Rob stared at Andi
and Josh Patton. His hands clenched and he half-rose. She glanced toward him.
Her glare pinned him in place. Though protests rumbled through his chest he
clenched his teeth. He had no right to the emotions roiling through his head.
Andi wasn’t his. He’d thrown away any chance by his blind obedience to a bully.
Seeing her again
had fractured the concrete he’d mortared over his love and need for her. Being
a coward had cost him a lifetime with the woman he loved.
Memories of
evenings, of closeness, laughter, and of sharing visions of the future filled
his thoughts. Months ago he’d achieved his dream of becoming an author. His
excitement over the contract seemed flat now. Andi was the one he wanted to
tell. He searched today’s unexpected meeting for a pinch of hope and failed to
find even a grain.
Seeing Josh Patton
embrace Andi had abraded his awakened feelings. The kiss had nearly caused him
to react with a jealous explosion. A surge of possessiveness gripped him. Not possible. Andi wasn’t his to protect
and love.
The closing door
ended his vision of them. A knife twisted in his gut. The reaction though well
deserved forced air from his lungs. He had no right. He’d thrown his chance
away.
Rob straightened
and stared at the television. Someone had changed the station from cooking to
news.
Some time later
the door leading to the treatment area opened. Andi and Josh stepped into the
waiting room. They strode toward where he sat. Andi lifted the diaper bag and
removed a bottle and a box. “Here’s the brand. I’ll take the bottle to the
nurse.”
Rob’s gaze flowed
along her long legs and followed the sway of her hips. He lowered his head
hoping Josh hadn’t seen the lust in his eyes.
“Don’t,” Josh
warned.
“What?”
“Do a number on
her again. She’s a good friend. I don’t like seeing a friend hurt.”
How good? Rob couldn’t halt the flow of
envy. Was Josh hinting he and Andi were a couple? “I won’t step over the line
she has drawn. Since I won’t be coming to town often we may not meet for
months.”
“Are you leaving Fern Lake?”
Rob shrugged. “Who
knows? I’m living outside town and will be a hermit.”
Josh crossed his arms.
“What about the baby?”
“Baby? Andi handed
me this diaper bag, but I know nothing about a baby.”
“The infant Andi
pulled from your sister’s car. The child is Patricia’s, unless she’s added
kidnapping to her other offenses.”
Rob gulped a
breath. “No kidnapping. Patricia has done many wrong things, but I doubt she’d
want someone else’s baby.”
“The infant will
remain overnight for observation. You can take her home tomorrow or have her
placed in foster care. A social worker will speak to you about your decision.”
Rob’s hand
clenched. Trust Patricia to complicate his life. Add Andi’s returning to
compound the problem. “Do I have to decide right now? I haven’t heard anything
more about my sister’s condition.”
Before Josh
responded Dr. Reed strode into the waiting room. “Rob, thought I’d find you in
the surgical waiting room. Someone told me you were down here. The news isn’t
good. Patricia died during surgery.”
“Had she been
drinking?”
“Blood alcohol
zero. I found signs she’d been beaten recently. Bruises are too well developed
for the accident to have caused them. A rib fracture. I believe that
contributed to her death.”
“Did she say
anything?” The few words he’d heard only added to the puzzle.
“She died moments
after we opened her.”
“Is the baby
hers?”
The older man
nodded. “I’d say she gave birth two months or more ago.” Dr. Reed grasped Rob’s
hands. “Sorry.”
Rob supposed he
should feel more than numbness. But gathering any emotion seemed impossible. “I
have some calls to make.” He lifted the suitcases and the diaper bag.
He stepped into
the warmth of the afternoon. After storing the luggage he pulled his phone from
his shirt pocket. The first call went to Fern Lake Funeral Home to arrange for
Patricia’s body to be prepared for the funeral. Then he called Florida.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Did something go
wrong with the sale?”
“Went through
without a hitch. Are you alone?”
“Why so
mysterious? Hattie’s preparing lunch.”
He felt a surge of
relief. Her cousin and companion would help with her grief. “Call her.”
“Why?”
“It’s about
Patricia.” He heard a sharp intake of breath. He wished he was there. This was
the third family death in a little more than a year.
“Hattie’s here. I
have the phone on speaker so we can both hear. What has my daughter done this
time?”
“She died following
a car accident.”
“Was she drunk?’
His mother and Hattie spoke in unison.
“No. She must have
lost control of the car. Dr. Reed said there were signs she’d been abused.”
“Who did that?”
“I don’t know.
Mom, she had a baby. A little girl about two months old.”
“Did the child
die?”
“She’s alive and
fine.” He paused for a moment. “Would you like to have the baby with you?”
Silence hung until
he feared she’d hung up. Finally she spoke. “I’m too old to raise a baby.”
“Then what should
we do?”
“You can raise
her. You need a family. You’re alone too much.”
He groaned. “What
do I know about babies? I’m not sure I’m capable.”
“What about the
child’s father?”
“Haven’t a clue.
He might be the one who beat Patricia.”
“Find out.”
If he could. Was
there a clue in her luggage? “The funeral is Wednesday morning.”
“Hattie and I will
come for the day, but I can’t stay.”
Rob told her what
he’d discussed with the funeral director. “Service begins at ten. Let me know
your flight data. I’ll pick you up and give you and Hattie beds for the night.”
“Where are you
living?”
“At the cabin.”
