The Bad Son

Beau wanted her to ask him to stay. She saw it in his eyes—that’s how well she knew him, and she’d wanted to. But she didn’t have anything to offer him, except friendship.

Sometimes late at night when she wished his arms were around her, she’d wondered how long she’d have him. How long would they be friends before he’d want more? He was a man, after all. She’d seen him go out on dates and though it broke her heart she never did anything to stop it. Just like she’d do nothing to stop him leaving.

A tear trickled out of the corner of her eye, then another followed. She tasted the saltiness on her lips and the dogs whined at her distress. Freckles slinked along the back of the sofa and rested on her shoulder. She stroked them so they’d know she was okay.

But she wasn’t.

Beau had said that she had more energy than anyone he knew. She had to keep going, doing until she exhausted herself. That way her mind was too tired to dream dreams she shouldn’t—like having a husband and a family. She’d had the fairy tale. Now she lived with the nightmare.

She would never marry again, but she would always love Beau. How she wished she could tell him that and share her secret. Allen was the only one who knew. Not even her parents had known what had happened in her marriage. It was her own personal pain.

Beau was leaving.

More tears followed and she didn’t bother to brush them away. She needed to cry, to cleanse away the heartache and to find the strength to say goodbye to Beau.

That night as she lay in bed her arms ached to hold him, to see the warmth in his eyes, feel his body against hers and to fulfill a need in her that she’d been denying for a long time. She wanted Beau in all the ways a woman wanted a man she loved.

Tell him.

The silence mingled with the darkness and the fear in her was very real, holding her back. Turning the light on wouldn’t help. She’d still be the same person, a person no one could love.

Living without Beau was better than living with his rejection, which inevitably would come. Tomorrow she’d be better. Tomorrow she’d be busy with Delia and the baby. Tomorrow she would find the strength to face a future without Beau.

CHAPTER FOUR

TOSSING AND TURNING, Beau had a restless night. Toward dawn he gave up the struggle, showered and dressed. Today was the beginning of a new Beau—a new life. He wasn’t pining for Macy anymore. The pain of her rejection was still very raw, but he’d survive.

He had several things he wanted to do today. First, he intended to buy a baseball glove for Ben, drive out to the farm, and teach him how to use it. He would enjoy that as much as Ben. Second, he planned to talk to his mother again and try to make her understand that the McCain family was strong and stable.

As he backed out of his drive, he didn’t see a light in Macy’s condo. She’d probably already left for the hospital. He knew she’d have a constant vigil there and wear herself out completely. He grimaced at his thoughts. Rule number one—he had to stop thinking and worrying about Macy. Rule number two—same as above.

He checked in at his office, then headed for a sporting goods store.

MACY SLEPT VERY LITTLE. As the sun crept through the clouds, she was jogging through the neighborhood breathing in the early morning breeze. At fifty degrees the air was fresh and invigorating. The oaks, elms and ash trees stood stiffly from the brunt of winter, but renewed energy filled the atmosphere with the inviting taste of spring. The stiffness would give way to a burst of new life, color and growth.

As uplifting as the outdoors was, it couldn’t stop her thoughts. She cursed herself for being a coward and not telling Beau the truth. In not doing so she’d hurt him and that kept her in turmoil. But she’d done the right thing. Letting Beau go was best for him. Now she had to make herself believe that.

When she returned to the condo, she got ready to go to the hospital. She was eager to see Delia and the baby. The phone rang just as she grabbed her purse. It was the lady at the animal shelter—they had a dog that needed help. She quickly made the trip to the shelter.

“Hi, Judy,” she said, walking into the building that always smelled of disinfectant. Barking dogs could be heard from the back.

“Macy.” Judy stood at a counter writing something in a notebook, her features marked with sadness. “I was just fixing to call you.”

“Why?”

“The dog died about five minutes ago.”

“Oh.” Her expression crumbled and a tear slipped from her eye. “What happened?”

“Two neighbors were arguing over the dog. He kept getting into the neighbor’s yard; digging in the flowerbeds and making a mess. The neighbor repeatedly told the owner to keep the dog in his own yard. But the owner didn’t comply. The neighbor caught the dog digging again and he kicked him into the fence, injuring him. The dog was lifeless, so he called us. When we phoned the owner, he said we could keep him. Nice, huh?”

Macy only nodded.

“A report has been filed with the police department, but other than that there’s nothing we can do. The vet said his internal injuries were too severe. I’m sorry.”

Macy nodded again, her vocal cords locked.

“Thank you, Macy, for caring so much. I knew if the dog had a chance, it would be with you.”

She turned toward the door.

“Macy.”

She looked back.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes.” She found her voice. “I’m fine, but sometimes this kind of cruelty gets to me. I’ll talk to you later.”

In her car, the tears flowed freely and she made no effort to stop them. After a moment she gained control. She was stronger than this. She had to be. And it was tomorrow—a new beginning with Delia and her baby.

