Picket Fences! Part 27.1



The next day at Rhys house . . .



He received a telephone call . . .



"This is Dr. Brian. I'm calling to let you know Miss Alan has regained consiousness."



"Thanks doc. I'll be there is a few minutes."


Over at Buford Falls Hospital . . .



Rhys pulled up in the parking lot.





Peter had just arrived and stopped to chat . . .

"I got off work early today, so I can take Mary Lou and the baby home", said Peter.

"I heard she had the baby. Congratulations!", said Rhys .



"Who did you come to visit?", asked Peter.



"A friend of mine had an accident. Thought I'd come see how she was doing", answered Rhys.







Peter and Rhys walked together into the hospital.





Dr. Brian came over to talk to Rhys . . .

"How is Claudia doing?", asked Rhys.



"I'm still a little concerned about how she'll do when she gives birth, but everything looks normal", the doctor said.



"Will it be alright for me to see her?". asked Rhys.

"Yes, she's been asking for you. Just don't say or do anything to upset her", he said.



Rhys went down the hall to Claudia's room.




Peter and Rhys walked together into the hospital.



Dr. Brian came over to talk to Rhys . . .

"How is Claudia doing?", asked Rhys.

"I'm still a little concerned about how she'll do when she gives birth, but everything looks normal", the doctor said.



"Will it be alright for me to see her?". asked Rhys.

"Yes, she's been asking for you. Just don't say or do anything to upset her", he said.



Rhys went down the hall to Claudia's room . . .



"How are you feeling?", he asked, when he walked into the room.



"Still a little sore, but not too bad", she said, "Sit down over there."


"Rhys, I asked Dr. Brian to ask you to come because I have something to tell you", she said.

"Sure, what is it?", asked Rhys.



"I decided to take you up on your offer. I do really need the money for the baby. I realize now, it was foolish of me to ask you to marry me. I should have known men like you don't make that kind of commitment."

"Claudia, I'll give you and the baby anything you need. I'd like to be a daddy to our baby, even if I can't be a husband to you", said Rhys.



Claudia got up off the bed . . .

"Go get the doctor! Hurry!", she screamed.



Dr. Brian was coming up the hall when Rhys ran out of Claudia's room.

"Claudia's in labor Doc!", said Rhys.

"Calm down. Go on down to the waiting room. I'll take care of everything", he said.

While Rhys went down to the waiting room to wait . . .



Claudia changed into a hospital gown to continue her labor in the emergency room.



Dr. Brian soon delivered Claudia's baby . . .

"It's a boy!", he said.


He handed the baby to Nurse Jane who took him to the nursery.



Claudia named her tan skinned, brown haired son with his father's eyes Noah.



The doctor went down to the waiting room . . .

"You have a son", he told Rhys, "Mother and baby are doing fine."



"Can I see them?", asked Rhys.

"The baby is in the nursery down the hall on the left. You can see Claudia for a few minutes after she gets back in her room", he said.



Rhys went down the hall to see his son in the nursery window.



A beautiful blonde woman walked into the waiting room.

"Could you please tell me what room is Claudia Alan's?", she asked the doctor.

"Only family is allowed to visit maternity patients. Are you a relative", said Dr. Brian.



"I'm her cousin Shannan Alan. When I went to her house to see her, her neighbor told me she had had an accident and was in the hospital", she said.
"In that case, you'll find her in the room to the right", he said, "Don't stay but a few minutes though. She needs to rest."



"Claudia, how are you feeling? Are you alright?", asked Shannan.



"Yes, I'm alright now. A few days ago I fell down my backporch steps. I almost lost my baby, but when he was born a little while ago, he was perfect."



"You're not married. Are you going to keep him?", she asked.

"Of course, I'm going to keep him. Just because his father doesn't want to marry me, isn't any reason not to", said Claudia.

"I'm sorry I asked. It's just most women in your situation give their babies up for adoption", said Shanna

"That's alright. I guess I would feel the same way, if our situations were reversed", said Claudia.



Shannan saw Rhys, when she walked down to the nursery to see the baby.



"That beautiful little boy must be yours. He looks just like you", she said.

"Yeah, you're right", said Rhys.

"I should introduce myself", she said, "I'm Shannan Alan. Claudia's my cousin."

"I'm Rhys Sawyer", he said.
"In that case, you'll find her in the room to the right", he said, "Don't stay but a few minutes though. She needs to rest."



"Claudia, how are you feeling? Are you alright?", asked Shannan.



"Yes, I'm alright now. A few days ago I fell down my backporch steps. I almost lost my baby, but when he was born a little while ago, he was perfect."



"You're not married. Are you going to keep him?", she asked.

"Of course, I'm going to keep him. Just because his father doesn't want to marry me, isn't any reason not to", said Claudia.

"I'm sorry I asked. It's just most women in your situation give their babies up for adoption", said Shanna

"That's alright. I guess I would feel the same way, if our ", said Claudia.



Shannan saw Rhys, when she walked down to the nursery to see the baby.



"That beautiful little boy must be yours. He looks just like you", she said.

"Yeah, you're right", said Rhys.

"I should introduce myself", she said, "I'm Shannan Alan. Claudia's my cousin."

"I'm Rhys Sawyer", he said.


"I know. You're the jerk who took advantage of my cousin and then refused to marry her", said Shannan.



"That ain't none of your business", said Rhys.



Then he walked away . . .


And went down to Claudia's room.

"Did you see the baby?", she asked.

"Yeah, he's beautiful", said Rhys.

"Yes he is", she said, "He looks just like you."

To be continued . . .