household, and he talked himself out of going to her home for a visit.
And he worried about Jacob. He'd reached a top pediatric neurologist, who'd basically told him the same thing as Doctor James. The baby was in jeopardy on a daily basis. As he grew, he'd require a helmet with any hard, physical activity to protect his brain. Matthew had ordered one immediately to be delivered to Bethany's house overnight. And, the doctor very highly recommended the low carb diet.
The fourth day, a Friday, Bethany came to his house to work.
He answered the door and ushered her into the living room. "How is he?" Matthew asked, "And, how are you holding up?"
They sat next to the fire. "That feels good," she told him before she sat on the sofa. "It's chilly outside. I think Fall is approaching."
He was silent as he sat next to her.
She sighed. "He's doing well. He just had a small seizure before he left the hospital. I think I told you on the phone. But with the medication, I think it's helping him. And the other doctor called me. Apparently the diet is a key factor in these cases."
Matthew took her hand in both of his. "And if I can do anything, anything at all, you'll let me know?"
She smiled up at him. "You've done enough already. I don't know how to repay you-"
"You don't have to repay me," he said firmly. "I don't want you worrying about that, along with everything else." His hand came up and touched her face, then her lips. "I'm checking to make sure you're smiling."
She laughed. "Yes, I guess I am. It's nice to be back here again. I'm anxious to get to work and get back to normal. I don't want to suffocate Jacob, which my mother said I was doing."
"Don't worry about the days you missed. Just think of it as sick time. I've checked with the agency and logged the hours in with them already." His hand came down and back on hers again.
There was an awkward silence before she rose. "Guess I'd better get back in the den, then, and figure out what our friend Dena has been up to with your bookkeeping."
But, she hadn't told him Jacob had been fussy for two days, crying and she didn't know why. Her mother was taking him to his regular pediatrician just for a check up. She got down to work at her desk, and was immersed in all her reconciliations and copying, when her mother called.
"Well, we found out the problem with Jacob," she told Bethany.
"What is it?"
"You're running out of breast milk."
"No. I can't be out of milk, mother. I'm still feeding him on schedule."
"He took almost two bottles of formula."
Bethany was silent, remembering it was somewhat hard the last time she tried to express. "I feel like he doesn't need me anymore."
"Don't be silly. Of course he needs you, but his eating needs have changed. Just think of it that way."
But as she hung up, she almost cried at the news. She and Jacob shared the bond, and the closeness that only came from the breast feeding. It was yet another blow coming at her. She thought things were changing just too fast for her to keep up with. Her son was becoming his own entity, his own person.
Matthew couldn't help overhearing, as he approached the den. Yet he hardly could talk with Bethany on that subject, so he tried to think of a way to cheer her up.
Then he frowned as someone rang the front bell. He made his way with Mutty and opened the front door.
"Darling," he heard Catherine's gushing voice say, and he groaned inwardly at the sound of her voice. "How are you? I haven't seen you anywhere lately."
And, he knew he'd have to invite her in, just to be cordial. He walked with her to the living room, where a fire still burned.
"How nice," she said, "were you sitting by the fire all alone?"
"Yes, I was," he replied, thinking of Bethany, while smelling Catherine's overpowering perfume. What a difference, he thought. "Please, sit down."
He wanted to ask her the purpose of her visit, but he was too polite.
Catherine's eyes narrowed as she took in his appearance, from his
And he worried about Jacob. He'd reached a top pediatric neurologist, who'd basically told him the same thing as Doctor James. The baby was in jeopardy on a daily basis. As he grew, he'd require a helmet with any hard, physical activity to protect his brain. Matthew had ordered one immediately to be delivered to Bethany's house overnight. And, the doctor very highly recommended the low carb diet.
The fourth day, a Friday, Bethany came to his house to work.
He answered the door and ushered her into the living room. "How is he?" Matthew asked, "And, how are you holding up?"
They sat next to the fire. "That feels good," she told him before she sat on the sofa. "It's chilly outside. I think Fall is approaching."
He was silent as he sat next to her.
She sighed. "He's doing well. He just had a small seizure before he left the hospital. I think I told you on the phone. But with the medication, I think it's helping him. And the other doctor called me. Apparently the diet is a key factor in these cases."
Matthew took her hand in both of his. "And if I can do anything, anything at all, you'll let me know?"
She smiled up at him. "You've done enough already. I don't know how to repay you-"
"You don't have to repay me," he said firmly. "I don't want you worrying about that, along with everything else." His hand came up and touched her face, then her lips. "I'm checking to make sure you're smiling."
She laughed. "Yes, I guess I am. It's nice to be back here again. I'm anxious to get to work and get back to normal. I don't want to suffocate Jacob, which my mother said I was doing."
"Don't worry about the days you missed. Just think of it as sick time. I've checked with the agency and logged the hours in with them already." His hand came down and back on hers again.
There was an awkward silence before she rose. "Guess I'd better get back in the den, then, and figure out what our friend Dena has been up to with your bookkeeping."
But, she hadn't told him Jacob had been fussy for two days, crying and she didn't know why. Her mother was taking him to his regular pediatrician just for a check up. She got down to work at her desk, and was immersed in all her reconciliations and copying, when her mother called.
"Well, we found out the problem with Jacob," she told Bethany.
"What is it?"
"You're running out of breast milk."
"No. I can't be out of milk, mother. I'm still feeding him on schedule."
"He took almost two bottles of formula."
Bethany was silent, remembering it was somewhat hard the last time she tried to express. "I feel like he doesn't need me anymore."
"Don't be silly. Of course he needs you, but his eating needs have changed. Just think of it that way."
But as she hung up, she almost cried at the news. She and Jacob shared the bond, and the closeness that only came from the breast feeding. It was yet another blow coming at her. She thought things were changing just too fast for her to keep up with. Her son was becoming his own entity, his own person.
Matthew couldn't help overhearing, as he approached the den. Yet he hardly could talk with Bethany on that subject, so he tried to think of a way to cheer her up.
Then he frowned as someone rang the front bell. He made his way with Mutty and opened the front door.
"Darling," he heard Catherine's gushing voice say, and he groaned inwardly at the sound of her voice. "How are you? I haven't seen you anywhere lately."
And, he knew he'd have to invite her in, just to be cordial. He walked with her to the living room, where a fire still burned.
"How nice," she said, "were you sitting by the fire all alone?"
"Yes, I was," he replied, thinking of Bethany, while smelling Catherine's overpowering perfume. What a difference, he thought. "Please, sit down."
He wanted to ask her the purpose of her visit, but he was too polite.
Catherine's eyes narrowed as she took in his appearance, from his
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