Her mind set, her resolve strong, she drove to the hospital anxious to see how her sister and niece were doing. The hospital administrator and Macy’s supervisor were in the office next to the nursery. Macy wondered what was going on. As she reached for scrubs to go into the nursery her supervisor, Harriet, called to her.

“Macy, may I speak with you, please?”

Macy followed her into the office and shook hands with Mike Goodman, the administrator. “We have a problem,” he said.

She immediately thought the tests had come back and something was seriously wrong with Zoë. A feeling of déjà vu came over her. She braced herself for what she knew was coming.

Mike handed her a note. “The night nurse found this on your sister’s bed this morning.”

She stared down at the paper in her hand. Scribbled in large letters was: Macy, I can’t do this. I can’t deal with a sick baby. Take care of Zoë. Delia

Trying to calm her erratic pulse, she took a deep breath. Delia had left—without her baby. Macy hadn’t expected this, but then Delia had been acting strange since she’d showed up on the doorstep. Had she planned this all along? Or had fear gotten the best of her? Macy experienced a moment of anger and sadness.

“We’ve contacted Child Protective Services,” Harriet said. “It’s standard procedure when a baby is abandoned. You know that.”

A deep sense of unease filled her. If they called CPS, that meant they were turning the baby over to them—to strangers. No way would she let that happen. She would take care of Zoë until Delia returned.

“I’m the baby’s aunt and my sister says in the note for me to care for Zoë. Doesn’t that count for something?”

“The hospital has to follow procedure or we could be liable if something happened to the baby.” Mike made his position clear. “If you want the baby, I suggest you hire a lawyer and make it legal. I’m sure CPS will be willing to work with you and I’d be happy to vouch for your character.” His cell rang. “Excuse me.” As he took the call, Harriet pulled her to the side.

“I’m sorry, but there’s nothing we can do. If you really want to keep the baby, call a lawyer. But it’s the weekend and you won’t be able to hire one until Monday.”

“Thanks, Harriet. I’m aware of the rules, but this is my niece and I don’t want her to go to strangers. I can take care of her.”

“Well, the baby’s test results haven’t come back yet so you probably have until Monday before they move Zoë.”

Macy walked out into the hall feeling numb. How could Delia do this? What was she thinking? This was typical of her sister, though. She always ran when things got rough, but she just had a baby and needed rest and care. Where was she? Delia, what have you done? Please call me. I’ll help you. She turned her thoughts to a more pressing matter—finding a way to keep Zoë.

She knew a lawyer—a good one. Calling Beau was out of the question, though. She’d hurt him enough. She couldn’t just pick up the phone and call as if nothing had happened between them. She’d find another lawyer.

Walking to the large picture window of the nursery, she watched Zoë, her little chest moving up and down. If she did have a heart problem, she would need someone to love and care for her, to give her their undivided attention. In foster homes, there were usually several children and special attention wouldn’t be a priority. Zoë moved her tiny hand and Macy’s heart contracted. She couldn’t allow her to go to strangers. In that instant, she knew she’d do anything to keep her.

Even call Beau.

BEAU CAME OUT of the sporting goods store with the best baseball glove he could buy. He’d even bought a new ball, the kind used in Little League. Now he’d drive out to the farm and surprise Jake and his family. That would help him to feel better and to get another perspective on his decision.

As he climbed into his car, his cell rang. Macy. Why was she calling him? He started to ignore it, but he wasn’t sixteen. He was an adult and could handle talking to her.

“Hello.”

“Beau, I’m sorry to bother you, but I need your help.”

He inhaled deeply. “What is it, Macy?”

“Delia has left the hospital during the night without the baby. CPS has been called and they’re on the way. I need a lawyer to gain temporary custody of Zoë. Please help me.”

“I’m on the way.” Even though he should have hesitated, he didn’t.

Delia was gone. That was sooner than Beau had expected. She’d definitely had a plan when she came to Macy. Macy would love that baby with everything in her. But what was going to happen when Delia wanted the baby back?

He clicked off thinking that some things never change. He’d make sure Macy had custody of Zoë. Macy’d ripped his heart out and stomped on it and still he was there for her. And probably always would be. That’s what real love was all about. Why couldn’t Macy see that?

He knew her well enough to know that she was hiding something—something about her marriage. How did he get her to talk to him? Poking out a number, he realized he was already breaking rule number one. But not thinking or worrying about Macy wasn’t going to be an option. Maybe the next rule should be to admit that and go from there.

Liz answered her phone.

“Morning, Liz. I need you in the office in about an hour.”

“Beau McCain, it’s Saturday and I was planning on going to a movie.”

“Sorry, Liz. It’s important. I could do it myself, but you know how you hate me messing with your filing system.”

She sighed. “I’ll be there.”

Beau made his way into the hospital and found Macy pacing in front of the nursery. Her hair was loose and disheveled, as if she’d been running her hands through it. Delia had just dealt her another blow. Macy’s arms were folded around her waist as if to ward off the pain.

His gut twisted at the sight and he walked closer to her.

“Beau,” she said in a breathless tone. “Thank you for coming.”

Before he could respond, a voice said from behind him, “Beau McCain, are you working on a Saturday?”

