The Clone's Mother Read Online Free Page B

what’s going on.”
    “That’s not a bad idea. I’ve got to get to my office and draw up some papers. I’ll wait to hear from you.” He pressed the down button for the elevator.
    “It might be late.”
    “Don’t worry.” He patted my cheek like he’d always done. Unlike me, he still liked the freckles dotting an arch from one cheek to the other, leaving a smattering of unwelcome spots over my pointy nose.
    The doors slid open and he stepped into the elevator. “I’ll catch some winks on my office couch if I need to. Otherwise, I’ll be up. This is too exciting to sleep through anyway. I’ll be waiting,” he called out as the elevator doors closed on his beaming smile.
    I talked to my charge nurse first. Charge Sarge—an ex-army middle-aged African-American woman who still wore a girdle and could silence a mob with a look. She wouldn’t waste a smile but had a heart the size of a ten-pound box of Valentine candy. When I told her about Nikki, she put on her stern face.
    “You want to what?” she exclaimed. “Did it occur to you, Johnston, that the father might have some say in the matter?”
    Oops. Hadn’t thought of that.
    The call light went on above Nikki’s door and I used the excuse to duck out of the conversation with Charge Sarge.
    Nikki had used the bathroom and needed help back into bed. As I tucked her in, I strategized how I might bring up Charge Sarge’s concern.
    “Nikki, adoption can be kind of complicated.” I pushed that pesky hair back behind my ear again. “Um. What about the baby’s father? He might have some say in this.”
    “He’s dead.”
    “Oh.” What can you say to that? “Hmm.” I waited a moment, thinking. “Well, then, if you’re ready—and certain—I’ll call my cousin now and see what she says.”
    Nikki rolled her eyes.
    “What the hell is wrong with you? Would you call her already? This kid is going to get born here sooner than later and someone needs to take her. Don’t freak. I’m not changing my mind.”
    Nikki fell back onto her pillow and turned away like she’d had enough of me.
    I went back to the desk. Neither the desk clerk nor Charge Sarge was there, so I sat down by the phone and lifted the receiver. Good thing I didn’t have much regular work that night. I dialed up Anna and clearly woke her. It took her a full minute to figure out she wasn’t dreaming and I was me and I was telling her something she’s been hoping for just about forever. When I finally convinced her I really might have a baby for her, Anna started crying and Joe shouted some kind of exuberant whoop Nikki could have heard all the way in her room if she were listening. Their reactions made me think they wouldn’t have to think about it too long to give me an answer about the baby.
    We talked a while then discussed some of the details. Anna asked me to call their lawyer for her first, so I could explain everything I was telling her. She was so excited, she just knew she’d never remember all I’d said. And she couldn’t find a pen that worked to write down Howard’s number. And the tip of the pencil she did find broke. And look how late it was—would the stores still be open? And could it finally really be happening? When could they see the baby for the first time? Would the hospital let them take custody of her before discharge? Wouldn’t they need a car seat first? And what about a crib? And diapers? And formula? And how in the world could she ever replace the birth mother? Then she dissolved into tearful exclamations of how she and Joe were the most lucky couple in the whole world. Of course, if it worked out, Anna added, which she knew not to assume and get too excited about.
    Yeah, right. Not get too excited. That particular ship had already sailed way out to sea.
    Anna forgot she was on the phone and in the middle of a sentence about needing to find a pediatrician, she hung up. I said good-bye to the dead line. Oh, well. Her hysteria was cute. But it was time