Divine Charity (31 page)

Rose Marie leaned into the screen, showing a close up of her runny nose and said, “Oh, hi, Aunt Charity and Justine-y! I want my
campnopy
bed in the baby room, not in here too far from Mommy.”

“The what?” Justine whispered.

“Canopy bed,” Charity translated.

The knocking sounded again. “Rose Marie,” Adam said firmly. “Unlock this door.”

Rose Marie frowned and sat back again, showing nothing but attitude in her flushed, damp face. “
No
! You’re a mean ol’ daddy!”

Adam continued, sounding more frustrated. “You’d better not be on my iPad bothering your mommy.”

Rose Marie turned a mulish expression toward the door and yelled, “Well I
am
! I’m tellin’ on you!”

There was a thud on the door and Charity snorted as she imagined Adam applying his forehead to the door before he said, “Sorry, baby. The first thing I’m doing is removing the lock from this door. Now unlock it, Rose Marie.”

“No!” Turning back to Grace, Rose Marie said, “Mommy, I want my room back! I’m gonna be scared down here by myself at night!”

Grace chuckled and made sympathetic sounds. “Oh, honey, you’re going to be very safe in your new room. Daddy Adam always felt safe in that room, didn’t you, Adam?” she called, slightly elevating her voice.

“Yup, I did,” he said from the other side of the locked door.

“It’s gonna be too dark!”

“You will have your lamp in there, too, honey.”

“I don’t wanna! I want the baby’s room! It’s my room!
I’m
the baby!” Snot and tears combined into a watery mess as she sobbed and then turned and yelled angrily. “You go away, mean Daddy! I’m not talking to you!”

Grace took a deep breath. “Rose Marie.”

Rose Marie turned back to the iPad. “What?” She must’ve recognized Grace’s firm tone because she wiped her face and looked a little guilty. “He
is
,” she added defensively, mouthing under her breath,
“mean daddy.”

“He is not. He’s your daddy who loves you and you are trying his patience and mine. You listen to me now. Are you listening?”

“Uh-huh,” she said around a huffing, breathy sob.

“Mommy needs to redo the bedroom upstairs for your little brother who is going to be here before you know it. We are not negotiating.”

“What’s
negotiatating
?”

Grace chuckled and said, “Sorry, it’s a big word. Negotiating. It means you don’t get a say, honey. Your only choice is to obey me and your daddies.”

Rose Marie stuck out a big puffy lower lip. “Not fair.”

“Sorry, honey. The world does not revolve around you. I love you very, very much and I need you to help your daddies set up your new, pretty bedroom without giving them any more trouble. Do you understand?”

The picture bobbed rapidly as Rose Marie kicked her legs and pitched a little fit, sounding very frustrated.

Grace blinked. “That’s making me dizzy.” Turning to Charity, she pointed a finger and said, “It’s
you
she takes after.”

The picture settled, Rose Marie came back into focus with a face that was now beet red and her eyes strayed to the door.

Charity could hear masculine voices in muted conversation on the other side of the door and then a voice that was unmistakably Ethan Grant’s rang out. “She did
what
?”

Charity held back her laughter. “You’re in for it now, sister.”

“Rose Marie Warner,” Ethan said in articulated syllables. “You will open this door right this minute.” Rose Marie did as she was told without delay.

Justine giggled. “Uh-oh. That’s a Dom voice.”

Grace and Charity turned their heads to stare at Justine so fast their curls bobbed.

Justine grinned at them. “What? I told you, I read. A
lot
.”

“Oh Lord,” Grace whispered.

Charity just laughed and they turned their attention back to Grace’s smartphone. The iPad was now facing the frilly canopy and the ceiling but they could hear the sound of the door being unlocked and then Ethan’s much softer voice and the sound of Rose Marie sniffling and explaining.

After a few more seconds, the iPad was lifted from the bed and Ethan and Rose Marie’s faces came into focus. Rose Marie had her head nestled under Ethan’s jaw.

