Kitabı oku: «The Baby Arrangement»

Chapter One

He was too late. He’d been knocking on the door of the house for at least ten minutes, to no avail. He’d missed her. She’d vanished for a second time, taking his infant son with her.

Jared McAndrew cursed as he climbed into his car. He slammed his hands against the steering wheel as the familiar feelings of frustration and anger churned to life within him.

He’d come close...so close. Silently he vowed not to quit until he’d tracked down his newborn son, a son he’d never seen.

Muttering under his breath, Jared reached for the key to restart the engine.

It was at that precise moment he spotted the baby stroller as it turned into the leaf-covered driveway. His heart shuddered to a halt, and he felt his breath back up in his throat as he focused his gaze on the mother of his child.

He blinked several times, fearful his eyes were playing tricks on him. But there was no mistake. Reaching for the door handle, Jared was out of the car in a flash.

Faith Nelson slowed the baby stroller to a halt the minute she saw the sleek black car parked in her driveway. She watched as a tall, dark-haired man dressed in crumpled gray slacks and a navy sweater emerged from the front seat.

Her heart slammed against her ribs and a ripple of apprehension chased down her spine at the look of fury she could see etched on the stranger’s handsome features. Instinctively she tightened her fingers on the handle of the baby stroller as his long strides ate up the driveway.

“Hello, Paula,” the man said, coming to a halt a few feet in front of the stroller. “You look surprised to see me.” His voice was deep and resonant, but with an edge that could easily have cut glass.

Faith moistened lips that were suddenly dry. “I’m sorry. I’m not—”

“You’re sorry!” the man interrupted, his voice quavering with barely suppressed rage.

“You don’t understand,” Faith said, but before she could even begin to explain, his eyes flashed with a look of contempt that effectively silenced her.

“Oh...you’ve got that right,” he drawled. “But then I doubt I’ll ever understand how you could disappear without a word,” he said. “We had an agreement, remember? Did you really think I wouldn’t come looking for you?”

At his challenging tone an icy rivulet slithered down Faith’s back, and she cast a quick glance toward the house.

“Don’t even think about it,” the man said, taking a step closer. “I’ve come for my son. I’m taking him home with me, and I’d advise you not to try to stop me,” he added, and dropped into a crouched position in front of the stroller.

“But you can’t...” Faith protested, looking around in the hope a police car might happen to be cruising the area.

“Just watch me,” he replied.

“Please, you don’t understand. I’m not...” Faith tried anew to explain, but the words dissolved in her throat when she saw the harsh angry lines on his face vanish, replaced by an expression of awe.

“He’s beautiful....” The words were a mere whisper of sound as Jared stared in wonderment at the tiny but perfect infant asleep in the stroller. Not even seeing the grainy pictures of his unborn son on the hospital sonogram had prepared him for this heart-stopping moment.

Gazing for the very first time at his own flesh and blood, his own son, an avalanche of emotions more powerful than anything he’d ever felt before gripped him, squeezing his heart and bringing tears to his eyes.

The intensity of his feelings caught him completely off guard, and so too did the sudden and urgent need to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. Reaching out, he gently touched his son’s smooth cheek.

At the contact Jared felt a tightening in his chest. As his glance drifted over the baby’s angelic face, he noted with some pride the shock of jet black hair peeking out from beneath a knitted blue bonnet.

Inhaling deeply, he caught the sweet scent of baby powder mixed with milky formula. He silently acknowledged that nothing in his thirty-seven years had prepared him for such a profound moment.

Jared released the breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. As he withdrew his hand he made a promise to his son, to be a loving, caring father—the kind of father he himself had longed for as a child.

Faith watched the array of emotions flitting across the stranger’s face and felt as if her heart were being torn from her body. Stifling a moan, she began to push the stroller toward the house.

“Hey! Just a minute.” Jared stretched to his full height and came marching after her. He grabbed the handle of the stroller, halting her progress. “You’re not running out on me again.”

He watched as tears pooled in her eyes.

“And you can cut the tearful act, Paula,” Jared continued, his tone scathing. “After what you’ve put me through these past two weeks, I’m not going to fall for that old trick. I’m here for one reason, and one reason only—to take my son home.”

Faith bravely met his fierce glare. That the stranger had mistaken her for her identical twin sister, Paula, was obvious, and from the description Paula had given her, he in turn could only be Jared McAndrew, the baby’s father. But why hadn’t Paula bothered to mention she’d been running away from the man?

