In the Heart's Shadow

by T. L. Haddix

  “You had better get some serious make-up goodies from this. If you don’t, let me know. I’ll—” She inhaled sharply. “Oooh. That hurt.”

  All movement on the deck stopped. Ethan’s face went from ruddy and amused to so white, Stacy thought he was going to pass out.

  “Beth?”

  She swallowed. “I’m okay. It was just a twinge.”

  Her father came up beside her and smoothed her hair back off her forehead, his face showing his concern. “You sure? That looked like one heck of a twinge.”

  “Help me up.” Beth grasped his hand, her moves urgent. “I have to get up.”

  Richard and Ethan had her on her feet in a flash, and she hurried through the door into the bedroom. Ethan and Jackie followed her.

  Stacy didn’t realize she’d slipped her hand into Gordon’s until he squeezed her fingers. The next few minutes were much quieter, the mood on the porch tense. When Jackie appeared at the door with a strained smile on her face, Stacy almost felt the intake of air.

  “Honey, you’re needed,” she told Richard. “Her water just broke. Folks, it looks like we’re having babies tonight.”

  The minutes that followed were chaotic. For Ethan’s peace of mind, Wyatt volunteered to drive them to the hospital.

  Before they got Beth into the SUV, she called Stacy over. “Give us a minute, everyone?”

  Ethan reluctantly backed off to give them space. As soon as he was out of earshot, she took Stacy’s hands. “Listen, I want you to go home. Get rest. Don’t feel like you have to come to the hospital. If you want to, you are more than welcome there. But I know you’re exhausted, and you need to think of yourself right now.”

  Her hands tightened, and Stacy realized Beth was having another contraction. She breathed through it, and Stacy breathed with her.

  “I don’t want you to think I don’t care. And Gordon probably wants to be there, too,” Stacy added once Beth’s hands relaxed.

  Beth’s smile was beautiful. “Oh, honey. Gordon wants whatever you do. And he does want what’s best for you, even if he is a little high-handed at times. There will be plenty time later for you guys to see these babies. I have every intention of taking advantage of your generous nature and getting you to babysit at some point.”

  Stacy smiled back. “You’re just hoping pregnancy will rub off on me.”

  “That, too. The two of you would make gorgeous babies together.”

  “Beth…” Ethan was pacing in front of the SUV. “We need to go.”

  “We do,” she told Stacy. “I don’t think this is going to be a long labor. I’ll see you soon.”

  Ethan patted Stacy’s shoulder as he got in the backseat beside Beth. “See you all at the hospital. Thanks for taking care of the house.”

  Jackie, Maria, Chase, and Annie followed them in Chase’s car. Everyone packed up the uneaten food and made sure the house was secured.

  “Kids, we’ll see you at the hospital?” Jason asked.

  “We need to head home, check on our own offspring first,” Lauren said. “Can you call when things are getting close?”

  “Sure.”

  Gordon looked at Stacy. “Do you want to go, or do you need to go home?”

  Stacy was torn. She wanted to be at the hospital, but every cell of her body was fatigued. “I think now’s the time for family. We’ll be there, just not tonight.”

  “Okay. We can call you,” Hannah, Jason’s wife, offered.

  “Please?” Stacy asked.

  “Will do. See you soon.”

  As Gordon drove them back to his condo, a thought occurred to Stacy. “The cats. Do we need to go watch them while Chase and Annie are at the hospital?”

  “Maybe. Give them a call?”

  Annie answered on the second ring. “Hey. Are you guys almost here? They rushed her in to delivery. Apparently, she’s a lot further along into the labor than anyone realized.”

  “You’re kidding. Already?”

  “Yep. Richard said she’ll probably have them within a couple of hours. They’re thinking she won’t even have to have a C-section.”

  “Is she okay?”

  Annie hmm’d, and her voice got quieter, as though she didn’t want to be overheard. “She is, but Ethan’s not. Poor guy, he’s suffering the torments of the damned out here. It’s bringing back a lot of memories from when Beth was shot. They’re prepping her now, and he can’t be back there with her. He’s terrified he’s going to lose her and the babies.”