Grace said, “Hi, baby.”

Ethan smiled and raised his eyebrows as he looked at his little girl. “I leave for just a few minutes and this little hooligan got into trouble, I see.”

Grace nodded. “Rose Marie, will you listen to me now?”

“Uh-huh,” their irascible preschooler said around her sniffles and a soft sob.

“You’re going to tell Daddy Adam you’re sorry. You’re going to give him his iPad back and promise not to take off with it again. He needs it for work and it is not your toy. You don’t deserve an iPad after the way you’ve acted. You are going to take whatever punishment your daddies give you for acting like such a brat. I will deal with you when I get home. These little fits are going to stop.”

Charity grinned, enjoying the steely tone Grace was using. She knew it didn’t come easily to her.

Ethan whispered to Rose Marie, and she said, “Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry for bothering you…and…” Ethan whispered encouragement. “And for bein’ such a brat. I love you, Mommy.” She puckered up and reached for the iPad and Ethan grinned and let her kiss the screen, making Grace smile.

Ethan’s eyes glowed with obvious love as he said, “And that is the end of the drama in this house for one day. Adam wants to talk with you for a second. I love you.”

Grace blew him a kiss and then Adam came on screen. “I’m sorry, honey. I turned my back on her for two seconds and she was gone with my iPad. You okay? Oh, hey, Charity, Justine.” Charity and Justine waved.

“Well, I wish I was there but otherwise I’m okay. You’re just an old softy, you know that?”

Adam grinned and Charity thought his cheeks flushed a little. “I need to be firmer with her but she turns those green eyes on me and I’m just…”

“You melt. I know.”

“Just like with you, baby. I promise I won’t let her get away with anything else. We’re making good progress on the move. You rest now, okay?”

“Okay. I love you.”

The call ended and Grace let out a breath and seemed to deflate a little. “That little girl is gonna give me gray hair.” Looking at Charity, she said, “How come I got your daughter and you got mine?” The three of them burst into laughter.

* * * *

Cold tendrils of adrenaline coursed up Trevor Dornan’s spine as he strolled nonchalantly down the hall carrying a big bouquet of flowers. He’d buzzed the labor and delivery desk on the intercom after realizing there was no way he could get into that wing without their approval. He’d thought fast, when they’d asked the purpose of his visit. Good thing he’d showered and changed into acceptably clean clothes when he made the excuse that he was delivering flowers, which he’d held up in the window in the door so they could see.

Watching through the window, he’d noticed they were dealing with some kind of situation at the nurse’s station involving a woman in a wheelchair, a chubby brunette, and two hulking men with red hair. He plastered on his best smile as someone buzzed him in.

He blessed his good luck which made him positive that this was meant to be. He was meant to have his kid for his own. His to raise. His to shape. Supplies were waiting at home in the event that the bitch had already had him. He was sure it was a boy. Positive.

“Luck is on my side,” he muttered to himself, pulling his ball cap down and keeping that convincing smile in place. The last thing he wanted was to draw undo attention while he was on his fact-finding mission.

He looked in the nursery window and spotted several babies. Some crying, some sleeping. An even number of boys and girls. He didn’t recognize the last names on any of the bassinets but that didn’t mean nothin’. Any of them might be his. He needed more information.

He passed the first patient room in the long hall, noting it was dark and vacant. He hit pay dirt when he glanced in the next room and saw the blonde bitch he’d been watching earlier that morning, the one that belonged to Cross and Teller and that other fellow. He couldn’t see much else in the room because his view was blocked but she was laughing at something. The little sign on her door said, “Warner, Grace. Under observation.” He committed that name to memory for later research. With a stealthy hand, he pushed down on the door handle to take a listen to the conversation to see if his bitch was in there. He’d know her voice anywhere. Didn’t matter what alias she used.

