His Badge, Her Baby...Their Family?

“It’s only a dull ache. I can bear it.”

“Baby still moving about?”

Smiling faintly, Geena nodded. “I’m convinced he or she is going to be an athlete.”

“Great,” the nurse replied. “I’ll take this tray out of here and let you finish your talk with Detective Parcell.”

Vince watched the nurse leave the room before he turned back to Geena. “You didn’t correct her about your name or say anything about us,” he stated the obvious.

She looked away from him and swallowed. “No. I started to. But I need to think about all this before I say anything. Later today, I’ll let her in on the news that I’m not Alice in a fairy-tale world anymore.”

Too bad this wasn’t a fairy tale they could both wake up from, Vince thought dismally. It would save them both a lot of awkward misery. But this wasn’t a dream. It was reality. Something he dealt with every day.

“Well, it’s time I leave and let you rest,” he told her. “You’ve had enough excitement for one morning.”

Her gaze jerked back to his face. “You’re leaving? But I have so many questions! Can’t you stay just a little longer?”

Her legs were dangling over the side of the bed and Vince’s gaze followed the blue fabric of the hospital gown to the point where the hem stopped at the middle of her shins. Below it, he could see her calves were smooth and shapely, her toenails painted a bright neon pink.

There were so many things about her that had changed, he realized, yet so much that was still the same. And he suddenly wondered why he was noticing all these little things about her. Nothing about her gold-spun hair, creamy skin or pink toenails had anything to do with her current predicament. Yet he couldn’t seem to keep his eyes off her.

“I can’t give you answers now. My partner and I are pasting your photo on every form of social media. I’m certain there will be someone out there who will see it and give us the information we need. In the meantime just be thankful that you and your baby survived the car accident. Things could’ve certainly been worse.”

“Believe me, I’ve very thankful for that. But I—can’t you tell me a bit about us? Our marriage? You said we lived in Reno?”

Suddenly remembering the small photo he’d brought with him this morning, he fished it out of his shirt pocket.

“Just in case you still have doubts—here’s a picture of the two of us on our wedding day.” He handed her the snapshot. “We didn’t have the money to have a professional photographer at the ceremony. A friend took this.”

Vince watched her study the image of the smiling couple standing beneath an arch of flowers. He’d been dressed in a borrowed suit and a friend had made Geena’s simple white dress. Everything about the wedding and small reception had been modest, but neither of them had cared. They’d been deliriously in love.

But she didn’t remember that. She didn’t remember the nights they’d made passionate love. And maybe he should thank God for that. Because he was doing enough remembering for the both of them.

“Did we have children?” she asked. “What happened?”

Lifting her head, she looked to him for answers. Vince couldn’t give them to her. At least, not all of them.

Turning away from her, he walked back over to the window. The man with the cigarette was gone. And it was definitely past time for Vince to be gone, too.

“No. We didn’t have children. And we simply decided that our lives were on different courses, that’s all. We parted on friendly terms. After that, I moved down here to Carson City. I’d not seen or heard from you until last night when I walked into this room and saw that you were the accident victim.”

“I see,” she said quietly. “So everything ended between us long ago.”

“Yeah. It ended.”

Awkward silence stretched for long moments before she finally spoke again.

“Well, I must have had family other than you. Clearly my father is gone and my mother is questionable. I don’t have siblings, but what about grandparents, aunts or uncles? Have you tried to contact them?”

“Your grandparents are no longer living,” he informed her. “As for aunts and uncles, your father had a brother, Mort Cummings. He lives in Montana now. I’ve already spoken with him. He lost touch with you a few years ago. Other than him I don’t recall any aunts or uncles you were well acquainted with.”

“Cummings,” she repeated thoughtfully. “So that was my maiden name?”

“That’s right. Your mother’s name is Rhonda. Your dad’s was Gerome. I understand he had a heart condition. That’s why he died when you were still so young.”

She placed the wedding photo on the mattress next to her thigh, then pressed her palms to her cheeks. “I should be feeling grief or loss or something about my parents. But I can’t feel anything! Not about people I don’t know or remember. Oh, God, this is awful. So awful.”

