Free Elizabeth's Daughter by Thea Thomas Page A

loss for thoughts.
      “Do you want to see the baby? ...or not?”
      Elizabeth looked around the living room from which she’d removed her occasional tables and all the fragile knickknacks within baby reach, even as she had been certain that she’d never hear from Mrs. Vargas again. “Yes,” she answered. “Of course.”
      Mrs. Vargas suggested coming over with the baby in two hours and Elizabeth agreed.
      After she hung up, she looked around in stunned silence. Her shoulder bag slipped from her shoulder, bringing her back to reality.
      She checked herself in a mirror. She looked harried and nervous after a particularly stressful day at work. Not an appropriate picture, she told herself.
      She went upstairs and indulged in an Epsom salt bath. Then she put on a pale green lounge suit.
      While she wolfed down some salad the doorbell rang.
      Elizabeth opened the door. There stood a smiling Mrs. Vargas, her mother-earth eyes soft and compassionate, her arms full of pink blanket.
      “Come in,” Elizabeth said, feeling breathless.
      Mrs. Vargas stepped through the doorway. Elizabeth lead her into the living room and Mrs. Vargas sat on the sofa. Elizabeth hovered around her unable to decide if she should sit near or far.
      “Amethyst, this is Miss Morris’ home,” Mrs. Vargas said in a mellifluous and soft voice. “She wants to meet you, pretty baby.” Mrs. Vargas shifted the pink blanket and two round-as-quarters dark blue eyes looked up at Elizabeth, a look that plunged straight into her heart.
      “Oh!” Elizabeth breathed. “Oh, how... precious!” Elizabeth reached for the baby without knowing it, and when the realization of her incredible attraction to the baby hit her, her hands stopped in mid-air, unable to move forward or to drop.
      “You can hold her,” Mrs. Vargas said, handing the bundle to Elizabeth.
      Elizabeth took the baby and looked down at her remarkable face, the huge unflinching eyes, the black ringlets of hair, the delicate cameo skin.
      “Oh my! Oh my goodness, Mrs. Vargas, you didn’t tell me she was so beautiful.”
      The fresh scent of baby powder wafted up around Elizabeth and she felt herself relax. “Pretty baby,” Elizabeth cooed, hugging her. Something jabbed her through the blanket. Elizabeth frowned.
      “The brace,” Mrs. Vargas said.
      “Oh! Poor baby,” Why would such an innocent and fragile being had to endure any sort of hardship? Elizabeth wondered. “Poor baby,” Elizabeth repeated, rocking her gently.
      Mrs. Vargas stood and walked around the room, looking at the art and knickknacks, saying nothing. Elizabeth had the impression Mrs. Vargas was allowing Elizabeth and the baby a moment to bond. And even though it was obvious, Elizabeth was grateful. She wanted to return the unabashed stare of the baby.
      She felt that haunting hollow emotion abate.
      Mrs. Vargas turned to Elizabeth, and Elizabeth looked up at her. “You called her....”
      “Amethyst. It was her mother’s favorite gem.”
      “Amethyst.” Elizabeth looked back at the quiet, serious baby, who still had not taken her eyes off her. “What a pretty name you have, baby.” Elizabeth smiled at Mrs. Vargas. “You have excellent instincts, I’m completely head-over-heels from now and forever in love with little Amy.”
      “And she seems to like you. Since her mother died, I’m the only person she doesn’t cry around... until now. Here, I’ll write Gail’s number down for you, and then, I’m afraid Amethyst and I must be going. She has a doctor’s appointment yet this afternoon.” 
      After Mrs. Vargas wrote down the nanny’s telephone number, Elizabeth reluctantly handed the baby back to her.
      “By-bye, Amy-baby. See you soon, I hope!”
      “I hope so too,” Mrs. Vargas agreed, smiling.
      After Mrs. Vargas left, Elizabeth wandered about the house with a pencil and note pad, making notes of all the things she had to get and all the things