Verdict: Daddy

by Charlotte Douglas

  He set the diaper bag in the back seat of the truck, then returned for the carrier. Marissa held Drew while Blake secured the infant seat. The baby appeared remarkably happy and content, and she couldn’t help wondering how he could be so cheerful, considering the impersonal circumstances under which he’d lived the few short months of his life.

  “We’re going to find you a good home, little man,” she crooned, “with people who love you. I promise.”

  Drew answered with a crow of delight, as if he’d understood every word.

  She glanced up to find Blake staring at her as if she were some intricate puzzle he was trying to solve. His look unnerved her, and she hastened to the truck to place Drew in his carrier.

  As she settled in her seat and fastened her seat belt, the irony of her situation struck her. In divorcing Harry and returning home, she’d hoped to uncomplicate her life, to give herself a firmer emotional footing.

  So how had she ended up with two guys who had stolen her heart?

  BLAKE SAT at the dining room table, leisurely enjoying his second cup of coffee after dinner. The past three days had gone so remarkably well he worried that he might be pushing his luck.

  He’d found Melanie and Drew, gained custody of the twins, unofficially, at least, until after the formal hearing with Judge Standiford in three days. In a stroke of amazing good fortune, Agnes Whitcomb had welcomed them home after their trip to Orlando. Her sister’s recovery had been so impressive, Patricia had insisted Agnes stay in Sarasota no longer. As a result, his neighbor had been available to care for Drew upon their return and had also agreed to look after Annie once Judge Standiford released her from the foster home.

  When Blake had returned to work at his drawing table after the trip across the state, the sketches for the Hearthstone Project had flowed with ease, and the developer had enthusiastically approved them.

  And, best of all, Blake had shared three incredible days with Marissa and Drew, as if they were a real family. Blake had bought a stroller, big enough eventually for two, and with Marissa and Bo had walked Drew downtown. Nell Gleason, a reporter, following up on the flyers the Jacobses had posted, had written the entire story of the Smith twins in the local paper. People who’d read her account had stopped them on the street to admire the little boy with his big brown eyes and unfailingly cheerful disposition and to wish them luck.

  Debbie Arnold was already fielding calls from dozens of couples anxious to adopt Annie and Drew. But as Blake reflected that, among the applicants, the right parents were sure to be found, he felt a sense of loss. Having never been around a baby before, except for twenty-four hours with Annie, he’d been surprised at how quickly he’d become attached to the smiling little guy. Blake hadn’t even minded getting up in the middle of the night to feed him.

  Marissa sat across from him now, Drew cradled in her arms, her golden hair half hiding her face as she babbled softly in baby talk. The comforting sounds filled Blake with contentment and a sense of peace he’d never experienced before.

  The only bare spot in his life was the other half of his bed, forbiddingly empty after the incredible night he’d spent with Marissa in his arms.

  Ever since he’d left his last foster home to attend college eighteen years ago, Blake had been on his own. He’d enjoyed his single life, reveled in having his own place, one where he didn’t feel like a sometimes unwelcome visitor, but now his single life stretched before him with a bleakness he’d never expected. With a jolt he recognized that he wanted a family of his own. And not just any family. He wanted his and Marissa’s.

  But you don’t know the first thing about being a good husband or father, his conscience reminded him.

  But Blake also knew he was no dummy. If he tried, surely he could learn the needed skills. Maybe the local community college taught marriage and parenting classes. The problem was, in his consideration of marriage and fatherhood, Marissa was the central part of that equation, and after their night in Cedar Key, she’d made her position clear. She wasn’t interested in being more than friends.

  Not knowing how much of her reluctance came from the pain of her failed marriage, he’d have to tread carefully. But one thing was certain. Before he tackled learning the intricacies of family life, he had to win the heart of the woman he loved.

  “You’re really good with children,” he said. “Drew adores you.”

  “He adores everybody. I’ve never seen a baby with a sweeter disposition.” Her love for the little boy gave her face a special radiance. He wanted to hold both of them and never let them go.

