…
Felicity could hear Jack as soon as the elevator doors opened. Crying. Inconsolable.
“I should have been here,” she murmured to herself.
“It wouldn’t have made a difference,” Graham answered, his hand catching hers. “Breathe, Felicity. Be calm. You can’t be everywhere at once. He’s awake, but he doesn’t know who you are. You know he’s yours now. He doesn’t.” Graham’s brown eyes held hers.
He was right, of course. Jack would have woken up screaming his head off whether or not she was at his bedside. He didn’t know her. No matter what the lawyer said at their upcoming meeting, this little boy wouldn’t see her as his mother—she was a stranger.
But, stranger or not, she couldn’t bear the sound of his crying. She squeezed Graham’s hand before letting go. The closer they got, the louder his wailing became. She sucked in a deep breath, put a smile on her face, and walked into the room.
“Oh, Filly, he’s in a state,” Grams said when she spotted them.
“Don’t worry. He’s a little disoriented.” A nurse was checking his chart. “Give him some time, and he’ll settle down.”
Disoriented? More like terrified. Of course he was. Waking up alone in a strange place. Not a familiar face in the bunch. Her heart ached for the baby boy.
The nurse smiled. “I see you brought some of his things. That might help. Does he have a favorite toy? Or a blanket? Something familiar.”
She carried the bag full of Jack’s things to the bedside, praying something inside worked. “Here’s hoping,” she murmured, the little boy’s bright red face worrying her. “Can I hold him?” she asked the nurse. “I don’t want to hurt him.”
The nurse smiled. “Hugs are encouraged but we don’t want to move that leg too much.”
Grams moved so Felicity could sit on the edge of the bed. “Hi, Jack.”
Jack stopped screaming long enough to look at her with huge light-brown eyes. Brown, not blue or green. Light brown. Amber’s eyes.
She smiled, smoothing the curls from his forehead. “I’ve been waiting to meet you.” She touched the tip of his nose. “I’m glad you woke up.”
He sniffed, his chin wobbling, before he pressed his eyes tight and began to fuss again.
“Hey, hey now, little one,” she soothed. But Jack turned his face into the pillow, away from her, and crossed his arms over his chest.
“You can cry.” She continued to stroke his forehead. “I’d cry, too, waking up and not knowing what was going on.”
Her grandmother squeezed her shoulder.
Felicity smiled up at her. “Grams, I’ll stay now. Thank you so much for sitting with him.”
“I’ll be back tomorrow, Filly—with the other ladies.” She pressed a kiss to her cheek. “It’ll all be right as rain, you’ll see. Keep on loving him; he’ll come around in no time.”
Felicity hugged her grandmother goodbye, praying she was right. She didn’t like feeling helpless. And right now, she’d never felt so helpless. With a wave, Grams left, and Felicity started rubbing Jack’s back. Offering comfort, through touch, was all she could do.
“Let’s see what we have here,” she said, opening the bag and pulling out a few things.
Jack had no interest in the purple hippo or the soft truck that beeped when you hugged it. He ignored the board book on dinosaurs, too.
“I can go to Matt’s condo tonight and bring back more options,” Graham offered, watching from the foot of the bed.
“I think Charity and I already cleaned out the nursery,” she murmured softly.
Graham sat on the opposite side of Jack’s hospital bed. “Was it bad?”
There was no point pretending she didn’t understand his question. She glanced at him, wrinkling her nose before rifling through the bag for other options for Jack. “It was something I hope never to experience again.” She pulled out a toy plastic phone and the blue blanket covered in lambs and clouds.
Jack stopped screaming, grabbed the blanket, and tucked his thumb in his mouth.
“Well.” Felicity smiled at the little boy.
“Looks like a winner to me.” Graham’s chuckle was soft.
Jack was staring at Graham now, sniffling and wary, but no longer screaming.
“Does he know you?” she asked.
