BABY OF MINE(Lisa McDonald) BABY OF MINE


"I know that you're concerned about your wife's emotional state Mr. Kelly; but as her doctor, I'm more concerned with her mental state. Right now your wife is in a highly suggestive state of mind; she's very fragile. "

"How fragile are we talking here Doc?"

"Extremely; a feather may push her over the edge.

"Oh-my-god."

"David?--May I call you David?"

"Of course."

"David--I understand that Celia is unresponsive; and all you want right now is to have your wife back and for things to go back to normal.--Believe me, I do.--I can't even begin to imagine what this must be doing to you--to lose your wife and baby- both- on practically the same day. But this is where you and I both have to take a step back and look at the situation objectively.-- The big question isn't whether she will get better or not; time has a way of healing all wounds--The bigger question here-- is how deeply has she digressed?-- Is she at all aware of her environment? I can't say; and unfortunately, the only person who can tell us that, is simply unable to at the moment.--That's why I'm telling you that you need to take this one step at a time--one-day-at-a-time.--Who knows, maybe in a year or so she'll be ready to accept the possibility of adoption--But I can guarantee you it won't be before then.

"A year or more--that's a long time Doc."

Just give it some time, Mr. Kelly.--And by-all- means, don't do anything out of the ordinary; your wife needs time to heal; and in order for her to do that, life needs to go-on-as-normal; or at least as normal as possible; considering all that the two of you have been through.--Do you love your wife Mr. Kelly?"

"What kind of question is that--Of course I do?!"

"Then don't try to rush it; healing takes time; time takes patience and patience takes love; and right now your wife needs all she can get.--I highly recommend you both seek counselling as soon as Ceila is able to; for your welfare as much as your wife's. You've been through the same traumatic experience as she has. The loss of a child through miscarriage, stillbirth, or in a car accident at age 50 is still a loss for any loving parent.--Now, I have a list of referrals for you and contact information I'd like you to seriously consider; counselors, support groups; things of that nature.--I can't force you to follow through with this; but again, I highly recommend that you seek out counseling for yourself immediately; if not counselling, at least one of the support groups.-- It can help you much more than you may may realize."

"Alright doctor Spencer; if you say so."


Six months later...

'So how's Celia taking to the new baby?"

"Great. I expected it to be a little touch-n-go at first; but she's really coming along amazingly well. Frankly, I'm surprized at how well she's doing. Even the doctor said that rejection is a normal response in cases like this; but Ceila's cut out to be a mother."

"It's a girl, right?"

"Yeah, little baby girl.--Unbelievably cute too; you should stop by before you leave, and see her.--I know Celia would sure be happy to see you; she asks about you all the time."

"Does she?"

"Yeah I think It would really cheer her up to see a familiar face. Besides she loves showing off the baby. God knows she's had plenty of doctors and nurses visits."

"I can imagine...Yeah-- it has been awhile since we've all gotten together, hasn't it?"

"Yeah. What's it been-- about six years? Just before you left for Dallas; I believe? Long time. Why don't you stop by tomorrow night; it'll give Ceila time to make a fuss over everything.--You know how she likes everything to be perfect?"

"Yeah. I remember; good ol Celia.--I just might do that; stop in and say hi, visit for a few minutes- hour maybe- before heading back home.--Besides I'm curious just how cute that baby of yours really is."

They both laugh.

"So how are you taking all of this, with the new baby and all?"

"Actually, Ceila insists on doing everything herself when it comes to the baby; 2:00 am. feedings, diaper changes, crying-fussing, she does it all. So I guess I really can't answer that.--I mean Ceila's done all the bonding.--The therapist said it was important for both parents and baby to bond as much as possible; especially in cases like ours.--But what can I do if she doesn't let me?--I guess learning to be patient is an on-going-process."

"Why do you suppose Ceila won't allow you to?"

"I don't know. I don't necessarily think it's that she's not allowing me to; it's more like she's just so obsessed with being a good mother, that she doesn't realize she's shutting me out of the whole process."

"Well, that's a good sign I suppose; that Celia's taken so strongly to the baby, I mean."

"Yeah it is--I think it's really been good for her; definitely a step in the right direction, that's for sure.--Yesterday when I came home from work, it was the sweetest thing. I found Celia sitting in the nursery with the baby rocking her to sleep, singing-Baby-of-Mine; that's the one song she practiced singing everyday during the pregnancy. --That's when it really hit me for the first time; when I knew another baby really was the way to go. At first, I gotta admit, I was a little apprehensive about the cost; all the fees and what-not. -I mean $250,000.00 isn't exactly chicken feed; insurance sure doesn't cover something like this--So you can imagine. But--I don't know, there was just something about the way she looked when she was holding Zoey in her arms rocking her and singing softly just the way she had practiced it. --It was beautiful, you know what I mean? I was so happy to finally see her like that.-- It made it all worth it; every penny of it. --Made me realize what a good mother she'd have been to our baby."

