Vital Signs (18 page)

They giggled, but Laura quickly turned sober again. “She's gonna have a seizure when I tell her all this. Hailey, please come with me this afternoon when I go to talk to her?”

“Gosh, I'd love to, but I think I'm gonna be sick this afternoon.” On a scale of things to do, going with Laura to her mother's rated somewhere below making a luncheon date with Margaret.

“Please, Hailey. Don't make me beg.”

“I have to go to St. Joe's first and see how David's doing.”

“Mom's working today and the kids have karate at six. That would mean we'd only have to listen to her for an hour before we had to go pick them up. And then I'll buy us all dinner at that new place on Tenth.”

“Bribery.” But Laura looked so anxious that Hailey relented. “Okay. But no punching.”

“I'll make it up to you, swear to God. I'll baby-sit anytime. I'll wash your stinky sheets and retrieve your lover's underwear.” Laura looked at her watch and got to her feet. “Gotta run. I'll be back by one-thirty. The kids like leftover lasagna—it's in the fridge.”

Laura left, and before Hailey could finish her toast, the phone rang.

She picked up, and Roy whispered, “This is an obscene phone call.”

“I've always wanted one of these.” His voice reminded Hailey of the night before, and she felt warm and happy and giddy.

“If I said you had a beautiful body, would you hold it against me?”

She giggled and then groaned. “That's not going to get you anywhere in the obscene-calling sweepstakes.”

“Darn, and it's worked so many times before.”

“Try harder.”

“I just talked to David's doctor. Harry says he's releasing him tomorrow morning around eight, as long as he continues to improve.”

“I'll be there to get him.”

“Would you like to have dinner with me tonight, fully clothed, in a restaurant?”

Damn. Why had she ever given in to Laura?

“Can't, although I'd love to.” She told him why.

“Best of luck with Joan. Tell her hello from Ron.”

Jean wasn't going to adore Roy the way she had Frank, Hailey decided as she hung up the phone.

“Auntie Hailey, can you come out and play ball with us?” Christopher stuck his head in the door.

“Sure thing, I'll be right there.” Having her niece and nephew around was definitely the upside of this whole affair. She remembered just in time to take Roy's briefs out of her pocket before she went outside. She stuck them in her handbag. She'd find the right moment to give them back to him.

She played with the kids and fed them lunch, but her mind was only half on what she was doing. She kept thinking of Roy, and when she wasn't thinking of him, she thought of David. Laura came back at exactly one-thirty.

“How'd it go with Nicole?”

“Great. I'm dying to tell you about it, but I'll wait till we have more time. Right now you need to go see how that baby of yours is.”

Hailey drove off, thinking about the change in her sister. A week ago it wouldn't have crossed Laura's mind to put Hailey's needs first.

Adultery and divorce were making Laura a much nicer person.

S
HE HURRIED
to David's room. He was on the floor, playing with a train set, and Shannon sat cross-legged beside him.

“Afternoon,” Hailey said, forcing a friendly smile in her direction. “How's it going? This big boy looks lots better today, isn't that great?” She saw David's vitamin preparation on his lunch tray. “He needs to swallow this. Want me to do it?”

Shannon just gave her a blank stare for an answer, so Hailey turned her attention to David. “How's my sweet pea today?”

He grinned at her and waved a train engine in one pudgy hand. “Train, Lee,” he greeted her, and then made a choo-choo sound Hailey had taught him.

“Clever boy, open wide for Hailey.” She emptied the medication dropper into his mouth and then bent and gave him a kiss on the top of his head.

“I can do that,” Shannon said. “He doesn't need you slobbering all over him. You stay away from him when I'm around.” She whipped him into her arms and turned so that her back was to Hailey.

It was all Hailey could do to control her temper, but she managed. She waved goodbye to David and hurried out, seething with anger.

At the nurses' station, Mary and Judy greeted her.

“David's spots are gone and he's eating everything in sight,” Mary said. “Gotta give that mother of his credit—she's been good for him these last couple of days.”

Hailey didn't want to hear that. “I'm gonna have a cup of tea.” She headed into the nurses' lounge, and by some miracle, it was empty. All of a sudden she felt tired and hungry and sad and lonely for Roy.

“I wonder if I could have a word with you, Hailey?”

From behind her, Margaret's voice sent her spirits down into her shoes.

“Sure. Would you like a cup of tea?” Hailey dropped a bag into a mug of water and stuck it in the microwave.

Margaret shook her head. “It was suggested that I communicate directly with you, Hailey,” she began. “So that's what I'm attempting to do.”

Hailey rescued her tea and blew on it, hoisting the bag up and down. Maybe it was better when Margaret just yelled at her. This new format was sort of scary. She tried to keep in mind what Melissa had confided, because she had the definite impression that in the next few moments she was going to need all the compassion and patience she could muster.

“You said you've made application to foster David Riggs.”

