Scrambled Babies Read Online Free

didn’t care.  Her throat had a painful lump in it from suppressing an all-out crying jag.  But she had held on and would continue to hold on, even with the realization that Kelsey was now almost a half world away. 
    The childseat swung at her side like a lead safe. The blanket not covering the child’s face this time. She emerged and searched for Fred.  There he was right in front of the waiting crowd.  He waved.
    “Hi, honey.”  Fred hugged her somewhat tentatively.  He stood back, holding both her shoulders.  “Good god, you look like hell.  Bad turbulence?”
    Paeton laughed vacantly.  “I guess you could say that.”
    “Huh?”
    “Hi, Uncle Fred.”
    “Hi, Maddy!”  And he bent down to give Madison a kiss.  “Hello, Kelsey,” and he chucked the infant under the chin.
    Maddy laughed. “Uncle Fred said ‘Kelsey,’ Mommy. He doesn’t know our very big secret.”
    “No, he doesn’t, honey. And it looks like we really are in trouble.”
    Fred got up to Paeton’s ear and whispered, “What the hell is going on?  Is something really wrong with Kelsey?”
    “I guess you could say that.”
    “For heaven’s sake, will you stop saying that?  I’m here.  Okay.  I’m here.  Now for pete’s sake tell me what the goddam problem is.”
    Paeton pressed a finger over Fred’s mouth.  “Shh!  Please, Fred.  The children.”  She gave him another kiss on the cheek.  “Thanks for being here, Fred.  I know how busy you are.”
    They walked in the direction of the baggage.  “Paeton, what is the problem?”  Fred leaned in too close in frustration.  “Have you been crying?  You look as if you’ve been crying.”
    “I haven’t been crying,” she protested.
    “Yes, you did, Mommy.  Some.  I heard you.  I knew I shouldn’t talk to you when you were so upset.”
    “I didn’t cry, Madison.”
    Fred broke in.  “Well, if you did cry, what about?  I don’t see anything to cry about.”
    Paeton turned to Fred.  “That’s because you haven’t changed the baby’s diaper.”
    Fred stepped back to look at Paeton.  “Excuse me?”
    “I can’t talk here, Fred.  Let’s get my bags, and I’ll talk to you in the car on the way to the hotel.”
    “Car’s in the shop, honey.  We’ll have to grab a cab.”
    “Oh, Fred, not again.  When are you going to get rid of that Jaguar?”
    “Sorry.  I really can’t let go of that car.”  He tried again for some answers. “Paeton, for god’s sake—”
    “Please, Fred.  You’ll have to wait a few more minutes.  Okay?”
    “Okay, okay.  But I can’t imagine—”
    Paeton’s mouth broke into a grim smile.  “That’s right.  Not in a million years!”
    Fred expelled a huge sound of exasperation.  He dutifully rounded up Paeton’s luggage and led them to the cab area.  When they were pulling away from the curb, he turned to her.  “Okay.  Nobody can hear us.”
    Paeton pointed to the cab driver.  The man in the ponytail turned his head.  “I can’t hear nothin’, ma’am. Know what I mean? That’s part of my job.”
    Fred looked pleadingly at Paeton.  “Paeton, please tell me what is so damned wrong that even a cab driver can’t know?”
    Paeton gestured toward the travelseat.  “Even you’re fooled, Fred.”
    “Huh?”
    “You can’t tell, can you?”
    “Can’t tell what?  Paeton, I swear, I’m going to jump out of this cab right now if you—”
    The cab driver turned his head again, his graying ponytail swinging in their faces.  “Please don’t do that, sir.  I have insurance, but—”
    “You said you weren’t listening,” Paeton cried angrily.
    “It’s a figure of speech, lady.  I just meant—”
    Fred was impatient.  “We know what you meant.  Turn around and drive.”
    “Okay, okay.  Jeez.  Some people.”  Fred had obviously injured the cabby’s feelings.
    Paeton became resolute.  “Okay.  You want to know what’s wrong?  Fred—this is not Kelsey.”  Paeton thought