“If you’d just let me finish...” Faith tried again, but this time her attempts to explain were suddenly drowned out by a baby’s cry.

Startled, they both stared at the source of the sound. The volume of the cries increased, and Faith quickly took control. Bending, she lifted the infant into her arms, hugging him to her. Rocking him gently, she crooned words of comfort.

Over the baby’s shoulder she met the stranger’s piercing gaze, daring him to challenge her. But when she glimpsed the anxiety shimmering in the depths of his blue eyes, her heart contracted.

“He’s hungry,” she told him. “And he doesn’t like to be kept waiting,” she added, moving past him toward the front door.

Faith dug in to her jacket pocket and located her keys. Opening the door, she threw a quick glance over her shoulder. It came as no surprise to see Jared McAndrew following her, bringing the baby stroller with him.

Once inside, Faith headed for the kitchen. Earlier that morning, before Nicky had awakened, she’d made up several bottles for him. Retrieving one from the fridge, she crossed to the sink.

“You’re not breast-feeding. Good. That will simplify matters,” the baby’s father said, standing in the doorway.

Faith fought down the bubble of hysterical laughter threatening to break free. “No, I’m not breast-feeding,” she responded, filling the bowl in the sink with hot water from the tap. Dropping the baby’s bottle into it, she turned to face the man hovering behind her like a vulture.

“He needs to be changed, then fed,” Faith said assertively. “When I’m finished feeding him, we’ll get this sorted out.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” he replied. “Besides, what’s there to sort out? I thought I’d made myself perfectly clear. Once you’ve finished feeding my son, I’m taking him home with me.”

A variety of emotions ranging from fear to frustration tugged at Faith, but she kept them in check. This wasn’t the time to argue, not when she had a hungry baby in her arms.

She strode down the hall and into her bedroom. After Paula had left for the airport last night, Faith had transported her dressing table into a makeshift change table by placing a thick bath towel on top of it.

Not for the first time since her twin had appeared on her doorstep twelve hours ago, Faith wondered what kind of mess her sister had gotten herself into.

Precocious and outgoing as a youngster, Paula had been the favorite child. Their parents had indulged her and encouraged her in her goal to become an actress. Faith, shyer and more introverted, had sat in the shadows, quietly developing her artistic talent, a talent that had led her to a career illustrating children’s books.

Throughout their teenage years Paula had landed herself in more scrapes than Faith cared to recall. She’d delighted in pulling reckless and sometimes dangerous stunts with no thought to the consequences.

Faith, a scant ten minutes older than her twin, had often been left to soothe ruffled feathers, pacify angry neighbors, or take the blame for things her sister had done.

After graduating from high school, Paula had moved to Los Angeles, where she’d worked as a waitress before landing a small part in a movie. From there she’d moved to New York to work in an off-Broadway show.

Faith in turn had won a scholarship to attend an artists’ college in Seattle. Living on opposite sides of the country, they’d drifted apart. Paula hadn’t been able to attend Faith’s small wedding. The last time Faith had seen her twin had been almost two years ago, at Erica’s funeral. After a brief stay Paula had returned to the East Coast, still chasing her dream of stardom.

But while Paula’s arrival yesterday had surprised her, it was nothing compared to the shock of having her twin thrust a baby into her arms and beg for her help. At the time, Faith had wondered if by some quirk of fate she’d stepped into a nightmare.

Suddenly Nicky’s cries grew more urgent, effectively bringing her thoughts back to the present. With quick, accomplished movements she changed his diaper all the while speaking softly to him till his cries subsided. As she gazed down at his cherublike face she noticed for the first time the faint cleft in his chin—a tiny replica of his father’s.

Snapping the sleeper back into place, Faith lifted Nicky from the dresser, carefully supporting his neck and head. The powdery scent of baby wrapped around her, filling her senses and storming her defenses. Suddenly a barrage of memories, memories of another baby—her daughter, Erica—washed over her. Erica had been born prematurely with a multitude of medical problems, problems that after only five days had resulted in her death.

Faith bit down on the inner softness of her mouth to stop the moan of pain and sadness threatening to escape. Blinking back tears, she firmly closed the door on the past, a past too painful to revisit.

Turning, she came to an abrupt halt when she found Jared McAndrew’s tall frame blocking the doorway.

