9. Hazel
nine
Hazel
A fter searching the bar for the baby's mother we decided to take her to Turner's house until we could figure out what to do. It's well passed three o'clock in the morning, there's no point in disturbing anyone. Besides the baby seems happy in Turner's arms as he feeds her a bottle of formula.
"This note fell out of her diaper bag when I was looking for a diaper to change her." I hold up an envelope.
That's why we know she's a girl, the dreaded poopy diaper that Turner so gallantly offered to change even as his skin tone started to change to tints of green. We compromised—I changed her dirty diaper and he fed her.
"Do you think it's a clue to who she is and why her mother left her at the bar with us? Maybe her name? We can't keep calling her peanut." I smile at Turner's concern for our mystery baby. He's going to make a wonderful father someday.
"It won't hurt to open it and find out." I run my finger under the part of the flap that isn't sealed and open the envelope pulling out the letter and read it out loud.
Nurse Hazel,
You probably don't remember me, but I delivered Hope two months ago and you were my nurse. You were so kind to a single, unwed mother and since I don't have any family in the area I didn't know who else to turn to.
Hope is an amazing baby, but I can no longer provide for her. Her father has been out of the picture since before she was born. He left before I knew I was pregnant with her.
I haven't been able to find anyone to watch Hope so I can get a job to support us. What little money Hope's father left me when he promised to return has almost ran out and my landlord is threatening to kick us out on the street if I don't come up with the back rent soon.
I was getting ready to leave town when I saw you pull up to the bar and go inside. I wasn't sure what I was going to do until I realized you and your boyfriend were the only two left in the bar.
I might have taken the cowards way out by knocking on the office door and leaving Hope for you to find, but I didn't have any other choice. Please forgive me and make sure Hope knows her mother will always love her.
Sincerely,
Desperate Mom
"Oh, how awful for her—to be all alone and pregnant with no one to turn to." I clutch the letter to my chest and look down at baby Hope sleeping soundly in Turner's arms.
"It's okay, Hazel. We'll find out who Hope's mother is somehow and help her. But right now we have to get some sleep. You know what they say, you have to sleep when the baby sleeps." He pulls the empty bottle out of Hope's mouth and gently sets her down in the car seat on the coffee table, taking the time to make sure she's tucked in, before leaning back into the couch and opening his arms up to me. I don't hesitate as I curl up next to him in his arms pulling a blanket with me to cover us both up. "Everything will be okay, Hazel. I promise. We'll call my mom in the morning and she can help us locate the baby's mother. Between her and her friends it shouldn't take anytime at all."
He pulls me in tight, holding me close as we both try to sleep instead of worrying about our little house guest.