The Baby Barter

“I think you need to go,” Mack said.

She had hit a tender nerve. “I’m not just going to go away. We need to discuss this.”

“Maybe, but not with all these people around.” Mack thought for a moment. “I’ll look at my calendar back at the office and figure out a good time to sit down together.”

Sounded like a stall tactic to her. Thea would have to stand her ground. “I’m open any day this week. But I’m not giving up. I fully intend to gain custody of my niece and raise her as my own.”

His steely blue-gray gaze bored into her, and Thea’s heart tumbled into the pit of her stomach. “Not if I have anything to say about it.”

Chapter Three

The walk home took longer than Thea remembered, though whether it was the unusual warmth of the late-October day or the heavy weight on her heart that slowed her steps, she wasn’t sure. A ride might have been nice, but there wasn’t money for even bus fare right now, at least, not until she secured a job. Even then she’d have to be careful. Raising a child cost money, and her mother’s income barely covered her own expenses.

Just another mess Eileen had left for her to clean up.

Thea shook the thought away. She shouldn’t feel that way, but she did. It was one of the reasons she’d stayed away for eight long years. There had been a degree of peace in knowing she could go back to her quarters without some kind of family catastrophe waiting for her when she got home. But then, there had been no one to come home to, no one to call family, no one to reminisce with over the old days.

Mack’s image flashed through her mind. Her childhood friend had grown up to be every bit the man she’d expected him to be while they were in high school. Eyes and ears peeled for any trouble, he’d always carried the responsibility of protecting those around him. She was a little surprised that he’d ended up as sheriff—going to law school had always been his dream, and he’d been full of grand plans as to how he could help people with his law degree. But it was clear to see how well his current job suited him. It was as if he had been born to the job of being sheriff, an ease about him generated confidence from the community he served, the same trust he’d earned from his classmates in high school. It was one of the qualities that had attracted Thea to him in the first place.

If only he wasn’t so closed-minded where Sarah was concerned. Thea sighed. At least he’d been willing to talk to her. Most folks wouldn’t have given her the time of day, not when the topic was her wayward sister. If only folks could have known Eileen as she had, confused and scared, questioning why the father she’d adored had been taken away, why her mother was never warm or affectionate the way other people’s mothers were. Seeking that affection from others, especially from boys, had led to a worsening reputation and more heartache—the misery, the anger her sister had felt toward herself each time she’d fallen for another man’s lies when all she’d ever wanted was to be loved.

Had she found love, at last, with Sarah’s father? Thea couldn’t know for sure. All she could do now was love and care for her sister’s baby—the only piece she had left of Eileen.

Thea drew in a deep breath and sighed. This was not what she’d expected when she’d decided to come back to Marietta. Though what she had expected, she couldn’t say. Her sister to be alive, for certain. Momma, the same as she’d always been, maybe more mellowed with age. Not butting heads with Mack Worthington. He’d had always been reasonable, even if it meant being proved wrong. But he was a man now, with a man’s pride and the law on his side. Would he accept the truth if it meant giving up a child he obviously loved?

Thea’s heart tumbled over in her chest. No matter what happened, someone was going to get hurt. Lord, haven’t I lost enough without giving up what little family I have left?

Just ahead in the bend in the path, the familiar gables of Momma’s house came into view. Thea left the dirt road and climbed the steep embankment. Dandelions whispered softly against her ankles, their cottony seeds sticking to the hem of her skirt. If only she had a wish for each one she’d sent floating across the yard over the years. Then Eileen would be dancing alongside her as she use to do as a girl, her baby in her arms, cooing at the spectacle her mother and aunt were making. Momma would be happy and loving, and Thea would have the family she’d always wanted.

A screen door slammed shut in the distance, and her stomach sank as the reality of the situation set in again. Eileen’s death, Momma’s sorrow and the way the years seemed to weigh on her these days. This was what her life consisted of now, her family. And that included Sarah. She’d prove that the baby Ms. Adair was caring for was her niece. It was the least she owed Eileen after failing her so miserably all those years ago.

The wooden planks squawked beneath her feet as she climbed the three steps to the porch and pulled open the screen door. “Momma?”

