Chapter 2

Carried Away

Half an hour later, they arrived at the hospital where Richard worked as an intern.
“When you called and asked me to schedule a paternity test for you and a child who is supposedly yours I thought you were joking”, Dr. Thomas Pyne, Richard’s resident said. “But I see you weren’t. He’s a beautiful baby, Mrs. …”
“Miss., actually. Billie – Rae Winston.”
“Dr. Thomas Pyne.”
“It’s nice to meet to.”
“Pleasure’s all mine, Miss. Winston.”
“Billie – Rae, please”, she told him with a smile.
“Ok, Billie – Rae. Let me take this young man and get him ready for the procedure.” She let him take the baby from her, then asked:
“May I stay with him?”. Dr. Pyne looked at the young woman. On the phone, Richard mentioned that he had no idea who the mother was. And Billie – Rae didn’t seem the kind of woman who would have her child go through this just to prove his paternity. No, she would rather take her baby and be gone for good … after slapping Richard hard for doubting her, of course.
“You can stay with him.”
………………………………………………………………………………………..
“You didn’t get much of a sleep lately, did you?”, Billie asked a yawning Richie. They were in an unoccupied room, waiting for the test results.
“Not really. I did try, though”, he said with a faint smile.
“Hi, there”, Dr. Pyne said closing the door behind him. “I’ve got news”, he added, gesturing with the file in his right hand. “According to the tests, sample 17823, Richard – Vincent Zeller, matches sample 17824, baby John Doe, age three weeks, and is, by consequence compatible with paternity. He’s yours, Richard. He’s not baby John Doe, he’s baby Zeller.”
“My God! He’s mine … my son …”, Richie whispered. Then he turned to Billie – Rae, “Will you help me?”. Billie – Rae’s voice was shaking with emotion “Help you?”. “Help me raise him. That’s why I called you … I need your help,” he said. “I … we’ll talk about it when we get home … I mean … your place … I …, I should take him to the car.” She held the baby closer and walked out of the room.
“Dr. Zeller!”, Dr. Pyne said in a commanding voice, “Don’t stand there like a … Just, go after them, hold the door for her, place a hand around her shoulders, just do something, act like a father!”.
“But she’s not …”, Richie tried.
“The child’s mother, yeah, I got that one. Lucky you she isn’t, because I have a feeling if she were, with this attitude, you wouldn’t get to see that child anymore. Now, go.”
“Rae, wait!” Richie caught up with her. “Sorry, the chief wanted a word”, he gave her one of his most charming smiles. “Want me to carry him?” he offered. Billie – Rae didn’t get the chance to answer, as a tall, slender brunette approached them.
“Richie! Hi! Oh, I was so thrilled when they told me you’re doing your internship here, too!”.
“Hi … um …”, Richie was clearly struggling to remember her name, one of his many admirers from med school.
“Hello, Louise”, Billie – Rae saved him.
“Willy, hello. Nice to see you”, Louise said sounding less thrilled. “Cute baby. Is he ok? Are you here to see a doctor?”, she asked and then turned back to Richard without waiting for Billie – Rae’s answer.
“Andy, why don’t you go to daddy for a minute while I’ll go buy some formula and diapers from the hospital store?”, Billie – Rae spoke to the baby handing him to Richard. He took the baby and smiled at her.
“Oh!”, Louise said in surprise, “So he’s yours … I had no idea you’ve got married.”
“We haven’t”, Billie – Rae answered.
Richard looked at her and added:
“Yeah, we haven’t. We’ve got carried away and had … Andy first. Sweetie pie you were saying?”, he continued with a large smile.
“I have to buy some stuff”, she answered him smiling too, but through gritted teeth.