Family Secrets: Books 5-8

by Virginia Kantra

  The guys? Too late Luke muttered, I have no idea what youre talking about.

  Molly didnt buy it. Her smile died slowly. Its time, Luke. Time to get on with your life. I like her. She gets the official Molly stamp of approval, not that it makes any difference who approves when it comes to matters of the heart.

  Matters of the heart. Yeah, like it or not his heart was definitely involved. What about Faith? Was her heart a part of this or was their impulsive affair just a casual fling for her? He would not have thought her capable of a casual sexual encounter, but the woman who woke him in the middle of the night with expert hands and softly spoken demands was not the timid wallflower Dr. Faith Martin normally appeared to be.

  You know, Molly said in a dreamy voice, I was so worried about Betsy, but I think maybe Dr. White actually likes her. Did you ever talk to him? You know, about not trifling with Betsys affections.

  No. Finding time to talk to Faith was a problem. Cornering one of her geeks for a dressing-down wasnt at the top of his list of things to do. He had a feeling nothing he could say to either White or Betsy would make a difference, anyway.

  Just as well, Molly said softly. Maybe we should let nature take its course. Betsys shy, but shes a grown woman. I should probably quit trying to interfere in her love life.

  Luke glanced up at the content woman. You think?

  Her response was a cutting glare. Dont get smart with me. Hey, Ive been married more than twenty years. The romance is still alive at my house, but its not new anymore. Theres something very energizing about romance when its fresh. Let me live vicariously through you and Betsy. Well, you and Dr. Martin, and Betsy and Dr. White, she clarified.

  This is a fascinating discussion, Luke said dryly, but if you dont mind, I have a baby to deliver. He snapped his bag closed and walked briskly past Molly. He left the office without looking back.

  Snow. She had known it was coming for days, and here it was, falling fast in large flakes that quickly covered the ground in a blanket of white.

  Luke had left the clinic a couple of hours ago. Molly said he was at a nearby ranch, delivering a baby. After everything theyd seen here, after all the uncertain days, it was nice to know that life went on.

  Still, she missed him. Missed turning around to find him watching her, missed knowing he was close bymissed wondering if hed go back to the motel with her tonight.

  Dr. Martin, Molly called from the other end of the hall.

  Faith turned away from the window and the snow beyond. Yes? One look at the nurses face and she was immediately concerned. Mollys plump face was set in a frown.

  Neldas on the phone. Her sister fell and twisted her ankle, and she needs to get out there to help. Its pretty far out of town, but within the quarantined area. With the weather taking a turn, Nelda isnt sure when shell be home, but Luke still isnt back and Nelda doesnt want to take Abby with her. Her brother-in-law has a cold, and her sister doesnt like kids much when shes well. Theres no crib or anything out there. Molly took a deep breath before getting to the point of the too-long explanation. Can you spare me for a few hours?

  In truth, Molly was more necessary to the routine operation of this clinic than Faith was. Could they spare her? Of course they could. But it didnt make much sense to let her go.

  I can help, Faith said. Id be happy to take a look at Neldas sister or Her breath caught in her throat, for a moment. Or I can watch Abby until Luke gets home.

  Mollys worried expression relaxed. No one can handle Neldas sister but Nelda, so I wouldnt ask you to go out that way. But if you wouldnt mind watching Abby

  Not at all. Im finished here for the day, and I have nothing else to do with my time. But sleep, which she needed badly. Abby went to bed early, she recalled. Once the baby was in bed, she could sleep on the couch until Luke returned. Then maybe they could have that talk shed been trying to formulate in her head all day.

  Faith bundled up in her own coat and a snug, warm hat and boots borrowed from Molly. The boots were a size too large, but when laced up tightly worked very well. She asked a soldier to walk with her, when it looked like a couple of the reporters intended to follow her to Lukes house. Mimms was off duty, but a similarly fresh-faced young private accompanied her to Lukes cabin, snow buffeting their faces and very quickly piling up on the ground. Her borrowed boots crunched in the new flakes.

  The snow was beautiful, patches of pure white made bright by the lights of the clinic, a lone streetlamp and the light on Lukes front porch. She headed unerringly for the glare of that porch lamp.

  There was something clean and crisp and hopeful about the snow. She rarely saw it fall so early, or so abundantly. So much of her time was spent in warmer climes far from home.

  Faiths heart ached a little. In truth, she didnt have a home. She didnt stay in the apartment she shared with Janine long enough to call it a true home. She hadnt lived with her parentsher adoptive parentsfor several years before their deaths. The house shed moved into at the age of ten now belonged to someone else. It hadnt been home for a very long time.

  She was beginning to remember her childhood home, the happy moments and the sad, the smells and the laughter and the tears, but that too was a home long gone.

  Luke had made a true and lasting home here. Hed put down roots, claimed his territory, made himself an indispensable part of this community. He belonged here. She didnt belong anywhere.

