The Baby Switch!

by Melissa Senate

  “What a shot,” Aunt Cheyenne said, showing her phone to her sister and niece. “I’m going to have this one printed out and framed for you, Shel.”

  Her family must have taken a hundred shots of them in the boring old room and more outside. Some folks passing by gawked—the gossip mill would be running once word got out that the second-hand shop owner had married a mighty Mercer.

  “Oh, Shelby and Liam,” Annie said, her blue eyes misty with tears as she linked her arm around Abe’s. “I’m so happy for both of you! And just think, the Wedlock Creek legend has already come true for you!”

  Shelby glanced at her brand-new husband. “Um, Annie, I’m not pregnant. With one, two, or three babies.”

  “Yeah, but you have twins now, don’t you?” Abe said, straightening his blue bow tie. “Those little fellas are exactly the same age, born the same day at practically the same time. They’re as close to twins as you get without being blood related.”

  Shelby gasped.

  Liam raised an eyebrow.

  “Well, we definitely have multiples,” Shelby said, looking down at Shane and Alexander. “There are indeed two of them.”

  Liam tilted his head. “Huh. Multiples.” He smiled and gave each baby a gentle caress on the head. “I did get married in the chapel and I do have multiples.” He looked at Annie. “How does that legend go? Multiples in some, way, shape or form?”

  “Yup,” Annie said. “I can add another notch to the wall of couples for whom the legend came true.”

  While Shelby tried not to think about the legend coming three-quarters true and what that might mean, they all made their way to the Pie Diner, which Shelby’s family had decorated with Congratulations banner and balloons and streamers.

  The Mercers, including Harrington, were warm and friendly and everyone enjoyed the pie sampling, coffee and iced tea. But when Harrington asked to hold Shane and made a special point to bond with the little boy, Shelby couldn’t help but notice Liam watching his father. Watching his father not hold Alexander—even once. Watching his father not look Alexander’s way.

  All the other Mercers treated Alexander as the adored grandson he’d always been and they fussed over Shane as the new addition to the family. But Harrington never veered from his focus on Shane.

  God. The man clearly didn’t know he’d been adopted. Because if he did know, DNA couldn’t possibly mean so much to him. He’d know that family was a word built on love and commitment and taking responsibility and caring.

  As Shelby listened to Clara Mercer rave to Norah about how amazing the chocolate chip peanut butter pie was, she glanced over at Liam, who was staring at his father, eyes narrowed, as Harrington Mercer held Shane and pointed out the window at a little red bird on a tree.

  Shelby knew her new husband enough by now to know that he was steaming mad and that there was going to be a showdown. Maybe not today—not on their wedding day, however practicality-focused it was. But a showdown was coming. And truth be told, Shelby had a feeling Liam would learn a thing or two about how love really worked, too. Because you couldn’t pick and choose whom you loved. If you were capable of the emotion, and Liam clearly was, you couldn’t just decide you weren’t going to love the woman you had to marry. Just like his father couldn’t decide he suddenly didn’t love his six-month-old grandson because he wasn’t a “real Mercer.”

  If Liam couldn’t love her it was because chemistry and the mysterious properties of love just worked that way. But to decide you weren’t going to love? Nope, didn’t work that way.

  And Shelby knew both men were going to find that out the hard way.

  Because Liam felt something more than just friendship. That was one of the few things she was absolutely sure of. She looked down at her beautiful wedding ring sparkling on her left hand. Yes, she was sure.

  * * *

  There were surprises waiting for Shelby at her new home. She knew she’d be moving in after the wedding and had packed two suitcases to start, but Liam had not only moved all the babies’ things into the nursery at the ranch, he’d also added another fancy crib for Shane and had his name painted on the wall above with the U of Wyoming Cowboys’ logo beside it.

