Child of Mine

“Dessert, Leah?” Annie asked.

“No, thanks.”

“There’s a cheesecake over there calling out to me. I don’t want to be rude, so I think I’ll go answer.”

“Mmm.”

Annie shrugged and walked over to the dessert table.

Leah watched Matt Whitaker and the child. Although she couldn’t hear what they were saying, the two heads were bent together and she could see the boy’s grin, Matt’s quick smile.

They were close. It was evident in the easy body language, the looks they exchanged.

Surely a man who loved his son this much would understand her quest.

As Leah watched, the boy jumped up from the table, hugged Matt and then ran to join the other kids his age in the games that were beginning. Leah found it difficult to take her gaze from him, watching until he and the other children left the fellowship hall with a basketball, probably to go to the gymnasium.

Annie had returned with her cheesecake, extra happy that she’d found chocolate sauce to go with it. She urged Leah to go over to see Matt.

He was still at the table, finishing his meal, when she approached.

“Mr. Whitaker?”

He glanced up.

“I’m Leah Hunter.”

His expression turned wary. “Yes?”

“I’ve been trying to reach you at your store. Sorry to ambush you here.” Leah smiled, trying to take the businesslike edge from her words. “I’m with Annie. I mean, she invited me to the church supper, being a stranger in town and all.”

Not a word from him.

“And me being at loose ends,” Leah continued, filling in the awkward silence. “I wasn’t planning to be in Rosewood long. I just came to talk to you. I think Nan gave you my card.”

The silence was so protracted she wondered if he would speak.

When he finally did, his voice was deep, somber. “She gave it to me.”

Which told her nothing. “So…” Leah studied his unblinking gaze. “I’m trying to trace down a box I have—”

“Nan told you we don’t keep records on the boxes.”

“She said you only make the boxes for family or special friends—”

“Miss Hunter, my friends don’t sell their boxes.”

“I didn’t say I’d bought it.”

“You’ve come a long way for nothing then.” He stood, stepping aside and pushing his chair up to the table.

“No, Mr. Whitaker, I haven’t.” She pulled the box from her purse. “This is the first clue I’ve had to finding my son in eight years and you’re not going to just dismiss me.” She held it up. “This belonged to Kyle Johnson. Did you know him?”

His expression was at first startled, then guarded. His lips thin, pressed tightly together. One word finally emerged, as though it were painful to say. “Yes.”

Her hope, thready at best, flared. She bit her lower lip to stave off tears. “Oh, Mr. Whitaker, you don’t know what this means to me.” Despite her effort, one tear slipped down her cheek and she wiped it away. “Where can I find him? I know he’s difficult to pin down.”

“Not anymore.”

“No?”

“He’s dead.”

Chapter Three

Reeling, Leah stared at Matt’s back as he walked away. She’d never let herself believe Kyle could be dead. Because if he were, that meant…

But the investigators had never found Kyle’s death certificate. Whitaker had to be wrong.

“Wait! Please!” She ran to catch up to him. “When did Kyle die?”

He stopped and turned to her, his words clipped. “Eight years ago.”

She gasped. Shaking, she felt the last remnants of her self-control slip away. “That can’t be. We’ve been checking for years and never found a death certificate.”

“His first name was John. Kyle was part of his middle name—Litchkyl.”

All of Kyle’s lies. Even his name. He’d signed their marriage certificate as Kyle Johnson. He’d cheapened every single thing about their marriage.

She closed her eyes, afraid to ask. Hope and despair warred in her heart. Swallowing, she lifted her chin. “And the baby? The boy?”

He hesitated.

And her heart nearly stopped.

“Is safe.”

“Where is he?”

Matt stared at her.

“Please, if you know anything.” She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I haven’t explained myself very well. I was married to Kyle. The baby, the boy, I mean, is mine. I’ve been looking for him. That’s why I’m here, why I’m trying to trace the box. So, if you can tell me anything…”

“It’s too late. You made your choice.”

She gaped at him. Where did he get off…? “I understand loyalty to a deceased friend, but you don’t understand the circumstances—”

“I understand plenty.”

There was derision in his tone, but she had no idea why. “I don’t know what Kyle told you—”

“The truth.”

