The Baby Project

“But—”

“This baby is my only connection to Janine. I want to be part of his life, and I want him to be a part of mine.”

“But you spend most of your time abroad!”

“No problem. I’d hire a nanny to care for him while I’m out of the country—”

“A nanny?” Mallory’s outraged expression told him exactly what she thought of that idea. “You’d leave Matthew with a stranger? No way! I’ll fight you in court if—”

“The fourth option,” he interjected smoothly, “would be for the two of us to share custody.”

She gave a derisive—and most unladylike—snort. “You’re joking, of course!”

“Do I look as if I’m joking?”

He did not. His jaw was clamped, his lips compressed, his gray eyes hard as cement.

“Us? Sharing custody?” She shook her head. “Uh-uh. It would never work. We would never get along—”

“Why not?”

“Your attitude, for one thing.”

“What’s wrong with my attitude?”

“You’re arrogant and rude and controlling and—”

“You’re stubborn and bloody-minded,” he growled. “And far too romantic for your own damned good!”

“Romantic?” Where the heck had that come from!

“You’re looking at this situation through rose-tinted glasses—it’s as if you’d found a baby on your doorstep and you see the two of you living together and being happy ever after. The reality is, you can barely afford to keep him. The reality is a child is better off with two parents.”

“The reality is that he’d be far better off with one than with two people who’d be sparring constantly the way you and I do! And besides, shared custody would be so unsettling for Matthew it would make his little head spin. He’d have to move back and forth between us, never knowing a real home.”

“Of course he’d know a real home!” Jordan’s voice was rough with impatience. “If we were to share custody, you’d stay on in this house.”

Totally taken aback, she stared at him. After several beats, she said, “And you? Where would you fit in?”

“I’d continue with my work abroad but we’d share responsibility for the baby, make joint decisions regarding his welfare. And I’d visit when I could.”

She chewed her lip. “You’d consider this your…home?”

“Uh-uh. Home is where I hang my hat.” His grin was self-mocking. “And I never wear a hat.”

Looking at him warily, Mallory said, “You’d be happy to leave Matthew with me?”

“I don’t recall using the word happy. Let’s just say, you’d be right for the job. And he likes you.”

“But you don’t.”

“It wouldn’t be necessary for me to like you, Mallory. Or for you to like me.” His gaze narrowed as he searched her face for an answer. “You’d consider it? I myself see shared custody as the best option.”

“I’d prefer to have sole custody,” she said stubbornly.

“Even without this house?”

“I could manage.”

“As you yourself just said, if you didn’t have this house, all you’d be able to afford would be some dingy basement apartment. But if you were determined to seek sole custody, we’d end up in court…and I’d win hands down.”

“Oh, not necessarily,” she shot back. “Just because you’ve got pots of money—”

“Pots of money can buy the best lawyers in the country. You wouldn’t have a hope in hell of beating me.” His smile was faintly malicious. “It’s my turn, sweetheart. You won hands down when it came to the wedding; I’ll beat you hands down when it comes to the baby. Seems only fair.”

“You don’t care about Matthew, do you! All you care about is winning!”

“But I think you’ll agree with me, when you simmer down, that shared custody is the best option.”

She drew in a very deep breath. “I agree,” she said reluctantly, “that it’s worth considering.”

“Good. Because even though I know I’d win a custody battle, I’d prefer not to go that route. It wouldn’t be in Matthew’s best interests; he’d be better off with both of us looking after his welfare. Furthermore, as I said, he’s used to you, and for his sake it would be better to hire you than hire a stranger to look after him.”

“Hire me?” She gaped at him. “Hire me?”

“Weren’t you paying attention? I said, you’d be right for the job, and ‘job’ is what I meant. You stay in the house, rent-free, and I pay you—well, whatever good nannies get paid.” He pushed himself off the table and towered over her. “Take it or leave it, Mallory. That’s the deal.”

She sprang to her feet and glared up at him. “And what happens if you decide to get married? You’d have me out on the street in two seconds flat.”