  Liam had been right when he’d said Shelby would love the guest room his cousin Clara had decorated. The moment she stepped in she felt like she was at the beach, in a bungalow designed just for her, with the most soothing of pale blues and yellows and white, a hint of pink here and there. There was a glider chair by the window by a bin of baby paraphernalia, everything she could need to soothe a fussy little one in the middle of the night.

  There were red roses in a vase on her bedside table.

  A plush white robe and matching slippers on the edge of the bed.

  And a big wrapped gift on the bed itself.

  “What’s this?” she asked, suddenly feeling a little too aware of the bed in the room. On her wedding night. Well, wedding late afternoon. But still. A bed. A wedding ring. A husband and wife. And nothing was going to happen.

  “A gift for you,” he said.

  Shelby smiled at the huge gift. It was rectangular and she had no idea what it could be. She took off the giant silver bow, then ripped open the wrapping paper.

  “Oh, Liam,” she said, staring at it. “This is absolutely beautiful.”

  It was a treasure chest, a hope chest, antique white with her name stenciled across the top in gold. She had a few hope chests for sale in her shop and they always went quickly, but she’d never found one that she wanted herself—until now. She loved it.

  “I’ve always wanted one. Thank you, Liam.”

  “I have a big desk drawer where I keep all Alexander’s keepsakes. I figured a hope chest would be nicer. More room as the boys grow up.”

  She bit her lip, a little too verklempt to speak. “It’s perfect. I have something for you, too.”

  She dug in her tote bag on her shoulder for the wrapped box and then handed it to him.

  He unwrapped it and smiled. It was a photo of Alexander and Shane in their bouncers, and Shelby had caught a moment when Shane was reaching toward Alexander’s little cowboy hat. Shelby put it in a pretty antique frame she’d found at an estate sale.

  “That little cowboy hat makes me very sad now, unfortunately,” he said.

  Oh, darn. She hadn’t even thought of that when she’d wrapped the gift this morning. She thought it so well represented who Alexander was, who Liam was.

  He stared at the picture. “Well, if my father is really the baby in that letter you found in the music box, we know one thing for sure. He doesn’t know he was adopted. Or he’d never turn his back on Alexander just because they’re not blood relations.”

  “I was thinking the same thing at the Pie Diner. I’m so sorry, Liam.”

  “How do you just stop loving a six-month-old baby? It’s insane.”

  She nodded. “There’s no way he stopped loving Alexander. He’s just put a wall up. That’s all. And walls can be blasted through.”

  “Walls are strong, though. And my father is stubborn.”

  “Talk to him. Tell him how you feel. Tell him how painful this is—not just for you but for Alexander. He might be little now, but to be rejected by his own grandfather?”

  “The hell he will reject him!” Liam shouted. “I won’t stand for it. I’ll give him a couple of weeks to come around. After that, if he doesn’t, well, there won’t be any more Mercer family Fridays.”

  “You can’t cut him out of your life.”

  “Why not? If he cuts Alexander from his?”

  “God, this is complicated.”

  “No, it’s not, Shelby. Love and family aren’t complicated when it comes right down to it. Take us, for example. We went into this knowing exactly what’s what, right? It’s not like I was madly in love with you and then upended the status quo or changed the rules midway because o
f this or that.”

  “But you’re so sure you can’t change your mind about love, Liam.”

  Had she said that aloud? She felt her cheeks burn a bit, hating that she’d exposed herself. But maybe she had to. For both their sakes. If he was going to help his father, maybe she had to help him see how stubborn he was being.

  “Not can’t. The way I feel about romantic love is a decision. To opt out.”

  “And what if you fall madly in love with me, Liam? How are you going to opt out?”

  “I’m not going to fall in love with you. Because I’ve made a decision not to.”

  She smiled. “Right. Because that’s how romantic love works. Liam, please. Romantic love conks you over the head.”

  “I can choose not to—that’s all I’m saying. And I do choose that. Because I’ve experienced the devastation firsthand—twice. And I’m not going through that again. Now I have everything I want and need. My two sons. A mother who loves them both. And nothing will come between us—because we’re not romantically involved. We’re a partnership.”