She shook her head. “His version. Despite what he may have said, I need to find my son. You’re a father. You must understand that.”

“I understand you walked away once. Do the best thing for your son again. Walk away now.”

Stunned, Leah watched as Matt Whitaker crossed the room and headed out the door.

Back at the bed-and-breakfast, Leah sat in one of the overstuffed chairs near her bedroom window. She still couldn’t believe Matt Whitaker’s reaction. And she never would have imagined that Kyle could elicit such loyalty.

Kyle dead. For all her anger, it wasn’t something she would have wished. He’d been so young.

Who was raising her son? Had he been legally adopted?

Throat dry, she considered the possibilities—along with Matt Whitaker’s harsh response. Getting his help wasn’t going to be easy. But she would really need it to find Danny, especially if there’d been a private adoption. That wasn’t something that could be simply traced.

Staring out at the quiet street, she knew she wouldn’t sleep that night. Her mind was filled with too many questions.

Leah watched for Whitaker’s truck. From her vantage point at the parlor window in the bed-and-breakfast, she could see the traffic going down Main Street.

Persistence paid off by midafternoon. As soon as he parked in front of his store, Leah bounded outside and down the boardwalk.

Matt was alone in the display area, his back to her. “Be with you in a minute.”

“Fine.”

He stiffened and turned around slowly.

“Mr. Whitaker…Matt, please, let me tell you about my relationship with Kyle…John.”

“I know all I need to.”

“Obviously not, or you wouldn’t be shutting me out. I was nineteen years old when we got married. I believed everything he told me—”

The bell over the door clanged as it opened. A group of young boys piled in, talking and laughing. The one she recognized as Whitaker’s son ran up to him.

“Dad! Billy’s dad’s gonna take everybody for pizza after soccer practice. Can I go?”

Distracted, Matt glanced down at him. “Who’s driving?”

“Billy and Dustin’s dads. Is it okay?”

Leah watched the boy, able to see him close-up for the first time. He was animated, eager. Then he turned and she could see his face more clearly. As she studied his features, she saw that his eyes were a unique shade of green, like her own. Even their shape was similar to hers. So was his mouth. He looked up at her and the impact of recognition hit her.

Matt glanced at her, then down at his son. “It’s all right, but home right after the pizza. And mind Billy’s and Dustin’s dads.”

“Okay,” the boy agreed. “Thanks, Dad.”

“Come on, Danny,” the others called.

Leah shivered as she watched him dash out with his friends. She’d been almost certain when she saw his eyes. The name confirmed it.

No wonder Matt had been avoiding her, putting her off. It all made sense. Perfect, horrible sense.

Anger, hot and raw, clawed through her. “How could you?” She turned on Matt with every bit of righteous pain and accusation she could muster. “I’ve heard of slime like you. How could you steal my child and then have the gall to pretend that you didn’t know where he was?”

“Steal? Just how is it a person steals an abandoned baby? You’re a real piece of work. What? Did you decide after eight years that it might be fun to play mommy? Forget it. Danny’s done just fine without you until now. Go with your original instincts. Pretend he doesn’t exist.”

“Abandoned?” Leah shrieked. “Abandoned?”

“Boss, is everything okay in here?” Nan rushed in from the rear entrance. “I just got back from the post office and it sounds like someone’s plucking live turkeys. You can hear it all the way outside.”

Breathing hard, Leah and Matt paused.

“Yeah,” Matt said in the awkward silence. Then he slammed out the door, got in his truck and roared away.

Leah was left in the heavy silence.

Embarrassed, Nan cleared her throat. “Sorry to interrupt.”

“No. If anyone should apologize, it’s me, I was the one yelling.” Leah tried to calm her breathing. “Will you tell me one thing?”

“If I can.”

“Did you know a John Johnson?”

“John? Sure. He was Matt’s younger brother. Half brother, really. Matt was always looking out for him.”

And still was, apparently.

Leah allowed enough time to collect herself before driving to Matt’s house. His truck was parked out front. He didn’t answer the door, so she walked around back to the shop.

He was sitting at his work bench, a piece of alder wood in his hands. Although she was sure he heard her, he didn’t stir.

And she didn’t bother with greetings. “You could have told me about Kyle being your brother.”

