Harlequin Love Inspired March 2021--Box Set 2 of 2 by Patrice Lewis (best large ereader .txt) 📕

cared for. She’d never experienced motherly love and, after Isaac married Hannah, she wondered if she ever would.

Until now.

A slow tear leaked out of the corner of her eye. This baby wasn’t hers. It wasn’t even Levy’s. It was Eliza’s. If the mysteriously absent sister ever decided to return to Grand Creek, wouldn’t she want her baby back?

Levy was another difficulty. Despite his prickly personality and touchiness over how he’d raised his sister, he was a good man…a fact not lost on Jane. She’d seen him at his worst, and his worst wasn’t bad. She was trying hard not to fall in love with him. Levy saw her as a useful person, just as Isaac did. Not as a potential wife. Falling in love with him would be as painful as losing Isaac.

It seemed her new life here in Grand Creek was turning out to be just as complicated as her life in Jasper.

CHAPTER TEN

Jane ended up holding Mercy in her arms most of the night, dozing in the rocking chair and keeping the baby snuggled against her chest. A nurse came in every couple of hours to check on Mercy and examine the IV. She seemed pleased at the baby’s progress. Jane changed the infant’s diaper once and fed her twice during the night.

“A healthy appetite is a good sign,” the night nurse assured her when she came in during her rounds and saw Jane feeding Mercy. “She looks like she’s progressing well.”

As the sun rose over the cars in the parking lot outside the hospital window, Jane laid the sleeping baby in her crib and stretched her cramped muscles. Heavy-eyed, she stumbled into the bathroom, removed her kapp, splashed water on her face, tidied her hair and made herself neat. Looking in the mirror, she winced at the dark circles under her eyes.

By the time the doctor came in on his morning rounds, Mercy was awake and quiet.

“Let’s see how she’s doing. She looks better,” said Dr. Forster. He went to the baby in the crib and did a brief exam while Jane watched. The physician took Mercy’s temperature, listened to her lungs, examined her eyes and mouth, and smiled.

“She’s a fighter, this kid,” he told the hovering Jane. “I think we can take her IV tube out, but I’d like to keep her on the monitors. We’ll get some of the lab results back today, which will give us some indication what may have caused the fever. But if she continues improving and shows no more signs of fever throughout the day, I see no problem with discharging her this afternoon.”

“That’s a relief. I’ve been so worried.” She closed her eyes and whispered a prayer of thanksgiving.

“You look like you were up all night with her.” The doctor eyed her.

“Ja, I just dozed in the rocking chair but held her all night.”

He smiled. “I wouldn’t be surprised if that contributed to Mercy’s improvement. Many people underestimate the importance of holding a baby as a factor in their healthy development. I see a lot of mothers who put their babies in cribs or strollers or playpens, but seldom hold them. Physical contact is especially important for babies who are bottle-fed.”

“I use this a lot too.” Jane rummaged in the diaper bag and plucked out the sling. “I can carry her around while doing chores.”

“Excellent.” Dr. Forster glanced at his watch. “You’re probably in for a boring day until Mercy is discharged this afternoon.”

“I have books to read.” Jane gestured toward the pile. “Do you have many Amish patients?”

“Of course. Since I’m a pediatrician, I treat many farm kids for injuries or illnesses.” He smiled and then left Mercy’s room to continue his rounds.

As predicted, it was indeed a boring day for Jane. Hours later, Dr. Forster came back, holding a file, just as the nurse poked her head in the door. “Dr. Forster? Mr. Struder is here, the baby’s uncle. Did you want to talk to him?”

“Yes, can you bring him in?”

The nurse disappeared and reappeared a few minutes later with Levy. He was much cleaner than yesterday and wore a fresh shirt, though he also had circles under his eyes. Jane’s heart jumped when he walked in.

Dr. Forster shook his hand. “Did you have a bad night’s sleep?” he quipped.

“Ja, I kept imagining the worst.” He peered at Mercy. “Is…is she better?”

“Much better, and I’ll be discharging her shortly. However, I’d like some way to get hold of you in a hurry if the remaining lab results come back with anything alarming.” He held up a hand. “I don’t anticipate that happening, but I’ll need some way to reach you. Do you have a neighbor with a phone?”

“Ja. They don’t live next door, but they’re not far away.”

“Do you know their phone number?”

“No, but I can get it.”

“Then here’s my business card. That way if something comes up, you can reach me.”

“Ja, sure.” Levy slipped the card into a pocket.

“Now let’s discuss follow-up care…”

He spent several minutes relating what additional symptoms to watch for, and urged Levy to bring the baby in for a follow-up appointment at the hospital’s attached clinic the next week.

“I have a question,” said Jane. “Levy sells produce at the farmer’s market on Saturdays. It’s helpful to have another person work the booth with him, so I bring Mercy and help when needed, though most of the time he’s the one interacting with customers. Would it be all right to bring Mercy to the farmer’s market by Saturday, or is it better for us to stay home?”

“Assuming she acts healthy and shows no signs of additional problems, I see no reason why you can’t resume your normal activities,” said the doctor. “However, I wouldn’t let anyone else hold her.”

Levy looked relieved. “Thank you. That will be a big help.”

“Can she go outside?” persisted Jane. “The reason I ask is the nurse mentioned the fever probably didn’t come from sunstroke, but I want to make sure I’m not making anything worse. Is it