  She took a deep breath. “Liam, your dad is choosing not to love Alexander right now. That’s not okay with you.”

  He sat down on the edge of the bed. “I’m not so sure it’s a choice. I mean, I don’t think he woke up and decided that Alexander isn’t his grandson. It’s a feeling that came over him very strongly out of...fear, I guess.”

  “Choice, not a choice. We can go around and around trying to figure all this out. Your father will come around. I believe that.”

  “You have more faith than I do.”

  “I know,” she said. “Believe me.”

  He stared at her then, and his blue eyes narrowed, but he didn’t ask what she meant—or what she was really talking about. Because he probably didn’t want to delve too deeply into his own feelings about love and romance and marriage.

  She had a good seventeen and a half years ahead of her to help Liam Mercer open his heart to her. She wondered what would happen after the boys’ high school graduations. When they turned eighteen and were legal adults. Would Liam say, “Well, we did our jobs and now we can go our separate ways?”

  She had no idea. The subject had never come up and was so far in the future there was no point. Shelby wasn’t so sure she could see a month into the future, what it was going to feel like to wake up every day as this man’s wife. But not his real wife in the true sense of the word.

  Suddenly, real and not real were more complicated than she expected.

  “So,” he said. “This is a special occasion. How about I make us two great steaks and we have some wine?”

  That sounded kind of romantic. And like a good start, even if he didn’t intend it that way.

  Chapter Eleven

  Liam woke up the day after his wedding, the photograph of Alexander and Shane on his bedside table the first thing he saw.

  The second thing: his wedding band.

  Liam had taken the rest of the week off to research what they needed to do about adopting the boys, to investigate the letter in the music box and most important, to bond individually with the switched baby and to spend time together as a family.

  Liam had made breakfast for everyone, blueberry pancakes for him and Shelby, and boy, had she been surprised that he cooked—and pretty well, too. Then they packed up and headed to the Wedlock Creek park. April in Wyoming wasn’t exactly short sleeves weather but the sun was bright and they walked the path along the river and showed the babies the beauty of Wyoming wilderness.

  A visit to the courthouse in the county seat informed them that the magistrate had no idea about the legalities and ins and outs of their situation but would make calls. Shelby and Liam let the man know they’d like to formally petition to adopt both boys so that there was no question as to their legal status as the boys’ parents.

  That taken care of, they had a picnic lunch on the town green, thankful that a taco truck had taken up residence in the center of Wedlock Creek. Otherwise, there was only a coffee shop, an Italian restaurant where everyone celebrated special occasions and a saloon-like steakhouse with amazing mashed potatoes and creamed spinach.

  After sort of crawling on the big picnic blanket for a little while, both babies managed to tucker themselves out and were now fast asleep in their carriers. Liam held up his soda can. “A toast to our first full day as a family unit. Went great, I’d say.”

  She clinked colas with him. “I agree. This marriage may be a practical partnership, but today felt truly special, Liam. Thank you.”

  And then she leaned close and kissed his cheek. A sweet kiss. A thank-you. Nothing more.

  But desire and instinct had taken over and before he could stop himself, he put both hands on either side of her face and kissed her full on the lips.

  He pulled back and blinked. Why had he done that? “Whoa. Swept away by the moment. Sorry about that.”

  “I’m not, Liam. Swept away is a good thing. It’s natural. It’s—”

  “It’s not going to happen again. Don’t you worry.”

  He’d make sure of it. For the sake of the two little guys napping inches away, he couldn’t fall in love with their mother. Because falling in love led to eventual discord and disappointment and broken hearts. Right now things were close to perfect. They were becoming true friends, real friends. Last night, over steak and his garlic mashed potatoes and wine, they’d sat on the couch in the living room, talking about everything from the time Shelby climbed a tree in her front yard and couldn’t get down and the fire department from two towns over had to come get her out, to when Liam was named President of Mercer Industries, what he’d thought was the happiest day of his life.

