Consequences

Cole had escorted Betty to San Francisco. She cried  during most of the trip.

“Betty, please stop this. I know you’re hurt, but you’re gonna get ill. Please stop crying.”

Cole was getting angry looks from a lot of the passengers. They thought he had made Betty cry.

“Besides, I’m gonna get jumped if you don’t stop.” That made her laugh.

“Oh Cole, I love him so much. This is harder than I thought it would be.” Betty was sniffling in Cole’s arms, trying to stop crying.

“Can I get you something Miss?” a very worried flight attendant asked. She also shot Cole a dirty look.

“No thank you. I’ll be all right. I just left my husband. Cole’s my friend, so be nice to him.” Betty had noticed the hostile looks people were giving him. .

“I’m so sorry. Let me bring you some tea.” Now that the people knew Cole was not the reason for her tears, everyone was being friendly to them both.

“That’s my girl.” Cole wiped her face and held her hand. The rest of the flight was uneventful.

Polly met them at the airport.

“Sissy! You look wonderful!” Polly exclaimed when she saw Betty. Betty started crying again when she saw her sister. Polly hugged her tight, crying with her. Polly knew how much Betty loved Reggie.

“Come on sweetie. Let’s get you home. Welcome to Cali, Cole.” Polly opened her arm to include Cole in her embrace.

“Hey Polly. We should put Betty to bed. I’m worried about her.” Polly nodded her head.

They both helped Betty into the bed when she got to Polly’s apartment and she went immediately to sleep.

“Polly, I’m  very worried about Betty.”

“So am I Cole, so am I” Polly could not stop the flow of tears running down her cheeks.

***

Reggie arrived in Riverdale, at the insistence of Teresa and his parents and he refused to see anyone. Veronica came to see him, and he steadfastly avoided her.

“Mom, tell Miss Lodge I do not wish to see her.” These cold words would send Veronica running away, in tears.

 Reggie stayed drunk all of the time now.

“Son, how come you won’t talk to Veronica?” his father asked him after he sent Veronica away for the third time in a row that week.

“She’s ruined me. She made Betty leave me. I’ve been looking for her and the private eye has not been able to find her. I’m worried. Now I won’t be there when the baby’s born. I know she has to be with her sister, but that brother of hers has them very well hidden.” Reggie swigged down a drink of straight scotch, trying to hide his tears.

“Son, you have to get a hold of yourself. We’ll find her. We still have six weeks before she’s due, right? Let me have more people out looking for her. We know she’s in California. We’ll find her, Reggie.”

“No we won’t Dad. She hates me and does not want to be found. Her C.I. fuckin’ A.  brother will make sure we can’t find her.”  Rick Mantle placed his hand awkwardly on his son’s shoulder. He had a hard time swallowing his anger at Veronica for causing his only son’s so much pain.

No one could get through to him. Reggie’s father winced when he saw his son chug down another huge drink of whiskey.

“I wish you wouldn’t drink so much, son” Reggie continued to drink, not listening to his father.

Ricky Mantle left his son’s room, feeling very dejected. He joined his wife in their bedroom, and she started crying when she saw her husband’s face.

“He’s still drinking?” When her husband nodded, he took her in his arms.

“If I didn’t know better Rick, I’d say our Reggie was heartbroken. Do you think he fell in love with Betty?” Victoria had always liked Betty Cooper. She was friends with Betty’s late mother Alice, and thought Betty was such a sweet girl. Veronica Lodge was not the girl for her son.

“I’m not sure, my love. He’s not saying that he is, however, it sure looks like it. I don’t know what to do.” They held each other, terrified their son was losing his mind. They would have to wait out this storm.

A few weeks after returning to Riverdale, and trying his best to drink himself to death, Reggie’s mother called him:

“Reggie there’s a phone call for you.”

“Mom, I told you no calls! Please, tell them to leave me alone.” This was from a very sullen Reggie. He was hung over, and was starting to drink to rid himself of the hangover, when his mother began to scream:

“Reggie! It’s Polly with news about Betty! Come quick!” Reggie dropped the glass and bottle of scotch and began to run to the phone. Reggie grabbed the phone from his mother.

“Yes Polly, what’s wrong?”

“Reggie, Betty  went into early labor. She’s gonna kill me for calling you, but you need to be here. Can you come quickly?! She’s too early. She may lose the baby.” Polly was crying and had trouble continuing.

