Finding The Way Back To Love (Lakeside Porches 3) (10 page)

Rick helped Haley up the two flights to the Cushmans’ apartment, then excused himself. “Haley will need it cool for the drive home,” he explained, “and the air-conditioning in my old car takes forever to get cranking.” He headed back down the stairs, wondering if was possible to feel any lower.

After starting the engine and switching on the air, he opened the windows to let the breeze usher out the oven temperature. He’d leave it for five minutes while the compressor got its act together.

Hands in his pockets, he strolled to the top of Lakeside Terrace. At the edge of the bluff, he had a sweeping view of Chestnut Lake. A mile or more straight across was Gwen’s property. Shimmering azure water stretched, like a ribbon, to the south, so calm it was almost mystical. He wanted it to be wild, churning with whitecaps, like it had been this morning. That’s how he felt inside—tossed around and beat up.

He was no good to Haley this way.

He dug out his phone and scrolled through for Gwen’s number.

“Hey, Rick,” she answered on the first ring. “Is everything okay?”

“Uh, yeah, mostly. I mean, the baby’s healthy and Haley’s okay physically, but she really needs you this afternoon. And I need to get my head on straight. I noticed—”

“Whoa, back up a sec. Say more about Haley needing me. What’s that about?”

“She did really well through the exam, but it just killed her to know it’s a boy.”

Gwen gasped.

“Yeah, she really fell apart for a few minutes. And after, when we talked to the social worker about adoption, she had a meltdown. I’ve never seen her lose it like that.”

“Describe the meltdown for me, Rick.”

The calm and control in Gwen’s voice helped him shift from his hurting heart to his muddled head. With a flash of gratitude for the degrees and experience that stood behind Gwen’s steady presence, he told her, “Haley was, like, totally frozen through the first minute with the social worker, and then she just stood up and started yelling at us, saying that she only now found out her baby is a boy and she needs time with that before everyone starts planning how to take him away from her. And by the way, she’s due September 20
th
.”

Gwen was silent for ten seconds—he counted—before she said, “Haley actually said ‘planning how to take him away from me’?”

“Yeah,” Rick said. He replayed it to be sure. “Yeah, that’s—those are the words she used.”

“That’s what I needed to know. Thanks, Rick. I know all this is really hard for you, too.”

“The thing with the adoption—I wish we could be sure it’s a good home, you know? I want my son to have . . .” A sob stopped him from finishing the sentence.

“I hear you, Rick. We’ll find a way. And don’t worry about Haley. She and I will do whatever she needs this afternoon. But what about you? What do you need?”

Rick turned away from the water and sat back hard on the guardrail. “Yeah, so I’m going to shoot some baskets. There’s a basketball court in the park across from where I’m standing, next to where the Cushmans live. I think I’ll get a ball and come back here, after I bring Haley to your place.”

“Of course, Rick. You might find an old ball in the garage, and I think there’s a pump around, too.”

“Thanks, but I’ll stop by Wal-Mart and pick one up. I just don’t want you to think I’m deserting you and Haley.”

“I don’t. You need to take care of yourself. Listen, I know a guy who might show up there looking for someone to shoot baskets. His name’s Peter.”

Rick exhaled a laugh. “Show up, like, accidentally, you mean?”

“Busted. Maybe he can help you talk it out. Is that okay?”

“Sure, thanks, I’ll keep an eye out for him. Maybe I could pick up something for all of us for dinner.” He stood and faced the calm lake.

“Don’t even think about it. I’ve got it all planned. But I forgot Italian bread, if you’re near a bakery or a grocery store. Haley likes it.”

“You got it.” Behind him, he heard the outside door close. “We’re on our way, Gwen.” He pocketed the phone and stole one last glance at the calm azure water.

Haley’s footsteps were heavy and slow on the last two steps.

He turned and gave her a big smile.

As soon as the apartment door closed behind Haley, Justin reached out a hand to Gianessa.

She joined him at the French door to their lakeside porch. A few moments, simply contemplating the azure finger of Chestnut Lake, calmed her.

“It breaks my heart, Justin, to see them in such agony.”

Justin’s hand stroked her back as she rested her head on his shoulder.

“I think we can help. Didn’t Syd and Danny know someone that wants a baby?” he mused.