“No.” Graham leaned forward, his peekaboo attempts warming Felicity’s heart. “Matt pretty much cut all ties to Pecan Valley once he moved to Austin.” He kept his voice playful, all his attention focused on the toddler.
Jack kept sucking his thumb, his eyelids growing heavy.
“Should he be tired already?” she asked. There was so much she didn’t know, it scared her a little.
“Perfectly normal,” Graham assured her. “His body has been through a lot of trauma. And he’s a little guy. He’ll tire easily for a while. Once he dozes off, I’ll see what I can find out about his prognosis and treatment plan.”
“Thanks, Graham.” She drew in a deep breath.
His brown eyes bounced to hers, his smile crinkling the corners of his eyes nicely. “If you need anything, or if I can help out somehow, tell me, okay? I’m here.”
He had no idea how much his offer meant to her. Not that she could burden him with any of her baggage—but still. She nodded, swallowing back the sudden tightness in her throat.
Jack pulled his thumb from his mouth and squealed, a frustrated sound that startled them both. He tried to sit up, but the cast was too restrictive, keeping him flat on his back and triggering another batch of tears.
“Bet that cast is no fun,” Graham said, reaching forward to pick up the blue-and-black-striped tiger toy Felicity had pulled from her bag. “It’ll take time to get used to.” He made a silly face.
Jack blinked, his uneven breath and tear-streaked cheeks tugging at Felicity’s heart. “I’m so sorry, little guy.”
Jack glanced her way, his scowl almost comical. Clearly, he preferred Graham. He tugged the blanket tighter and resumed furiously sucking on his thumb.
“You like your blanket?” She smiled. “Nick had one just like it. Nick’s your big brother.” She paused, studying the little boy whose gaze fixed on her face. “When he was little, he carried it everywhere he went. It got frayed and dirty by the time I managed to get it away from him.” She ran her hand over the edge of Jack’s blanket. “Your daddy called it his germ mat.”
Jack tugged the blanket from Felicity’s touch and turned his face away from her. From this angle, he could be Nick, with his golden curls and his round cheeks working away as he sucked his thumb. Silence washed over them. Felicity did her best to keep thoughts off the life she’d lost forever. It had taken her a while to come to terms with her divorce, but she had. Now she was a wiser, stronger, and far more cautious woman than she’d been before. But that was good, wasn’t it? So she wouldn’t be blindsided the next time something unexpected cropped up.
Like this.
No. She’d been blindsided anyway.
Little Jack’s chest rose and fell steadily, the quiet easing him into a peaceful sleep. For now. But when he woke up again, she’d still be a stranger. His favorite blanket could only do so much.
“Sometimes I miss this.” Graham kept his tone soft and soothing. “When a pacifier or a favorite toy could fix almost everything.”
She nodded and sat back in her chair. Infancy, toddlerhood—they’d been golden years that she’d enjoyed with every fiber of her being. Teenagers were different. She studied Graham Murphy. He was raising a teenage daughter on his own. And not just any teenage daughter. Diana was a mess, broken and screaming for attention. She knew Nick struggled with his emotions from time to time, but Diana—well, you couldn’t live in Pecan Valley without hearing things. And Diana Murphy’s antics came up often. From her suggested relationship with a no-longer-employed coach at one of the private s
chools in a neighboring town, to her pot possession and expulsion from the small Catholic school in Pecan Valley—Diana seemed bound and determined to leave a wake of destruction behind her.
“Diana was an easy baby.” He continued, almost as if he’d read her mind. “Quick to smile and laugh.” He glanced at her, the vulnerability on his face too raw to stay quiet.
“She’s testing you,” she murmured softly.
“And I’m failing.” He paused, hesitating before he added, “I don’t know how to change that or even if I can.”
It was impossible to imagine what he was describing. No matter what they’d been through, she and her children were close. At least, she hoped they were. If Matt had taught her one thing, it was people’s perspectives varied widely. She thought they were close—close enough to know when her children were in distress. Diana was clearly in distress, quite possibly the sort of distress that needed professional help. “Don’t be offended, okay, but have you thought about counseling?”