“Oh God Polly! What happened?”

“She’s been so upset after leaving you, that she had to be hospitalized. Now they can’t stop the contractions. Hurry, please! She needs you.”

“ Polly, I’m on my way. Where is she?”

After  Polly gave Reggie the information needed, Reggie flew to his room to get ready to leave. Reggie hurriedly threw some clothes in a suitcase. His father booked him a first class ticket to San Francisco within the hour. Reggie was sober now. His parents would follow the next day,

Reggie prayed everything would be alright with the baby. He made it to the hospital just in time. The doctors could not stop the contractions, so Betty was quickly prepped to go to the delivery room. They were arranging for an emergency cesarean section, to reduce the stress of childbirth in order to increase the chances that the baby would survive. Cole and Polly were by Betty’s bedside, trying to comfort her. When Reggie flew into the room, Polly  exclaimed, ”Thank God you made it!” They both left the room, to leave the two parents alone. As  Cole  was leaving, he patted Reggie on the back.

“Glad you made it partner. I’m proud of you. She really needs you.” Reggie nodded, not taking his eyes off  Betty.

“Hi Babe. I really missed you!”

“Reggie,… oh, Reggie …! Sweetie, you look terrible!” She noted his sunken eyes and unshaven face. She held her arms up, reaching for him and he flew into them. She held him close. Here he was again; when I need him…

Reggie was so happy to see her again…

“Of course I came, Babe. Don’t be silly. I want to be here when our baby is born.” He kissed her lips, having missed her more than he missed anyone in his life. Reggie would not let go of her. He was willing their baby to make it. He placed his hands on her belly, thankful for the baby’s kicks on his hands. The hospital staff smiled at the young couple’s passionate reunion. They finally had to be pulled apart so Betty could be prepared for surgery.

“We are giving you a bikini cut so your scars won’t show, Mrs. Mantle. It was done under local anesthesia, so Betty will be awake.” Reggie’s heart leapt when he heard that Betty had used his name when she was admitted. Betty gripped his hand as she was being wheeled into the operating room. The pains were coming every two minutes now. Their daughter was going to make her appearance very soon now.

 While the doctor was telling them every cut and instrument he was using on her, Reggie  was passionately talking to her, telling her of his plans for them and that he wanted her to remain his wife.  She focusing on his words, and was not aware of anyone else in the room but him. Then it happened. They soon heard a little mewling sound, like a new born kitten. It was their daughter.

“It’s a girl!” The nurse held the tiny baby up for them to see her. They could see her scrunched up little face and fists flying. She looked like a little angry fairy.  After giving her parents a quick glance at her, the baby was rushed off to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) She weighed three pounds and five ounces. The doctors told them she was in danger of dying because of her immature lungs. Her parents looked at each other with tears in their eyes. They willed their little girl to live.

“Reggie, we never chose a name for her.”

“I know. What should we name her, Babe?” Reggie took Betty’s hand in his. He felt so afraid.

“Let’s name her Angela Monique. She looked like a little fairy angel. I’ve always thought of her as an angel.”

“Sounds  good. Any name you want is fine with me, babe.”  

 After Betty’s abdomen was closed up from surgery, she was taken back to her room. The doctors informed them that they could see the baby in a little while.

“We’ll stabilize her with steroids and she would need intensive care until her lungs mature.  We’ll also treat her with antibiotics and other medications to help her lungs mature quickly. We’ll place her on a “bubble” continuous positive airway pressure (BCPAP) system, rather than mechanical ventilators, and limit exposure to supplemental oxygen. The BCPAP system delivers warmed, humidified oxygen in a way that inflates a premature infant’s lungs more gently. She has a great chance to make it.” The doctor wanted to give them hope.

 When her parents went to the NICU to see her, Angela was in an incubator, and had tubes everywhere. It was very frightening to her parents. She was so tiny, but she gripped her parents’ fingers and held on until she was ready to let go. They were both in tears when they had to leave her.

“Please fight Angel. Mommy and Daddy need you.” Reggie just realized at that moment that the only thing he would ever want was for his little daughter to live. They made it their business to go to the NICU together, as if that would give Angela a reason to live, knowing she had two parents who loved her very much.