He turned toward the voice. “Morning, Joanne. Seems you’re working, too.”

“I’d introduce you, but evidently you know each other,” Macy said.

“Oh, yes. Beau and I have worked a lot of cases,” Joanne replied. “So you’re Ms. Randall’s attorney?” She didn’t give him time to answer. “You know the rules as well as I do. Once a baby is abandoned, she becomes a ward of the state and put into foster care until a stable home can be found.”

“You also know that there are always extenuating circumstances. Macy Randall is the baby’s aunt and wants to care for her. I’ll have the papers in your hands by the end of the day, appointing Ms. Randall the child’s legal guardian.”

“Not only handsome, but a miracle worker, too?”

Beau grinned at the harmless flirting. He’d known Joanne a long time. They understood each other and they both worked for the good of the child. “Face it, Joanne. This baby is better off with Ms. Randall.”

“The sister did leave a note to that effect.” She shifted the pile of papers in her arms to show him the note. “But I need more than a note. I need an order signed by a judge.”

“You’ll have it.”

“The baby has health problems and I’ll have to have something sooner than this afternoon.”

“That’s almost impossible.”

She shrugged. “My job is to look after the welfare of the baby. Sorry, Beau.”

Beau looked into Macy’s worried eyes and he knew he had to pull out all the stops. “May I have a copy of the note?”

“Give me a minute.” Joanne shifted the papers again and walked into an office.

“You think you can get something done today?” Macy asked, her voice anxious.

“I’ll try, but Zoë’s not going anywhere for a few days. That’ll give me plenty of time. It’ll just be a lot more paperwork and I’d rather get it done now.”

“Me, too.” Macy glanced toward Zoë.

Joanne came back and handed him a copy. “You have two hours. That’s all I can give you.”

Beau strolled away with the note in his hand. He needed a miracle. In his truck, he called Liz.

“See if you can locate Judge Brampton. I’m on the way to the office.” Judge Roland Brampton was known for his fairness and being a diligent advocate for children’s rights. If Beau had a chance of getting the guardianship paperwork done today, it would be with Roland.

“He’s going to love being bothered on a Saturday.”

“Just do it, Liz.”

As he arrived at his outer office, Liz was on the phone. In a minute she followed him into his office.

“The judge’s wife said he’s playing golf this morning.” She laid a piece of paper on his desk. “That’s his cell if you have nerve enough to call him.”

“Did his wife give you his cell number?”

“Of course not.” She lifted an eyebrow. “Remember the Dobbins case?”

“Sure.”

“The judge’s daughter was having a baby and he gave me his cell to call when I had the papers ready for him to sign. I jotted it down for future reference.”

“You’re a marvel.” He picked up a pad and handed it to her. “We’re going to file a motion for temporary guardianship with these names on the document.”

Liz stared at the names. “Macy…”

“I don’t have time to explain. Just get the paperwork done.”

She gave him an indignant glance and walked out.

Without a second thought he poked out the judge’s number. He’d been on the receiving end of a judge’s ire before and this was probably not going to be an exception. It rang several times before he heard the judge’s voice.

“McCain, this had better be important.” Obviously he’d looked at the caller number before answering.

“It is, judge.” He told him about Macy, Zoë and Delia’s disappearance.

“The mother left a note?”

“Yes, and I have a copy of it. The baby makes a wheezing sound when she breathes and the doctor has run tests to determine the cause. The results aren’t in yet, but this child may need special attention. In foster care, you know that’s not going to happen. Macy Randall is her aunt and a neonatal nurse who will love and give the baby all the care she needs. I’m sorry to bother you on a Saturday, judge, but a child’s welfare is at stake.”

“I’ll be in my office in an hour. You better have the paperwork in order. I’ll go over it and if it reads to my satisfaction, I’ll sign it.”

“Thanks, judge. I’ll see you in an hour.”

In less than an hour, Beau walked into the judge’s office. The motion was granted in less than ten minutes. He then hurried to the hospital.

Macy was in the nursery, sitting by the incubator watching Zoë. He didn’t bother her. He walked on to the supervisor’s office, where he’d agreed to meet Joanne. He handed her a copy of the signed papers.

She glanced through it. “You are a miracle worker.”

“I’ll need a copy for our records,” Harriet said, handing the papers to a nurse. “I’m so glad Macy will have custody of this baby. She’ll be well taken care of and that is everyone’s main concern.”

Joanne picked up her briefcase. “I’m glad I don’t have to find a home for her. Foster homes for babies who require special attention are scarce.”

Beau headed back to the nursery with a copy of the papers in his hand. Macy was coming out and her eyes grew big when she saw him.

“What happened?”

“It’s done. You have legal guardianship.” He gave her the papers.

“Oh, my.” Her hands trembled against her mouth. “Thank you.” She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him.

He breathed in her scent and felt the softness of her skin, her body. For a moment he allowed himself to enjoy the sensation. Then he removed her arms and looked into her eyes. “Don’t thank me. I would have done it for anyone.” With that, he walked toward the elevator.

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.