  “Oh, geez.” Stacy’s eyes clouded with tears. “I can just imagine. If something did happen… It doesn’t bear thinking about.”

  “No, it doesn’t,” Annie sighed. “But from all indications, she’s fine, and so are the babies. No need to borrow trouble, as my mother would say. Shouldn’t you be here already? Jason and Hannah just walked in.”

  “Actually, we’re not coming tonight, unless you all need us. But we were wondering about the cats. Do you need us to go babysit?”

  “Um, let me get back to you on that. If things go as quickly as they’re saying, we’ll be home before long. Is that okay?”

  “Sure. Buzz one of us when you know something.” She ended the call and told Gordon the news.

  “That can’t be normal. I thought first babies were supposed to take days.”

  Stacy shrugged. “That’s what I thought, but apparently not. So I guess we head to your condo and wait for a call. Unless you want to go to the hospital?”

  He shook his head. “No. You were right earlier. It’s time for the family right now. And as much as I really do think they’d count us in that number, I think you need to rest more than they need us there. I love Beth and Ethan dearly, but you’re my priority.”

  Stacy reached over and touched him. Even though he hadn’t told her what she said the morning she was drugged, she didn’t think it was duplicity on his part. His sentiment was the first time in her adult life that she believed someone cared about her enough to put her first.

  CHAPTER 24

  AFTER SEVERAL STOPS THE NEXT morning, Stacy and Gordon headed to the hospital to visit with Ethan, Beth, and the new babies. Stacy’s curiosity was aroused when Gordon put a large gift-wrapped box in the car, but he wouldn’t tell her what was inside.

  “You’ll have to wait and see,” he teased, despite her cajoling.

  “Fine,” she huffed with a wink. “I’m not going to show you what I got them, either.” Because Beth had been classified as high risk, she’d insisted on not having a baby shower before the birth. She hadn’t wanted to tempt fate, so everyone had waited.

  “You know they’ve probably been inundated with gifts this morning,” Stacy told Gordon as they rode the elevator up to the hospital’s fourth floor.

  “Probably. But we’re special,” he whispered as the doors slid open. “They’ll like ours best.”

  Stacy rolled her eyes. “You’re very silly this morning.”

  They signed the visitor log at the nurses’ station, then continued to Beth’s room. The door was open, and Stacy knocked quietly on the frame.

  “Hey, you two! Come on in.” Beth greeted them from near the window, where a double bassinet sat next to a rocking chair. “You’re just in time. We’re about to try the bottle again, and I need an extra pair of hands. Ethan ran downstairs to get some coffee.”

  Setting down their packages, they slowly approached the babies. Beth was as happy as Stacy had ever seen her, and when she held her arms open for a hug, Stacy gently obliged.

  “Congratulations, Mom. How are you feeling? Should you be up and about this soon?”

  “Yes. The sooner I get moving, the faster the recovery, or so they say. And I’m tired, but happy,” came the answer as she hugged Gordon. “Want to meet my sons?”

  Stacy nodded eagerly. “Please?”

  Beth turned to the bassinet, gently touching each baby. “This is Ian, and this is Cole. They’re fraternal, not identical, and came in at six pounds, two ounces, and five pounds, fifteen ounces, r
espectively. Very healthy weights for twins.”

  Both babies were swaddled, but Ian had worked his hands free and was starting to fuss. Already moving like a pro, Beth lifted him before the fussing could turn into full-blown anger.

  “If one of you wants to grab Cole, they’ll be here shortly with their bottles,” she told them as she eased down into the rocker.

  Gordon reached out a tentative finger, which he ran along Cole’s soft cheek. “They’re so tiny,” he marveled. At his touch, the baby turned his head, eyes opening sleepily. “I’ll let you pick him up. I don’t want to hurt him,” he told Stacy.

  He didn’t have to offer twice. Under Beth’s watchful gaze, Stacy carefully picked up the newborn and tucked him close. She sat down in the second chair. “They’re beautiful,” she whispered. “And everything went well? No complications?”