***

Reggie called his parents and Teresa to tell them about the baby’s birth and health status. Betty had called her brother. Reggie’s parents and Chick raced to California to wait with Betty and Reggie.  Angela’s little chest continued to rise and fall quickly, like the fluttering of a nightingale’s wings. Betty was surprised at the affection for her that she saw in Reggie’s parents eyes when they arrived. She always felt they resented her for getting pregnant and ruining their son’s life.

“We’re here, my dear. The baby will be fine. You’ll see.” Mr. Mantle was laden down with gifts for the baby: teddy bears, dolls, and even a baseball glove. He gave Betty a sheepish look when her eyes widened at the sight of the glove.

“Maybe she’ll play ball like her parents.” Betty had a wicked 100 mile fast ball when she was in high school. “I hope so Mr. Mantle. I hope so.”

“I would be pleased and honored if you called me Dad, my dear.”

“And call me Mom, Betty.”

Betty sniffed. She missed her parents so much, especially now. The Mr. and Mrs. Mantle enfolded her in their arms, as Reggie tearfully looked on, smiling at them all.

Chick sheepishly approached Reggie. He touched his shoulder.  “Look Mantle…”

“Forget it Chick. Let’s all pray the baby makes it. ” They shook hands, and hugged each other, both of them terrified the baby would die.

They were all only allowed to visit the baby for short intervals each day, but they all lived for those visits. Betty had to express her milk and this was fed to the baby through a tiny tube. The doctors said that breast milk was the best nourishment for her. Each day Betty tried to see if the baby could nurse. Until then, she’d have to be fed through a tube. Betty and Reggie took turns with the tube feedings, after being instructed by the nurses.

 After Betty was discharged from the hospital, they all stayed in a hotel near the hospital. They had to be near Angela when they weren’t by her side.

Reggie made sure the best neonatologists and pediatricians were available to save his daughter’s life. Reggie finally remembered by the end of the third week after the baby’s birth that he never called Veronica. He had to tell her the baby was born.

“That’s good. Betty gave birth early. That’s the least she could do. We can get married now. Daddy knows a Judge in Reno who can get you a quickie divorce.  When are you coming to me, lover? I planned for a nice quiet ceremony in Jamaica with a few close friends.”

“Veronica, did you hear me? The baby may not make it! Betty gave birth early because of me stressing her out. I can’t leave until I know what’s going to happen to my Angel. You and I have a lot to discuss.”

“Betty can call you with a status report!! I’ve waited long enough. Darling I need you so much. The baby won’t know if you’re there or not.”

“ Yes she will, and I’ll know. Veronica, I’m her father! What kind of a man would I be if I left my sick premature baby and her mother all alone while she fights to live?”

“The kind of man who loves me and puts me first. I hate to say this Reggie, but it’s me or them. You must choose.” He gasped at the coldness in her. Despite the circumstances, none of this was Betty or Angel’s fault. Veronica should hate him, not them.

Veronica now had doubts that Reggie still loved her.  She knew she wasn’t going to leave him. This year had been hell for her.

“Veronica, I’ve loved you all of my life. But, if I left Betty and Angel now, I would hate you. If you can’t wait for me to see if the baby will live or not, so be it. I would never forgive you or myself if I left them now. Good bye, then.”

“Reggie!! Don’t go! I didn’t mean what I just said darling. I’m just upset, like you. We’re saying things we don’t mean.  Of course I can wait, as long as you need. Please call me to update me later. Okay?”

They hung up, with Reggie promising to call her later. He barely heard her. His mind was on his daughter.  Reggie went to Betty’s room so they could walk to the hospital together. It was a daily routine that neither of them looked into the significance of. It just happened, and they held hands when they walked to the hospital. The staff adored them. Reggie made sure they were well fed and always had catered meals sent for all three shifts.

***

On one particular day, two weeks later, Betty did her usual routine to see if the baby would nurse. She had a huge surprise when she felt the little gums latch on to her nipple and begin to suck.

“Oh my God! She’s nursing!” Betty exclaimed.  Reggie was kneeling by her side, stroking Angela’s cheeks to encourage her to keep sucking.

“Isn’t she fantastic?” he cooed to her. They both gazed lovingly at the baby as she sucked life giving milk from her mother’s breast. Even though the baby got tired after several minutes, it was a good sign.

There was a lot of rejoicing in the NICU that day.

Unknown to Betty and Reggie, a baby had died the night before and the NICU staff needed a reason to celebrate every little bit of progress a premature newborn made.