"Well, I've got to admit, I was a little skeptical when you first told me about the whole thing-- considering. Not just because of the initial expense, but with everything that's happened to the two of you over the last six months; I wondered if it might be a huge mistake to push the idea of another baby on her so soon, afterwards. But looks like it's working out for you after all; and I'm really happy for you both. I really mean it."

"That really means a lot to me; you have no idea how much. I mean, I had everybody telling me not to do it, it's a bad idea. Everybody except for Ceilas therapist was against it."

***

"Ceila honey I have a surprise for you."

"Ssshhh--You'll wake the baby; I just got her to sleep."

"Let me see her; where is she?"

"She's in her bassinet,--don't make too much noise. She was very fussy today. I think she's coming down with colic. I tried to call doctor Spencers to make an appointment for her one-month checkup; but they said they're not qualified to care for her."

"Remember Honey, we talked about this before; doctor Spencer was your doctor; not Zoey's-- Zoey's checkups are with doctor Banner. We have to call doctor Banner's office when she's sick, okay? Besides, we don't see Dr. Spencer anymore. You see Dr. Klien now."

"Oh that's right. I'm sorry--I just forgot.--But I like Dr. Spencer so much better, I want her to go to Dr. Spencer."

"I know sweetheart, but Dr. Banner is a specialist that comes highly recommended; Dr. Spencer isn't a specialist, and we want only the very best for her, don't we?"

"Of course. What was I thinking? I better call now, before they close."

"Wait sweetheart, I wanna tell you something.--I have a surprise for you."

"What?!"

"Someone that you know and love very much; and haven't seen for a long time, will be coming for a visit tomorrow."

"Someone I haven't seen for a long time?--Who?--Oh wait don't tell me...William?!"

"That's right! He said he can't wait to see you and the baby."

"Oh-my-gosh, it's been sooo long! What time is he coming?--Oh my gosh, I have to get everything ready."

"Well, he was only planning to stay for about an hour because he had a flight to catch-- but just for you--I convinced him to come around 2:00 and stay for dinner and head out Friday instead; so he re-schedualed his flight for Friday morning."

"Oh thank you sweetheart! Just think--William will be here tomorrow--after all this time.--Gosh it's been so long. I'm so excited. I just can't wait to see him! He's going to absolutely adore Zoey, isn't he?!"

"Of course he will sweetheart." Dave kisses Celia on the forhead.

"Oh, I've got to make sure Zoey's appointment is in the morning and not in the afternoon."

***

"David, I said be careful not to waaake her."

"I know you did honey and I'm sorry, but she was awake when I got in here. She was laying there cooing and making those little gurgly baby noises and when she saw me she smiled; I think she recognized me. What was I supposed to do? I just couldn't help myself; I had to hold her.--Besides I never get to hold her--And why don't I ever get to hold her?--Because she has the most loving and wonderful mommy in the whole world that insists on taking care of everything all by herself.--Don't you baby girl, don't you?--Aww look at her honey, look at her smiling at me. She likes me!

"Well of course she likes you; you're her father silly."

"Well, I may be silly-- but I think I could get use to this. Yes I do--Yes I do.--Daddy could get used to this.--Look at her yawn, isn't that just the cutest thing--a little baby yawn. I don't believe I've ever seen a baby yawn before. Huh, how-bout-that?--Sweetheart have you ever seen a baby yawn before; before Zoey, I mean?"

"Well of course I have, lots of times.--Alright you two. It's time to put Mamma's little sleepy-head back to bed."

"Ooh alright. Mamma says daddy has to give you back so you can go to sleep now. Nighty night sweetheart. Maybe mommy will let daddy do that again in another six months."

"Oh, you're terrible.--Don't you listen to daddy, he's just being silly.-- Darling, could you do me a favor?"

"Certainly."

"There's a bottle of formula on the second shelf in the fridge, would you put it in the bottle warmer for me; looks like she needs her diaper changed again."

"I'll be right back.--Uh, what are mommy and daddy having for dinner, by-the-way?"

"Well, I've got the leg of lamb cooking, but I think I'd like to turn it off and cook something else. I wanna save the leg of lamb for tomorrow night, if that's alright with you, you know, for William's visit?"

"Of course it's alright with me.--I'll tell you what, you've been busy with the baby being sick and all; you're probably tired, so how about I pick up some Chinese for tonight?"

"Really--You don't mind?"

"Of course not. I'm happy that you're happy sweetheart, that's all that really matters to me."

