The baby startled, clamping down hard on Megan’s nipple, and when Megan jumped, the baby cried. Megan was at a loss for what to do, but the nurse calmly maneuvered the baby back into position. However, with Helen watching, Megan could not quite relax. The baby pulled harder, as if sensing her tension, but they were both trying to make this mother-daughter thing work.
The nurse laid her hand on Megan’s shoulder. “You’re doing fine. I’ll be right outside if you need me.”
Helen set down the car seat and bag in a chair and came around to look at the baby. “She looks so pretty. I swear she’s a carbon copy of Scott.”
The sound of Helen’s voice distracted the baby, and she cried. This time Megan tried to angle her nipple back toward the baby, but for whatever reason the kid would not latch now. All the pictures Megan had seen of happy, tranquil, breastfeeding mothers felt more like a pipe dream. The baby cried and fussed as if she had just figured out she had a rookie mom.
“Just turn the nipple down a little,” Helen said.
“I know. I’m doing everything that the nurse said. It’s just not working.”
“Maybe I should go get the nurse. I don’t want the baby going hungry.”
“She won’t go hungry.” Panic rose in Megan’s throat. This was something she wanted to figure out, because the day would come when she would be doing it alone.
“She needs every bit of nourishment she can get. She was only six pounds, one ounce. And babies always lose weight the first week.”
“I’ve got this,” Megan lied. She wanted so much to prove to Helen she could do this one thing.
“I’ll get the nurse.”
Before she could tell Helen to wait, the woman was gone. “Come on, kid. You’ve got to work with me. I know you aren’t an old pro at this either. It’s a team effort.” The baby rooted her mouth around but still did not latch.
Seconds later Helen returned with the nurse, who reminded Megan that breastfeeding would take a little time. Megan guided the baby’s mouth forward and the kid suckled.
“See, just a bit of expert advice,” Helen said.
Megan thanked the nurse. She wanted to savor this moment with her daughter, but Helen still hovered. “What did you buy, Helen?”
“Ah, I bought you a car seat, a month’s worth of diapers, formula just in case, a breast pump, and . . .” She continued to list off items, but Megan lost count.
“That’s very generous. You didn’t have to do that.”
“Of course I did.” Helen smiled down at the baby.
“I understand the baby had a good night,” Megan said.
“That’s what they told me. I noticed over her bassinet in the nursery, it read Baby Buchanan. I felt certain you’d end up using the Jessup name.”
Megan didn’t want to fight about names right now. “I haven’t thought about names.”
“Well, it’s a good thing you have me. I spoke to the staff, and they agreed to write Jessup on the card. I don’t want anyone getting confused about who my little angel is. Are we agreed her name is going to be Scottie?”
She smoothed her hand over the baby’s tuft of dark hair. “I’m not sure about the name, Helen.”
“What name are you considering?”
“I keep coming back to Diane,” she said.
“The girl who wrote the letters?” Helen asked.
“Yes.”
“Seems an odd choice, don’t you think? You never knew the girl.”
“I kind of feel like I do. Her sister Claire is the reason we’re all here now.”
“Diane Jessup,” Helen said, testing the name.
“Diane Jessup Buchanan,” Megan said.
“The baby deserves her father’s name.”
“And she has it. As well as her mother’s.”
Helen stared at her a long moment. “You’ve clearly had a long night.”
“Yes, I have.”
Helen removed a small stuffed animal from one of the bags and rubbed its soft fur. “I spoke to Grandmother last night. I’d like to bring her by to see the baby.”
“We would enjoy that,” Megan said. “I want my daughter to know her family.”
“Perhaps at Winter Cottage in a few days?”
“Perfect.”
“And just so you know, I plan to speak to Lucy,” Helen said. “I think it would be an excellent idea if I move into Winter Cottage. There are plenty of spare rooms.”
“You think Lucy will agree to this?”
“I can be very persuasive. Fear not, she will say yes, and I’ll be there for the baby day and night.”