“I’m not offended.” Those brown eyes met hers, raw and bleak. “She’s been seeing a psychiatrist since Julia died—after she tried to kill herself the first time.”
Felicity tried not to react. Diana had tried to kill herself? Multiple times? And he’d had to deal with that on his own? “Oh, Graham…”
“Her psychiatrist wants to admit her to one of those rehab places.” He cleared his throat. “Like sending her to that sort of place will help her. Maybe it’s the best thing for her, but my instincts tell me it’s not.” He blinked and his voice was thick. “If I send her away, she’ll hate me even more. I’d be deserting her—the way I did her mother.”
Surely, he didn’t believe that? “You never deserted Julia, Graham.” He’d been at his wife’s side through her entire cancer ordeal.
“I let her die.” The words were harsh. “I gave her permission to stop fighting.” He sat back slowly, his gaze settling on the sleeping boy. “That’s the way Di sees it. I gave Julia permission to let go and stop fighting. I took her mother away.”
Felicity watched Graham—the way he rolled his head and ran a hand along the back of his neck. Diana was too young to understand how lucky she was to have this man for a father. Or how much her actions and words hurt.
“While I was obsessing over losing my wife, my daughter was losing her mother.” He cleared his throat again. “It took me a while to realize that I’d been self-absorbed. Like Matt, I abandoned my daughter and my responsibilities.” He looked at her then. “I won’t do it again. I can’t risk it.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to argue with him. He wasn’t Matt. But she knew what he meant. Adults didn’t have the luxury of immersing themselves in their own emotional experiences—not if there were children in the mix. “Adulting sucks sometimes.” She smiled at him, relieved when he smiled in return.
“You can say that again,” he agreed. “Might sound wrong, but Jack’s the lucky one. He’ll never know what he lost or what he’s missing.”
She leaned forward, taking the little hand in hers. Graham was right. Jack’s leg would heal and whatever memories he had of Matt and Amber would be hazy at best. He was so young. That was some sort of blessing.
Nick, Honor, and Diana? They understood all too well. Their wounds would take years to heal. And the guilt she and Graham carried for wounding their children?
Would they ever recover from that?
Chapter Six
Graham stared at his phone. It wasn’t a familiar number, which immediately set off warning bells. Diana. Always Diana. She’d said she was volunteering at the library today—then waited for him to drill her with questions and details. Instead, he’d called the library on his way to work and confirmed she had signed up to volunteer. Not that volunteering ensured she’d stay out of trouble. He drew in a deep breath, paused in the hall outside the next exam room, and hit redial.
“Hello?” He nodded as one of the nurses walked past, escorting a very pregnant Mrs. Guajardo into exam room five.
“Hello?” He didn’t recognize the voice. “Graham? Graham Murphy?”
“Yes,” he snapped. “If you’re selling something, I’m not interested—”
“No.” A high, feminine laugh. “It’s Romi Takahashi.”
He blanked. Did he know a Romi Takahashi? No one sprang to mind. But the name was familiar.
“Miss Takahashi—from St. Thomas Catholic School. The assistant principal. But, please, call me Romi.”
The school Diana had been expelled from. “Yes.” Now he knew exactly who it was—he’d spent enough time in her office. But it didn’t clear up why she was calling him now. Diana was no longer enrolled there. And it was summertime. “How can I help you?”
That laugh again. “Don’t tell me Eileen Rainey didn’t call you?” She paused. “She gave me your number. Said something about you mentioning having coffee with me but…were too shy to call?”
No, she hadn’t told him. Because Widow Rainey knew good and well he’d never said anything about having coffee with Miss Takahashi or any other woman in Pecan Valley, and he would have told her so. Again. He closed his eyes and swallowed the litany of curses that rose up. “She did?”
“Yes.” An awkward silence ensued. “So, anyway, I’d love to have coffee. If you’re free?”
