rolled down her cheeks. “I can’t deal with this,” Garland whispered. “What if I’m wrong about Amya? What if it turns out that she’s Ryker’s daughter?”

“Then it would mean that he has been raising your little girl,” Trina reminded her.

“Why did that nurse have to stir up this trouble? We were all fine before this.”

* * *

In her shop the next day, Garland decided that she must be in shock. She felt strange, cold and frightened.

That feeling stayed with her even as she picked up Amya from preschool. Garland relished having her daughter in her arms.

Later in the evening, Garland crept down the hall to Amya’s bedroom and hovered over her daughter’s tiny frame. Under a pink and white lace comforter, Amya slept peacefully. She could just make out her face in the glow from the nightlight.

Garland closed her eyes on a soft agonized exhalation.

* * *

Ryker stole a peek at the clock and muttered a curse. He had left the office later than he’d planned and if traffic did not pick up, he was going to be late picking up Kai. He closed his eyes for a moment. If only he knew what he was doing. If only Angela were alive to help him raise their daughter.

He did not like to ask his mother for help. It provided her with the opportunity to point out all of the reasons he should move back home.