“Oh my gosh, you’re right.”

“We should call them.”

Gianessa kissed his cheek. “I’ll call Syd, woman-to-woman.”

He teased her. “Am I allowed to stay in the room while you have this conversation?”

She laughed. “You’d better. She’s your friend, and it’s a stronger inquiry coming from both of us.” She scrolled through her contacts until she found Syd’s number at home in Manhattan.

“When did I give you her number?” Justin wondered aloud.

“You gave me the numbers for each of your wedding invitees so I could call to thank them for the beautiful wedding gifts.”

“Didn’t we specify, ‘No gifts. Only your presence.’?”

“We did, and mostly it didn’t work. Syd and Danny gave us a gas grill for our new deck, to be delivered at our request after we move in.” With her hand on her round belly, she said, “Which, thank heaven, will be very soon, before the twins are born.” She started as the connection went through.

“Syd, it’s Gianessa Cushman. I’m so glad we caught you at home.”

Sydney gushed in her ear, “My dear! Is everything all right? Did the babies come early?”

“Everything is fine. I’m still eight weeks or so away. Syd, do you have a minute? Justin and I have something important to talk over with you.”

“Of course. Do we need Danny?”

“Yes.”

“He’s watching tennis in the den.” Sydney’s call to her husband made Gianessa laugh. “Quickly, sweetcakes, it’s Gianessa and Justin.” She lowered her voice. “He’s on his way. What’s up? Are you both well?”

“Yes, and you?”

“Always.”

Gianessa reached for Justin’s hand and he gave hers a squeeze. “Syd, we’ve just met a wonderful young couple who are dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. The mother is Gwen Forrester’s niece, if you remember Gwen from our wedding.”

“Of course I do, the one who’s putting Justin’s head on straight. Is it still?”

“Justin’s head is still on straight, yes.” Gianessa winked at her husband.

Justin chuckled.

“He’s been my rock, but how he puts up with my hormonal craziness is beyond me. I love him more every day.”

Sydney hummed her pleasure at the update. “But, Gianessa, my dear, you’re not thinking Danny and I want to adopt?”

Gianessa laughed from her belly, and her tension floated away. “No, no, I’m sure you’re holding out for grandchildren.”

“No prospects yet. Oh! Now I know. You and I talked about our friends Laura and Helmud Hahn who’ve been trying everything to get pregnant. Danny,” she called, louder this time, “come quick. We may have a baby for the Hahns.”

“So they haven’t gotten pregnant or adopted since we spoke?”

“No, they stopped trying to get pregnant months ago. They’ve sent out a few feelers through New York area adoption brokers—if that’s the right term—but as of a week ago, there’d been no viable candidate. Poor dears would make such wonderful parents. Here’s Danny. Can I put you on ‘speaker?’”

“Yes, and I’ll ‘speaker’ us, too.” Gianessa moved her finger over the smartphone display and found the icon she hoped stood for the speaker. “Can you hear us? Justin, you say something, too.”

Justin voiced a hearty, “Hello, Danny and Syd.”

“We hear you both just fine,” Danny said. “Tell us about this young couple and the pregnancy. Are they serious about giving up the child? Is the baby healthy? When are they due?”

“What Danny means,” Sydney interjected, “is we couldn’t bear to get the Hahns’s hopes up and have the young couple change their minds. Are they married, by the way?”

“Just a second.” Gianessa tugged on Justin’s hand and motioned him to the sofa. She sat on a straight chair and placed the phone on the coffee table between them. “Can you answer all that for us, dude?”

Justin muted the phone for a moment. “You’re all right?”

She waved her hand to cool her face. “Just flustered. I’m so excited and nervous.”

“Relax, sweetheart. This will go the way it’s supposed to.” Justin toggled the mute button and resumed the telling. “They’re not married. The baby is due September 20
th
, a month before us.”

“So soon, that’s wonderful,” Sydney gushed.

“Both parents are bright and sincere; both are going into their junior year in college. He’s brilliant, I would say, preparing as an environmental engineer. She’s bubbly and smart—a botany major?” He looked to Gianessa for confirmation.

“Yes, and an accomplished artist. She’s agreed to do some watercolors for our new home, using photos of flowers that grow near Pop and Ariella’s home in Italy.”