The fear and frustration in her voice pierced his heart. “You can’t deal with everything at once. Don’t worry about figuring out where your present family is or how you’re going to find them. Leave that to me and Evan. All those feelings you’re talking about—they’ll come to you once your memory returns.”

Dropping her hands, she stared at him. “I don’t even know if I have other children or a husband!”

He tried to muster an encouraging smile. “No. But you’ve learned your name is Geena and you’re twenty-nine years old. And you once had a husband named Vince. That’s a start. We’ll figure out the rest.”

Before she made any sort of reply, the phone holstered to the side of his belt vibrated. After quickly scanning the text message, he said, “I have to go. If we learn anything that progresses your case, I’ll let you know.”

In afterthought, he extracted a personal card from his wallet and handed it to her. “My number is on there. If you need me or if you remember anything, no matter how slight, call me. Okay?”

She nodded and then suddenly her lips began to quiver. “I’m sorry. I know I’ve been difficult and you’re trying to help. Thank you for that. Really.”

Lifting her hand, Vince gently patted the back of it. “Don’t worry about anything. The best thing you can do is take care of yourself and your baby and let me do the rest.”

She gave him a brave nod, and before Vince could get mushy over the lost look in her eyes, he dropped her hand and hurried out of the hospital room.

At the end of the long corridor, he spotted Marcella standing outside the door of a patient’s room, writing intently on a clipboard balanced in the crook of her arm.

“Excuse me, Nurse. Do you have a moment?”

She glanced up, then smiled when she saw that it was him. “Of course, Detective. How can I help you?”

“It’s about—” He’d started to say Geena, then decided against it. “The amnesia patient. When you have a bit of extra time, I think she might need a woman to talk to. She’s feeling pretty lost.”

Appreciation flashed in the nurse’s eyes. “Sure. I’ll check in on her in a few minutes. Thanks for being concerned, Detective.”

Concerned. That was an understatement, Vince thought as he hurried out of the hospital and across the parking lot to his department vehicle. Thoughts of his ex-wife were totally consuming him. How she looked, the scent of her skin, the sound of her voice and the touch of her hand were bombarding him with feelings he’d believed were long dead.

It had taken him years to reach a point where he could go to work each day without thoughts of Geena tormenting him, but he’d finally managed to move forward and away from the past they’d shared together. Now she’d shown up out of the blue, carrying more problems with her than one person should have to shoulder, and he could already feel himself falling under her spell.

It was useless to wonder why this had happened to her, or why she’d reentered his life after all these years. Why didn’t matter anymore. The important thing was to find the father of her baby, and soon. Otherwise, she was going to go into labor without anyone to support her. Except Vince.

And he didn’t want to be a temporary daddy or a stand-in husband. All he wanted to be was a good detective.

Chapter Three

Two days later on Friday afternoon, Vince was in a small break room, filling a stainless steel percolator with water and coffee grounds when Evan stuck his head around the door facing.

“Hey, Vince, telephone call for you. It’s Dr. Merrick on line two.”

With a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, Vince plopped the lid onto the antiquated coffeemaker and glanced around at his partner. “Did he say what he wanted?”

“No. I’m assuming he’s calling about Geena and wanted to speak with you personally.”

“You’re working Geena’s case, too,” Vince bit back at him. “Why the hell can’t he speak with you?”

Evan glared at him. “Probably because you’re her ex-husband. There is a connection between you two. Whether you want to admit it or not.”

“The definitive word here is ex, Evan. I’m not her husband anymore. Some other man holds that job now.” With the percolator in hand, he walked past Evan and strode quickly back to the office the two men shared.

At the back of the room, he placed the coffeemaker on a small table and plugged it in before he sat down at his desk and punched the phone line to connect with the doctor.

“It’s Vince Parcell, Doctor. Sorry for keeping you waiting.”

“Thank you, Detective, for taking my call. This isn’t something I normally do, but I think you’ll agree that Geena’s case is not the norm.”

Releasing a long breath, Vince glanced across the small office to see Evan had returned to his desk and was studying a screen full of data on his computer. No doubt his partner was also keeping an ear on Vince’s conversation.