  “That baby has you wrapped around his little finger.” The huskiness in his voice divulged his emotion. “You could end up adopting him yourself.”

  Her wistful expression was replaced almost immediately by a look of stubborn resolution. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that.”

  Surprise rippled through Blake. “About adopting him?”

  Marissa shook her head. “About hiring a live-in nanny. I need to find my own place to live. If I take care of this little tyke much longer, leaving him will break my heart.”

  What about leaving me? Blake wanted to ask, but he knew her answer. She’d insist they were just friends. Somehow he had to convince her that friendship was the perfect foundation for love. But before he could think of a strategy, the doorbell rang.

  Bo barked, leaped from the floor at Marissa’s feet and raced to the living room.

  “You expecting anyone?” Marissa asked.

  Blake shook his head. “I’ll see who it is.”

  He followed Bo into the living room, turned on the porch light and opened the front door.

  “Surprise!” Pete and Diane Jacobs yelled.

  Stunned, Blake gazed past them to his front yard, where what appeared to be at least half the population of Dolphin Bay stood, joining the Jacobses in their cries.

  “Surprise!”

  Chapter Twelve

  Marissa, still holding Drew, joined Blake at the door. The baby flinched at the roar of voices that greeted Blake when he answered the bell, but, amazingly, considering the thunderous noise, the baby didn’t cry.

  “What’s going on?” Marissa asked.

  Blake stood aside, and Pete and Diane, their arms loaded with packages wrapped in pink and blue paper, bustled inside.

  “It’s a baby shower,” Diane said, eyes bright with excitement. “The town wanted to help the twins.”

  “I’ll bring in more chairs from the kitchen and dining room,” Pete offered.

  “Where is the dining room?” Laura Mason, carrying an enormous bakery box, entered behind the Jacobses. “I need a table for this cake.”

  “Mom!” Marissa gasped in surprise. “What are you doing here?”

  “Joining the rest of Dolphin Bay, from the looks of it.” Blake, appearing dazed, moved farther aside for others to enter. “Nice to see you again, Mrs. Mason. The dining room’s right through that door.”

  “Hi, Blake. Hey, sis.” Suze followed her mother, her arms filled with two gallon-size Thermoses. “You guys sit down and get comfortable. We’ve taken care of everything.”

  Numb with surprise, Marissa sank onto the sofa with Drew. Blake joined her, and they watched in amazement as friends, neighbors and total strangers, all bearing gifts, trooped inside.

  Agnes appeared from the back of the house. “I borrowed the large coffeemaker from church. Coffee will be ready in a few minutes.”

  “Did you plan this?” Blake asked his neighbor.

  Agnes grinned happily. “Can’t take all the credit. Several of us had the idea at the same time. That article in the newspaper touched our hearts. Everyone wants to do something for those sweet babies.”

  “And their mother.” Debbie Arnold approached them. “Nell Gleason, the reporter you spoke with, Blake, says contributions for a scholarship fund for Melanie Smith are pouring into the newspaper’s office.” Debbie set a large, bulky package on the coffee table in front of them and moved away.


  “Can I hold him?”

  Marissa glanced up to find Kitty, her receptionist, hovering over her, craning to get a view of Drew. As if he understood Kitty’s request, the baby held out his arms and laughed.

  “Oh, God.” Kitty scooped the little boy into her arms. “I’m in love.”

  Marissa smiled. “He has that effect on people.”

  Kitty nodded. “It’s too bad his sister isn’t here for the party, but we figured it best to have everything ready for them as soon as possible.”

  Dozens of people, including the clerk from the baby boutique, the court stenographer, and even Blake’s mailman, stepped up to speak with Marissa and Blake and leave gifts on the coffee table.

  A light flashed. A photographer had joined Nell Gleason and was taking pictures.

  “This could make the national news,” Nell called to them.

  “I’m surprised the television crews aren’t here,” Blake said with amused irony.

  “They’re on their way,” Nell responded happily before directing the photographer to take a shot of the crowd.

  Marissa caught sight of her brothers and sisters-in-law across the room and waved. They waved back, but didn’t try to reach her through the press of people.