No, he wasn’t. “Coffee?” He was flattered but… “Now’s not a good time.”
“Well, not now now. Of course. I meant, sometime in the near future.” She paused. “I was really flattered you’d ask, after Diana and…well, you know.”
Technically, she was the one asking—but he didn’t point it out. He was still doing his best not to blow a gasket. It wasn’t Miss Takahashi’s fault. He didn’t know how the hell Widow Rainey gotten his number, but this was a problem. Widow Rainey was relentless and, clearly, she hadn’t listened to his objections. Not good. He’d never thought to guard his number. Considering his profession, most of his patients had it. He might have to rethink that practice going forward. “I’ll have to check my schedule and get back to you.”
“Sounds great, Graham. How’s Diana doing?”
“She’s fine.” He didn’t miss the nurse’s pointed look from the clock to the patient’s door. He understood. None of them wanted to work late. Again. “I’m sorry to cut this short, but I’m at work—”
“Oh, right, right. Some people have to do that job thing through the summer, too.” She laughed again. “I’ll let you get back to it. Looking forward to hearing from you soon.”
“Right. Bye.” He hung up and stood, staring at the exam room door. Clear head. Work mode. He took a slow, calming breath, grabbed the chart, and entered the exam room. “Good afternoon…” The name threw him for a loop. “Charity?” Charity Otto was the last person he’d expected to find in his office.
“Surprise,” she said, her cheeks a bright red.
He scanned over her paperwork. Charity Otto was pregnant. And alone—two things that didn’t add up. Where was Felicity? Or Mrs. Otto for that matter? “Yes.” He glanced at her, then back at the chart.
“I’m pregnant,” she whispered. “I’m just as shocked as you are.”
He smiled his professional smile, ignoring the list of questions he was mentally assembling. She was here as his patient. As such, the only questions he should ask were pertinent to her and her baby’s health.
“You can’t tell anyone, right?” she asked, fingers pleating her examination gown. “I know you and Filly are getting chummy, but I’m wanting to wait a while on my baby bombshell. I think the family is dealing with enough at the moment, don’t you?” It was a sincere question—as if she wanted his opinion.
“You’re my patient. Unless you give us permission to share information, all of this remains here.” He studied her, noting how uneasy she was. She looked young. And scared. “You’re almost three months along?” he asked. “You won’t be
able to keep it a secret for long. Pregnancy is emotional enough without keeping it a secret. You have a supportive family. You should tell them, Charity, so they can be here for you.”
“I’ll take that under advisement, Doctor.” The paper on the exam table crackled as she swung her legs back and forth.
He began a quick exam, listening to her heart and lungs before reading over her chart. “Your numbers are good. Blood work looks great. Are you taking prenatal vitamins?”
She nodded.
“Eating well?”
She shrugged. “If that means eating everything in sight, yes. I’m eating very well.”
He smiled. “No. That’s not what I meant. Focus on eating quality food—foods that will give your baby the vitamins to grow big and strong.”
Her skin paled as she nodded. “My baby. I can’t tell you how bizarre that sounds,” she whispered.
“Unplanned, then?”
“Oh yeah.” A nervous giggle. High. Forced. “I met Sergio when I was working as a private tour guide in Florence. He sort of swept me off my feet. Seven weeks later, his wife comes knocking on our apartment door.” She shrugged. “Turns out his missus was someone important enough to get me fired. I hocked the diamond ring Sergio gave me after his faux proposal and made my way home.”
Graham had no idea what to say.
“I know. Crazy, right?” Her hands gripped the edge of the exam table so tightly her knuckles whitened.
Scared, alone, and hurting, then. “I’m sorry.” He meant it.
She smiled even though her eyes filled with tears. “Graham, you’re the sweetest guy.” She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “If I hadn’t already decided you and my sister are soul mates, I would so be crushing on you.”
“Not you, too,” he murmured. First Diana. Now Charity. No. Felicity deserved better.
Accidentally Family Page 8