"Thank you sweetheart, Chinese sounds delicious.--See baby? See what a nice daddy you have?--"

Baby Zoey gurgles and coos.

"Aw, that's right. Are you talking to mamma? Is mamma's baby girl trying to talk? Yes I believe she is. Tomorrow mamma's taking you to see the doctor. He'll make you feel all better."--Celia begins singing to the baby. "hum hum hummm-"


***


Bzzz

"Yes Miss. Andrews?...My wife?--Put her through...Ceila sweetheart what is it?...What's wrong?!...Sweetheart slow down I can't understand you...The baby? What's wrong with the baby?...Is she alright?! Did you take her to her appointment?...Oh my GOD!...Ceila honey calm down, calm down sweetheart. I'm coming home; I'll be right there!--Miss. Andrews, phone my friend William Tucker at the Beauford Hotel and tell him to meet me at my house ASAP; tell him it's an emergency!"

***

"Bill?!-- Where's Celia?

"Upstairs in the nursery."

"Is the baby alright?!--My god, what is that awful smell?!"

"I think you better come sit down buddy."

"Why, what's going on? Is Celia okay? Is Zoey okay?! Please tell me they're both alright."

"Let's just sit down a minute and take it easy."

"Oh my god the stench! It smells like--like- NOoo!!! GOD NO!--Please tell me it isn't what I think it is, please Bill please tell me it isn't what I think it is!"

Bill doesn't answer.

"Oh my GOD! Let me GO and take me to the baby; where is she?! --Let me go now- NOW!"

"I'm not gonna let you go till you promise me you're gonna calm down and remain that way!"

"Let me go NOW?!--Alright alright I'm gonna calm down. I'm gonna calm down..I'm calming down now, I'm calming down now. . .I'm calm...I'm calm.--Now please take me to Zoey."

"Alright. Let's go."

***

The revolting stench comes flooding out the door as William opens it.

"OH GOD, oh god this isn't happening! That's a leg of lamb; it's a leg of lamb; it's a leg of lamb; it's a leg if lamb... Oh g-o-d tell me that's a legg of lamb pl-e-a-s-e tell me that's a leg of lamb, please-please-please...Oh-g-o-d, why-why-whyyy." Dave retches.---"My god this isn't happening, it just can't be-e-e; It can't be--it just can't be-e-e! She was doing so good; she was happy, she loved the ba-...How could Ceila do something like this--w-h-y? How could she do that to her own- ?!" --Dave retches again.--"Oh god! Celia, why?"

"Dave...I know this probably doesn't mean much to you right now, but it doesn't make it any less true--Celia is sick Dave; she's real sick...She needs help right now; some serious help--And right now--we've got to figure out what to do about this...Dave? Can you hear me Buddy?"

"How could she?!--Tell me that William, how could she put the baby in the oven?! How-how-how-how---how in the HELL could she do something like that?!...Where is she. I'll kill her! CEILA? CEILA? GET IN HERE!! YOU BETTER COME DOWN HERE RIGHT NOW, WOMAN!"

"D-A-V-E! Ceila's been through an awful lot over the last several months, just calm down; she can't he-"

"Don't you defend her! DON'T YOU DARE DEFEND HER!"

"Calm DOWN Dave!--For Gods-sake, at least calm down long enough so we can figure out what to do!"

"I can't believe what I'm hearing here. Don't tell me to calm down Bill!...She just stuck ZOEY IN THE OVEN! SHE COOKED A BABY THAT SHE HAD JUST SPENT A MONTH WITH, CODDLING AND NURTURING AND SINGING "BABY-OF-MIIINE" TOOO! So don't friggin' tell me to calm down!

The strength in his legs fails him and he falls to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.-- "How am I suppose to do that Bill? Can you tell me how to do that, huh? Can you tell me that Bill? When my wife just stuck a baby in the oven!--My god what am I gonna do n-o-w? Oh God please tell me what to do now?...Look at her - look at baby Zoey. . .God that smell that awf-" He retches, wipes his nose and mouth on his sleeve.

"just look at her! Oooh G-o-d! I can't do this-I can't do this-I can't do-...I held her for the very first time, only yesterday. Can you believe that? The first time since we brought her home...Celia wouldn't even let me hold her she was so afraid that I might drop her. Drop her, can you believe that?! MOMMY DEAREST was afraid I'd drop the baby!. . .God, she was so little and cute; my g-o-d she was so cute, beautiful sweet little baby Zoey.--Hand p-i-c-ked by me; sweetest cutest baby out of the lot; You could tell just by looking in her eyes how bright she was.--And what did I do? I brought her home to a psycho woman--mommy dearest; that's what I did!"