“It didn’t take you long to figure it out.”

“I shouldn’t have had to.”

Matt put the wood down on the bench. “Why would you want to come back now? You’re a stranger to Danny.”

That stung. Badly. “Through no fault of my own. Kyle wanted money from my parents. They expected him to work for it. That wasn’t in his plans, so he took Danny. Then he called and asked for half a million dollars. He said it was to set him up in his own business. He wanted to be a big-time real estate mogul just when the market was hitting bottom. My parents refused. I thought he’d give up and bring Danny home, but he didn’t.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Danny was an infant! Barely six weeks old.”

Matt met her gaze. “I’m the one who fed him. Changed his diapers. Rocked him to sleep. Held him when he cried.”

Leah’s chest constricted. “You think I didn’t want to?”

“No.”

“Because Kyle, who lied about everything, told you so?”

Matt stood. “You knew him, what? A year? I knew him all his life.”

“Then you should have known he was chasing one half-baked idea after another. He didn’t care about family, about establishing a real life together. All he wanted was a great big handout from my parents, and when that didn’t happen he stole my son.”

“He was pursuing his dreams, which he gave up to raise his son when you abandoned him.”

She shook her head. “You can’t really believe that.”

“Because you say it isn’t true?”

“I’m his mother.”

“Which hasn’t meant squat.”

“This isn’t going to end with your say-so. Danny is my son. That means legally, no matter what steps you may have taken.”

“So you’ll just rip him away from everything and everyone he knows and loves without a qualm.”

Leah swallowed. “I know my rights.”

“Kyle said that money ruled your conscience.”

She gasped. “That isn’t true.”

“Then think about Danny instead of yourself.” He walked toward her.

Automatically, Leah took a step backward.

Matt continued advancing. “He’s not a baby anymore. He’ll ask questions. About where you were.”

“I’ll tell him the truth.”

Matt scoffed. “And he’ll believe you? Why?”

“Because I’m his mother.” Even as she spoke, Leah recognized the futility of the words. Danny didn’t feel any connection to her. He would believe Matt. “You’re not going to dissuade me.” She could feel the pressure, the tightening in her chest, the ache against the back of her throat. But she wouldn’t give into tears in front of this man. “I’ll be back.”

Trying to look as though she were still in control, she fled before her emotions exploded. Back in the car, she drove only a short distance from his house before she pulled off the road onto a deserted cattle crossing. Then she let the tears flow. Ugly, painful sobs clutched her chest and scraped her throat.

Her baby.

He didn’t know her. He thought she’d tossed him aside. How was she going to fix that? And how was she going to explain that she had to take him away from the only parent he’d ever known?

Chapter Four

Leah picked at her oatmeal the following morning. She’d considered calling her parents’ attorney, but Matt Whitaker’s words echoed through her mind.

Then it occurred to her that she had only his version of how Danny had arrived in Rosewood.

“More coffee?” Annie asked.

“Thanks.”

“You’re awfully quiet. Everything okay?”

Leah glanced around the dining room and saw that the only other guests remaining, an older couple, were gathering their things to leave for the day. “Not really.”

“I’m sorry. Anything I can do?”

“Do you have a minute?”

“Sure.”

Annie put the coffeepot on the sideboard, waved goodbye to the other guests and joined her.

Leah twisted the linen napkin, wondering how to begin.

Annie waited patiently.

“I need to know something.”

“I’ll tell you if I can.”

“Did you know John Johnson?”

Annie nodded. “Yes. It’s been a long time. He died…I’m not sure…seems like almost ten years ago.”

“Do you know anything about his child?”

She sighed. “Saddest thing. John met a girl in California. They got married and had a baby, but she ran out on him when the baby was just tiny. So John brought the baby back here, but he got killed in a car crash not long after he came home. His brother raised the boy like he was his own. He’s Matt Whitaker—the man you came here to talk to.” Her eyes widened.

Leah lowered her chin. “Is that what the whole town believes?”

Annie nodded slowly. “Leah?”

“Yes. I’m the girl. But it’s not true.” She looked into Annie’s honest eyes. “I need someone to trust.”

“I can keep your confidences…but, Leah, you have to know…the town feels really strongly about this. Everyone backs Matt. They admire how he took in the baby.”