  “None. Though my doctor did tell me that if we have any other children, I’d better head to the hospital the first time I feel a pang. Apparently, there was some nerve damage when I was shot, and that’s why I didn’t realize I was in labor sooner.”

  “Plus she’s apparently one of those women who are blessed and have easy labors to begin with,” Ethan added as he came in, followed by the nurse with the bottles.

  “One of the easiest labors we’ve ever seen,” the nurse added. “Who has Ian, and who has Cole?”

  Once the bottles were sorted out and the babies were eating, Beth’s attention turned to the packages. “What’s in the boxes?”

  “Boxes? What boxes?” Gordon turned around and acted surprised to see the packages. “Oh, those. Nothing worth looking at, I’m sure.”

  Ethan stepped in and took Ian. “I’ll finish feeding this guy so you can assuage your curiosity.”

  “You just can’t go five minutes without holding a baby.” Beth smiled her thanks as Gordon brought over the packages.

  “This one is from Stacy, and this one is from me. Which would you like first?”

  “Stacy’s, please.”

  Stacy held her breath as Beth carefully opened the box. She lifted the first baby blanket with a small gasp.

  “Oh, Stacy.” Done in soft blues with hints of yellows and greens, the blanket was covered in ducks, bunnies, and alphabet blocks. In the middle of the quilt, “Cole” was appliqued in the soft felt. The second blanket was similar, but with more green than blue, and “Ian” spelled out in its center. Gordon held the quilts up so that Ethan could see them.

  “Did you make these?” Beth asked, touching the corner of first one, then the other.

  Stacy shrugged. “The tops. I didn’t quilt them, though.”

  “They’re beautiful. Thank you so much.”

  Ethan’s thanks echoed Beth’s. “They’re almost too pretty to use.”

  “They are. They’d be perfect to hang above the boys’ cribs, if you don’t mind,” Beth added. “I’ve been trying to think of what to put there. We could use these, and then pass them on to the boys as keepsakes when they grow up.”

  Stacy was touched. “Whatever you want to do. I’m just glad you like them. I thought they might be too much, too personal.”

  Beth shot her a stern look and swiped at her eyes. “They’re perfect. And if you didn’t hate to be hugged, I’d come squeeze the life out of you.”

  The sincerity in the other woman’s eyes was obvious, and Stacy felt her own eyes grow damp. Cole finished with the bottle, and Stacy set it aside. She put the cloth the nurse had given her across her shoulder, then gently lifted the baby and started patting his back.

  “Okay, gimme the next gift, please,” Beth told Gordon after he’d folded the blankets back into the box. “I can hardly wait to see what you brought. It’s liable to be hard-rock outfits or something.”

  Beth untied the blue and silver bow on top, then lifted the lid. When she saw the contents, she laughed, holding her belly with one hand.

  “Oh, they’re adorable!” One by one, she lifted out four teddy bears. Two adults and two babies, the bears were obviously supposed to represent the Moore family. The daddy was a tough-guy bear with jeans, a black T-shirt, and sunglasses. He had a police badge embroidered over his heart. That Ethan’s outfit matched the bear’s exactly, minus the badge, only made everyone laugh harder. Mama Bear wore a flowered sundress, and the babies both had pacifiers and sunglasses. “Ian” and “Cole” encapsulated by red hearts were embroidered on their T-shirts.

  “If you line up the babies in the middle, Mama and Papa Bears’ hands link to theirs,” Gordon said, his voice distracted.

  Ethan put Ian on his shoulder, and Gordon made goo-goo noises at him. As soon as the baby burped, Ethan brought him down and wiped his face, then handed him to Gordon.

  “Here. You look a little left out,” he said as Gordon accepted the baby with a smile.

  “I was starting to wonder if I would get to hold one of them.”

  “Show them the boys’ hair,” Beth said. She put the bears back in the box. “These are adorable. Thank you.”

  “You are very welcome,” he told her as Ethan eased the soft cap off the baby’s head, revealing a shocking amount of light-brown hair. “Wow. That’s a lot of hair.”

  “Cole’s is dark, and he has just as much,” Beth said.

