his mother-in-law asked.
Her “Well” came out “Vell.” The Eliases were Hungarian. Stefan was strong and squat in contrast to Madga, who was lean. Her dress and accent reminded Decker of a dark-haired Zsa Zsa Gabor.
“A healthy little girl,” he announced.
“Ah, Akiva, mazel tov!” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Boys, you have a new little sister!”
And for a moment, Decker did feel good, caught up in the hugging and well-wishing. Sammy pumped his hand and said that a sister wasn’t the bar mitzvah present he had in mind. Jake whooped like a crane. Cindy simply slapped his back and told him “Way to go!”
It was Marge who held back. When he caught her eye, she smiled and winked at him, but Decker could feel her studying his expression. She knew: the way it is with partners. Quickly, he held a finger in the air—a sign to her not to push it. She understood.
“And how is my little Ginny?” Stefan asked. “When do we see her?”
His little Ginny, Decker thought. The Eliases called Rina by her English name, Regina. Ginny for short.
His little Ginny. His little daughter!
Remain calm, Deck.
“Akiva?” Magda asked. “Everything is okay, yes?”
Decker bit his lip. Damn it, he couldn’t keep the anxiety in check. Cut to the chase.
“Well, Magda, she has a teeny problem. She’s still with the doctor.”
Magda brought her hand to her chest and fired out a series of foreign sentences that sounded like questions.
“Magda, I don’t understand Hungarian,” Decker said.
Stefan said, “What do you mean, a problem?”
“She’s having a little trouble expelling the afterbirth. I’m sure it’s noth—”
“But she’s okay, no?” Magda interrupted. “Where is she?”
“With the doc—”
“How long will she be with him?” Magda said.
“I don’t know, Magda,” Decker said. “The doctor didn’t tell me. So why don’t we sit down and relax while we wait.”
“There’s no one we can talk to, Akiva?” Magda said.
Decker glanced at his stepsons, then shot a meaningful look at his mother-in-law. Though upset, Magda took a deep breath and smiled at the boys. Then she placed her hand over her mouth—as if her fist would muzzle her apprehension.
Decker winked at his stepsons and received scared expressions. He knew he should say something reassuring, but he was afraid that the words might sound hollow. Instead, he took a position on the arm of the couch, drawing Sammy under the wing of his right arm.
Magda paused, then perched herself on the edge of the sofa. She brushed imaginary specks off black wool pants and camel jacket. Rina had inherited her mother’s coloring—the dark hair and light eyes—but Magda was thinner, bonier, than her daughter. Stefan cuddled Jake next to his muscular chest. He was dressed in a gray shirt that matched his hair, and black pants. On his feet were orthopedic shoes. Something new, Decker realized. Cindy stood behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder. Decker turned around and gave her a weak smile. At nineteen, his daughter had turned into a young woman—tall, with radiance in her expressive brown eyes. Her face had lost its adolescent roundness and now had the bone structure of a newly crowned adult along with a tan from the summer sun.
Magda blurted, “Does doctor say this is a big problem?”
Decker said, “No, he was pretty casual about it. Just wanted to watch her as a precaution.”
Hell if he’d tell his mother-in-law about her daughter bleeding a tad more than Hendricks liked. And it was probably no big deal. Decker remembered his first wife having a D and C after the birth of their second child. Jan had been just fine. Unfortunately, the baby had been stillborn—a boy. Morbid, unwanted thoughts began to invade Decker’s brainspace. He tried to shake off the nightmarish memory.
“But she’s all right, my Ginny?” Stefan said.
“I’m sure she’s fine.”
“They didn’t want you with her, Akiva?” Magda asked.
“No …” Decker hesitated. “No, they wouldn’t let me stay with her. But everything’ll work out. It always does.”
The group was silent.
“Where is she now?” Stefan asked.
“They took her into a delivery room.”
“But she delivered okay?” Magda said.
“Like a trouper.” Decker stood. “Doc just wanted to watch her.”
“That’s what you’re paying him for, Pete,” Marge said.
Decker stared at his partner—the voice of reason. But he didn’t feel rational. He stood and rocked on his feet. “It happened so fast. One minute she delivered a gorgeous little girl … the next …” He caught himself. “It’s just a precaution. Don’t worry.” Again he tried a smile for the boys. “Hey, your mom’s an iron woman.”
“The doctor looked worried?” Magda said.
“Just concerned.”
“But not worried?” Magda said.
“Maybe a little worried.”
“But not a lot worried,” Magda said.
“A little, a lot,” Stefan said. “Magda, you’re driving everyone crazy.”
“I want to know.” Magda began to chide her husband in Hungarian, then stopped herself. “I worry.” She smiled at her grandsons. “You know your omah is a worrier. I worry about everything.”
Decker took his mother-in-law’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“Why is she still with the doctor?” Magda asked.
“Magda, I honestly don’t know,” Decker said. “They kicked me out.”
“Is she going to be all right, Dad?”
Decker regarded Sammy—an adolescent face with eyes that held a child’s fear. As Decker searched for the right explanation, his father-in-law picked up the slack.
“Sure, she’ll be fine, Shmuli,” Stefan said. “Your eema’s a strong girl. You want something to eat?”
Sammy shook his head.
“Nu, and you, Yonkel?”
“No, thanks, Opah.”
