A Father In The Making Read Online Free PDF Page A

look.
    Nate stood on the edge of the group feeling like the outsider he was.
    Then the curtain dividing the waiting area from the emergency department swished aside and the doctor stood in the entrance, motioning for Mia to come.
    And he wasn’t smiling.

Chapter Three
    â€œS o you’re saying he can’t talk because of the trauma he experienced?” Mia rubbed her index finger over her chin in a nervous gesture. Nico lay on the hospital bed, looking small and helpless, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. His brown hair was tangled and messy and his eyes red and bloodshot from the smoke.
    â€œPhysically, he’s fine. For that we can be thankful.” Dr. Brouwer looked over at Shannon, the Emergency Department nurse, who was also his wife. “Do you mind watching Nico for a moment?”
    Shannon nodded, then gave Mia a comforting pat on her shoulder.
    As Mia followed Dr. Brouwer out of the cubicle she shot another quick look at her son, but Nico kept looking up as if trying to find something on the ceiling.
    As Ben Brouwer closed the door of an empty examining room behind them, he gave her a tentative smile that made her even more wary. “We’ve done all we can for Nico,” he said, folding his arms and resting his hips against the door behind him. “The fact that he’s not talking is not connected to anything physical. It’s often called Selective Mutism. Sometimes that term applies to shy children, children who will speak at home, but not in public, or in Nico’s case, children who won’t speak after a stressful trauma. A counselor can properly diagnose this.”
    â€œSo he might not talk again?”
    â€œThe mutism is generally temporary, but because it’s psychological rather than physical we have no way of knowing how long it will last.”
    â€œSo why is Josh okay?”
    â€œEach child is different. Stress manifests differently in them. It might be Nico’s way of controlling a world that, a few moments ago, fell apart for him in a dramatic and traumatic way. I would highly recommend seeing a counselor. I can set up an appointment with a Dr. Schuler in Cranbrook if you want.”
    Mia nodded. “Please. I want Nico to get help as soon as possible. And what do I do for him until then?”
    â€œGive him peace and quiet. Return as much as possible to some type of routine. And don’t pressure him to speak.”
    Peace and quiet. Mia could do with some peace herself, she thought, rubbing her chin again.
    â€œDo you and your children have a place to stay?” Dr. Brouwer continued, his deep voice soothing. A good doctor’s voice, Mia thought. “I understand from the paramedics that your apartment is unlivable.”
    She and her children had no place to return to. They had nothing but what they wore.
    â€œEvangeline and Denny have offered us a place on the ranch,” she managed to say.
    But she wasn’t sure she wanted to stay there. Nate created emotions a mother of four children had no right to feel. Emotions she didn’t dare let in her life again.
    â€œI suggest you take the offer. Moving Nico away from town and away from the physical reminder of what he has just been through would be a good solution.”
    Mia massaged her forehead, the headache that had hovered at the back of her eyes all day now increasing. All she wanted to do was crawl into bed and retreat from thinking and planning.
    Only her bed was probably a charred hulk.
    Please, Lord, help me not to cry. Help me to focus on Nico. Please be with my little boy. Help me to get through all of this.
    â€œI don’t have a choice,” she said quietly, her voice trembling in spite of her prayer. She waited a moment to compose herself then looked up at Dr. Brouwer. “Thanks so much for your time and your care. How is Jeff Deptuck?”
    â€œHe’s okay. Some smoke inhalation but he’ll be fine. Angie is with him now.”
    In spite of the