  Her guard for the evening was not as talkative as Private Mimms had been. He walked beside her silently, his head occasionally lifting to watch the snowfall.

  Where are you from? Faith asked.

  Alabama, originally, but I havent been there in years.

  She smiled. They dont see this kind of snowfall often in Alabama.

  No, maam, he said with a shake of his head.

  Its beautiful, isnt it?

  Yes, maam, it is, the guardsman said reverently. That bit of polite conversation out of the way, they walked in comfortable silence.

  No wonder Luke loved living here! The mountains, the magnificent trees, the streams where he liked to fish. He was surrounded by nature at its wildest and most beautiful.

  In spite of their slowed step, thanks to the snow, they reached the cabin quickly. Thank you for walking with me, Faith said as she stepped onto the porch steps. Jakes words of warning echoed in her brain, but she pushed them aside. She couldnt wonder about prying eyes in the dark of night, strangers lurking in the shadows. Right now she was much more worried about what Luke would think when he found out who she was. What she was.

  Nelda threw open the front door as Faith reached for the doorbell.

  Thank goodness. Abbys nanny was already wearing her own coat, boots and scarf. Youre an angel to do this.

  No, really, Faith said as she stepped into the warm house. A low fire burned in the fireplace, and something aromatic drifted from the kitchen and teased her nose. Im happy to help.

  A few minutes later, Nelda exited through the kitchen door and into the garage, where her car waited. She issued instructions as she walked briskly. Faith took it all in. Food. Milk. Diapers. Bedtime. There was an empty space in the garage, where Lukes SUV was normally parked.

  Moments lat
er, Faith and Abby were alone.

  Abby sat on the kitchen floor with a collection of colorful plastic blocks before her. Faith waited for the child to start to cry. After all, they were practically strangers. But Abby did not cry. She studied Faith carefully, perhaps critically, but she didnt wail. She didnt even tear up. Good.

  Faith removed her coat and borrowed hat and hung them on a peg by the kitchen door. That done, she sat on the floor with Abby, cross-legged and nervous. Why on earth did a small child make her nervous? Faith wanted Abby to like her. Normally she didnt care if people liked her or not.

  Faith picked up a red block and then a blue one. Abby reached for yellow, and together they constructed a small stack of blocks. With a sigh, Faith relaxed. So far, so good.

  You look very much like your father, Faith said as she placed the red block atop the blue one. Baby talk was silly and unnecessary. A child would learn to speak much more quickly if he or she were spoken to in a normal tone of voice.

  Abby answered with a goo.

  Hes a very nice man, and Im sure hes an excellent father, Faith continued. This past year has been difficult for you both, I imagine, though you of course dont understand.

  Abby glanced up with wide, innocent blue eyes. Lukes eyes.

  Faith sighed. You have no idea what Im saying, do you. Would you like something to eat?

  The babys face lit up, and she smiled and dropped her blocks. Eeee!

  Yes, its time to eat.

  Faith placed Abby in the high chair and affixed the large bib that had been placed on the table. She didnt see the reasoning in attaching such a large bib to such a small child, but since it was there she made use of it.

  Abby banged a block on the tray of her high chair while Faith heated the childs dinner to the proper temperature.

  As Nash would say, piece of cake.

  Debbie McCord was healthy, and the delivery of her child was progressing normally. But this was her first baby, and things were not moving along quickly.

  Stu, the father-to-be, paced restlessly behind Luke as Debbie silently suffered another contraction. Isnt it about time? Stu asked. Cant you do something to hurry things along? What the hell is taking so long?

  The three of them were crowded into a small bedroom, and the impatient father was getting on Lukes already tattered nerves. When hed packed his bag, he should have thought to throw in some sedatives for the new father.

  Everything is progressing very well, Luke said calmly when Debbies contraction was finished and she breathed normally again. Could you make me some coffee, Stu?

  Stu stopped pacing. You want me to leave the room?

  Just to make coffee. I promise you the baby wont come before you get back. Weve got a couple more hours at least.

  A couple more hours? Stu asked loudly. Then with a grumble he left the room.

  Debbie gave Luke a pale, wan smile. Dont be mad at Stu. Hes just anxious.

  Luke smiled and patted Debbies hand. Im not mad. I understand exactly what hes going through.

  I guess you do, Debbie said softly, closing her eyes and taking a moment to relax.

  Hed delivered a lot of babies, including Abby. He remembered so well the night Abby had been born. All along hed assured Karen and Molly and everyone else that he was fine. That delivering his own child was no different than delivering any other baby.

  Hed been lying through his teeth. Man, he had been so scared that night. So worried that something might go wrong. Of course, everything had been just fine, as it would be tonight.