“Excuse me,” she said, careful to avoid his gaze, unwilling to let him see her distress.

“I’m impressed, Paula,” he said moving aside. “You looked like you knew what you were doing. Did you take a crash course in child care?” he asked, cynicism in his voice.

Faith made no reply as she headed for the kitchen.

“So tell me, who owns the house?” Jared asked as he followed her down the hall. “Is it one of your actor friends...or an old lover, perhaps?”

Faith ignored him. Grabbing a tea towel off the counter, she retrieved the bottle of formula from the sink. Continuing into the tiny living room, she sat down in front of the bay window in the rocking chair she’d bought during her own pregnancy.

With practiced ease she tested the temperature of the milk on the inside of her wrist Nicky was growing increasingly fretful, squirming in earnest now, undoubtedly aware nourishment was close at hand. Faith nestled the baby firmly against her breast, and in a matter of seconds his eager mouth found the bottle’s nipple.

Closing her eyes, Faith drew a steadying breath. As she gently rocked back and forth she listened to the soft sucking sound Nicky made, a noise she’d never thought to hear again, and one that made her heart ache anew.

After a few moments Faith ventured to open her eyes. The baby’s father had followed her into the living room and was slumped in the big old armchair opposite, eyes closed and a look of exhaustion on his face.

She let her gaze travel over his arresting features; the wide intelligent forehead, the straight nose, the mouth that was full and sensual, hair as black as ebony and the attractive cleft in his chin that Paula had mentioned.

Dropping her gaze to the sleeping child once more, Faith let her thoughts drift back to the events of the previous night. Why hadn’t Paula warned her to expect the baby’s father?

“I’ve made such a mess of things,” Paula had said, carrying the stroller and diaper bag inside. “I didn’t know where else to go.”

Faith had swallowed the hard lump of emotion clogging her throat. “The baby’s yours?” She’d felt foolish posing the question, but she hadn’t even known her twin was pregnant.

“Yes, he’s mine,” Paula had confirmed with a heavy sigh, and Faith had heard neither pride nor joy in her sister’s voice. “It wasn’t supposed to happen,” her twin had continued, annoyance echoing in every word. “I forgot to take a few pills...that’s all.”

“That’s all,” Faith repeated, and lifted her gaze to meet Paula’s, wondering if her sister ever thought about the consequences of her actions.

“You’re not going to start lecturing me or anything, are you?”

“No, I’m not going to lecture you,” Faith assured her, suddenly blinking away the moisture clinging to her lashes. “Mom and Dad must be thrilled...” she went on, and immediately caught the look of guilt that flashed in her sister’s eyes.

“Haven’t you told them?” Faith asked as she followed Paula into the living room.

“No, I haven’t told them,” Paula confessed. Dropping into the armchair, she glanced up at Faith. “I haven’t told anybody. I couldn’t—” She stopped abruptly. “Not after what you went through with Erica,” she added, her voice trailing off.

“I see,” Faith responded softly, surprised and touched by her sister’s thoughtfulness.

Glancing at her twin, Faith noted the paleness of her sister’s features, as well as the anxiety tugging at her mouth.

“So, tell me. What kind of mess have you gotten yourself into this time?” Faith asked as she lowered herself with the baby into the love seat facing the granite fireplace.

“It’s complicated...” Paula replied, not quite meeting Faith’s eyes.

“When hasn’t your life been complicated? You thrive on complicated,” she added in an attempt to coax a smile from her twin.

Paula flashed her a fleeting grin. “I know. But this time, well...this time I think I’ve bitten off more than I can chew,” she concluded with a sigh.

Faith remained silent, knowing from experience it was futile to ask questions. Paula, if she felt so inclined, would explain in her own sweet time.

“How old is the baby?” Faith asked as the subject of her question began to wriggle in her arms. “And if I’m not out of line...who’s the father? Anyone I know?”

“The baby was born September fifteenth.”

“That’s just two weeks ago. And the father?” she prompted.

Paula leaned back in the armchair. “His name’s Jared McAndrew. He’s not an actor, if that’s what you’re thinking,” she added. “Well, his mother was an actress, but that doesn’t count.”

“Not an actor... Now, there’s a twist,” Faith commented dryly.

Paula’s grin appeared again. “He’s a lawyer, if you must know.”

“A lawyer!” Faith pretended to be shocked. “How on earth did you get involved with a law-year?”