Two days later, the nursing staff and doctors pronounced Megan ready to go home with her new baby. She wanted to argue that they had made a mistake and that she was not nearly qualified enough to care for a child. But the nurses assured her over and over that she would be fine. As Lucy drove them all home, Helen sat in the front passenger seat and Megan in the back next to the car seat. Somehow, along the way, Megan had agreed to let Helen stay at Winter Cottage for a couple of weeks.
They arrived back at Winter Cottage, where Hank and Natasha greeted her with a bouquet of pink balloons. Lucy cooed over the baby while Hank stared at the child as if he wasn’t quite sure what to do with his latest cousin. Natasha regaled them with statistics from CPR class and showed them numerous YouTube videos.
By the time mother and baby had settled in their room, Megan was exhausted and her nerves were shot as she lay back on her bed and closed her eyes. It seemed like only seconds later, the baby’s cries jerked her awake.
Helen, who had made herself at home in the room beside Megan’s, was at the doorway. “Is Baby Diane all right?”
“She’s just hungry.” Megan picked up the baby and felt the heft in her diaper. “And wet.”
“Let me change her.”
“No, I have to do this, Helen.”
“You’re exhausted. I lost track of how many diapers I’ve changed.”
Megan carried the baby over to a table now outfitted with a changing pad and laid the crying, wiggly girl down. Helen hovered close, pointing out when Megan had the diaper upside down and when she didn’t tape the tab on the side tight enough. Finally, Helen whooshed her aside and within seconds had the baby properly diapered.
“See?” Helen said, cradling the baby close. “That was easy, wasn’t it, Diane?”
And this was how it went for the next few days. Megan lost track of her days and nights and began to wonder if a person really could die from sleep deprivation and being smothered by a too-helpful almost mother-in-law.
Thankfully, Megan physically recovered very quickly. Five days into motherhood, the sun was shining, and she was anxious to get out of the house and walk.
Helen had insisted on babysitting, pronouncing it too cold for the baby to be outside.
“She’ll be fine,” Megan said. “It’s seventy degrees, and I’m going to wrap her up in that awesome outfit you bought her. Besides, aren’t you supposed to be checking on Grandmother Jessup today?”
“Really, Megan, I think you should stay inside,” Helen said.
Megan laid her hand on Helen’s. “It’s okay. The baby will be fine. All will be well.”
Helen’s brow furrowed with worry. “I’ll be back as quick as I can.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting Grandmother Jessup.”
After several more bits of advice, Helen finally drove off, and Megan released the breath she’d been holding for days. “Okay, kid, it’s just you and me. We’re going solo, and we’re walking to Spring House to see how the framing is going. You okay with that?”
The baby nestled close to her, and she took that as a yes. Outside the sky was a brilliant blue, the clouds white and wispy. As she walked, she kept her hand on the baby’s bottom and moved slowly at first for fear the pack might slip off. But the pack held, the baby slept, and with each step Megan felt a little better and more confident.
When she arrived at Spring House, Mr. Tucker and his men
had reframed the rafters in the roof, and the shingles for the new roof had arrived. Inside, the new plumbing was being roughed in, and the electrician had begun rewiring the house to code. To have three contractors working on the project at one time was nothing short of a minor miracle on the Eastern Shore.
Mr. Tucker came out and greeted her. “I heard you had a project of your own going.”
“I did. This is Diane.”
He smiled at the baby. “I have six of my own. Nothing better.”
She wasn’t exactly sure when this little baby had totally stolen her heart. But Diane had managed it, and Megan knew there was no going back. “You’re right about that. How goes it with the house?”
“Right on schedule. I want your approval to bring in a landscape crew. A buddy of mine has a crew on the Eastern Shore tomorrow, and they’re looking for a half day’s work. He could clear around the foundation of that kitchen house and see what you have there.”
“Can he text me a quote?” Megan asked.