Danger signs started flashing in Hailey's head, and she took a sip of tea to calm herself. “I said I'd been approved.”

Margaret sniffed. “Your treatment of his mother yesterday was both rude and intolerable.”

“I know, and I apologized to her.”

“I've spent considerable time with Ms. Riggs. She's only a young girl, and she's having a difficult go of it. She's now enrolled in a drug-rehabilitation program and her lawyer is making application to the courts to have her son returned to her.”

That was pretty much what Roy had said would happen, so it wasn't news, but the tea wasn't sitting well in her stomach. Hailey dumped it down the sink.

“That won't happen for quite a while, Margaret,” she said carefully. “There's a fair chance it won't ever happen, because Shannon Riggs is an addict and the odds of her staying clean are slim at best.”

“On the contrary, Shannon's lawyer has requested an immediate hearing, because it's obvious that David doesn't thrive unless he's with her. It's also obvious that Shannon loves that child dearly.” The smug expression on Margaret's face told Hailey that something bad was coming. She braced herself.

“I've written a letter attesting to the fact that she's done a good job of mothering her son during his stay here in St. Joe's, and I said that I feel David needs to be with his natural mother. I faxed a copy to the
Province
newspaper, as well.”

Outraged, Hailey opened her mouth to say that Shannon had been on the scene for all of two days, but then a picture flashed into her head of David sitting at that damned door, waiting for his mother, then another picture of him clinging to Shannon's
neck. She hated to acknowledge David's feelings for his mother, but they were a reality.

Margaret wasn't finished.

“
And
I have also spoken to a supervisor at the ministry and given him my opinion.”

So this was Margaret's way of getting back at her. Hailey was furious. How could she find it in her heart to feel sorry for this bitter woman who delighted in making trouble? She wanted to lash out at her, but instead, she forced herself to think.

What possible impact could Margaret have on something that was already decided? Hailey was fully approved, David was feeling well again, and Roy had said she could take him home tomorrow morning. It took immense self-control, but she managed to remain silent.

Margaret wasn't finished. “Also, I've been watching you and Mr. Zedyck, Hailey. It's perfectly obvious to me that the two of you have more than a professional relationship, which I don't think is suitable under the circumstances.”

It was taking superhuman energy to keep her lip zipped, but again Hailey managed it. She needed to hear everything Margaret had to say.

“It certainly indicates to me that Mr. Zedyck was anything but impartial in recommending you as a foster parent.” Margaret sounded triumphant. “I included my feelings about that in what I said.”

Hailey was shaking, but if she showed how angry she was or started to defend herself, Margaret would win this confrontation.
Stay cool, Bergstrom.
It was
an effort to keep her voice steady, but somehow Hailey managed.

“You're entitled to your opinion, Margaret. But that's all it is, just an opinion.” She met the other woman's hostile eyes head on. “Now, is that all? Because I really should get going.”

She turned and walked out, trying not to hate Margaret, trying to convince herself how sad it was that a colleague should be so vindictive. It was a tough task, especially when fear was eating at her gut.

How much damage could Margaret really do? She had no idea.

She had to talk to Roy. She needed him to assure her that Margaret was simply out of her little mind, that no one would pay the slightest attention to her rantings.

Roy's cell phone wasn't turned on, and when she called his office, a secretary said he was in a meeting and couldn't be disturbed.

Hailey left an urgent message asking him to call her, and then, not knowing what else to do, went to meet Laura at their mother's apartment.

 

T
HE REPORTER
was brandishing a microphone, and she caught up with Roy at two-fifteen, just as he left his office. He recognized the woman—middle-aged, a chain smoker, prematurely wrinkled, whiskey-voiced. She'd covered the Sieberg trial, and she was one of the few members of the press who'd managed to get the facts straight, which was the reason he stopped and talked to her now.

She was doing a follow-up on the abandoned-
baby story, she explained. She'd just spoken to Shannon's lawyer, who said that the young mother would be petitioning the court for custody, and she wanted to know Roy's opinion on giving the baby back to her, considering the Scotty Sieberg tragedy.

Roy had begun to hope that the media weren't going to turn David into news. He tried to think of the best way to downplay the circumstances.

“Every situation is unique and individual.” It was a litany he'd learned to use with reporters. “In this case, we'll take a careful look at what's in the boy's best interests, as we always do.”

“Is there any truth to the allegation that you and the child's foster mother are involved in a personal relationship, Mr. Zedyck?”

Her words caught him totally off guard, just as she'd counted on.

“Where did you hear that?” He did his best to sound incredulous.

“From a reliable source at St. Joe's. Is there any truth to it, Mr. Zedyck?”

Roy managed to smile at her. “You don't seem to realize that the child isn't
in
foster care at this moment. He's still a patient at the hospital. Now, I'm late for a meeting. I'd suggest you direct any further inquiries to my supervisor, Marty Grossman.”

