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you feel?
Better, I think. How s Lexie?
Pretty good. She woke once during the night. I think her arm was bothering her, so
they gave her some baby aspirin. That s why she s still sleeping now.
Not any more. Take a look.
Lexie had her eyes wide open and was trying to stand up. Reno bent over the crib and
lifted her gently.
They showed me how to hold her, he explained. The bandage on her arm is so big
because they want to protect all the stitches. But they took out the IV early this morning, so
she can move around better now. They took yours out, too. They said you were pretty well
re-hydrated and you could now take medication by mouth. They want another twenty four
hours, though, to see if you can keep food down.
Daddee. Daddee kiss.
A new word, Sarah chuckled.
Reno settled Lexie on his lap, taking care with her arm, and showered her face with soft
kisses. He couldn t take his eyes away from her. He touched her hair, her cheeks, her tiny
mouth, kissing her over and over again.
Lexie, reveling in the attention, giggled and reached up to pat him with her good hand.
Sarah felt tears gathering in her eyes and blinked them away.
I called Lindsey and Nick, and your folks, Reno informed Sarah. And Tony. I
figured Alicia s mother would have passed the word on the Vanetta grapevine. And I didn t
want your folks to worry when we weren t home, knowing you d been sick.
Did you tell them we re fine now?
Yes. Your folks said they d probably come by later today. I suspect to see my partner
and his wife about then, and maybe even Tony, too.
A nurse s aide bustled in, carrying a tray that she put on the bed table. Breakfast for
the ladies she called out. Mrs. Sullivan, your orders say you should try some weak tea and
dry toast. How s the nausea this morning?
Much better, Sarah told her. And I don t feel quite so dizzy. She didn t. The room
had settled around her, everything staying in one place even when she moved.
Good. This from the nurse entering the room. Here s your morning meds, and baby
aspirin for your daughter. She ll need this for a few days until the worst of the soreness is
gone. Doctor will send you home with some medication for the nausea, Mrs. Sullivan, but he
The Hired Wife 135
wants you to see your obstetrician as soon as possible.
We ll take care of it right away, Reno stated, his voice firm.
I ll let you get started on your breakfast. The nurse smiled at Lexie. I d say you need
a high chair to feed this little angel. I ll send one in right away.
Reno shook his head. I ll hold her on my lap and feed her.
The doctor had put a rush on the preliminary DNA test the night before, and the day
seemed to drag by while they waited for the results.
I m convinced it s positive, Reno said at one point. Not a doubt at this point.
Even if it s not, Sarah pointed out, it won t make a difference.
It will be positive. Reno s voice was firm and confident. I just know it. He helped
Sarah eat and fed Lexie. Then, while Sarah dozed, he held the child on his lap, crooning to her,
until she, too, fell asleep. He knew he should put her back in the crib, but he couldn t get
enough of holding her.
The nurse arrived with the evening medication and the doctor walked in right on her
heels.
First things first, he said. I have the results back on the DNA test. There s no doubt
you re this child s father, Mr. Sullivan. I hope that pleases you.
Reno could only nod, so gripped by emotion he couldn t speak.
Well, everyone seems fine here. I ll just check my patients over, but I think both can go
home tomorrow.
Finished with his exam of mother and child, he made notes on the chart, then told them
he was writing discharge orders for the next day. He wanted the two of them there one more
night, but they could all go home in the morning.
Reno collapsed back in the chair; still amazed by the turn their life had taken.
Sarah, feeling immeasurably better, grinned at him. Life sure is good, isn t it daddy?
Better than I deserve. He leaned over and kissed his wife firmly on the lips, then
picked up Lexie and sat back in the chair. Nestling the little girl against his chest, he reached
for Sarah s hand and twined his fingers through hers.
And that s how they were, Reno feeding Lexie and Sarah sipping at her tea when Nick
and Lindsey appeared in the doorway. The scene was so heartwarming they almost didn t
want to intrude. Sarah looked up and saw them, and waved them in.
Lindsey came over to the side of the bed and hugged her. Reno called last night, she
said.
I figured he would. We re fine. Honestly.
He told us the good news, too. Oh, Sarah, we re so very happy for you. For both of
you. It s a shame it took an emergency like this to turn things around, but I knew everything
would work out sooner or later.
The best news is we had a DNA test done and it proves without a doubt that Reno is
Lexie s father. Sarah beamed.
Oh, my god, Lindsey gasped. That is just too much. She kissed her friends
soundly, while Nick shook Reno s free hand. Emotion was very thick in the room.
Sarah turned her head and looked at Reno, cuddling his daughter. Then she looked at
Nick, with his arm around Lindsey, glowing with her own pregnancy. Two of the best friends
in the world.
Judith Rochelle 136
Their marriage might have begun as a business arrangement, but she was no longer the
hired wife. She touched her abdomen where the baby was growing, the child she and Reno
had conceived with their love, and thought: a new home, a new child, and a new life. And she
smiled.
The Hired Wife 137
Epilogue
The scene could have come straight from a painting. The blue Texas sky, dotted with
puffs of cloud, was a backdrop for a golden sun. A soft breeze fluttered the leaves on the oaks
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