“I met him through a mutual friend. At first I thought he was an actor. He’s certainly handsome enough, with gorgeous blue eyes, dark brooding looks and a cleft in his chin that’s very sexy.” She lapsed into silence, a small smile tugging at her mouth.

Faith waited for her twin to say more, but she appeared to be deep in thought. “Has the baby got a name?” Faith finally asked.

“Yes. His name is Nicholas Preston McAndrew. I named him after Grandpa Preston,” Paula answered, her tone softening a little with sentimentality as she spoke of their own beloved grandfather. “He’s much too little to be called Nicholas, so I just call him Nicky.”

“Grandpa would have been proud and pleased,” Faith replied, still finding it difficult to come to terms with the fact that the baby in her arms actually belonged to her sister. Marriage and children had always been high on Faith’s list of goals, but nowhere on Paula’s.

“Does the nonactor, not-in-show-business lawyer know he’s a father?”

“Yes. Jared knows,” Paula responded. “Listen, sis, I’m a wreck and too exhausted to think, let alone explain everything. What I need is a couple of hours uninterrupted shut-eye. This mothering routine has worn me out. I’m beginning to think I’m not cut out for it. I haven’t had a decent night’s sleep since before he was born.”

Faith hid a smile. “Welcome to the real world,” she said. “Go take a nap. The bed in the spare room is always made up.”

“Thanks.” Paula rose from the armchair. She’d taken only a couple of steps when she stopped and turned to Faith. “Uh...it is all right. I mean, you don’t mind looking after the baby, do you?” she asked with some hesitation.

Faith lifted her gaze from the sleeping infant and smiled at her twin. “No, I don’t mind,” she answered, surprised and pleased to discover she was speaking the truth.

She hadn’t as much as looked at a baby, never mind held one, since Erica’s death. In fact, Faith had deliberately made a point of avoiding situations where she might run into anyone with an infant.

But feeling the weight of Nicky in her arms, mingled with his sweet scent, was strangely comforting. Watching his chest rise and fall, she was mesmerized by the miracle in her arms. And holding him seemed to diminish the pain of her loss and restore a small measure of peace.

“Well, Nicky,” Faith said softly, once Paula had disappeared down the hallway. “I guess it’s just you and me. By the way, I’m your aunt Faith.” Nicky’s eyes flickered open in response to her voice, and seconds later he started to cry.

Carrying him into her bedroom, Faith proceeded to change and feed the infant. Afterward, she put him down in the center of her king-size bed for a nap while she tidied her workroom. Just that morning a courier had picked up the children’s illustrations she’d completed for her publisher.

Paula joined her in the kitchen two hours later. After inquiring about Nicky, she filled a glass with orange juice and turned to Faith. “Listen, sis, I have to fly to L.A. tonight,” Paula suddenly announced.

“Tonight?” Faith repeated with a frown. “But you just got here,” she added, disappointment tugging at her because Paula and the baby had to leave so soon.

“It’s really important,” Paula continued. “It could be the turning point of my career. That’s why I had to—” She broke off. “I need to get there as soon as I can. I’ve waited so long for this and I can’t afford to blow it....”

“Blow what?” Faith asked, but Paula merely shook her head and brought the glass to her lips.

Paula sighed. “I don’t have time to explain all the ins and outs. I have to catch a plane. But I need to ask a favor,” she hurried on.

“Anything. You know that,” Faith responded, wondering if Paula would ever tell her the whole story.

“Can I leave Nicky with you?” Paula asked.

Startled, Faith felt her breath catch in her throat at the unexpected request.

“I know it’s asking a lot....”

“What about his father? Can’t you leave Nicky with him?”

Paula hesitated, and avoided Faith’s gaze. “Right now, that’s not an option. And please don’t ask me why,” Paula hurried on. “Look, it’ll only be for a couple of days...a week at the most.”

Faith heard the familiar pleading note in her twin’s voice. Reaching for the towel on the drain board, she dried her hands. “Of course I’ll look after Nicky,” she said. “Take as long as you need.”

Paula’s eyes instantly lit up, her features relaxing in obvious relief. “Do you mean it?” she asked breathlessly.

“When have I ever been able to say no to my baby sister?” Faith teased gently.