* * * *

Jessica struggled to breathe through the contraction while the labor and delivery nurse spoke with Lydia, Tank, and Troy, content to let them answer her questions. A flurry of activity was occurring around her, but all she could focus on was the contraction barreling through her abdomen.

She’d read several books and had all the knowledge a well-read layperson could hope for but nowhere had it hinted about how quickly dignity was lost when a woman was in labor. Her water had broken all over poor Tank, wetting his shirtsleeve and his jeans, and even his boots.

“What time did her water break?”

“How long has she been in labor?”

Tank had hurried with her in his arms to one of the ranch trucks. Troy evidently had called Lydia because she’d met them at the truck as Tank loaded Jessica, her hospital bag in hand. Seconds later they’d been headed for the hospital. Serious contractions had begun and the fact that she was sitting, in soaked pants, in either Tank’s or Troy’s truck, likely ruining the seat, had suddenly become the least of her concerns.

The Rockin’ C Ranch was a little ways out of town and Tank made the drive as fast as he could. Lydia had held her hand and done her best to make her comfortable as she focused on the breathing technique she’d been taught by Emma in their private childbirth classes at the remote cabin. More amniotic fluid leaked out as they arrived in Divine and turned in the direction of the hospital. She’d probably terrified both Tank and Troy when she’d said, “I–I think I feel like pushing.”

Lydia had spoken rapidly into her phone and then turned to Jessica. “Emma says she’s on her way. She says try to blow through your contractions. We’re almost there, honey.”

Jessica nodded and blew like Emma had instructed, struggling because the urge to push was difficult to deny. She’d closed her eyes and released control of everything else, trusting that they’d get her where she needed to go. One of the guys had lifted her in gentle arms and whispered comfortingly to her until she was placed into a wheelchair and rolled forward. Quiet surrounded her until they arrived by elevator in the labor and delivery wing.

The barrage of questions had started immediately but she did her best to stay calm and blow when each contraction gripped her anew.

“We’ve contacted Anesthesia for an epidural and the doctor should be here soon,” she heard a nurse say.

She spoke softly, trying to stay focused on relaxing. “I don’t think there’s time for that.” She gasped as the contraction stole her breath and shifted anxiously in the chair. “This baby is coming now. Like
right
now.”

She opened her eyes to look up at a curvy nurse with jet-black hair and brown eyes that shone with kindness and understanding.

“I’m Tracey, Miss Bright. I’m going to take care of you. Dr. Emma is on her way but even if she doesn’t get here in time, you and me, we got this under control, okay? Follow me, guys,” Tracey said authoritatively as she hurried to a room across the hall.

Jessica’s eyes were drawn to movement down the hall. She inhaled sharply and bit her lip to keep from screaming in fright just as another contraction started. She’d recognize that hateful, frightening profile anywhere. She still saw it in her nightmares. Tank squatted down in front of her and whispered, “Honey, I’m going to lift you, okay?”

Reaching for an anchor, protection from her greatest horror, she grabbed Tank’s biceps as he carried her forward and whispered, “He’s
here
. He’s found me. Help me!” The contraction gripped her and she couldn’t stop the howl that erupted from her. The contraction was so powerful she couldn’t speak and the urge to push was too great.

Tank laid her on the bed, and he and Troy both were obviously confused by her words. Lydia looked at her with horrified eyes and asked, “
Dornan
? He’s here? Right now?”

Unable to speak, she only nodded and cried out as she gave in to the urge to push. Lydia whispered frantically to Tank and he rushed to the door and pushed it closed. Tracey barreled back through it and said, “Jessica, we have to keep the door open for now, I’ll pull the curtain—

“Shh!” Lydia said, frantically waving hands at Tracey to be quiet and pulling her in the room. While she draped Jessica with a sheet, and helped her remove the maternity pants she’d been wearing, Lydia explained the situation to her and the guys. Tracey’s eyes got big and several colorful expletives came from her in hushed whispers as they got her up to speed.