The sound of hurried footsteps from the back of the house clipped through the paper-thin walls until finally Mildred Miller burst out of the kitchen into the hallway, wiping her hands on her blue-and-white checkered apron. “Where have you been? You were supposed to be home hours ago.”

Thea tugged at the worn fingertips of her gloves and folded them over the top of her purse. No hello or how have you been. Then, Momma had never been one for social pleasantries at home. No, those were reserved for Sunday-morning church service or a meeting of one of her ladies’ clubs in town. But wouldn’t it be nice if Momma greeted her with a welcoming hello, as if she were truly glad to see her? “I went to see Ms. Adair about Eileen’s baby. Remember?”

“Eileen’s baby?” Dull gray eyes met Thea’s in the oval hall mirror, faded blond eyebrows bunched together in confusion, a common expression on her mother’s face these days. Long moments passed before Momma’s face finally relaxed a bit. “Oh, yes. Your sister. She had a baby.”

Thea swallowed down the slight unease she felt at her mother’s behavior. True, Momma hadn’t been at her best since Thea had returned to town, but that was hardly surprising. How could she expect her mother to go on unaffected after all the losses she’d suffered, first Daddy then Eileen? Did losing her daughter bring on this forgetfulness that seemed to have settled like a thick fog over her memories? Or maybe forgetting the past had made it easier for Momma to live in the present. “I’m meeting with Sheriff Worthington sometime this week to discuss it more.”

“Mack Worthington?”

Her mother’s response surprised her. Momma had never had much time for Thea or Eileen’s friends. “You remember Mack?”

“Of course, I do, silly child. The two of you have gone to school together since you were just a little bit of a girl.” Momma studied her over the rim of her glasses, a slight smile lifting the corners of her mouth. “He’s that nice boy you have a little crush on.”

What in the world had caused her mother to remember that particular piece of the past? And why did she talk as if Thea was still in saddle shoes and knee socks? A cold chill skated up Thea’s spine. “That was a long time ago, Momma. Back before I left home to go off to nursing school, remember?”

“Oh, yes, that’s right.” She buried her hands in her apron pockets, her eyes fixed on a point just over Thea’s shoulder, as if she’d found something more interesting to look at than her daughter. “So what did you find out about the baby?”

“Ms. Adair does have a baby girl who is the same age Eileen’s baby would be.”

“Then you’ll be bringing her home soon?”

If only it were that easy. “There are some complications, Momma.”

“What kind of complications?” Her mother pressed her lips together in that annoyed way Thea remembered well.

She’d never please her mother, would she? The muscles in Thea’s shoulders bunched together, a heavy weight pressing her down into the scarred oak floors. “Well, Mack would like to see the baby’s birth certificate to prove that Sarah is Eileen’s child before he drags Ms. Adair into the matter.”

“But that baby is ours!” Momma stepped closer to Thea. “You told him that, didn’t you?”

“Yes, Momma, but a birth certificate would go a long way to proving that the baby belongs with us.” Thea rested her hands on her mother’s shoulders and stared into her eyes. “Do you know if Eileen filed the baby’s birth certificate with the county?”

“Your sister was too busy to spend a day down at the courthouse.” Momma fidgeted with the long strings of her apron. “She was always too busy for anything useful or important.”

Thea ignored the implication. “What about Mrs. Williams? She delivered the baby, right? Would she have filed the paperwork?”

“I doubt it, but then again, I didn’t ask her to. I figured we’d eventually get around to taking care of it ourselves.”

Which meant the baby’s birth certificate likely hadn’t been filed. Thea turned and leaned back against the table, gripping the edges in her hands. How could she prove that Sarah was her niece if the only witness of her birth had left town for who knew how long? Where else would Eileen record the birth of her child? “Did Eileen have a Bible? Something she might have made a note in about the baby’s birth?”

Momma shook her head. “Not that I know of, but you know how sneaky your sister was. Always hiding things away in her room. Secrets, she said.” Her mother’s thin lips flattened. “All she’s ever brought home is trouble. Maybe if your father had lived...”