  Through the arch leading to the dining room, she could see her mother, Suze and Agnes dispensing cake, coffee and punch.

  “This is unbelievable,” Marissa said to Blake, and nodded to the mountain of packages piled in front of them. “Opening these will take till midnight.”

  “Is there anyone in Dolphin Bay who isn’t here?” Blake asked.

  A sudden quiet fell over the room as everyone stopped speaking at once, and the crowd parted to allow a newcomer to approach Marissa and Blake.

  At the sight of the police uniform, Marissa felt a shiver of dread.

  Blake rose to his feet. “You joining the party, Don? There’s cake and coffee in the dining room.”

  Don Lopez, who’d been on the Dolphin Bay Police Department as long as Marissa could remember, looked uncomfortable. “I’m sorry to crash your party, Blake, but a complaint’s been filed.”

  Marissa grabbed Drew from Kitty and clutched him close, fearful Officer Lopez had come to take the baby away. “What kind of complaint?”

  Lopez grimaced. “The lady across the street called, complaining about the noise, traffic congestion and some illegal parking.”

  “Vienna Pitts.” Anger suffused Blake’s face. “Thanks, Don. I’ll handle this. Have some refreshments while you’re here.”

  Blake strode toward the front door. Marissa, afraid Blake might do something that would negatively influence his custody hearing, handed Drew to Kitty again. “Can you watch him a minute?”

  “Not much more,” her receptionist said with obvious enjoyment, “or I’ll have to kidnap the little guy and take him home with me.”

  Blake was halfway across the street when Marissa left the house. She ran and caught up with him just as he knocked on Vienna’s door.

  The woman answered almost instantly. She must have been expecting the police, because her aged face registered obvious surprise and wariness when she recognized Blake and Marissa.

  Hoping to calm him, Marissa placed her hand on Blake’s arm.

  “Good evening, Mrs. Pitts,” Blake said in an even, friendly tone. His earlier anger had either dissipated or was well disguised.

  “What do you want?” the old woman snapped.

  “To apologize,” Blake said.

  Marissa blinked in surprise. Even Vienna looked taken aback.

  “Seems like the whole town has taken over our neighborhood for a baby shower for the Smith twins,” Blake explained. “With everyone else at our house, it doesn’t seem right for you to miss the fun. Will you join us?”

  Vienna’s mouth gaped in astonishment before she snapped it shut. When she recovered from her surprise, she sputtered, “I don’t have a gift.”

  “You don’t need one.” Marissa followed Blake’s lead. He’d obviously decided to employ the catch-more-flies-with-honey approach. “Your presence is gift enough.”

  A myriad of emotions scudded across the old woman’s face. Her expression softened, her eyes teared. “You really want me?”

  “Of course,” Blake said with such conviction Marissa knew he spoke the truth.

  Vienna broke into a smile that made the bitter old woman disappear and a pleasant lady take her place. “Let me get a sweater.”

  “You had her figured out all along,” Marissa said after the woman closed the door.

  Blake shook his head. “It just hit me tonight. She’s been a widow living alone for years. I remember how I used to feel as a kid when I was left out of things. So I figured trying to include her was worth a shot.”

  “Why are those that need love the most often the hardest to love?” Marissa mused, but Vienna’s return kept Blake from responding.

  The trio crossed the street and entered Blake’s house.

  “One more for the party,” Blake announced, cutting the shocked silence that had enveloped the room at their entrance.

  “Hi, Mrs. Pitts.” Pete recovered quickly and offered the older woman his arm. “There’s a piece of cake in the dining room with your name on it.”

  Vienna blushed like a young girl, took Pete’s arm and allowed him to lead her away.

  The mild roar that had previously filled the room returned, along with cries of “Open the presents!”

  A man Marissa recognized as a member of Blake’s landscaping crew shoved him gently toward the sofa. Marissa hung back to watch.

  Before Blake reached for the first gift, he scanned the room until his gaze settled on her. The warmth in his eyes made her heart flutter. “You going to make me do this alone?”

