see his son.
Doctor Ludjekins turned to the man. Your son?
Yes, said the man. Today is the day he becomes mine. We have been here for six days now.
But where is your wife? asked the doctor.
His wife has had a most unfortunate accident, said Livia Pinheiro-Rima. Last night she slipped on some ice and injured her ankle. We fear it is broken. She wanted so badly to come with us, of course, but the doctor forbade it.
Ah, the ice is treacherous at this time of year! It is a miracle we are not all hobbling about on sticks! But I am sure she will be perfectly well again quite soon. Tomorrow, perhaps. And then you can come and gather your new child together.
Ah, but they are leaving here tomorrow, said Livia Pinheiro-Rima. And bringing their child out of this cursed darkness and off to the land of milk and honey.
But we cannot give a little baby to only a man. A baby must have mother and father.
And so shall this baby have, said Livia Pinheiro-Rima. He will meet his mother as soon as we return to the hotel. She is waiting there with open arms. Open arms and a broken foot! She opened her arms wide by way of illustration, but Doctor Ludjekins seemed to think she was about to embrace (or attack) him, for he raised his hand and took a step backward.
That is all well and good, he said. But we can only transact a baby to two parents.
I understand, said Livia Pinheiro-Rima. But surely you can make an exception in this case? It would be a shame for the little dear to lose his chance at a happy home on account of a broken foot.
Where babies are concerned I am afraid there can be no exceptions, said Doctor Ludjekins. My hands are tied.
Oh goodness, said Livia Pinheiro-Rima. Tied hands and broken feet! This is a muddle, isn’t it?
You must change your plans of departure, Doctor Ludjekins said to the man. And your woman must regain her feet. And then all shall be happy.
Listen, said Livia Pinheiro-Rima. My dear doctor, please listen. I’m going to tell you something about myself I very rarely reveal. It may shock you. I am older than I appear to be. Old enough to be a grandmother, in fact. This man you see before you, this dear sweet man, is my son. And his wife is my daughter-in-law. I know it seems impossible, but it’s true. I am old enough to be a mother once-removed from that poor darling baby above us, I shall be his Nana, his Nona, his Bubbie, his Granny, his Mimi; I shall be his very special and devoted Momsy, and I am here, here right now, here with two working hands and two operating feet, and I think if you do not release that baby into the care of his loving Papa and his doting Momsy, you will rue this day forevermore.
The doctor seemed somewhat overwhelmed by this speech, for he took another step backward, as if Livia Pinheiro-Rima were a fire whose heat was becoming too intense. He turned once again to the man.
She is your mother? he asked.
The man looked at Livia Pinheiro-Rima and was about to declare she was his mother, but then it occurred to him that if he was given this child on the basis of lies, he would never feel that the child was truly his.
No, the man said. She is not my mother. But please, give me my son. What more can I do? Do you want more money? Tell me, just tell me, and I’ll do it. But give me my son!
He stopped talking when Livia Pinheiro-Rima reached out and touched him on the small bare part of his neck that rose above his white shirt collar.
Relax, my darling, she said. My dear, dear boy. Everything will be fine. You are overwhelmed. She gently patted his cheek and then withdrew her hand. She turned to the doctor.
Don’t you see? He is overwhelmed. My poor boy. The impossible journey here, and these days of waiting, and the cold, and then his wife’s accident; can’t you understand it has all been too much for him? Of course, I’m his mother. Do you think he would be here if I wasn’t? Do you think he would come to this godforsaken place to adopt a baby if he weren’t my son? He came here because I begged him to. Because he is a good son.