A Full House

“Hot dogs.”

Jake made note of the items between bites of burnt egg and charcoal toast, sips of weak coffee and hopes of running into Annie Crawford.

Not a bad beginning to the day, all things considered.

“HE WAS FOUR WEEKS premature and he has a transpositional heart defect that for some reason they didn’t find in the prenatal testing,” Ryan said, as he sat slumped on the waiting room couch, Sally slumbering beside him. His face was haggard and he looked much older than his forty-two years. “But he’s hanging on and they’re trying to stabilize him enough to fly him to Boston Children’s Hospital for surgery in two weeks. They’re trying, but—” His voice broke and he dropped his head into his hands.

“Of course they are,” Annie said.

“I should have known something was wrong,” he said. “I should have brought her to the hospital when she first started having those pains and that terrible swelling. I should have known.”

“Ryan, every woman who bears a child has all kinds of pains and swells up,” Annie said gently. “You should know that. You went through it with me.”

“I do know that. But she was so filled with fluid. I should have insisted they look at her. Her doctor said…”

“Ryan.” Annie reached out and touched his shoulder. “Don’t do this to yourself. Trudy and the baby need you to be strong right now.”

He nodded and wiped at his eyes, blotting tears. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. You’re a good father and good fathers care. But listen to me. I want you to eat the sandwich I brought you and drink this tea. You have to take care of yourself.” Annie squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. “I’ll take Sally home with me.”

Ryan nodded and lifted his eyes. “I’ll need to stay at the hospital until…”

“I know.”

“Can you take the puppy, too?”

“Of course.”

He reached for her hand and squeezed it. “Thanks, Annie.”

“No prob.” Annie rumpled his hair the way she used to and then turned and walked out of the waiting room. She couldn’t wait to leave the hospital. The last thing she wanted to do on her summer vacation was to spend time inside a hospital.

“Mom!” Annie stopped her headlong rush down the corridor and waited for Sally to catch up with her. “You weren’t going to leave without me, were you?” she said.

“Of course not. I’m just in a hurry to get going. We have to pick the puppy up at your dad’s. I promised him we’d look after it.”

“Okay,” Sally said. “Nelly’s about the only neat thing about being here.”

Annie reached for her daughter’s hand but Sally moved ahead of her. Suddenly the sunny Maine day wasn’t looking so bright.