by Jane Godman
With the warm softness of her breasts against his ribcage and his thighs pressed to her hips, the moment was magical and intimate. Ever since his mother’s death, Griffin had believed that physical closeness was overrated. He loved his adopted family, but there had been a distance between them that he’d been unable to overcome. Holding Abigail was about more than wrapping his arms around her. He was enfolding her with his whole body, healing himself as well as her.
“I didn’t do it.” Her words were muffled by his shirt.
“You don’t have to say that to me.”
She looked up, her face streaked with tears and her eyelids red and swollen. “Thank you. You don’t know what it means to have someone who believes in my innocence.”
Her lips were close. So temptingly close that her breath brushed his lips when she spoke. Without thinking, he leaned in to kiss her. Gently, his mouth met hers. Taking all the time in the world, he softly explored the delicate curve of her lips. As she tilted her head to one side, he caressed the seam of her mouth with his tongue.
Winding her arms around his neck, she lightly nudged his tongue with her own. And passion ignited in an instant...but he knew he had to nip that in the bud. So... Griffin leaned back, examining Abigail’s face. “Was that bad timing?”
“Possibly.” She gave him a watered-down version of her usual smile. “But it was still very nice.”
The doorbell rang and he felt a tremor run through her whole body. “You don’t think it’s the police again?”
“I’d be surprised if they came back so soon. Why don’t I check it out while you make coffee?”
Although her expression didn’t lighten, she headed toward the coffee machine on the counter while Griffin went to answer the door. The man who stood on the doorstep looked to be in his late twenties. His expression was serious, even slightly harassed, and he double-checked the front cover of the file he was holding when he saw Griffin.
“I’m looking for Dr. Abigail Matthews.”
“Who are you?” The way the day had gone so far, Griffin was in no mood to waste time on politeness.
“My name is John Jones. I think we spoke on the phone recently, Mr. Colton?” Of course. This was the caseworker who oversaw Abigail’s guardianship of Maya.
“I don’t think Dr. Matthews is expecting you?”
“No. But I need to speak to her. It’s urgent.”
Griffin didn’t like the sound of that, but he could hardly keep the guy standing there. Holding the door wide, he stepped to one side to allow Jones to enter. When they reached the kitchen, Abigail swung around to face them.
“John? Is everything okay?” It was clear from the strained look on her face that she didn’t think it was.
“I’m sorry, Dr. Matthews. I’ve received information that you are a suspect in a murder case. In the circumstances, I have no choice. I have to remove Maya from your care.”
* * *
I have received information...
Those words were suddenly dominating Abigail’s life and she had no idea who was behind them. All she knew in that instant was that she couldn’t let this man take Maya away from her.
“Please—” Sobs tightened her throat and she couldn’t continue.
She couldn’t see any way past the pain in her chest. The grief was too much. Then, from somewhere deep inside her came the will to fight. And that was what she needed. For Maya’s sake, she would get past the hurt and keep going. “Abigail is not a suspect.” Griffin’s voice was calm. “As far as I’m aware, the police have no suspects.”
The caseworker gave them both an apologetic look. “I’ve spoken to Detective Iglesias. He tells me that Dr. Matthews is under scrutiny for a number of reasons. Firstly, there is her father’s connection to the RevitaYou pyramid scheme. Then, of course, there is the Anthrosyne investigation and Dr. Matthews’s suspension. Finally, we have the possibility that she may be implicated in Dr. Hardin’s murder. And I believe there have also been threats issued against her as a result of some of these issues. Believe me, I wouldn’t do this unless the situation was serious.”
“But you can’t think I would harm Maya,” Abigail said. “And surely that’s the only reason to take her from me?”
“You’ve been threatened, and that means that Maya could also be harmed...”
“Abigail has been Maya’s only caregiver since her birth,” Griffin interrupted. “And you must know that the baby is in no danger from her own foster mother.”
“That’s true. There is no question that Maya is in any danger from Dr. Matthews,” John admitted. “But we have to consider Maya’s overall welfare. The threats that have been made against you are too vague and could pose a danger to the baby. There are just too many negative elements for me to consider this a safe place for her.”
“When will you be taking Maya?” Griffin asked.
“Right now.”
“Oh, no.” Jolted out of the shock that had kept her passive while they talked as though they were in a court of law and she wasn’t there, Abigail made a move as if to block the door. Her thoughts broke free like a dam breaking. No one was taking her little girl. Not while she had breath in her body. “No.” She choked back a sob, terror gripping her. “This is her home. I’m her mom. You can’t take her from me.”
“I’m sorry.” John looked uncomfortable.
“We both know Children’s Protective Services is stretched to the limits and that includes the foster system,” Griffin said. “Where will you take Maya?”
“I’ll be honest with you, I don’t know right now. We’re so backlogged with cases that I don’t have a clear plan. All I know is that Maya will have to be placed elsewhere until Dr. Matthews is fully cleared.”