His grin was lazy. “Not a problem, sweetheart. I don’t plan on marrying. Ever.”

“That’s what you say now. But how do I know that somewhere down the road you won’t meet somebody, fall in love, and all of a sudden there’s a new bride at Number Five Seaside Lane. Somebody who loves children and doesn’t want me around! No.” She squared her shoulders rigidly. “I won’t do it. I won’t risk it.”

“I’d be taking that chance too, Mallory. You don’t have the resources at present to fight me in court…but what if you were to meet some millionaire and get married?”

“I have no plans,” she said coldly, “to marry. Millionaire or no millionaire.”

“That’s what you say now.” In a flat tone, he echoed her own words. “And I’m not prepared to risk it either.”

As they stared at each other, Mallory felt a sinking sensation. “It seems,” she said defeatedly, “that we’ve reached an impasse. I don’t trust you, and you don’t trust me.”

“Then we’ll just have to sign a contract. Make it legal. I don’t marry; you don’t marry.”

“I don’t think that would stand up in any court.”

He sighed. “Probably not. Look.” He rubbed the heel of one hand over his beard, making a rasping sound. “We can make this work. Trust me. I promise you, I’m not going to marry. I don’t want a wife. I don’t want to be tied down.”

“I’d like to believe you, but people change—”

“For God’s sake, Mallory, what do I have to do to convince you?”

She drew in a deep breath. “I don’t know,” she said. “I don’t know what you could do to convince me. But I could never agree to shared custody unless I have absolute faith that any agreement between us would be absolutely rock solid and permanent. I need that security. Because of Matthew. I love him too much to take any chances.”

Jordan walked away from her, back to the edge of the deck, and looked out over the garden again.

The robin had returned. It ran about the lawn, halting every few seconds to cock its head and look around with its sharp inquisitive eyes. Mallory watched it, her own gaze slightly blurred, her heart filled with despair. She and Jordan had, indeed, reached an impasse.

And she could see no way out.

She was standing there dismally, when she heard the phone ring inside.

She made her way to the kitchen and picked up the handset from the wall phone.

“Hello,” she said. “Mallory Madison speaking.”

“This is Celia, Ms. Madison, at Burton Barton Realty. May I speak to Mr. Caine?”

“Mr. Caine’s outside. Could you hold on a minute, please, and—”

“I’m here.”

Mallory turned and saw Jordan coming into the kitchen. She held out the phone. “It’s Burton Barton Realty.”

He nodded, and murmured “Thanks’ as he took the phone. Then he said, “Jordan Caine here. Oh, hi, Celia…”

He listened for a few moments, before saying, “Two o’clock it is.” Replacing the receiver, he announced, “Burton has a client coming to see the place at two.”

Mallory leaned back against the countertop, glad of its support as her legs had become weak. “Word travels fast.”

“It’s a prime property, in a prime location.”

“I guess.”

“Celia suggested we take off when they’re here. It’s inhibiting for the client when the occupants are around.”

“We’d better have a quick lunch, then, and once we’re done, I’ll feed Matthew.”

Forcing herself to move, Mallory walked to the fridge. “It’s not going to be anything very fancy. I brought enough food from Seattle for Matthew, but I haven’t had time to do the rest of my grocery shopping—I’ll go to the supermarket when Burton and his client come. Elsa’s left me some deli meat and buns, though. We can have ham sandwiches.”

While they ate lunch, Mallory said—hardly daring to hope, “Have you given up your plan to fight me for Matthew?”

“What makes you think that?”

“You said that if you had custody of Matthew, you’d keep the house. And you also said that if we agreed to shared custody, you’d keep the house. Now since you’ve gone back to your original plan to sell, I have to deduce that you’ve counted both those options out. Does that mean you’ve given up your plan to fight me for him?”

“No,” he said. “I intend to fight you for Matthew…”

Mallory had just taken a small bite of her sandwich; as he spoke she almost choked on it.

