Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
The sounds, sights and smells of the hospital brought back painful memories for Joanna. She didn’t like it there. But this time, she wasn’t visiting her dying husband. She was there to support her pregnant granddaughter. Eva was in the obstetrician’s office. Joanna had offered to go into the appointment with her, but she hadn’t wanted her grandmother in there. She had always been such an independent child. And now, more than ever, she was going to need that strength.
Her phone rang, and Joanna pulled it out of her pocket. It was Karen. Finally, her daughter had called her back.
“Hi, honey,” Joanna said.
“Hello, Mum. Sorry I’ve been so slack. It’s busy here. I’ve got a lot going on.”
“I’m sure you do. I know how hard you work. But we need to talk about Eva and what we’re going to do about her and the baby. Has she told you anything about the father? She won’t tell me who it is.”
Karen sighed. “His name is Storm.”
“Storm?” Joanna tried hard not to be judgemental, but sometimes it was difficult.
“Yes, his name is Storm Golden.”
“That’s quite a name.”
“And he’s quite a boy. He’s seventeen years old, and he doesn’t want anything to do with Eva or the baby. She took it quite badly, as you’ve no doubt realised.”
“He broke up with her?” Joanna asked, sadness for her granddaughter seeping through her.
“Initially, he wanted to marry her. Said they should be a family. We objected—they are far too young to get married. But then he got cold feet anyway and said he couldn’t handle all the responsibility. His own parents are divorced and a little toxic, from what I understand. So, he doesn’t have any support. As you know, I suggested that the two of them might be better off co-parenting rather than married, and Eva got really angry with me. I’d already given the advice that she had a choice to make, and she should consider her future. So, when I suggested adoption, she lost her temper with me. She yelled and cried, and then ran off. I didn’t realise she’d pack a bag and get on a bus to Queensland or I’d have followed her and made her talk to me about it.”
“You couldn’t have known,” Joanna replied. “But thank you for telling me about Storm. It gives me a bit more context to the whole situation. Getting information out of Eva is like pulling teeth.”
“Tell me about it,” Karen said. She hesitated. “She should be here, you know.”
“I know she should. Of course she should. She’s your daughter.”
“And she’s only sixteen,” Karen continued. “This is where she belongs. At home.”
“I’ve spoken to her about it,” Joanna said. “But she’s adamant that she can’t go home. I don’t know why she won’t consider it. Maybe she believes you’d pressure her into adoption, and she’s determined to keep the baby.”
“You should talk to her. She’ll listen to you. Adoption really is the best option at this point. She will ruin her future. How can she finish high school? Go to university? Find someone who she loves to marry and have a family with? It’s all up in the air now, but adoption might give her a chance to do those things.”
A lump formed in Joanna’s throat. “She can do those things with a baby. Sure, it might be harder, but she can still finish her education and get married. She loves this baby, Karen. When you were born, there was nothing in the world I wouldn’t have done to keep you right there with me. You were everything to me. And she feels the same way about her baby. Surely you can understand that.”
“That’s different. You were ready for a child. She’s not ready. She’s still a child herself. I can’t tell you how upsetting this whole thing is to me. I’m not sleeping at night. My hair is falling out! Did you know that hair can fall out?”
Joanna hated to think of her daughter in this much distress. “You’ve got to stop worrying about her. She’s absolutely fine. She’s here with me, and I’m taking care of her. She’s healthy, safe and ready for this baby. I promise you, everything is going to be okay.”
“If you say so. She can stay there with you. But we should talk more often.”
“Of course. I will call you with updates, and you can call me anytime.” She didn’t want to point out that it was Karen who’d been avoiding returning calls or staying in touch. Hopefully that was behind them now.
“That sounds good. Thanks, Mum. I was so worried when she left. I didn’t know…”
“I know you were, honey. But she’s okay. She’s coming out of the doctor’s office now, so I’ve got to go. But I’ll call you later.”
She hung up the phone and smiled at Eva, who emerged from the doctor’s office with red eyes. She shoved her hands into her jeans pockets and said goodbye. Then she fell into step beside Joanna as they walked back to the car together.
“How did it go?” Joanna asked.
Eva shrugged and sniffled.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah. We talked about some things. She told me it’s going to be okay and not to be worried. She’ll take care of me.”