  “They look like they have little mohawks.” Stacy laughed as Ethan took off Cole’s cap. She stood and handed him over, then looked at Ian. “And aren’t you just as handsome as your brother?” The baby’s arms flailed, and he caught the finger Stacy held out to him. The moment froze in time as, connected by the baby in his arms, she looked up at Gordon. His expression was so intimate that she felt her cheeks heat.

  A knock on the door broke the silence that had fallen in the room. Beth’s doctor came in, and after turning Cole back over to his mother, Stacy and Gordon quickly said their goodbyes.

  “We’ll be in touch soon,” Stacy told Beth, clasping her hand. To her surprise, Beth tugged her closer.

  “I give you six months at the outside,” she murmured. “Better get your head around it—if you aren’t already pregnant from that look he just gave you.”

  Stacy laughed. “You’re incorrigible. And we’ll talk about that later. I promise.”

  “You all stay safe,” Ethan told them as he walked them to the door. “Call if you need anything.”

  Promising him they would be careful, Stacy and Gordon left. Instead of taking the elevator after signing out, Gordon directed her toward the stairs. As soon as they were in the staircase and clear of the door, Gordon turned her, pressing her against the wall.

  “Please tell me you want kids,” he said, his voice low. Intensity vibrated through his body, and Stacy could feel the energy from head to toe.

  “I—I do,” she stammered. “I want a houseful.”

  He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against hers. “Thank you.” The kiss he gave her was soft, but restrained, and when he drew back after a few seconds, the light in his eyes set every nerve in Stacy’s body to tingling.

  “Galen…”

  He leaned in and kissed her again, more aggressively.

  They’d had a conversation about his name after going to bed the night before. They’d been lying there, holding each other, talking about everything and nothing.

  “I feel strange calling you Gordon now,” she whispered. “Especially when we’re close, like this.”

  He kissed her neck. “What would you like to call me? Gordon’s my name.”

  “So is Galen.”

  “Yes, it is.” He smoothed her hair back off her forehead. “I don’t like my name when most people say it. I might make an exception for you, though. Say it again?”

  “Galen.” They hadn’t done much talking after that.

  The way he was holding himself against her in the stairwell was affecting her ability to think. “We’d better hit the road,” she said, despite the sensations strumming over her body. She was glad he agreed and started down the stairs. Otherwise, she had a sneaking suspicion she would
have found herself being thoroughly ravished right then and there. Being arrested for that would have been hard to explain to Wyatt and the rest of the gang at the sheriff’s department.

  CHAPTER 25

  ONCE THEY WERE ACROSS THE Ohio River and on Interstate 71, heading south toward Louisville, Gordon started thinking about how he was going to explain his house and his wealth. She gave him the opening he needed when she asked him about his house.

  “Is it where you lived with Mallory?”

  “It is. She designed it, and we had it built a few years before she died.”

  She touched his arm. “What was she like?”

  He was surprised by the question. “Mallory? She… she was alive.” He gave a dry laugh. “That’s an awkward way to describe someone who’s gone, but it’s how I think of her. She was full of energy, constantly on. She loved people, never met a stranger. I’ve never met anyone like her, before or since.”

  He watched out of the corner of his eye as she traced the subtle pattern in her dress. The movement told him she was more uncomfortable with the subject than her casual tone suggested.

  “How long were you married?”

  “Seven years. We dated for six months, got engaged, and got married six months later. She’s been gone now almost longer than we were married.”

  “That has to be hard to take.”

  He moved his shoulders restlessly. “It’s something you learn to live with, to accept. If you don’t want to crawl in the grave with the person who’s gone, you have to move on. For the first couple of years, a little longer, I wasn’t sure I wanted to move on.”

  “What changed?”

  “My niece was born. She had a lot of complications, and my brother stayed with me while she was in the hospital in Louisville. After a particularly harrowing stretch, we were both stressed out, and we took it out on each other physically. It woke me up, and I started patching my life back together.” He held out his hand and was relieved when Stacy immediately took it.

  “Is your niece okay now?”