“…and I’ll win. But I’ve had second thoughts about keeping the house. It’ll be handier for me if Matthew’s closer to an airport. That way, when I fly in from overseas, I won’t have to waste time driving all the way to Seashore. I’ll buy a condo in Seattle. Downtown.”

“A condo? Downtown?’ Mallory glowered at him. “Jordan Caine, you don’t know the first thing about bringing up children! A little boy needs a backyard, a place to play safely outside—”

“The nanny can take him to a park.” His tone was careless. “He’ll survive. Other kids do.”

Stomach churning, Mallory put down her sandwich and said scornfully, “You claim to have Matthew’s interests at heart. I don’t believe you. All you care about is getting back at me. You know how you’ll hurt me if you take Matthew from me, and you’ll take the greatest pleasure out of that. You really are contemptible!”

“Tut, Mallory, watch your blood pressure.” His eyes had a taunting gleam as they fixed on her topknot. “Hair that colour…” He shook his head and looked as if he was trying to control laughter. “Quite a liability.”

“Not such a liability as being born without a heart!” she snapped back. “And that’s such a cliché,” she added in a scathing tone, “about red hair—” But before she could go on, the front doorbell chimed.

Pushing back her chair, she rose abruptly to her feet and stalked from the kitchen. The man was unbearable. She was glad to escape his presence…and his juvenile humour!

When she opened the front door, she found Elsa standing on the stoop. Her neighbour’s petite figure was neatly attired in a pink-and-white spotted dress. Her silver hair sparkled in the sunlight, and her eyes glowed with warmth.

“I’ve brought something for your dinner.” She indicated the covered Pyrex bowl in her hands. “A chicken casserole. I saw the moving van and I knew you’d be busy, what with having company and unpacking all your boxes.”

“Oh, thanks, Elsa. You’re a godsend.”

“How are things going?”

Mallory rolled her eyes. “Don’t even ask!”

“That bad?”

“I was about to strangle him when you rang the bell!”

“I’ll leave you to it, then.”

“Come in and meet him—see for yourself how infuriating he is.”

“I don’t want to disturb—are you eating lunch?”

“No, we’ve finished.”

“Then I’ll come in, for just a minute.” Elsa stepped inside. “Is Matthew having his nap?”

“He is,” Mallory said. But as they passed the bedroom door, she heard a banging sound from inside. “He was!”

Chuckling, she and Elsa went into the bedroom and crossed to the crib. Matthew was lying on his back, hitting his fist against the bars.

The moment he saw them he beamed.

“Oh, look!” Elsa said with delight, “I think that first tooth has finally come through.”

Mallory scooped him up and as she cradled him in her left arm, she checked his mouth. When she saw a sliver of white in his lower gum, she ran a fingertip lightly over it and felt the sharp edge.

“You’re right, Elsa!” she exclaimed, and gave Matthew a hug. “Oh, what a clever boy you are! Now let’s get you something to eat.”

In the kitchen, they found Jordan slotting dishes into the dishwasher.

Keeping Matthew tucked against her shoulder so he couldn’t see his uncle, Mallory said, “Elsa, I’d like you to meet Janine’s brother, Jordan Caine. Jordan, this is Elsa Carradine.”

Jordan straightened and stuck out his right hand. “Hi, Elsa. How are you?”

“Oh, I’m well, thanks. And you?”

“Couldn’t be better,” he said pleasantly.

Mallory ground her teeth. The man could be so darned plausible, with that open smile. But she knew him better…

“My condolences, Jordan, on losing your sister,” Elsa said. “Janine was a very sweet girl. In the short time we knew her, everyone around here grew to love her.”

“Thank you, Elsa. I appreciate hearing that.”

“Matthew’s so like her. Oftentimes a baby takes after both parents, but I see nothing of Tom in him.”

Mallory felt a rush of panic. She had to cut Elsa off, before this dangerous line of conversation went any further.

“Elsa, would you pop the casserole in here and then I’ll get Matthew’s lunch ready?” She opened the fridge door as she spoke.