“Ooh, your honeymoon. Was it wonderful?”

“Grand,” Justin assured them. “I’ll send pictures as soon as I’ve picked out the top twenty. Back to the baby’s mother, Haley has a website for her online business.” He rattled off the easy address, certain Danny would bring it up on his phone while they talked. “She’s got spunk. You’d like her.”

“And she’s beautiful,” Gianessa added. “Broken hearted to give up her baby boy, but she’s been thinking all along she would go the adoption route. She hadn’t initiated anything herself, though. The father, Rick, was away doing research. We were together at the hospital just now, and they seemed overwhelmed about the adoption process.”

“You all were at the hospital? Is anything wrong?”

“Not at all. Haley is using my doctor, whose office is at the hospital. We went together for our appointments. She’s healthy and has been taking good care throughout the pregnancy. The baby is kicking up a storm. Development is normal. And as I say, the parents are hard-working, smart, talented nineteen-year-olds.”

Danny asked, “Have you talked with them about the possibility of a private adoption?”

“We wanted to talk with you first.” Justin told him. “No sense getting their hopes up without knowing if it’s even a possibility. I do know Rick, the father, is very concerned about placing his son in a stable marriage and a financially-sound home environment that can offer him the best in education, and Haley wants very much for the parents to be supportive of the little boy’s interests and talents.”

Sydney chimed in, “That’s the Hahns to a tee. What do they do, Danny? I know Helmud is in finance.”

“He manages mutual funds—very successful, which is saying a lot in this economy. He has integrity and a good nose for value. Serious tennis player, too, with a quick humor.

“Laura is the designer for a major event planning business in Manhattan. She’d give it all up in a heartbeat for a child. And they could afford to have her stay at home with the baby.”

“Justin, I think we need to talk with Rick and Haley very quickly.”

“Agreed.”

Danny said, “And I’ll give Laura a call to see how they are and if anything is new. Assuming both parties are interested, we need to get them together. Right away.”

Justin cleared his throat. “With legal counsel, I think. These young people are babes in the woods with something like this. Not to say your friends aren’t trustworthy.”

“Of course,” Danny agreed. “Rick and Haley probably have no idea they can be compensated for their baby under the law. They need to think about their needs. Finishing school, for example. Justin, you’ll help them find the right attorney?”

“Consider it done, good friends.”

Gwen jumped when the car doors squeaked shut. Haley’s footsteps were heavy on the stairs from the garage. The moment she saw Gwen, her face puckered and she burst into tears.

“I’m sorry, I was going to be so grown up,” Haley choked out.

Gwen folded her in a hug and motioned Rick to pour them some iced tea from the pitcher. “Cookies,” she added.

Rick dragged himself to the island. He plunked ice cubes into three green plastic glasses and poured tea an inch from the rim of each, then stood with his eyes closed for a minute. Gwen thought he would cry, but he just stood with one hand on a cold glass.

When he opened his eyes, he waved to Gwen, stuffed a peanut butter cookie in his mouth, and carried his glass out with him.

The car door squeaked open and shut, the engine caught, and tires crunched on the gravel.

“Haley, honey, let’s get comfortable and talk about all of this. I made peanut butter cookies for us.”

“Shower first,” Haley decided. “I’ll be quick.”

“The new robe is on your bed.”

Gwen listened to her trudge up the stairs.
God, you’ve got to help us. These kids are in so much pain.

The phone rang.

Gwen reached for it, hesitated, and gave a curious look toward heaven. It rang a second time. “This is Gwen,” she answered.

“And this is Peter. Are they back yet?’

“Yes, just now.”

“Can you talk?”

“For a few minutes. Rick just beat it out of here for a basketball court, and Haley’s in the shower.” She sank down on a stool at the island, and tears spilled over. “They are hurting so bad, Peter.” Her voice caught, and she put a hand to her eyes. “So bad.”

“It will be okay,” his voice soothed. “We’ll help them through this.”

“Thank you. You’re a good man, Peter.”

“Since you’re on Haley duty, why don’t I go after Rick?”

“Yes. It would help him a lot to blow off steam with someone. He’s so controlled, and this is overwhelming.”

“Wish I had some of your training.”

“You don’t need it. You’ve got everything you need for this job.”