Abigail sank into one of the chairs, feeling the blood draining from her face. Clearly alarmed for her well-being, Griffin squatted at her side. “Breathe deeply. In through your nose and out through your mouth.”
She gazed at him blankly. As she followed his instructions, the faintness that had threatened to overwhelm her gave way to a shard of pain in her gut. “My baby...”
She couldn’t continue. All she could think was that she couldn’t let this happen, but at the same time, her body was going into shock. Cold fear was spreading along her limbs and all she could do was stare at Griffin, as though searching for an answer in his eyes.
“I’ll take Maya.” He turned his head to look at the caseworker.
“Pardon?” John stared at him as though he’d just grown another head.
“I have been certified as a foster parent for five years. I keep my registration up-to-date and I’m known to your agency.” He gripped Abigail’s hands tightly. “What objection could there be?”
John gave him a doubtful look. “This is an unusual situation. I need to call my boss before I give you an answer.” He gestured toward the hall. “Can I step outside?”
Abigail nodded. “Of course.”
When the caseworker had left the room and closed the door, she picked up the still sleeping Maya and held her close, burying her face briefly in the little girl’s hair, before studying Griffin’s face. “I am not going to turn down this offer but what made you decide to become a foster parent?”
“Firstly, let me make it clear that, although I have certification, I have never actually fostered a child. I know very little about being a parent.” He paused for a moment as if gathering his thoughts. “Being adopted shaped who I am, and not always in a good way. Don’t get me wrong. I love my Colton family. I appreciate them and I am thankful every day that they are a part of my life. But I grew up feeling different from them. We don’t share the same genes. I never had those bonding moments when you look at someone across the room and realize that you resemble them.”
He shook his head as though wondering where this outpouring was coming from. She thought again about her first impressions of
him as a stiff, unyielding figure and how wrong she’d been.
“In spite of that, what Graham and Kathleen did when they offered me a place in their family has always resonated with me. I am in awe of people like them.” He lifted her hand to his lips briefly. “And like you. People who offer a loving home to a child who is not theirs by birth. If the time came when I was faced with a situation that needed me to step up, I wanted to be able to do it. But the paperwork to register as a foster parent can be time consuming.”
She rolled her eyes. “Tell me about it.”
“The agency screens the home and life of prospective foster parents, including family background, employment history, determination of any past abuse, criminal background checks, finances and medical history. They conduct a physical examination of the home, which includes cleanliness and condition, sanitation, fire safety and nature of the neighborhood in which the home is located. There is also a consideration of the desire and motivation to foster.” Griffin ticked each item off on his fingers. “That sort of detail doesn’t happen in a hurry. I decided that, if I was serious about being ready to step up at any time, I needed to have my certification in place and keep it up-to-date.”
“And this is your time to step up?” Her voice was husky.
“I figure it’s better than letting Maya go to a stranger or into a childcare facility.”
She choked back a sob. “I don’t know how to thank you.”
“Hey.” He used his thumb to wipe away a tear that trickled down her cheek. “You don’t have to thank me. And there are some logistics we’ll need to talk about—”
Before he could continue, John Jones came back into the room. “My boss has given his approval for you to foster Maya.”
Griffin got to his feet. “I have a condition.”
The caseworker and Abigail both regarded him warily. “I’m assuming that Maya will need to come and live in my home as part of the foster care plan?”
“That’s right,” John said.
“She’s a nine-month-old baby who has only ever known the care of one person. Dr. Matthews is her mother. This is a very delicate stage in Maya’s development. I am not prepared to do anything to unsettle her.” He drew himself up to his full height, ensuring he had their full attention before making his next statement. “Which is why Dr. Matthews must move into my house with us until this matter is resolved.”
Gratitude flooded through Abigail, leaving her speechless. This man, who she barely knew, was prepared to do this for her and Maya. He was going to turn his life upside down to make sure they could stay together. She already knew he was a good man. She was only just realizing that he was truly remarkable. Any woman would be lucky to have him as her partner and the father of her children.
“I’m not sure—” John tugged at his lower lip.
“What objection can there be?” Griffin asked. “I will be Maya’s foster parent. I’ll take full responsibility for her welfare and safety. And you’ve already admitted that she is in no danger from Dr. Matthews. The perceived danger is from those who might wish to harm Dr. Matthews.”
“But you work full-time,” John said.
“I’ll take a leave of absence. My junior colleagues can pick up my cases and I’ll supervise them from home.”
“In that case, I guess it will be okay,” John conceded. “There will be some paperwork to go through.”
“You can bring it around to my place.” He turned to Abigail. “Does this arrangement suit you?” She nodded at him over Maya’s head. “Right now, Abigail and I need to get started on packing Maya’s stuff.”
* * *
Almost immediately after John left, Maya woke up and started to wail.
“Since the child welfare authorities will do regular assessments going forward, I need to do some actual parenting.” Griffin followed Abigail into the den and watched as she lifted the baby from the crib. “But I told you, I know nothing about this. I’m at a loss. Is she in pain?”