Faith suddenly found herself enfolded in Paula’s arms. “Oh, sis, thanks. This means a lot to me,” Paula mumbled before spinning away. “Oh...can I borrow some clothes? I was in such a hurry when I left, I didn’t think to take any of my regular clothes with me. I’ll hit the stores once I get to L.A.”

“Sure. Check in my closet,” Faith said, only just managing to refrain from voicing the question Left where? “There’s not a lot to choose from, but help yourself,” she added.

Paula had phoned the airline and, after making a reservation, had called for a taxi. While they’d waited for the cab Faith had tried to coax some more information from her twin, but Paula had ignored her questions, and had simply kept repeating that her future depended on the outcome of the trip.

“I’ll know more when I get there,” Paula had said when the cab finally arrived. “I’ll call tomorrow morning, say around ten,” she’d said, and, giving Faith a final hug, she’d climbed into the taxi.

But Paula hadn’t called, at least not yet. Faith set the empty baby bottle on the end table beside her. She glanced at her watch. It was past nine-thirty. Shifting Nicky to her right shoulder, she began to rub his back in slow, circular motions.

Faith’s gaze drifted to the man dozing in the armchair. There could be no mistake. The description Paula had given her of Jared McAndrew the night before fitted him to a T.

Asleep, he looked considerably less threatening. Several strands of jet black hair had fallen across his forehead, affording him a boyish, almost youthful appearance. But she only had to transfer her attention to the dark shadow outlining his jaw to dispel that notion.

Nonetheless, Jared McAndrew’s threat to take Nicky was definitely real. A shiver chased down Faith’s spine. Should she call the police? she wondered. But even if she did, could they do anything to prevent him from taking Nicky?

Paula hadn’t left her the baby’s birth certificate or any documentation to prove she was related to the child. And besides, Paula had said Jared was a lawyer, and in all likelihood that would work in his favor.

Why hadn’t her twin warned her to be on the lookout for Nicky’s father? What had happened between them? Suddenly Faith recalled the comments Jared had made outside earlier, implying Paula had been running away. But why?

It appeared he was unaware Paula had a twin sister, and Faith wondered if keeping that knowledge to herself, at least for time being, might give her a slight edge.

She glanced again at his sleeping figure. The idea of tiptoeing past him and making her escape with Nicky was very tempting, but she sensed if she tried to leave, he would awaken.

Deciding to test her theory, she tightened her hold on the baby and with her pulse starting to race, she carefully eased herself out of the rocking chair.

She’d barely taken a step before the stranger’s dark, sweeping lashes lifted and a pair of piercing blue eyes met hers.

“Going somewhere?” He jerked upright into a sitting position.

“Nicky’s asleep,” Faith told him. “I was going to put him down for a nap.”

“You named the baby Nicky?” Jared asked, rising from the chair to effectively bar her exit.

“Nicholas,” she corrected, taking a step back.

“Nicholas McAndrew...” he said, testing out the name. He glanced at the sleeping child in her arms and a slow smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Nicholas McAndrew. I like it. It’s got a nice ring to it.”

“I’m glad you approve,” Faith said, fighting to keep the sarcasm out of her voice.

“But there’s no point putting the baby to bed,” he told her evenly.

“Why not?” Faith took another step back, his nearness making her feel a little claustrophobic.

“Because I’m taking him home to Grace Harbor with me.”

“Grace Harbor?” Faith repeated, never having heard of the place.

“Come on, Paula,” he said, his tone scathing. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, but it cuts no ice with me. We had a deal, signed and sealed. And if you think you can back out of it now, you’re very much mistaken.”

“A deal? What deal?” Instinctively, Faith tightened her hold on the baby, making him squirm a little in his sleep.

She watched a shadow pass over Jared’s handsome features at her words, and a look of anger darkened his eyes.

“Don’t play the innocent with me. You know damned well what I’m talking about.” His tone was icy as he held out his hands toward her. “If you’ll give me my son, we’ll get out of your life.”

Faith stared in bewilderment at the man’s outstretched hands. Regardless of the deal he’d referred to, a deal she had no knowledge of and one he’d made with Paula, Faith simply couldn’t bring herself to hand Nicky over to him and let him walk out.

She’d made a promise to look after Nicky until Paula returned from L.A.... It was a promise she intended to keep.

“I can’t do that,” Faith stated with a calmness she was far from feeling. “Where Nicky goes, I go!” she blurted out, and had the satisfaction of seeing Jared McAndrew’s blue eyes widen with surprise.