“That’s great,” Joanna said, thinking she’d had basically the same conversation with the soon-to-be grandmother. “Did you tell her you’ll be here for the birth?”
“I said I wasn’t sure. Did you speak to Mum?”
“I did, and she’s okay with you staying. If that’s what you want to do.”
“It’s what I want,” Eva replied. “Thanks, Gran.”
She turned to Joanna and gave her a hug. She sniffled against Joanna’s blouse.
“You’re very welcome, honey. I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve missed you so much over the years.”
“I’ve missed you too. I hate Melbourne.”
Joanna laughed. “I can’t fault you there.”
“Let’s go home. I’m tired.”
Joanna nodded. “I’m tired too, but maybe we can stop for gelato. What do you think?”
Eva’s face relaxed into the first smile Joanna had seen from her in days. “That sounds perfect.”
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“When you go back to school, what will we do with the baby?”
Eva shook her head. “I can do something else—get a job, I guess—but I can’t go to school. Everyone will laugh at me. I’ll be the weird girl with the baby.”
Joanna drew in a short breath but decided not to say anything. They’d have that argument another day. She hoped Eva would rethink her choice. She needed to finish school if she and the baby had any hope of making it work.
“One more question… Who do you want to be here for the birth? You’ll have to let people know ahead of time if you want them here.”
“No one,” she said. “I don’t want anyone here. Only you, Gran.”
“Honey…” Joanna’s heart constricted. “I know you don’t mean that. What about the father?”
“Storm…”
Joanna cleared her throat. “Yes, Storm.”
“We broke up.”
“I understand that, but he’s still the father. Does he want to meet the baby?”
Eva screwed up her nose. “I don’t know. I guess I could ask him.”
“That might be a good idea. I’m sure he’ll want to know his own child.”
“It’s a girl,” Eva said suddenly. “The doctor told me she’s a girl.”
Joanna’s throat tightened, and she held back the tears. “Oh, honey, a little girl. How precious.”
“I guess. I’m kind of glad she’s a girl. I thought she was. And she’s due next week. Did you know that?”
“I didn’t know the exact date, but I thought it must be soon.”
“I’m not even close to being ready,” Eva replied, her eyes wide. “I don’t have a cot or anything.”
“We’ll just have to get to work.”
“Where will she sleep?” Eva asked.
“For now, let’s put her in your room. That’s usually the best for newborns. Also, I’ve got a rocker that will go perfectly in there for you to use as a nursing chair.”
“Oh… I hadn’t thought about that.”
“You’ll be spending a lot of time in it,” Joanna said as she unlocked the car. “Newborn babies don’t need much. We’ll get a few clothes and some nappies. I’ll dig out the bassinet I used for your mother and uncle—it’s in my storage unit. And I’m sure I’ve got some other things too that I’ve kept all these years. I’d hoped I’d get to give them to my grandchildren, but your mother had her own ideas. So instead, I’ll use them on my first great-grandchild. How exciting.”
She climbed into the car, and Eva struggled into the passenger seat.
“Thanks, Gran. I’ll help you.”
“We’re going to be fine,” Joanna said as she started the engine. “And this little baby is going to be so loved.”
Eva’s eyes filled with tears. “Do you think so? No one has said that…”
Joanna turned to Eva with a smile, worrying for her granddaughter. “I’m so proud of you. You can do this, and your daughter is going to be beautiful. It’s a hard road, being a mother, but you’re going to love it. I once read that the greatest love affair a woman will ever have is with her baby, and I think it’s true. Try to remember that when things get tough—she will be your greatest ally.”
Tears rolled down Eva’s cheeks. “I love her already.”
“I know you do, honey. That’s how I know you’re going to be a wonderful mother. Love is the main ingredient in that particular recipe.”
As she pulled out of the parking lot, Joanna made a decision to be more positive with her granddaughter. Everyone was so concerned about this baby and making certain that Eva was choosing the right path that no one had given her hope or expressed joy about the new arrival. But Joanna was excited. The timing wasn’t ideal—of course they all knew that—but this was a baby. A brand-new member of the family. And babies were a blessing, no matter how they arrived. Joanna couldn’t wait to meet her.