“I’ve never encountered anything like it,” Vince said, then had to stifle a mocking laugh. How had something that inane come out of his mouth? Bumping into his ex-wife, who just happened to be suffering from complete amnesia, along with being eight and a half months pregnant, was not something any man encountered. Not even in his wildest dreams.

“Have you made any headway in locating her family?” the doctor questioned.

Leaning forward, Vince propped his forearms on the edge of the desk and closed his burning eyes. For the past three days, he’d worked nearly nonstop, making calls and searching through countless media outlets in an effort to find a link to Geena’s present life. With each day that passed, he was growing more exhausted and frustrated.

“Several people from Reno who knew her in the past have called to identify her. But none could give us any recent information that might help our cause. We’re still trying to track her mother. But we’re having no luck with that endeavor—yet.”

There was a long pause, then the doctor said, “That’s unfortunate. I don’t like the idea of her going to a rescue shelter, but it looks like that’s her only option. Unless you can come up with a better plan.”

Vince sat straights up. “Shelter? What do you mean? Aren’t you going to keep her in the hospital? She’s messed up—I mean, her head—she needs medical care, doesn’t she?”

“Physically, she’s well enough to leave the hospital. As for her amnesia, she’ll be checking in with Dr. Dunlevy once a week until her memory returns. Or at least until she’s able to mentally deal with the situation. In the meantime, she needs somewhere to live. And I thought you might know of someone who might take her in for a few days. Maybe someone you were both friends with while you were still married?”

Even though his brain was half-dead with fatigue, it began to spin wildly. “We lived in Reno then. There’s no one here in Carson City who’s acquainted with Geena.”

“Except you.”

Vince’s eyes popped open. “Me? Surely you’re not suggesting—”

“I realize I’m asking a lot from you. But I don’t have to tell you that this woman is in a fragile state right now. She needs to be with someone she can trust. Someone she feels safe with. Right now, you’re the only person she feels any sort of connection to.”

“I’m a bachelor, Dr. Merrick. I wouldn’t know what to do with a woman in the house!”

“If I remember correctly, you told me the two of you were married for five years. Surely you remember how to share your living space with a woman.”

Oh, yeah, he remembered way too much, Vince thought grimly. These past few days he’d been in a constant fight to push and shove memories of Geena out of his mind.

“You’re putting me on the spot, Doctor. It—”

“I realize that. And I apologize for doing so. But I got the impression that you cared about Geena. I didn’t think you’d feel comfortable with her going to a public shelter—especially with her being pregnant. There’s not much privacy there. And as a lawman, I hardly have to tell you that unsavory characters go in and out of those places on a regular basis.” He paused for a moment, then said, “I’m sorry I bothered you with this problem, Detective. I’m going to make a few calls to some of the local churches. Most of them have members who are willing to take in a homeless person. Thanks anyway.”

Realizing the doctor was about to end the call, Vince practically shouted, “Doctor, wait! Uh—when did you say Geena was going to be released from the hospital?”

“The paperwork is being done as we speak. She’ll be ready to go as soon as you can pick her up. If that’s something you can’t deal with, then I’ll call social services and let them make other arrangements for her.”

Biting back a curse, Vince raked a hand through his tumbled hair. The doctor had missed his calling, he thought. A lawyer couldn’t have argued a more perfect case for Vince to give Geena a temporary home.

“Okay. I’ll take her in,” Vince told him. “But only until other, more suitable, arrangements can be made. I can pick her up in the next hour.”

“You’re doing the right thing, Detective. For the both of you.”

Vince was hardly convinced. The doctor couldn’t know the pain and heartache each of them had endured while trying to patch together a crumbling marriage. He supposed the only good thing about the situation was that Geena couldn’t remember those bad times. Or the good ones.

“Yes, well, let’s hope Dr. Dunlevy can make a breakthrough. Having her memory return would fix things for all of us.”

The doctor agreed and ended the call. Vince tossed the phone back onto its cradle, then glanced across the room to see Evan watching him keenly.

“I suppose you heard enough to know what I’m going to do,” Vince said grimly.

Evan swiveled his chair so that he was facing Vince’s desk. “Sounds like you’re going to let Geena live with you for a while. You think that’s wise?”

