cut in before Bellson could speak. “I think it would be a good idea if Cindy … I know my wife would like it. If you wouldn’t mind, Marie. I don’t want to upset any rules, but …”
Decker watched Bellson rock on her feet.
“It’s unusual,” she said.
“I promise I won’t get in your way,” Cindy said.
“That’d be a first,” Bellson muttered under her breath. Then she smiled. “I suppose I could allow it this one time. Go inside the nursery, but don’t go past the yellow line. I’ll suit you up in a minute.”
“Thank you very much, Marie,” Decker said. “I appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome.” Marie checked her watch again.
Decker said, “We’re leaving. Thanks.”
Marge hugged Decker. “Baby is just beautiful, Pete. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Thanks for coming down, Margie. Get some sleep. Some people have to work in the morning.”
“Three weeks to go, then it’s big time.” Marge gave him a quick salute. “See you in Homicide, big guy.”
“You call us, Akiva, when you see Ginny,” Magda reminded him. “I just want you to tell me she’s okay.”
“I promise, Magda.”
Decker knelt and drew his sons near him. “I want you guys to get some sleep. It’s been a long, torturous day, and we all need our rest.”
They nodded weakly. It was late, and anxiety had sapped their strength.
“Where you go now, Akiva?” Stefan asked.
“Back to the OB lobby. They promised they’d tell me as soon as Rina was out of Recovery. Come on, I’ll walk you to the elevators. Cindy, you’re staying here, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Tell me when you’re done feeding the baby. Don’t you dare walk to your car by yourself.”
“I know, I know—”
“Don’t shine me on, Cynthia. I’m serious.”
“I promise I’ll check in with you.”
“Good.”
“Daddy?”
“What?”
“Does the baby have a name?”
“I think Rina wanted to wait until we named her in synagogue.”
Cindy hesitated. “It just might be nice to call her something. But I don’t want to ruin your tradition.”
Decker thought a moment. “I think Rina mentioned something about naming her Channa Shoshana—Hannah Rose in English.”
Magda erupted into tears. “That was my mother’s name. My mother, Channa, and Stefan’s mother, Shoshana, aleichem hashalom. Gottenu, I hadn’t thought about …” Again, the flood of tears. “Our other granddaughter was named after their side, so this be the first name for my mother.” She hugged her husband. “They’d be so proud, nu, Stefan.”
“Very proud.”
Decker spotted Nurse Bellson’s impatient eyes. They had narrowed, and only part of the green irises were visible.
Panther eyes.
“We’re holding up the show,” he said. “Thank you, Marie. Let’s go.” He kissed Cindy’s cheek. “Bye, princess.”
“Bye, Daddy.”
Cindy watched them go, her father holding the boys’ hands while Magda sobbed on her husband’s shoulder. As soon as the group was out of sight, she felt the heat of Bellson’s glare. The nurse had her twiggy arms twisted across her chest.
“Well, you engineered that one nicely.”
“Can we please be friends?” Cindy asked.
“You don’t trust me to feed the baby?”
“Of course, I trust you, Ms. Bellson. I just feel so sorry for her, her mom being operated on and everything. My father was a basket case about a half hour ago. She’s my sister … my first actual sibling. I’m just trying to help.”
“You’re getting in my way.”
“It’s unintentional. Honestly.”
“Unintentional.” Bellson snorted. “Haven’t you something better to do with your life than hang around here?”
“I’ll be back in school in a week. How’s that?”
“Where?”
“In New York. Columbia University, specifically.”
“UC system isn’t good enough for you?”
“Who can get into UCLA?” Cindy forced herself to smile. “Besides, I’m trying to give my poor mom a break after all these years putting up with me.”
“You don’t get along with your mom?”
Cindy waited a beat before speaking. She sensed that the nurse was hoping she didn’t get along. “Actually, I’m close to both my parents. They lead very different lives, but they’re both good people. I do the best I can.”
Bellson hesitated, then shook her head once again. Her eyes suddenly softened. “I suppose it’s nice what you’re doing for your father. Just don’t step on my toes, all right? I’ve been charge nurse of this unit for ten years. I don’t appreciate people barging in, demanding that I cater to them.”
“I didn’t mean anything. I’m sorry.”
“S’okay.” Bellson uncrossed her arms, letting them slowly drop to her sides. “I do get testy, especially when I’m overworked and understaffed.” She played with a gold class ring on her left hand. “My profession means a lot to me. I put my heart and soul into my babies—all of them. You notice that little Rodriguez baby?”
Cindy nodded.
“Mama’s only fifteen years old—a child with a child. I’ve spent hours with her just teaching her the basics. How to hold her baby, how to feed her, how to change a diaper. Letting her know that what she’s got is a baby and not a doll.”
“That’s very nice of you.”
“It’s because I care. I care about that skinny little thing.” Bellson furrowed her brow. “She was low birth weight because her mother smoked during pregnancy.” She dropped her voice a notch. “And I bet she smoked more than tobacco.”
The nurse smoothed