“No. She always wakes up hungry.” The baby calmed down a little when she was cradled against Abigail’s chest. “She has been eating solid food since she was six months old, but she still has formula several times a day. Although I keep it chilled, and there’s no reason why she couldn’t drink it at that temperature, she prefers it a little warmer.”
As she spoke, she went back into the kitchen. Expertly holding Maya on one arm, she heated water on the stove, took a bottle of formula from the fridge, then poured the water into a jug and placed the formula into it.
“It only takes a minute or two.” She smiled down at Maya as she spoke. “But this little lady doesn’t do patience, so we have to sing songs while we wait.”
Griffin regarded her in alarm. “I can’t sing.”
“Maya won’t be judging your singing ability. It’s the sound of your voice she’s interested in.” He thought he glimpsed a gleam of mischief in her eyes. “She likes rock ballads.”
“You have got to be joking—”
“Quick. Or she’ll start crying again.”
He gave her a reproachful look and, from the depths of his memory, dredged up a song that his dad, Graham, used to play when he was driving. Fumbling his way through the first verse, he reached the chorus and was just starting to feel more confident when Maya, who had been regarding him with a horrified expression, threw back her head and started to scream.
“I told you I was no good at this,” he told Abigail.
She made a suspicious choking sound. “I don’t think she likes that particular band.”
“In the future, make sure you give me her playlist in advance.”
“Luckily, her formula is now ready.” She retrieved the bottle from the jug of water and dried it with a muslin cloth. “You can redeem yourself by feeding her.”
Maya had stopped crying, but she was still watching him with distrust. “Will she be okay with that?”
“As long as you have the magic bottle, she’ll be fine.” Abigail pointed to a chair. “Sit down and I’ll hand her over.”
Once Griffin was seated, Abigail placed Maya on his lap. Gripping her under her arms, he studied her with concern. She appeared to be quite robust. But how was he supposed to maneuver her so that he could get the bottle to her mouth?
“She’s a baby, not a ticking bomb.” There was a hint of sympathy in Abigail’s smile.
Taking one of his hands, she drew it around Maya’s body and eased the little girl back into the crook of his arms before holding out the bottle. The baby instantly grabbed it and pulled it to her mouth with a contented sigh. As she drank, her intent gaze fixed on his face and Griffin felt a new warmth bloom deep in his chest. This little person was somehow reaching out to him with that look, trying to figure out who he was, and establish a connection with him.
“Do you talk to her while she drinks?” Suddenly, getting it right was about more than food, and warmth and shelter.
“Yes. She likes that,” Abigail said. “Don’t worry about what you say. It’s the sound of your voice that matters most.”
She moved away and started to stack items of baby food together on the counter. After giving the matter some thought, Griffin decided to talk to Maya about a subject close to his heart.
“You may not know this, but there is a hockey team called the Grand Rapids Griffins. Their logo is a griffin. It’s a legendary creature with the body, tail and back legs of a lion, and the head and wings of an eagle. You’d think it would be cool to be named after something like that, wouldn’t you? And maybe it would be. For some people.” Even though she had her back to him, he sensed Abigail was listening carefully. “Anyway, the Grand Rapids Griffins play at Van Andel Arena. We should go there during the season and you can help me cheer them on. You and your mom.”
Maya drained the last of her formula and let out a loud belch.
“Not a hockey fan, huh? I gues
s if we can’t enjoy the same sports, we can find out if we have other things in common. What do you like to do in your spare time?”
“She enjoys putting things in her mouth, especially things that shouldn’t be there,” Abigail said. “Cruising around the furniture is a new favorite, and she never tires of throwing things out of the bath, stroller or high chair.”
“I guess I could learn to share her appreciation of those things.”
“Right now, it’s time for a diaper change.” Abigail moved purposefully toward them. “And that’s something Maya definitely isn’t fond of.”
“I’d forgotten about diapers.” Griffin rolled his eyes.
“Get ready for your first lesson.”
“I may have to ask my brother for some advice. We have two sets of twins as siblings and he took on much of their care when we were growing up.”
“He sounds like a good person to have on speed dial.”
She took Maya from him and carried her through to the den. In a corner of the room, there was a changing mat and a plastic box with all the things that were needed for a diaper change. As soon as Abigail knelt and put Maya on her back on the mat, the baby giggled and rolled onto her front.
“You need to be fast.” Abigail flipped her gently but deftly over again. Keeping one forearm across the little girl’s stomach, she reached into the box and produced a toy that looked like a bunch of keys. When Maya saw it, she waved her chubby hands in the air until Abigail handed it over. She then alternated between shaking the keys wildly and chewing them. “And you need to distract her.”
“Should I be taking notes?” He knelt beside Abigail, watching in fascination as she swiftly removed Maya’s socks and pink sweatpants.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be right here at your side.”
He wanted to tell her how much he liked the sound of that, although maybe not in the context of dirty diapers, but she was reaching into the box again.