Thea nodded. If only Daddy had lived, Eileen wouldn’t have turned wild. Thea wouldn’t have been put in the middle of the violent arguments between her mother and sister. Maybe if Daddy had lived, Eileen wouldn’t have had that child all those years ago, and there would have been no reason for Thea to leave home at age seventeen. Maybe she would have married some local boy, had a baby or two of her own. Thea shut her eyes on those thoughts. Daddy was gone, and wondering what might have been was just a waste of time.

This was her life. Mother, herself. Sarah. She’d best get busy living it. “I have an appointment at the hospital first thing in the morning to check on my job application but if you’d like to go, I thought maybe we could stop by the courthouse and look through some of their records just on the off chance Eileen filed a birth certificate.”

“No!” Momma shook her head so hard, Thea worried she’d get whiplash. “I mean, that’s all right. I’ve got so much to do around here, getting Eileen’s old room ready for the baby and all.” She gave Thea an uncertain smile. “You’ve always been so good at taking care of things, I’d rather leave the birth certificate up to you.”

At least that hadn’t changed. Momma and Eileen always left their messes for her to clean up. But her mother had never turned down a trip into town, not when the shops were open and ready for business.

“Are you sure? You haven’t been out of this house since I got home. Wouldn’t you like to at least go into town with me? I heard Mr. Hice has some new material just perfect for the baby clothes you’ve talked about making.”

Momma wrinkled her nose as if the thought of a trip into town disgusted her. “The square is just so crowded with all those people from over at the bomber plant wandering around.” She shook her head again. “No, I think I’d rather stay here. That’s all right with you, isn’t it?”

Thea blinked. Momma never asked her permission for anything, had always been too busy passing out orders or barking out commands. “That’s fine, but I might be gone for most of the day. I’m going to try to catch up with Mack at his office after I spend some time looking through the county records.”

“You should have been here to take care of your sister.” Momma turned away from Thea and started down the hall. She’d almost reached the kitchen when she turned around and gave Thea a forced smile. “If you had been here, you would have talked Eileen out of going with that boy. But you weren’t, and now your sister’s dead.”

Thea closed her eyes, her muscles weighed down with the fatigue of the past few days as well as an equally heavy dose of guilt. The events of the afternoon had finally caught up with her, stripped her of all her energy. The practical part of Thea knew she shouldn’t take anything her mother said personally. Momma always lashed out when she was upset. She mourned the child she’d lost, the grandchild she’d never held. Her mother was grieving, that was all. Her fingers tightened around the edges of the scarred hall table until she thought they would break. Lord, please let it be nothing more than that. Don’t take Momma away from me just yet.

Maybe losing Eileen had been too much for her mother to handle, maybe the presence of a little one in the house was what Momma needed to find some joy in living again. Recovering her sister’s baby was the answer. Then Momma would have a reason to fight, and it would give Thea a chance to right a terrible wrong. To bring her sister’s baby back home.

This time.

* * *

Mack usually used his morning walks before the town came to life to meditate on the Scriptures or pray for the men and women who would soon be filling the streets of Marietta for another day on the job. He’d pray that no harm would come to them and that they would make wise choices. For the folks who visited their city, he prayed that they would have peaceful spirits and that he would handle those bent on making trouble with respect and honesty.

But this morning the peaceful spirit he needed in order to meditate or pray was out of his reach. His thoughts were scattered like the crimson-and-gold leaves gathered up by the harsh wind that had blown in late last night, yet his mind never strayed far from his conversation with Thea Miller yesterday. The bookish girl he’d known in high school had certainly changed. The way she’d stood her ground against him, her refusal to back down from her claim that Sarah was her niece and her plans to raise the child didn’t make him happy but he had to respect the woman’s grit. His uniform made it difficult for some folks to question his authority, but not Thea, not when it came to her family.

Was it possible Sarah was Eileen Miller’s baby?

Mack absently shook his head. A juicy secret like that would be too much for someone even as close-mouthed as Mrs. Williams to resist. Surely she’d have spread the word about delivering Eileen’s baby...wouldn’t she? The thin letter in his shirt pocket he’d spent half the night crafting felt like a heavy weight against his chest. He’d drop it in the mailbox on his way into the office this morning. Mrs. Williams could answer any questions about Sarah’s mother once and for all.

