Chapter 12
Diary, June 28, 4:00 am
I am back in Baby’s room now. Funny, she was only awake for that minute.
The reason I am with her now is that one of the nurses said that she asked for me. They told everyone else to go home, the doctor asked me to stay just in case she wakes up again.
I have been asleep on and off, talking to Baby and writing down my thoughts in this diary.
She asked if I was married, Frannie. I don’t know what she meant by that; I didn’t marry anyone. If she was talking about Camille Peterson, yes, we finally got rid of her. She eloped with a two-bit dancer named Johnny Manning and no one ever heard from her again. Good thing, too.
I found out later that she sent letters to every woman that I knew. It was Penny who told me. She received one of them and was sure Baby did as well. Camille had gotten Baby’s address at the dorm by stealing a piece of paper from my dressing room that I found in her possession one night. She did it on a jealous whim, as I wouldn’t accept her advances towards me.
I tried to find your mother, love, only she had left the school dorm and no one knew where she had gone. I even went up to Massachusetts to try to find her. I found absolutely nothing. Finally, I looked up Dr. Houseman’s name in the telephone book and called his office. When he got back to me, he told that Baby had gotten married and they had just gotten an apartment in King’s Point, one town over from Great Neck.
He gave me the address and the phone number, but I was so hurt and disappointed that I never called them. That was three months ago. I never expected to see your mother again.
As for the police band, I have always helped people out, especially when they needed it. Maybe it was Baby’s influence; I always think that it is. She changed me in so many ways and my life has improved because of it. I wouldn’t be where I am today had I never met your mother. She is a wonderful and wise woman and when the time is right, I will ask her to be my wife. I want to watch you grow, Frannie. I don’t want to leave the two of you behind ever again. I would never forgive myself.
Your mother is moving again. I am to call the doctor right away when she wakes up. They don’t know how to break the news to her that Paul is dead, so we will wait a couple of days until we are sure that she will be able to handle it.
We are not to mention you until your mother asks first. Then we tell her. Strict orders from the doctor.
I know she will be fine, Frannie. The doctor thinks that she might have damaged her right knee on impact, but we will have to see. He thinks that she hit the metal glove compartment on the car before she was thrown. We were more worried about your fate, my little love. I am so happy that the two of you are alive and that I found you.