“Already asked.” He pulled out a business card and handed it to her. Handwritten on the front was a quote for three hundred dollars. “He’ll clear all the land around it.”
“I don’t want the apple trees damaged. It’s important that we save them.”
“I’ve told him that.”
“Then let’s do this. I’m curious about what’s over there. What about the basement? What’s the status?” Megan asked.
“There is some water damage, and it’s filled with boxes that will have to be cleared out. There also appears to be a padlocked door.”
“A padlocked door?”
“Most likely more storage, but if you want the basement resealed and the floor dug out so we can have more headspace, the door is going to have to be opened.”
“Once you’ve got the room cleared, go ahead and open it,” Megan said.
“Will do.” Mr. Tucker gave her a quick tour of the house, and she was pleased by the progress. The cabinet, granite, and floor people had been scheduled, so it was now full steam ahead. “I’d take you into the basement but don’t know if the air is good for the baby.”
“Understood. I’ll come back tomorrow without her.”
“By then we should have the door opened, and you can get a first look at what’s likely old junk.”
She laughed. “One man’s old junk is often my kind of treasure.”
When she arrived back at Winter Cottage, Rick’s truck was parked out front. She had not seen much of him in the last week. He’d stopped by the hospital the day after the baby was born, reminded her if she needed anything to call, and then he had vanished.
He was not dressed in uniform and looked really nice in his jeans and button-down blue shirt. Aware that she was now wearing nipple pads and her maternity pants, she brushed her bangs from her eyes and thought maybe he would not notice the heavy scent of milk that followed her everywhere.
“Long time no see,” she said.
“I brought you a present,” he said.
“Baby Diane is one lucky girl.”
“The present is not for the baby. It’s for you. I got the lowdown from Lucy on what Helen has bought the baby, and I know the kid is set for at least a year.”
A thrill of excitement rocketed through her. “Perhaps even two years.”
“This gift is just for you.”
She brushed her bangs from her eyes. “Come on inside, and I’ll make you a cup of coffee.”
“Where’s Lucy?” he said as he stepped inside.
“She’s meeting with a wedding planner. The extra tent that the planner put up saved the day.”
“Never mess with Arlene’s predictions.”
“So I’m learning.”
He dropped his gaze to the baby. “Hard to believe someone so small could strike such fear in me. My nerves were buzzing for days after she was born.”
She shifted and tugged back the pack so he could see her face. “I suppose she wanted to make a dramatic entrance.”
“She’s going to be a heartbreaker.”
She walked into the parlor and carefully lifted the sleeping baby out of the pack and laid her in the cradle now lined with a soft pad Helen had ordered custom made. The baby nestled into the folds and relaxed.
“How long she sleeps is anyone’s guess. But I just fed her, so I think I have a solid hour.”
His gaze crossed quickly over her full breasts. “Motherhood agrees with you.”
“I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck.” She sat on the settee, and he took the chair to her right.
He reached in the paper bag and pulled out a long, thin box. It wasn’t wrapped, nor did it have a bow, but Rick had never been the kind of guy who fussed over frills. “I remember you mentioning Ragland’s Mariner Antique Shop in Norfolk, so I stopped by and picked this up for you.”
Excited, she shifted in her seat. “Sounds mysterious.”
“Full disclosure, Duncan suggested this for you. He seems to know the items you gravitate to. It’s not much, but you said you weren’t a fan of flowers.”
The fact that he’d even bothered to ask Duncan meant more to her than she could say. She accepted the box, smoothing her hand over the surface. Carefully, she lifted off the lid and peeled back the tissue-paper lining.
Inside was a wet-plate photography print of Spring House, and in the background was Winter Cottage while it was still under construction. A finely dressed man and woman stood in front of Winter Cottage, both appearing to survey the construction work.
“Duncan discovered that your great-great-grandfather hired a series of photographers to document the construction of Winter Cottage. He said the photograph you bought a couple of weeks ago was taken about a year earlier than this one.”
