A Texas Soldier's Family by CATHY GILLEN THACKER

wails sounded all the louder in the early morning quiet of the emergency room.
    Luckily, they had staff waiting for them.
    To her surprise, the nurse approaching them looked familiar, except her hair was different. Longer.
    “I’m Bess Monroe’s twin, Bridgett Monroe,” the woman said, apparently used to the confusion. She grabbed a clipboard and pen as they passed the admitting desk. “We’re both nurses here. I usually work in the hospital nursery, but Dr. McCabe asked me to come down for this. So...” Bridgett smiled, assessing their trio. “You’re Hope Winslow and this indignant little fella is Max?”
    “Right.”
    Bridgett turned to their gallant escort. “And you’re the Dr. Garrett Lockhart I spoke with on the phone?”
    Garrett nodded his greeting, abruptly looking all confident, capable military physician. “Affirmative.”
    “Nice to meet you, Doc. Did you want to come back to the exam area or stake out a place in the waiting room?”
    It took Hope no time at all to decide the answer to that. “I’d like him with us.” She paused, wondering belatedly if she had overstepped, and searched his eyes. “Is that okay?”
    Looking as though there was no place else he would rather be, Garrett volunteered, “I can hold him while you fill out the paperwork.”
    Together they went into the exam room. While Hope answered the questions on the hospital intake forms, Garrett propped Max up on his shoulder and walked him back and forth, whispering soft, soothing words in his ear all the while.
    Max rested his head on Garrett’s big shoulder, his fussing finally beginning to lessen. Seconds later, Dr. Lacey McCabe walked in. The petite, silvery blond pediatrician introduced herself, then asked Garrett to put Max on the exam table. Bridgett stepped in to help undress the infant and assisted with the physical exam. When she had finished, Lacey swaddled Max in an ER blanket and handed him to Hope for comforting. Stethoscope still wrapped around her neck, Lacey pulled up a stool and indicated for them to get comfortable, too. “Tell me what’s going on.”
    Hope settled on the gurney, Max in her arms. Garrett stood close beside her while she brought the pediatrician up to date.
    Lacey listened while the nurse typed into a computer tablet. “And up to now you’ve been feeding on demand?”
    “Yes.” Hope was glad Max had quieted, at least temporarily, now that he was back in her arms, his pacifier in his mouth.
    “And that’s worked well for you?” Dr. McCabe continued. “His weight gain has been on track?”
    About that, Hope could brag. “It’s been perfect.”
    “But otherwise, you’ve been able to keep up your milk supply?”
    Hope felt a surge of regret. “Until I went back to work earlier this week.”
    “How has that been going?” the doctor asked empathetically.
    Not nearly as great as I’d like it to be.
    Garrett reached over and squeezed her shoulder. Appreciating his support, Hope leaned into his touch while she answered the pediatrician’s questions. “It’s complicated,” she said finally.
    Understanding shone in Lacey’s gaze. “Stressful?”
    “Um, yes...and no. It just sort of depends on what is going on, like in all jobs.”
    “But the last few days in particular...?” Dr. McCabe prodded.
    The heat of embarrassment welled in Hope’s chest. “Have been pretty stressful,” she admitted reluctantly. “What with Max’s nanny getting called away on a family emergency, just when we needed her most.” If it hadn’t been for Garrett during the last couple of days, she honestly didn’t know how they would have coped.
    Lacey nodded. “Okay. Well, there’s a good reason why you and Max are out of sync. And, just so you know, it happens to all new moms when they make the transition from maternity leave to work. It does get better.”
    “Thank heaven.” Hope sighed, suddenly feeling on the verge of tears again. “Because I’m not sure I could take it if Max continued to