“But they don’t know the truth.”

“It’s the truth everyone’s lived with for nearly a decade,” Annie reminded her gently. “Even if it wasn’t true to begin with, it’s going to be hard to convince people otherwise, especially after seeing a big strong guy like Matt with a baby. He’s raised Danny by himself…. He never married.”

Leah’s heart caught as she thought of all the time she’d missed, all the firsts, all the accomplishments.

“Do you want to tell me about it?”

So Leah told her.

“John wasn’t exactly wild,” Annie remembered. “But he didn’t run with my kind of crowd. He was a year ahead in school, but I remember he was different. Actually, I can see him taking off for California. So, if you didn’t abandon Danny, that means you have legal rights.”

“Yes.”

“But if you take him away from everything he knows…”

Leah sighed heavily.

“If it helps,” Annie said, “Matt seems to be a great father.”

“I’m not sure it does. Of course, I wouldn’t want to know Danny had been miserable. But his relationship with Matt complicates everything. I’ve always known that if I found him, it wouldn’t be simple. But the reality is a lot harder than I ever imagined.” And Leah was longing to put her arms around her little boy, to hug him close, to tell him that he was hers…to let him know how much she loved him. Instead, she sat drinking coffee, not even sure where he went to school.

Annie plucked the petals from one of the daisies on the table. “There’s another way.”

Leah met her gaze.

“Stay here in Rosewood. Get to know Danny. Establish some trust before you tell him who you are.”

“Do you think Matt would let that happen?”

“I’ve seen Matt with him. I don’t think he could hurt Danny by telling him the truth right now.”

For all the other objections Leah might have about Matt, she couldn’t deny his love for Danny.

She would do what it took to restore her maternal rights to her son, to convince Danny that she loved him. “Thank you, Annie. You’ve got a full-time guest.”

Leah learned that Danny attended the Community Church’s elementary school. No wonder his name had never appeared in public school records. Then she found out that he went by Danny Whitaker. In a small-town private school, a birth certificate hadn’t been necessary, she guessed.

Or maybe Matt had taken the legal steps and adopted him.

She didn’t have the heart to find that out just yet.

Instead, she decided to put her design skills to their best use. She made an appointment with the principal, explained that she was taking a break from her stressful job in L.A. but would love to volunteer at the school to give herself something to do while in Rosewood.

“Miss Hunter, we’d be delighted to have you,” Principal Gunderland said after their meeting. She was taking Leah to see the lounge she had agreed to work on.

“Leah. And I’m pleased that I can be of help.”

“An actual designer to help redecorate our teachers’ lounge. The last time we tried to do anything with the room, we wound up painting it ghastly pink. No one liked it, so we repainted it institutional green, which is just as awful, maybe worse.”

“I’ll try for something a little more aesthetically pleasing,” Leah murmured, struggling not to be obvious as she peeked into the classrooms they were passing.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but we’ll be thrilled with anything.”

Leah spotted a room full of children who looked to be about the right age, but she didn’t see Danny among them. She needed to know what grade he was in. “Um…anything?”

“As long as it’s in keeping with the church school.”

Leah glanced into another classroom. “Of course. Tasteful, I understand.”

“Mr. Whitaker!” the principal said in a delighted voice.

“Whitaker?” Leah echoed, jerking her gaze back to see Matt stalking down the hall toward them.

“Yes, he’s one of our best supporters and volunteers.”

Of course.

And he was glowering at her.

“Mr. Whitaker, is something wrong?” Principal Gunderland asked. “I saw the new bookcase in the library. It looks wonderful.”

“Good.”

The principal seemed surprised by his curt reply. “Oh, this is Miss Hunter. She’s a new volunteer, and you won’t believe it—she’s a professional designer!”

Leah smiled sweetly.

“We’ve met,” he muttered.

“Then you know how lucky we are to have her,” she exclaimed.

“Yeah, lucky.”

“Miss Hunter, you’ll be working quite a bit with Mr. Whitaker since he coordinates most of our redecorating.”

The school secretary came hurrying up to them. There was an important call for the principal.

“Mr. Whitaker, would you mind escorting Miss Hunter to the teachers’ lounge?” Mrs. Gunderland asked. “I’ll meet you there in a few minutes.”

