Picket Fences! Part 28
Over at Buford Falls Hospital . . .
Rhys pulled up in the parking lot.
Peter had just arrived and stopped to chat . . .
"I got off work early today, so I can take Mary Lou and the baby home", said Peter.
(Peter is the Athletic Coach at the high school.)
"I heard she had the baby. Congratulations!", said Rhys.
"Thanks. Come on over to our house anytime to see her", said Peter.
"Who did you come to visit?", asked Peter.
"A friend of mine had an accident. Thought I'd come see how she was doing", answered Rhys.
"Sorry to hear that. I hope she'll be alright", said Peter.
Peter and Rhys walked together into the hospital.
Dr. Brian came over to talk to Rhys . . .
"How is Claudia doing Doc?", asked Rhys.
"I'm still a little concerned about how she'll do when she gives birth, but everything looks normal so far", he said.
"Will it be alright for me to see her?". asked Rhys.
"Yes, she's been asking for you. Just don't say or do anything to upset her", he said.
Rhys went down the hall to Claudia's room . . .
"How are you feeling?", he asked, when he walked into the room.
"Still a little sore, but not too bad", she said, "Sit down over there."
"Rhys, I told Dr. Brian to ask you to come because I have something to tell you", she said.
"Sure, what is it?", asked Rhys.
"I decided to take you up on your offer. I really do need the money for the baby. I realize now, it was foolish of me to ask you to marry me. I should have known men like you don't make that kind of commitment."
"Claudia, I'll give you and the baby anything you need. I'd like to be a daddy to our baby, even if I can't be a husband to you", said Rhys.
"I appreciate you saying it, but I'm not surprised. I see what a good father you are and how much you love Ryan", she said.
Meanwhile . . .
Mary Lou and Peter were chatting with Dr. Brian . . .
Before they left to take baby Carrie home.
And down the hall in Claudia's room . . .
Claudia suddenly got up off the bed . . .
"Go get the doctor! Hurry!", she screamed.
Dr. Brian was coming up the hall when Rhys ran out of Claudia's room.
"Claudia's in labor", said Rhys.
"Calm down. Go on down to the waiting room. I'll take care of everything here", he said.
While Rhys went down to the waiting room to wait . . .
Claudia was taken to the emergency room to continue her labor.
Dr. Brian soon delivered Claudia's baby . . .
"It's a boy!", he said.
He handed the baby to Nurse Jane who took him to the nursery.
Claudia named her tan skinned, brown haired son with his father's eyes, Noah.
The doctor went down to the waiting room . . .
"You have a son", he told Rhys.
"Is Claudia and the baby alright?", he asked.
"Yes, mother and baby are doing fine", he said.
"Can I see them?", asked Rhys.
"The baby is in the nursery down the hall on the left. You can see Claudia for a few minutes after she gets back in her room", he said.
Rhys went down the hall to see his son through the nursery window.
A beautiful blonde woman walked into the waiting room.
"Could you please tell me what room Claudia Alan is in?", she asked the doctor.
"Only family is allowed to visit maternity patients Miss. Are you a relative", said Dr. Brian.
"I'm her cousin Shannan Alan. When I went to her house to see her, her neighbor told me she had had an accident and was in the hospital", she said.
"In that case, you'll find her down the hall in the room to the right", he said, "Don't stay but a few minutes. She needs to rest."
"Claudia, how are you feeling? Are you alright?", asked Shannan.
"Yes, I'm alright now. A few days ago I fell down my backporch steps. I almost lost my baby, but when he was born a little while ago, he was perfect."
"You're not married Claudia. Are you going to keep him?", she asked.
"Of course, I'm going to keep him. Just because his father doesn't want to marry me, isn't any reason give my baby away to strangers", said Claudia.
"I'm sorry I asked. It's just most women in your situation give their babies up for adoption", said Shannan.
"I guess you were shocked when you heard. I forgive you", said Claudia.
Shannan saw Rhys, when she walked down to the nursery to see the baby.
"That beautiful little boy must be yours. He looks just like you", she said.
"Yeah, you're right", said Rhys.
"I should introduce myself", she said, "I'm Shannan Alan. I'm Claudia's cousin."
"I'm Rhys Sawyer", he said.
"Yeah, I know who you are. You're the jerk who took advantage of my cousin and then refused to marry her", said Shannan.
"It ain't none of your business. That's between me and Claudia", said Rhys.
Then he walked away.
He went into Claudia's room.
"Rhys, are you upset about something? Is the baby alright?", she asked, "Did you see him?"
"Yeah, he's beautiful", said Rhys.
"I know", she said, "He looks like you."
"I got to go Claudia", said Rhys.
"Are you sure everything's alright?", she asked.
"Yeah sure, the doc told me not to stay but a few minutes. I'll come back tomorrow", he said.
Then Rhys left to go home.
To be continued . . . 
Subject: Picket Fences! Part 28 
Mon May 21, 2012 2:49 am
Miss Daisy, I am glad that Shannon spoke up to Ryhs the way she did as a close relative it is very much her business. Imagine the very nerve, going around and selfishly getting half the woman in town pregnant. hummph 
smile.. (just had to use that smiley) 
Your stories have little twists and surprises, and that's what makes them fun to read. 