With that settled, Mack found himself thinking about Thea herself. Why had she come home after all this time? She’d missed Eileen’s funeral, though to be fair, she might not have heard the news until it was too late for her to get leave. Her mother had never had much to do with her, with either of her daughters, really. It seemed odd to him, but then he’d always been close to both his parents, particularly his father. The loss of Neil Worthington four years before had been the catalyst for Mack to settle down and attempt to find a wife. Someone he could build a life with, have the kind of marriage his parents had had, raise a family.

But all his attempts at courtship had failed, and the only female who had touched his heart was baby Sarah. Now Thea threatened to steal his hopes for the future away from him. Just like she did when she left town eight years ago.

“You must be praying mighty hard this morning, my friend.”

Mack glanced up to see Beau Daniels, his white doctor’s jacket draped over his arm, walking toward him. “Maybe I’m thinking on a certain passage of scripture. I do that sometimes.”

“A far cry from the boy who used to say his favorite verse was ‘Jesus wept.’” Beau gave him a crooked smile.

Mack couldn’t help but notice the dark circles under Beau’s eyes. “Put in the late shift last night?”

Beau nodded, stretching from one side to the other. “I want to be home when Edie wakes up. She’s been having a terrible time with morning sickness.”

“I hate to hear that.” Edie and Beau, along with the rest of the Daniels clan, had become like family over the past few years. “Is there anything you can do?”

“Her doctor has suggested a couple of medications but everything I’ve read on them just makes me more worried.” Beau stretched his back. “Sometimes, I think it would be better to live in ignorance than to know everything that could possibly go wrong.”

“Yes,” Mack agreed, his thoughts wandering toward Thea and the baby again. “Sometimes ignorance is bliss.”

“I heard about your discussion with Thea Miller. Maggie told me she dropped in on the wedding yesterday.”

Like most of the Daniels family, Beau was never one to beat around the bush, a quality Mack appreciated. “She claims that Sarah is Eileen’s baby.”

“I didn’t even know Eileen was back in town until she was killed in that wreck out on Drag Strip Road.” Beau thought for a moment. “Wasn’t that just a couple of weeks after Sarah was born?”

“I’ll have to go back and look at the accident report but I thought it was maybe a week or ten days later.” Which meant Eileen could have been home when Sarah was born. The thought made his heart tremble. “I didn’t even put the two together.”

“Well, you still don’t know if they’re related yet. It could just be a coincidence.”

Mack wasn’t buying that, not when the Miller girls, particularly Thea, had caused him so much trouble. “I’d already be Sarah’s father if Judge Wakefield hadn’t dragged out the whole adoption process. I wouldn’t have to worry about any of Thea Miller’s claims then.”

“You’d still worry, because you’re a decent man. If you thought for a moment there might be a chance what Thea is saying is true, you’d do everything you could to set the record straight.”

He might be decent, but that didn’t stop him from wanting go to Ms. Aurora’s and steal his daughter away. Hopefully Mrs. Williams would respond to his letter quickly and lay this matter to rest.

Beau glanced up at the pale blue sky. “I’d better get moving. Edie will be up soon.”

“Tell her I hope she gets to feeling better.”

“I will.” Beau clapped Mack on his back as he walked by. “You want to meet for lunch later? Maybe over at Smith’s Diner around one?”

“That works for me.” Mack watched his friend walk to the corner, then with one last wave, head toward the parking lot. Beau had turned out to be a good man, despite his father. Though Mack had heard James Daniels had changed his ways while in prison and turned to the Lord, much to his family’s delight. Beau had even visited his dad a time or two, and Mack got a sense that the hard feelings between the two had softened. Beau had a bright future in the career he loved, a beautiful wife and a baby on the way—everything Mack had wanted for himself before Thea and the accident had robbed him of his dreams.

He may not have a wife or the law degree he’d always hoped for, but he could make a home, have a family with Sarah as his daughter.