“Wise, hell! Is jumping into a den of rattlesnakes wise?”

Evan shook his head. “Your ex-wife isn’t poisonous. Besides, in her state of mind, it will be like a stranger living in your house.”

“She won’t be a stranger to me,” he muttered.

Evan got to his feet and walked over to the small table that held the coffeepot, a few chipped cups and an odd assortment of snacks.

After he filled one of the cups with the freshly brewed coffee, he moved over to Vince’s desk and set the steaming cup in front of him. “Here, drink up. You look like you need it.”

Vince glanced gratefully up at him. “Thanks.”

Evan lowered a hip onto the edge of the desk. “Look, Vince, if having Geena in the house is going to tear you up, then you shouldn’t do it. She’s not your responsibility. Anyway, she’s welcome to come stay with me and Noelle for a while.”

Frowning, Vince took a long sip of coffee, then said, “Don’t be crazy. Noelle already has her hands full taking care of little Joanna and keeping up with the ranching chores. She doesn’t need a pregnant woman added to that.”

“Noelle is a tough cookie, and she’d be gentle with Geena.”

Vince cut him a dry look. “Noelle is only tough when she needs to be. Except when it comes to you, then she’s not nearly as firm as she ought to be. As for Geena, I have no doubt she’d treat her like a princess. But, no. It’s not your place to take my ex-wife into your home.”

Evan shrugged while Vince continued to sip his coffee. “Like you said, the crucial word is ex. And a shelter isn’t that bad. At least she’ll have a roof over her head and a bed to sleep in. I imagine they’ll find her something to wear. If not, Noelle can take her some of her old maternity things. She won’t be needing them for a while.”

“For a while? Is Noelle expecting again?”

A sly grin put a twinkle in Evan’s eyes. “We’re hoping. And trying.”

His partner had a loving wife and an adorable two-year-old daughter. The couple managed to juggle his career with her desire to work the ranch. Together, they were able to keep their love healthy and strong in spite of their busy schedules. Vince often envied the other man for having the things he’d tried so hard to have with Geena.

“So that’s why you’ve been looking so tired here lately. I thought it was because we’ve been working overtime.”

“Ha! I don’t look any more exhausted than you do,” Evan argued. “Who have you been spending your nights with?”

A sardonic twist slanted Vince’s lips. “Oh, just half the female population of Carson City.”

“Sure,” Evan muttered. “You haven’t had a date in months. No, make that years!”

“I have better things to do with my time.” Vince drained the last of his coffee and stood up. “If you can handle things here, I need to get over to the hospital.”

“I’ll hold down the fort,” Evan assured him. “You go do what you have to do.”

“Thanks. I’ll be back as quick as I can.”

Vince was almost to the door when Evan called to him.

“Uh, Vince, it’s none of my business, but it might be nice if you’d pick up some flowers for Geena. You know, just to tell her you’re glad she’s feeling well enough to leave the hospital.”

Vince rolled his eyes with exasperation. “You’re not only a hopeless romantic, you’re clueless. To her I’m a stranger. She doesn’t need or want flowers from a stranger.”

“Wanna bet?”

Vince didn’t bother with a retort. Anyone could take one look at Geena’s expanded waist and see that she had a man in her life. And it damned sure wasn’t Vince.

* * *

Across town at Tahoe General Hospital, Geena stood at the window in her room and stared at the mountain range in the far distance. When she’d first arrived at the emergency room the night of the accident, the nurses had informed her that she was in Carson City, Nevada. Nothing about the revelation had made sense. And in her mental state, she could only guess as to whether she’d ever been here before.

Now as she studied the ridge of mountains, she could only wonder why she’d been traveling on the highway between here and Lake Tahoe. Had this town been her destination? Or had she merely been passing through? Apparently she didn’t live in this area or someone would have already identified her. At least, someone other than Detective Vince Parcell.

Thoughts of the man brought a sigh to her lips. Learning that she’d once been married to him continued to amaze her. How could he have been her husband? He was a tall, sexy hunk of man. Just looking at him stirred every female cell in her body. There was no way she could have forgotten sharing a bed with him. And yet she had the photo of their wedding proving that the two of them had exchanged vows.