“You know how I
feel about that place. I’ll book a suite at Sulley’s Bed and Breakfast. I’ll
hire a limo for a trip from the airport. The trip there and back is too much
for an infant.”
Rob released a
breath. “I’ll pick you and Hattie up for dinner Tuesday evening at Fern House.
You can meet your granddaughter. On Wednesday I’ll take you to the airport.”
“You’ll need
someone to watch the baby,” she said.
“On my to-do
list.”
After
disconnecting Rob shoved the cell in his pocket and walked to Pediatrics. A
nurse at the desk directed him to the nursery. Three cribs jutted from the side
wall. A table held diapers and some plastic bottles and boxes. He noticed a
rocking chair near the window. He walked to the only occupied crib. He stroked
his niece’s light brown hair. She curled her fingers around his thumb. He felt
a connection that surprised him.
“You’re a sweet
child.”
A woman wearing a
white lab coat entered. “Dr. Grantlan, I’m Mrs. Ryder, social worker. Sorry
about your sister? Will you take the baby home tomorrow of should I arrange for
foster care?”
“Unless I can
locate her father, I’ll be asking for guardianship.” Though he knew nothing
about child care, the baby was family.
“I’m glad.”
Rob thought of how
his life had changed. The edits for his first book were due to arrive any day.
He wanted to finish the second. Now he had a baby under his care. “Do you know
of anyone who could work as a nanny five days a week? She would have weekends
off.”
“I don’t, but if I
hear of someone I’ll call you. You might consider calling one of the home care
agencies. What is the little girl’s name?”
Rob shrugged. “I
haven’t spoken to my sister for almost a year. She had drinking problems and
left an alcohol rehab facility and vanished.”
“You should look
for a birth certificate.”
“Once I go home
I’ll look through my sister’s luggage.” He left the room.
As he rode the
elevator to the first floor he listed the things he needed to buy. Though today
was Sunday he hoped the children’s shop in town was one of the stores that
remained open. Otherwise, he had to head to the mall twenty miles away. He
started the car and drove to Main
Street.
Not only was the
store open, but a sale was in progress. Businesses along the street had sidewalk
displays. He skirted racks of children’s clothes and entered the shop. The
mental list he’d composed vanished. What did he need?
A clerk
approached. “Can I help you?”
Rob looked around.
Cribs, high chairs, swings, and items he had no idea of their purpose filled
one section of the massive room.
“Rob, what are you
doing here?”
He turned and saw
his cousin’s wife. “Shopping. I’ve become a parent who has no idea what is
needed.” He explained the situation.
Dana chuckled. “Do
you have a budget?”
“I’m good unless
we hit a hundred grand.”
“We won’t go that
high. How old is your niece? What’s her name?”
“Around two months
and I have no idea what Patricia called her. Hopefully, there will be answers
in the luggage I stowed in the trunk of my car.”
“We’ll start with
the things you can take home.”
Before long the
counter was piled with items Dana considered necessary. Rob felt like he’d
morphed into Santa.
Dana grinned.
“People usually buy these a few at a time rather than in bulk.”
Rob laughed. “The
unexpected rules. What now?”
“Furniture.”
She led him to the
section where cribs, dressers and changing tables stood. Rob fell in love with
a swing and added that to the selection. He spotted a car seat that boasted he
would never need to buy another. Dana added a stroller to the grouping.
When the clerk
rang up the sale he gasped at the total. He slid a credit card through the
reader and signed. He turned to Dana. “I need some place for her to sleep until
the furniture arrives.”
“I’ve the perfect
thing. Before Jenny was born your mother gave me a cradle. My daughter has
outgrown it and the thing is gathering dust. I’ll have Simon drop it off
tomorrow. We can make this a family heirloom.”
“I’d like that.”
He drew a deep breath. “If I twist his arm would he help with the furniture
assembly?”
“I’m sure he
would. He likes tinkering.”
“Next step is to
find a nanny. Revisions are due soon.”
“I know several
women who might be interested, and I’ll ask among my friends. Simon and I will
be at the funeral. I’ll have some numbers for you.”
Rob grasped her
hand. “You’re great.”
She grabbed
several bags. “Do you have a release date yet? Can’t wait to read the book.”
He gathered the
remaining bags and the box with the car seat. “You might find yourself in the
pages, but carefully disguised.” She and Simon were among the few people who
knew about the contract.
They stuffed the
items including the new car seat in his sports car.
“Spending your
money was fun.” Dana winked. “You’d better think about a new car.”
“Once I arrive
home, I’ll make a call to the owner of the dealership.” He turned the key in
the ignition and waved. He drove to the cabin located five miles from town and
turned into the tree-lined lane.
The log building
had been used by the family as a summer retreat and a winter refuge. Over the
years his father had added a stone wing with six bedrooms and five baths.
He grabbed the
first of the bundles and carried them inside. A half-dozen trips unloaded the
car, including the suitcases and the diaper bag. He dropped those on the long
leather covered couch. He dialed the car dealership and spoke to the owner.
“Yes. You heard
me. I’ll need a luxury four door and I’m not giving up the Jag.” He gave the
reason for the need. “Just pick the best one you have. I’ll be by tomorrow to
sign the papers and leave the car seat to be installed.”
His stomach
growled. While a steak sizzled on the indoor grill he opened a beer and
examined the diaper bag. He found a handful of papers. One was the birth
certificate. Tamara was the baby’s name. Then he spotted the father’s name and
laughed. Shame he had to wait until tomorrow morning to share the news.
