“He’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” Rachel said in a trembling voice as she stroked his head lovingly. Eli looked from his wife to his son with such love it brought a lump to Emma’s throat. The nurses cleaned the baby up, wrapped him in a receiving blanket, and laid him in Eli’s arms.
Technically, Emma was off duty once she was done with Rachel’s medical care, but she hung around for a few minutes and took pictures of the baby with both parents so they’d have them to enjoy later. At one point, Emma caught Eli standing at the window looking out as he held his tiny son in his big, powerful arms.
To Emma, Eli seemed to be a genetic combination of Native American Indian and Northern European, like a Viking with Native American facial features. That would account for his extreme height and body type as well as his high cheekbones and angular features. He was extremely easy to look at. The light caught his pale-gray eyes, and Emma snapped his picture at the precise moment a small, satisfied smile crossed his full lips.
Emma smiled with triumph that she’d captured the moment. She glanced at Rachel and saw that she was entranced watching her husband hold their son, and Emma captured Rachel’s beautiful image on the camera as well.
Eli had brought Rachel’s laptop computer with them, and at that moment, it began beeping and chiming with the familiar ringtone of a Skype video call. A beautiful woman with long black hair and a pale ivory complexion appeared on the screen.
“Hello? Hello? Can you hear me—I mean see me? Is this thing on?”
Rachel chuckled softly and said, “Hi, Nell. How are you?”
“I’m fine, sweetie. I’m dying to know how you are. Did everything go okay?”
Emma recalled her visit to Grace a couple of months before. This was the same Nell who gave Rose Marie tiny Birkenstocks and was concerned about offsetting Rose Marie’s methane output.
“Perfect, Nell. How’s Henry?”
“He’s fine. Mel came over a little while ago, convinced that aliens had landed in the wooded area near our house. He had the new alien detector Stef designed for him, and Henry was going to help him patrol the area.” Nell made it sound as if alien hunting was an everyday occurrence in Bliss, Colorado.
From where she sat, Emma squinted at the screen to get a look at the face that she could’ve sworn belonged to one of the Disney princesses. Eli shifted by the window and grinned at Emma as he moved across the room toward Rachel’s bedside.
“Where is the baby? How is little Levi Elias Wo-Woo-Wolf.” There was a trace of a tremor in Nell’s voice as Eli perched next to Rachel on the bed.
“Hi, Nell.”
“Nell, this is Eli,” Rachel said, obviously struggling with amusement as Nell’s mouth opened and closed several times without making a sound.
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you face-to-face…sort of,” Eli added.
“Um—um. It’s a pleasure to meet to—you—to—too, Eli! Oh, drat. I’m so embarrassed!” The little, nymphlike woman was charming in her stammering disconcertion. “Shoot! It’s nice to meet you, too. Oh, and is that little Levi? Show me, show me!” Nell balled up her little hands under her chin and cooed as Eli handed the baby off to Rachel and she held him closer so Nell could see. “He’s so beautiful!”
Eli rose and said, “I’m going to step out and give you two a few minutes to talk. Need anything, angel?”
“Another pillow, if they have any.”
“Another pillow, it is. It’s nice to meet you, Nell.”
Nell waved. “It’s so nice to meet you, too, Eli. I’m so sorry about my reaction. I’m appalled that I may have objectified you. I’m sure your soul is every bit as beautiful as your—um. Shoot! I just objectified you again!” Nell put her palms to her cheeks, which even Emma could see were beet red. Considering her coloring, it made her look even more like Snow White. The only thing missing were little woodland creatures frolicking around her. “Take care, Eli.”
Eli smiled and exited the room with a chuckle.
“Shoot me now, Rachel. I’m so sorry I objectified your husband! Oh, and don’t tell Henry. He’s been so possessive lately. I think my last topless protest on Rachel and Paige’s behalf might have unleashed the Neanderthal in him.”
Rachel chuckled softly and caressed Levi’s fuzzy little head as she replied, “Trust me, Nell. A little Neanderthal in your man isn’t necessarily a bad thing. My doctor is in the room, and I’d like to introduce you.”
Emma shook her head and pointed vehemently toward the door. Rachel grinned knowingly and crooked her finger at her, not taking cowardice for an answer. Emma moved from her chair and came to the bedside. “Nell, this is Doctor Emma Guthrie.”