Yesterday he’d stopped by her room for a few brief minutes to check on her health and give her an update on the investigation, but she’d hardly taken note of anything he’d been saying. All she could do was look at him and wonder what it must have been like to be his wife and speculate as to why their marriage ended.

He’d said their lives had taken different courses and they’d parted on friendly terms. Yet she couldn’t imagine letting this man go without fighting tooth and nail. Unless there was something else that had gone on that he’d purposely avoided telling her. Like infidelity or something she’d considered unforgivable. If that had been the case, then she didn’t want to know the true cause of their divorce. It would be too embarrassing.

Stop it, Geena! Quit thinking about Vince Parcell. The man is not your husband anymore! Somewhere out there is a man who you must be in love with. You’re about to have his child. Finding him is what you need to be thinking about. Not mooning over a lost marriage you don’t even remember.

A light tap on the door had Geena turning away from the window just in time to see the object of her troubled thoughts walking through the door. The sight of him caused her heart to leap with hope and a strange sort of excitement. Perhaps he’d brought good news.

“Hello, Detective Parcell.”

“It’s Vince. Remember?”

A blush stung her cheeks. “Okay—Vince. If you’ve come by to give me news, you timed it just right. A few more minutes and I’ll be leaving.”

She noticed his gaze passing over her black slacks and thin white blouse, then on to the strappy black sandals covering her feet. The clothes and shoes were the things she’d been wearing when the accident had occurred. Since then, a nurse had taken the garments home and washed them for her.

“Looks like you’re ready to go.”

She smiled and shrugged. “I guess Dr. Merrick told you he’s made arrangements with social services to find a place where I can stay until—well, until you and Detective Calhoun figure out where I really belong.”

He moved farther into the room and Geena noticed he was dressed the same way he’d been on the other occasions he’d visited her room. A pale blue dress shirt was tucked into a pair of dark blue jeans. Brown cowboy boots that appeared to be made of lizard or some other exotic skin matched the wide belt fastened around his lean waist. She supposed being a detective allowed him to wear street clothes on the job, but he certainly wouldn’t have any trouble filling out a uniform if one was required, she thought.

“I’ve spoken with Dr. Merrick. He’s says you’re ready to leave the hospital. I wish I could tell you that we’ve located your family and they’re coming to pick you up. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened yet.”

Suddenly the isolation and uncertainty she’d been feeling swamped her, and not wanting him to see the desperation on her face, she quickly turned toward the bed and the small bag of items Marcella had kindly given her.

“Oh. I was hoping you had good news. But it will come. I’m not giving up. And staying in a shelter won’t be so bad. Until I have the baby and then—well, I hope by then I’ll be able to take him or her home—to my real home.”

“I’m going to do my best to see that happens,” he said. “Besides, you might get your memory back long before the baby comes.”

Bending her head, she trailed fingertips over the cloth tote bag. Inside it was everything she possessed, and she only had those things because a nurse was kind enough to give them to her. At the moment the reality of the future facing her was overwhelming.

“Believe me,” she said quietly, “I’m praying for that.”

She heard his footsteps approach her from behind her, but she didn’t turn to face him. Tears were burning her eyes and she didn’t want him to think she was breaking apart.

“If you’re ready to go, you should probably ring for the nurse. I’m sure you’ll have to leave the building in a wheelchair.”

Blinking her misty eyes, she turned to him. “I can’t go until someone from social services comes to collect me.”

He shook his head. “Dr. Merrick must have gotten busy. Otherwise, he would’ve told you that your plans have been changed. You’re not going to a shelter. You’re coming home with me.”

Her mouth fell open. “You! I don’t understand. If this is some sort of crude joke, it’s not funny.”

His nostrils flared, and Geena found her gaze slipping to the hard line of his lips. No doubt she’d kissed those lips many times, and she imagined they’d transported her to heaven and back. But that was years ago, and for some reason the kissing between them had stopped. Along with everything else. Now she was supposed to move into his home as though he was nothing more than a Good Samaritan? It was ludicrous!