"Buddy it's not your fault, don't go there; that's not going to help anything for you to blame yourself. Everything will work itse-"

"...She smiled at me; did I tell you that? Making all those cute little baby--She recognized me--and the y-a-w-n! Oh my god you should've seen the yawn. She was perfect, just perfect...And for a minute, just one lousey stinking, brief perfect moment it felt like she was our baby...like we were finally a real family. I know I hadn't bonded with her or anything like that...But for the first time since everything happened, I got to feel what it would be like to be a real father...Oh god I had no idea Celia would do something like this; you gotta believe me--you gotta believe m-e-e, oh god!"--Dave begins sobbing and retching again.

"I know I know buddy--Believe me I kno-"

"You don't know anything! It isn't your $250,000.00 down the drain; it's mine! It's not your wife that needs to be locked away on an island somwhere!--You won't be going to prison! . . .I could have given Zoey back if she didn't want her; and gotten every cent back--It was a three month trial basis. They don't just hand'em out to anybody you know?! They're very particular about the kind of psycho's they give babies to! We both had to take a psychological screening before they'ed even let us take her home! Did you know that?"

Bill shakes his head.

"And the murderess upstairs passed with flying colors!. . .I had to pull a lot of strings; jump through hoops to get her. Work a lifetime of weekends just to get the minimum required. Did you know that even after the two-hundred and fifty-thousand, you still have to have at least a $100,000.00 grand in reserve that you're not allowed to touch-- only in emergencies; and only for the baby? Did you know that?

'No, I didn't know that."

"For-crying-out-loud, the initial processing stage wasn't even complete! Now what am I supposed to do-HUH?! --Could have taken her back anytime during the three months, given her to somebody N-O-R-MAL!...Only they've got this one petty little rule, a sort of pre-requisite-- one they kind of insist on--They're kind of sticklers that way--when it comes to the baby-- can't have been roasted in an oven policy!!! Oh god oh god oh god. . . .WHERE IS SHE? I WANNA WRAP MY FINGERS AROUND HER NECK AND squeeeeze!!...But I don't have the strength. I can't muster the friggin' strength...Dr. Banner.--It's Dr. Banners fault--Something happened at that doctors appointment today and I know it! It's all Banners fault!...He must have told Ceila that it wasn't our baby--That's it. It has to be it. He let-the-cat-out of-the-bag and cost me $250,000.00!!...I knew I should've taken the baby to the doctors appointment myself! Why didn't I listen to myself?"

"Oh my g-o-d! You mean all this time you let Celia think it was her own baby?-- Thee baby?!"

"....Yes!--I mean it wasn't supposed to be like that at all...It just...sort of happened that way. --I mean, she had never actually seen our baby. I hadn't even seen it. They wheeled it away immediately.--I don't know why; they never really gave an explanation, why.--They just carted her off through some door. --When Celia saw Zoey, she automatically assumed it was our baby. I started to tell her the truth, but Dr. Klien shook his head."

"Klien? Who's Dr. Klien?"

"He's the therapist we had to go to as soon as Celia was released from the...You know.--The place."

"And this, Dr. Banner you were talking about; that's Zoey's doctor?"

"Yeah, the so-called "specialist"--who couldn't keep his big mouth shut! I swear to GOD If I get out of this without going to prison--I'm gonna sue him for every penny he's got and then some! Then I'm gonna take every dime of it--And build a looney-bin so tight she'll never find her way out!"

"Well, you may be able to sue him, you may not; I don't know; but, I do know that you should have told Celia the truth from the start;--no matter how angry you are right now with her--this isn't Celias fault! It was only a matter of time before Celia figured out the truth. I mean come-on Dave, Celia's not stupid! She may still have a ways to go before she's back to normal but she's not stupid by any means.--Given enough time, with-or-without the help of Dr. Banner, she would have eventually figured it out on her own anyway, that much I know.--Believe me, I'm not trying to be the bad guy or to down-play any of this; I know I can't even begin to fathom what you or Celia must be going through.--I won't pretend to. But that girl, regardless of how you feel, has feelings too and she needs immediate help!--I can't express enough, how truly sorry I am over your loss. I am. I really am! I'm sure Zoey was as sweet and precious as they come. But this is exactly why I had such misgivings about the whole thing to begin with--this is exactly what I was talking about yesterday.--I didn't feel Celia was ready for it!--I knew she wasn't ready for it!--And that imbecile Dr. Klien should've known better!--I mean, my god--he was the therapist for-crying-out-loud!--Why would he ever recommend that someone in Celia's delicate state of mind, be given any baby at all, let-alone let her believe that it's her actual baby!--There's your law-suit right there. You should've known better Dave.---You just better be happy that the baby was only an android!"

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