  In the distance, a telephone rang. The bedroom extension had practically rung off the hook before Luke had ordered it disconnected. Everyone was anxious about Debbies baby being born at home and wanted to know how things were going, but she didnt need to go through labor with the phone jangling beside her head. Anyone who wanted to could leave a message on their machine.

  The phone only rang twice. A few moments later, the bedroom door opened and Stu stuck his head in. That was Molly.

  Lukes first thought was of Faith. Is everything all right at the clinic?

  Yeah, I guess. She said to tell you that Nelda had to run out to her sisters, and that Dr. Martin is sitting with Abby.

  Luke glanced sharply over his shoulder. She is? Dr. Martin is baby-sitting?

  Yeah, isnt that okay? I can call

  No, thats fine, Luke said in a calmer voice. Fine but unexpected. Faith, taking care of the baby? Somehow he couldnt see it. Shed been anxious around Abby that one night hed taken her home for supper. Faith was as much a scientist as she was a doctor. She was certainly not accustomed to taking care of babies.

  A mental picture filled his mindFaith, rocking Abby beside the fire. Faith smiling, Abby contented. The two girls he cared for so much safe and happy and together. Warm, in spite of the snow. Happy, in spite of the crisis that was tearing this town apart.

  Of course, he imagined no one had called Faith a girl since shed been Abbys age. She was a woman, through and through, much too staid and sensible to be labeled a girl. And Abby was rarely content and quiet at the same time, so that part of the picture didnt work, either.

  Neverthelesshe supposed it was possible. Since the image soothed him, he held on to it as Debbies labor continued with a contraction that made her scream.

  Twelve

  F aith glanced down at the splatters of mashed carrot that splayed across her blue sweater. I didnt realize the bib was intended for me, she said softly.

  As if she understood, Abby laughed.

  Once again, Faith tried to lead the small spoonful of carrots into Abbys mouth, and again Abby pursed her lips and blew, effectively giving Faith a baby raspberry. More carrot puree flew in Faiths direction. Her face took the brunt of the assault this time around.

  The child continued to reach for the spoon Faith held, but thus far Faith had refused to relinquish control. After all, the child would make a mess if she were allowed to feed herself. Faith glanced down at her sweater and sighed. How much worse could it get?

  Fine, she said, handing Abby the spoon.

  Delighted and smug, the baby took the spoon awkwardly. Her concentration was intense as she scooped up some of the carrots and led the utensil to her mouth. The spoon took a dangerous turn and a small glob of the carrots fell. But some food clung to the baby-sized utensil and found its way into Abbys mouth. Success.

  Stubbornness is not an attractive trait in a young lady, Faith said sensibly as Abby continued to feed herself. On Abbys small plastic plate sat a pile of pureed meat, as well as mashed green beans and the infamous carrots. Abby didnt eat much of the meat, but she did take a taste. The meat went into Abbys mouth, but most of it was expelled with a small pink tongue. When Faith tried to encourage the child to eat more meat, she got a look that said, very clearly, You eat it.

  She did, reaching out to scoop a small bit onto the end of her finger and then tasting. No wonder Abby didnt eat the meat! It was awful. All right, Faith conceded. You can be a vegetarian tonight.

  Her own stomach growled, and she g
lanced toward the stove. One pot simmered there, steaming lightly and filling the kitchen with a fabulous aroma. Stew or chili or soup filled that pot, she imagined, the perfect meal for a snowy evening. Faith was tempted to fix herself a bowl now, since Abby was feeding herself, but she decided to wait. Once Abby was asleep, then shed eat in peace.

  Tired of wrangling with the spoon, Abby began to eat with her hands.

  Faith now knew what the bib was for. It was large, yes, but not quite large enough. Abby got more food on herself and the bib than she did in her mouth. Her cheeks, neck, hands, arms, even her ears were smeared with tiny bits of the gooey meal. Abby also managed to flick more food in Faiths direction. The gummy bombs usually landed when Faith least expected them.

  Your father is going to come home and find me covered in your food, Faith said. Hell think Im completely incompetent. Really, Abby, you must be more a lump of the tasteless pureed meat found its way from Abbys spoon to Faiths forehead, where it landed with a plop and hung precariously careful.

  Abby smiled, again with an angelic expression that disguised devilish tendencies.

  Faith wiped the baby food from her forehead. If it wasnt so cold out, Id suggest we move into the backyard and hose ourselves down, Faith muttered. As it is, I fear we are both going to need a bath before the evening is over.

  Baaa! Abby shouted with glee, slapping her hand down onto the tray with such force that a small amount of mashed green bean splattered out in all directions.

  Faith glanced down at the spots of green along the splatters of orange on her sweater. Lovely.

  Baby girl McCord was born without difficulty at 9:27 p.m. Debbie and Stu decided to name her Hope. Luke thought it a fitting and heartwarming name, given the circumstances. They could all use a little hope in their lives these days.