  Until Alexander was placed in his arms by a doctor at the clinic, the same doctor who’d had him sit down for the news about Liza.

  He couldn’t quite call that the happiest day; not with losing Liza, with Alexander never having the chance to know his lovely mother. But it had been the most special, the most moving—the first time he held his son, his child. The first time he felt the fierce love of parenthood.

  They’d talked for hours, moving between serious memories to lighthearted ones. And they talked about the babies—Shelby had filled him in on everything he’d missed in Shane’s six months on earth. The ear infection from hell. The first time she heard him laugh. The way she could have the worst day of her life and then look at Shane, needing everything she didn’t have left to give, but finding it because she loved him so much.

  He knew exactly what she meant.

  And then she’d reached for her wineglass and her sweater lifted enough for him to see an expanse of creamy soft skin at her waist and between that and the curve of her breasts and her beautiful profile and sexy hair, he was overcome with lust.

  More than lust. Last night he hadn’t just wanted to have sex with Shelby. He’d wanted to make love to her. Slowly and lovingly and for hours.

  And so he’d retreated, missing her the moment they’d said their good-nights and their bedroom doors closed.

  He had to be careful. And it wasn’t just now. Kissing her like that, being spontaneous, doing what he felt like doing instead of being his usual guarded self.

  Being spontaneous and doing what he felt like sure felt better than holding back all the time.

  “Penny for your thoughts,” she said. “A dime for inflation.”

  “I’m just glad we’re in this together,” he said. Again—spontaneously. Couldn’t he have told her he wanted another turkey sandwich?

  “Me, too,” she said, squeezing his hand.

  And he didn’t want to let go.

  * * *

  The next morning, as Shelby turned the sign on the door of Treasures to Open, one of her favorite customers, Charlotte Linden, came in, a small cardboard box in her arms.

  “Charlotte, let me help you,” She
lby said, rushing over.

  “Oh, please,” Charlotte said. “I might be seventy-eight but guess who just came from hot yoga? And I kept up with the millennials, too.”

  Shelby smiled. “No doubt.” Charlotte was glowing with good health. “Just trying to be a doting proprietor. What do you have for me?”

  Charlotte opened the box. “I inherited these from my great-aunt years ago and to be honest, I think they’re the ugliest things I’ve seen. I don’t like frogs, though. Some people do.”

  Shelby laughed. Two matching miniature lamps with a bronze frog inlaid on the base. “You know who loves frogs? Callie Minnow. I’ll bet she’ll grab them the moment I put them on display. I’ll give you fifteen for the pair.”

  “Twenty and we have a deal.”

  She’d list them for twenty-five and break even at twenty when Callie, as expected, would fall in love with them this Friday.

  “Oh, my goodness!” Charlotte exclaimed suddenly, her mouth hanging open. “Is that what I think it is?”

  Charlotte was staring at the ring on Shelby’s left hand. Shelby had just started getting used to the feel of it. But every time the beautiful, sparkling diamonds caught her eye she would stop and wonder: Where did this come from? I’m married? When did that happen? She was always taken by surprise. Maybe that would go away in time. When being married—and to Liam—felt like...real life.

  “Sure is. I got married yesterday. To Liam Mercer.”

  Charlotte’s eyes widened. “Liam Mercer? You’re kidding. You gonna sell this place?”

  “Now, why would I do that? I love Treasures. I love when someone just like you comes in with frog lamps to sell and I know just who will want to buy them.”

  “You’re a millionaire now. You don’t have to work.”

  A millionaire. Shelby Ingalls? She almost laughed. Then realized it was sort of true. Liam had told her he would not ask her to sign a prenuptial agreement because no matter what, their relationship would be forever. “Regardless of my new husband’s net worth, Treasures is my heart, Charlotte. You know that.”