Mack walked down Cherokee Street, past the courthouse, until he came to a row of quaint little homes just outside the main town square. Brilliant violet-and-gold pansies glistened with early-morning dew as they stretched to sun themselves, and the grass was still an emerald green, even in mid-October. A bird twittered his wake-up song overhead, drawing a reluctant smile from Mack.

He’d longed for a home in this neighborhood for as far back as he could remember. The idea of adopting Sarah had finally pushed him into putting a down payment on the small three-bedroom cottage at the end of the street. Nothing fancy, just a yard big enough for a swing set and a room where she could play with her stuffed animals and dolls in the years to come. A home where they could put down roots, where Mack could give Sarah the kind of childhood his parents had given him.

But not if Thea took her away.

He wouldn’t let her, not without a fight. Sarah was his daughter, had been since the moment Mrs. Williams had placed the squirming little newborn in his arms all those months ago. One look into Sarah’s inquisitive sapphire-blue eyes and he’d lost his heart.

Blue eyes, now that he thought about it, that looked very much like Thea’s.

Lots of babies had blue eyes, he reminded himself. Mack shook off the thought as he turned up a side street toward his attorney’s office. Maybe Red would have some good news about the adoption for him.

His footsteps echoed against the brick-paved walkway that led up to Redmond McIntyre’s ranch-style home. Mack raised his fist, then hesitated. The sun had barely risen. Would Red be up yet? Well, if Mack came across as rude, so be it. The situation warranted it. His knuckles rapped against the wooden door.

A heavy bolt slid seconds before the door flew open. Red stood framed in the doorway, a coffee cup in one hand, his tie hanging loose around his unbuttoned collar. “Mack, how are you doing this morning? You don’t have one of my clients waiting down at the jail, do you?”

“I’m not here on official business.” Mack whipped his hat off and held it between clenched fingers. “I was hoping I could talk to you about Sarah for a moment.”

“Sure, come on in,” Red replied, pulling the door open wider as he stepped back. “Would you like a cup of coffee?”

Mack shook his head. Truth be told, he couldn’t stomach anything right now, especially not some of Red’s strong brew. He followed the man into a small sitting room just off the hallway and settled onto one side of the sofa while Red retrieved his file from his office.

“Are you sure I can’t get you something? A glass of sweet tea, maybe?” Red strolled back into the room, a thick three-ringed folder neatly tucked under his arm.

“Nothing, thanks.” Mack settled his elbows on the chair’s arms and leaned forward. “I was hoping to talk to you yesterday at Merrliee’s wedding but I never saw you.”

“I had to go to Atlanta for a client at the last minute and didn’t make it back in time. Did I miss anything exciting?”

Nothing Mack was ready to talk about, at least not until he did some research into Thea’s claims. He shook his head. “I just want to see where we are with Judge Wakefield.”

“Pretty much the same spot we’ve been for the last month.” Red sat across from Mack, dropped the file on the coffee table and flipped it open. “As far as I’ve searched, there’s no precedent in the State of Georgia for allowing a single person to adopt a minor child.”

Red wasn’t telling him anything he hadn’t already heard, but Mack refused give up, not where Sarah was concerned. “But those cases didn’t involve a child with the kind of health issues Sarah has.”

“No, but that’s because those children are usually committed to an institution.”

“Or on the streets,” Mack bit out. His stomach roiled at the thought of his daughter, or for that matter, any of Ms. Aurora’s kids, left on the curb to fend for themselves. Who would do that to any child, flesh and blood or not? It made Mack wonder how many more children were out there on their own right now, hungry, cold and afraid. “Those kids deserve a family and a place to call home just like any other kid, Red.”

Red lifted his hands up in mock surrender. “You don’t have to convince me. And it appears from my discussions with Judge Wakefield that he sides with you on that point.”

Mack nodded. The judge had never hidden his feelings about the need for adoptive parents for all children, even those with physical and mental disabilities, but he held fast to the notion that a child needed both a mother and a father. Mack could see his point, but no family would adopt a child with the type of medical issues Sarah had. Wasn’t one loving parent better than no one at all?

“You’ve got a more pressing problem at the moment.”

Mack settled back into the cushions. Had Red heard about Thea’s claim, that Sarah was Eileen’s child? “What might that be?”