Feeling as if he'd been broadsided, Roy hurried past her. The moment he was in the car, he dialed Marty's number and told him exactly what had just occurred.

“They talked to me ten minutes ago, same drill,”
Marty said. Roy could hear the tension in his voice. “I also got a call from the head nurse in pediatrics. She's insisting that the boy becomes emotionally disturbed when he's away from his mother. And Shannon Riggs's lawyer is kicking up a fuss, requesting an immediate hearing, claiming that it's impossible for you to be impartial in this case because of your bias against the natural parent in the Sieberg trial. What this boils down to is that the Riggs' girl has herself a smart lawyer who's leaking things to the papers, and if we don't move quickly, we'll be in the midst of a media circus.”

“You haven't asked me if I'm having a personal relationship with the woman who's approved to foster David.” Roy's voice was hard.

“I don't intend to, Roy. I know you well enough to know that you'd never allow any personal relationship to affect your decisions about your work. I told that reporter so in no uncertain terms.”

“Thanks, Marty.” He'd been prepared to offer his resignation; the fact that he didn't have to brought a feeling of intense satisfaction and a surprising surge of joy. He'd been having doubts about his job. It had taken this to make him see that he was doing what he wanted and needed to be doing.

“Any suggestions as to what we ought to do to avoid a feeding frenzy with the press, Roy?”

“There's only one thing to do. We need to have a protection hearing on this case immediately. The lawyer's insisting on one, so we'll go along with what he wants.”

Marty sounded uncertain. “You know the judge
pretty much rules on whatever the social worker on the case recommends. You sure about what your recommendations will be?”

“Not at this moment. But I guarantee they'll be honest, and in the best interests of David Riggs.”

“That's good enough for me,” Marty said. “Let's see if we can get this done today.”

 

S
ITTING IN
J
UDGE
J
ENKINS'S
chambers late that day, Roy wished to God he was a liar. Across from him were Shannon Riggs, Tonya Cabral and the young male lawyer from Legal Aid.

“We're here to determine what is best for David Riggs, who is currently in the care of this court,” Jenkins had stated a few moments earlier. “Ordinarily this hearing would take place at a later date, but it has been brought to the court's attention that there are mitigating circumstances, one of which is that the child, David Riggs, is suffering extreme emotional stress resulting in physical illness as a direct result of being separated from his mother. We've heard statements attesting to the fact that Ms. Riggs is enrolled in a drug-rehabilitation program, that she intends to fulfill her role as a responsible parent to David, and that she had adequate living accommodations for herself and her son, arranged by Ms. Cabral. Ms. Riggs has the full support of Ms. Cabral, and in a written deposition, Ms. Margaret Cross has given her opinion that during David's hospital stay, Ms. Riggs has proved to be a caring and attentive mother. Now, if we could hear your thoughts on this matter, Mr. Zedyck?”

Roy had known this moment was coming and dreaded it. He'd listened carefully to everything that had been said. He'd heard the lawyer's accusations that he should be withdrawn from the case. Judge Jenkins had told the young man in no uncertain terms that such a suggestion was ludicrous and out of place. Roy had appeared before the judge many times before, and it was heartening to know that the respect he felt was mutual.

In his mind's eye, Roy could see the little bedroom Hailey had prepared, the crib, the teddy bear on the dresser. He saw her honey-gold eyes, filled with light and love, and the way her mouth lifted in that crooked, goofy smile whenever she saw David.

He looked across at skinny, tattooed Shannon Riggs, with her earful of rings and her arms covered with long sleeves in spite of the warmth of the day. Any rational human being would agree that David belonged with Hailey.

But the most important person in this entire mess wasn't here to speak for himself. David had to rely on Roy to decide what was best for him, what would make him happy and allow him to develop the way a healthy little boy should. In that regard, Roy knew he had no options.

“It's my opinion, Your Honor, that David Riggs must remain in the care of the ministry until his mother proves she can carry through with her resolution to be drug-free and responsible as a parent. She hasn't proved that yet.”

Shannon's face crumpled and she put her hands over her eyes. The young lawyer shook his head and looked cynical.

“However,” Roy continued, feeling as lousy as he'd ever felt in his life, “David Riggs is a child who undoubtedly belongs with his mother. I've personally witnessed his distress at being separated from her. He obviously suffers severe physical and emotional trauma, and my strong recommendation would be that he live with Shannon Riggs, closely supervised by the ministry, and that Ms. Riggs receive as much support as the community and court can provide.”

Judge Jenkins ruled in direct agreement with his recommendation.

When it was over, Shannon came over to him and extended her hand.

“Thank you,” she said in a quavery voice. “I'm going to take good care of him.”

“See that you do.” Roy shook her hand and left without speaking to the others.

He knew what he had to do next, and he dreaded it. He had to phone Hailey and tell her what had happened here.

Two things had become clear to him today. The first was knowing absolutely that he wanted to go on doing his job.