Elsa slid the dish into the fridge and then held out her arms for the baby. “Let me strap him into his chair.”

“Thanks.” She handed over the baby. “Just don’t let him see Jordan. He’s terrified of that beard.” Weak with relief as she saw Elsa focus on Matthew, Mallory swept her suit jacket off the high chair where she’d draped it that morning, and turned the chair so it faced away from Jordan. “There, pop him in. I’m going to hang my jacket up.”

As Mallory left the room, Jordan lounged against the counter and watched Elsa strap the baby into his high chair. Matthew obviously adored her. Though Jordan could see only the back of the baby’s head, he could see the child’s chubby little hands reach up, could hear him gurgle happily to her. And Elsa just as clearly adored Matthew. Her face was wreathed in smiles, her voice loving as she chatted to him.

‘What a good boy,” she said, “to get your first tooth. And so clever, to get all that fussing over with before Auntie arrived, so you won’t be keeping her up at night and she can have the nice rest she so richly deserves.”

Mallory came back into the kitchen and Jordan transferred his attention to her as she heated a small container of baby food in the microwave, and fastened a bib around the baby’s neck, murmuring affectionately to the child while Elsa took a seat and watched dotingly.

Jordan hid a smug smile. He didn’t like to think of himself as being manipulative, but he’d undoubtedly pressed one of Mallory’s hot buttons when he’d oh-socasually announced he intended to buy a condo in downtown Seattle.

He intended to do no such thing.

He had no intention of uprooting Matthew from his familiar surroundings and friends. He had no intention of hiring a stranger to look after the child. And he had no intention of selling the house. But her outraged response to his announcement had been exactly what he’d counted on.

By fair means or foul, by emotional blackmail if necessary, he’d persuade her to agree to shared custody. She didn’t trust him, and he had no way of forcing her to. But if his manipulations worked, she’d agree to his plan in the end, because she wanted what was best for Matthew.

As he himself did.

Janine’s baby was his nephew and his responsibility, and he was not a man who shirked responsibility. But Mallory was not only willing but desperate to take on that responsibility too.

The baby was her Achilles’ heel. And he felt no compunction about taking advantage of that vulnerability, because the end would justify the means. He needed someone reliable to look after Matthew while he was working abroad.

And Mallory Madison would make the perfect nanny.

After Mallory had fed Matthew, Elsa said,

“Why don’t I take him with me for a while? It’ll give you a chance to unpack without him getting into everything. All those boxes out in the front hall…”

“Thanks, Elsa,” Mallory said tautly. “But I won’t be unpacking. I discovered this morning that Number Five belongs to Jordan, and he has put it up for sale.”

Elsa turned an astonished face to Jordan. “This is your house?”

He nodded.

“Did Janine and Tom know?”

“No,” Mallory said. “He didn’t want them to.”

Elsa’s eyes were thoughtful as she looked again at Jordan. “In my humble opinion, that was a very generous thing to do. Such good deeds are few and far between today. And the secret acts of kindness are the most worthy of all.”

Mallory felt as if her staunchest ally had taken a step into the enemy’s camp. But then Elsa went on, “Why are you selling now, though? What’s Mallory going to do?”

“I appreciate your concern, Elsa,” Jordan said casually. “But we’ll work something out. Something that’s in Matthew’s best interests. In the meantime, I appreciate your offer to baby-sit. We need to clear the front hall before Burton Barton comes along at two with his client.”

“Someone’s coming already?” Elsa scooped the baby from the high chair. “Well, in that case, I’ll be pleased to take this little precious with me!” She said her goodbyes to Jordan, and then walked with Mallory to the front hall.

As Mallory hauled Matthew’s stroller from the closet, Elsa whispered, “What on earth are you going to do now?”

“I don’t know.” Mallory strapped the baby into the stroller. “He says he’s going to fight me for custody…and win. And then he’s going to buy a condo in downtown Seattle and hire a nanny to look after Matthew!”

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