He could hardly leave her there like a lump of hot coal, Leah realized, but she could tell he was seething as the two women walked away.

“What are you doing here?” Matt asked as he led her into the lounge.

“Checking out my son’s school.”

“How did you find out this is Danny’s school?”

“It was hardly rocket science. Rosewood’s a pretty small town. There aren’t too many choices.”

Matt wasn’t satisfied. “Did you bring investigators to town?”

“Professionals wouldn’t have stumbled around for two days to find out about Danny.”

“I don’t want you here.”

“You don’t have any choice.”

“I could pull Danny out of this school.”

“From everything he knows and enjoys?” she replied evenly.

“So, what? You’re going to play at this until you get bored again?”

Leah wanted to shake him. “No. I’m going to stay in Rosewood until I get to know my son better.”

“You won’t last a week. This isn’t L.A. We don’t have fancy boutiques or clubs.”

“You don’t know me, Whitaker. Not everyone from L.A. is a party girl.”

He snorted.

“I don’t spend my days shopping and playing tennis,” she informed him. “I have a job.”

“Don’t you need to get back to it?”

“I’m on a leave of absence.”

Matt looked at her suspiciously. “Just like that?”

“It was easier because my parents own the firm,” she admitted. “But that doesn’t make my work any less of a real job.”

“Sure.”

“Look. I don’t have to prove anything to you. You’re the one who didn’t bother to check out Kyle’s story.” She saw the principal heading back toward them. “This isn’t the place for this discussion.”

“This isn’t the place for you.”

Leah kept a grip on her temper.

“So, what do you think of our teachers’ lounge?” the principal asked, huffing a bit as she hurried toward them.

Leah hadn’t even glanced at the room. Now that she did, she realized the principal was right. The lounge was ghastly.

“It could use some tender loving care.”

Mrs. Gunderland laughed. “Said diplomatically. Don’t you think so, Mr. Whitaker?”

Leah gave him her attention, too, just to needle him.

He noticed.

“We haven’t done anything to the lounge since it was painted,” he replied.

Avoiding the question, she noticed.

“We don’t have much of a budget for redecorating,” Mrs. Gunderland apologized.

“I have access to overrun materials through my work. Most I can get just for shipping costs.” Leah thought of all the extra stock in the warehouse. Her parents would be happy to donate what was needed for a good cause. “There shouldn’t be a problem.”

The principal brightened. “Wow, you truly are an answer to prayer.”

Leah thought of all her searching, all the years of wondering if she’d ever find Danny. “Thanks. That’s how I feel about being here, too.”

The following day Leah stretched out her time at the school, making different sketches of the teachers’ lounge until recess. When the bell rang and the classes were dismissed, she watched eagerly until she finally spotted Danny filing out of his classroom.

Although he stayed in line as he was instructed, she could see the restrained energy, the animation she’d noticed before. She absorbed every detail. His hair was dark brown like Kyle’s had been, but with the same sun streaks as Matt’s. And he had freckles.

She swallowed. Silly. Freckles shouldn’t make her come unglued.

But they were so precious.

And his eyes. They’d been so easy to recognize because they were like hers and like her father’s.

Leah smiled, imagining Leland Hunter as a child, imagining him with his grandson.

Danny was a beautiful child, just as she’d known he would be. And he seemed so happy, easily smiling, laughing. Matt was right about one thing. She couldn’t take him away.

But he was wrong about her commitment.

She would last far more than a week.

She would last as long as it took.

Chapter Five

“Dad? Where’s Timbuktu?” Danny asked, sitting at the kitchen table, doing his homework.

Matt chuckled. “Where’d you hear about Timbuktu?”

“At school. Miss Randolph said that’s where she’s gonna go on her next vacation.”

“I think Miss Randolph was joking. How many more reading questions do you have?”

“Two.”

Miss Randolph must have been having a bad day, but kids could drive the most patient adult batty. Matt remembered when Danny was about three, an age when he was questioning everything. He went through a period of asking about everyone he saw. Everyone they passed on the street, walking or driving. And even though Rosewood was a small town, that was a lot of “who’s that?” Matt smiled to himself. But the little guy had been so excited to see every new face.