She smoothed her fingertips over the edges of the image, staring at the couple in the distance. “This is my great-great-grandfather and his soon-to-be second wife, Elizabeth Lawrence. Wow. Thank you, Rick.”
“I’m glad you like it.” His voice sounded relieved and a little pleased.
“I love it.” When she looked up, he was staring at her in a way that made her body hum. How was it that he could just look at her and make her want things?
Desire and energy made her forget that her hair was not really combed, makeup might be a thing of the past, and that she smelled like milk and baby. She wanted so much to lean in and kiss him. But if she did, whatever pull there was between them might just evaporate as the reality of their lives would tug them in different directions.
Rick held steady, not moving forward or backward. If a kiss was going to happen, it would have to be her doing.
She had a newborn, a job that would keep her crazy busy for several years, and an almost mother-in-law who was going to be a fixture in Diane’s and her lives for the long term. She was nobody’s rose.
And still, she leaned toward him slowly, waiting for him to pull back. But he stayed put. He was as steady and sure as the lighthouse on the property.
Her lips were inches from his when the front door burst open and slammed shut. The baby startled awake and began to cry. Megan drew back in time to see Helen appear. Her gaze slid between the two, and her eyes narrowed as if she knew they’d been about to kiss.
Helen stiffened and shook her head. “What’s going on here?”
Megan drew in a breath. “I was about to kiss Rick.”
Helen crossed the room and readied to pick up Diane. “I’ll take the baby.”
Megan stepped in front of her and cradled Diane in her own arms. “She’s my child. I will take care of her.”
“I don’t think the child should be in this room with you two now,” Helen said stiffly.
“Why?”
Helen straightened. “You are disrespecting my son’s memory. He’s barely been dead a year, and you have forgotten him. He never would have done this to you.”
And in that moment, Megan reached her breaking point. All her actions to protect Scott’s memory were forgotten. “Of course h
e would have done it to me.”
“How can you say that?” Helen’s voice was bright with anger. “You were never good enough for my boy. I tried to raise you to his standards, but I can see I wasted my time.”
“His standards! Your son cheated on me! He betrayed me!” She patted the fussy baby, trying to soothe her cries and hold back her own tears.
Helen shook her head. “How can you say such lies?”
“They aren’t lies,” Megan hissed. “I caught him in bed with my bridesmaid Brandy two weeks before the wedding.”
“It’s a lie,” Helen said. “Scott would never do that. Rick, tell Megan she is wrong about my son!”
When Megan looked to Rick, she expected to see the same disbelief she saw on Helen’s face. Instead, there was no hint of shock.
Rick looked at Megan. “I’m sorry, Helen. But Megan is right. Scott was cheating.”
Megan stepped back, swallowing a hard lump in her throat. “You knew.”
“Yes,” he said.
“This is not true,” Helen said.
Rick’s gaze didn’t waver from Megan. “I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you. Scott and I fought over this several times, and I told him to get his act together or I would go to you.”
“But you didn’t, did you?”
“I would have made him tell you before the wedding,” he said.
Tears streamed down Megan’s face, and Helen stared at them both in horror.
“Very convenient to say that now.” Megan turned and, holding Diane close, walked out of the room toward the staircase. “Both of you get out of this house. I want nothing to do with either of you.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Megan
Friday, May 4, 2018
Cape Hudson, Virginia
3:00 p.m.
The days following her fight with Rick and Helen had been a blur for Megan. Her time was spent caring for Diane and overseeing the work at Spring House. It wasn’t lost on her that as the old house was coming together, her life was falling apart. Helen had moved out, and she had tried to call Megan several times, but Megan ignored the calls. And when Helen had shown up unannounced, Megan had refused to see her or let her see the baby.
It was a warm spring day when Megan received a call from Mr. Tucker, who had finally cleared enough debris from the cellar so he could inspect it. During his inspection, he’d found a padlocked door, which he assumed led to an old root cellar. He had asked if she and Lucy would like to be present when he opened the door.
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