  “You’re the one who wanted twins,” she replied, trying to appear nonchalant, knowing everyone in the room had noticed how he’d looked at her.

  “Too many gifts for one man to tackle,” he said. “We’ll be here all night unless I have help.”

  “Go on, Marissa,” Kitty encouraged her. “You’re as much of a surrogate parent as Blake.”

  From behind, Suze gave her a gentle shove.

  “Okay,” Marissa conceded with a shrug and unaccustomed self-consciousness.

  Her discomfort was soon forgotten in the avalanche of riches their friends had brought. Best of all, however, was Blake’s unrestrained enthusiasm and total enjoyment of the situation, which he exhibited with admirable humbleness. Marissa realized with a start that he’d probably never been the recipient of such an outpouring of affection and support.

  “Mrs. Pitts,” Blake called to his neighbor and patted the sofa beside him. “How about keeping track of who gave what? There’s a pencil and paper in the drawer of the coffee table.”

  With a childlike giggle and clear delight at being singled out, Vienna followed his instructions.

  Blake had worked a miracle with his obnoxious neighbor. In many ways he was like baby Drew, always bringing out the best in people. First thing in the morning, she had to find a nanny. If she stayed much longer with Blake and Drew, leaving would be more than she could bear.

  “Hey, you’re not carrying your share of the load.” Blake’s voice broke into her thoughts.

  Marissa blushed, wondering how long she’d been holding the unopened gift on her lap. She tore into the paper to find matching sweaters, navy blue for Drew, neon pink for Annie. The guests applauded to show their approval.

  An hour and a truckload of discarded wrapping paper later, Marissa surveyed with disbelief the mountain of baby clothes, disposable diapers, toys, matching high chairs, cribs and changing tables donated to the twins.

  The final crumb of cake had been eaten, the coffeepot drained, the last drop of punch consumed, and the guests had drifted away. Marissa put Drew to bed, and Pete, Diane and Vienna Pitts helped Blake clean up.

  Marissa returned to the living room to find Blake alone, sitting on the sofa with his feet propped on the coffee table. He
smiled at her approach, as if expecting her to join him on the couch, but she raised her defenses against his charm and took a chair opposite him.

  Bo jumped off the sofa and lay at her feet.

  “Can you believe all this?” Blake’s gesture took in the gifts stacked against one wall.

  “It’s overwhelming, but not completely surprising. The folks in this town are good people. We’ve always known that.”

  “Know what the first item on my list for tomorrow is?” Blake asked.

  “Thank you notes?”

  “I’ll tackle those tomorrow night. First thing in the morning, however, I’m contacting a real estate agent.”

  “You’re not selling your house?” Marissa asked in alarm. She couldn’t imagine a more perfect place for Blake to live. He’d indelibly stamped each room with his personality.

  Blake laughed. “No way. But I’ll need to rent office space. I’m turning my office into a nursery.”

  “Then you’ll want my room for the nanny.”

  “I won’t need a live-in nanny if you’ll stay.”

  His gaze was so intense, his eyes filled with such pleading that she had to look away.

  “I want my own place,” she insisted, but her heart contradicted her words. She wanted her own place, all right, one right beside Blake. At the prospect of leaving him, she felt more alone than she ever had after divorcing Harry. Leaving her former husband had brought freedom and relief. Leaving Blake was going to be the hardest thing she’d ever done.

  “I understand,” Blake said reasonably. “You should take enough time to find exactly what you want. Buying a home is a big step. You shouldn’t rush into it. But you’re welcome to stay here as long as it takes.”

  She wished his trying to talk her out of leaving was because he wanted her there, but she guessed his reluctance for her to go came more from the prospect of a stranger living in his home to care for the twins.

  “I can rent something while I look for a permanent place,” she said.

  “And get locked into a lease? You don’t want that.”

  Frustration filled her. What she wanted she couldn’t have. Obviously, the only reason Blake wanted her to stay was to help with the twins. He’d never said a word about loving her, needing her or wanting to share a life with her.