girl again. They were still quite confused and surprised by it all but obviously had decided to push it aside and talk about my return. I promised I would come, but, like Dr. Davenport, I made it sound more like a visit. I added the fact that he had kept my New York apartment for me. Maybe because my father wasn’t there to comment and complain, Julia said nothing negative about it. I think she was quite taken aback by what I had done and was still trying to wrap her mind around all she had learned.
I did less exercise during the final six weeks. Everyone was after me to do it, but I slept more. I felt like I was holding my breath the entire time. Despite all the preparations, when the moment came, it seemed like a bolt of lightning. My water broke, and Mrs. Cohen was immediately at my side. Dr. Bliskin dropped everything at his office and rushed over. Dr. Davenport did the same. I was informed that even Elizabeth Davenport stood in her doorway, watching and listening. A number of times, I had been told that I wasn’t the first woman who had given birth in Wyndemere.
The baby cried in Samantha’s arms. He had made no sound during the birthing, even when the umbilical cord had been cut, but the moment he was placed in her waiting hands, he wailed, and so strongly that everyone laughed. I stared with disbelief. It almost didn’t seem real to me that something as miraculous as a baby, even with the kicking I had felt, had emerged from my body.
They had decided to name him Ryder and immediately began to refer to him that way. He was washed and dressed quickly. My body hadn’t calmed. I still felt as if I was in the throes of it. As soon as she could, Samantha took him out of my room. Mrs. Cohen and Dr. Davenport followed her, but Dr. Bliskin remained behind to assure me I was doing well. Then Dr. Davenport returned, and he and Dr. Bliskin gave each other a look that caught my attention despite how exhausted I felt.
I was just about ready to ask what was wrong.
They both stepped up beside me.
“It wasn’t part of our bargain,” Dr. Davenport began, “but Franklin and I have been discussing it. He’s a proponent of breastfeeding. He has all the clinical and historical evidence supporting how superior it is. You’ll be here a while longer, so we thought, I thought… I’m willing to offer you an additional fifty thousand dollars.”
They both stared down at me.
“Fifty thousand dollars!”
“It’s best if it’s begun within the first hour,” Franklin said.
“A wet nurse,” I said, more to myself. “But Samantha…”
“I’ve discussed it with her; we both discussed it with her. She wants what’s best for Ryder. She’ll be right beside you all the time.” This time, his smile was more of a warning. “I know this is more than you expected to do, and it will keep you here longer. However, I intend to do more than just give you money. I want to see what I can do to help you get a start on your singing career, too, when the time comes.”
“But… I was to go home to see my family.”
“You can pump and store breast milk for up to two weeks if we freeze it,” Franklin said. “Of course, you’ll be leaking a bit,” he added.
“It could give you a good reason to return to America sooner,” Dr. Davenport said. “If you don’t, I’ll give you a good part of the fifty thousand anyway.”
“How long would I…?”
“Six months is good,” Franklin said. “Many go longer but start to introduce foods. It varies. I’ve had women stop after three months, too.”
“Six months?”
“I’m sorry,” Dr. Davenport said. “We should have discussed this with you sooner, but…”
“But it took a while to convince Samantha despite what you are both claiming,” I finished for him.
He nodded, and Franklin smiled.
I looked up at the ceiling. The money was overwhelming. When I was really back in New York, I wouldn’t need another roommate, maybe ever. I could dress better and go to each and every audition I wanted. Maybe Dr. Davenport could get me some other opportunities. He seemed to know so many important and powerful people. Now, without being pregnant, there was no reason for me not to have more freedom here, either.
I looked at the two of them. The anxiety in their faces made