Declan

by Chris Keniston

  "Brooks?" Becky mumbled. "How did—"

  "I called him too," Adam explained.

  Becky nodded. "I see."

  Missy Baxter stared at Toni. "I'm afraid I don't."

  "Oh, so sorry. I'm Antoinette Farraday."

  "Another Farraday." Miss Baxter seemed to be processing the information.

  "My husband is Brooks," Toni filled in.

  "The doctor," Becky added at the woman's perplexed expression.

  Missy Baxter nodded as Meg came barreling through the doorway. "Am I too late?"

  "For what?" Becky asked.

  Meg shrugged. "I don't know, but where I come from whenever a government agency is involved in anything, it usually means trouble."

  "Oh I can assure you—" Missy started, shaking her head.

  Brooks practically flew from the hall into the tiny break room, and didn't stop until he stood beside his bride, wrapping his arm firmly around Toni's waist. "Left everyone sitting at the office, so hopefully this won't take long." He looked at the only new face in the room. "You must be –"

  "Missy Baxter, protective services." She accepted Brooks' proffered hand with a tired smile.

  "Nice to meet you." Meg extended her hand to the woman as well and with her other hand jerked a thumb in Adam's direction then tucked herself into his side. "I'm married to this guy."

  Right about now with Brooks and Toni and Adam and Meg paired off, standing side by side to face down the person who would decide if Brittany stayed or went, and if Brittany had to go, would decide who she'd go with, Becky really wished DJ were here with her too.

  "I think there must be some mis—" Missy started to speak again.

  "No one is laying one finger on my grandchild." Aunt Eileen stood in the doorway, legs askance, hands on her hips with DJ closing in on her heels and her nephew Ian beside him.

  "Hi, Missy," DJ shimmied around his aunt and shot his hand out. "Didn't expect to see you here quite so soon."

  "Yes, well," her gaze darting from one side of the room to the other, Missy offered a shaky smile, "I didn't expect such a, uh, large welcoming committee."

  DJ glanced at most of his family standing to one side of the room behind Becky and across from Missy Baxter. The poor woman looked like the lone prisoner in front of a firing squad. "Neither did I."

  "No one is taking this baby anywhere," Aunt Eileen repeated.

  "And you are?" Missy asked.

  "Eileen Callahan." The stern expression showed his aunt wasn't used to people not knowing who she was. Most anyone raised in the county knew each other and few people didn't know the Farraday name. Missy had only moved to the area little over a year ago.

  If not for an incident late last year when a drunk driver made the mistake of speeding through Tuckers Bluff with her two children in the backseat and sufficient marijuana stashed in the trunk to supply the entire state, DJ wouldn't have known Missy either. "I was just going to give your office a call," he said.

  "I was about to explain to Miss Wilson that we had some movement in the system and a permanent foster home has opened up for Brittany in Butler Springs—"

  A deafening cascade of voices erupted.

  Aunt Eileen's being the loudest. Her, "That will not be necessary," was almost drowned out by Meg's question, "What does it take to become a permanent foster parent?" and Toni chimed in with a different tack, "Does it help to be a medical professional?"

  "Yes. Of course." Brooks smiled down at his wife. On an adoration scale the two were off the charts.

  "We can too," Meg volunteered this time.

  The clamoring of voices, one over the other as each member of DJ's family insisted they could take care of Brittany even though no one knew yet about the DNA results, was almost deafening. Even though Aunt Eileen knew for sure the baby was a Farraday, DJ had no doubt that she would have been just as insistent no matter what.

  "What about me?" Becky shouted silencing the others. She kissed the top of Brittany's head. "Why can't I keep her?"

  "That's what I was getting to." Missy paused to scan the room before settling her gaze back on Becky. DJ got the feeling the social worker expected to be interrupted. When no one attempted to speak, she continued, "We do have a foster care family ready to take Brittany on, but if you'd like to keep her, Miss Wilson, you have the option of changing your status."

  Becky shifted Brittany to her other shoulder and took a step closer to the social worker. Holding her chin high, she tightened her hold on the baby. "I'll do it."

  Chapter Seventeen

  "Time out." DJ positioned himself beside Becky and in front of Missy.

  Becky's gut clenched. What news was coming down now? When the social worker had announced she'd be taking Brittany away, Becky panicked. The words "I'll do it" had come out of her mouth before she'd had the chance to think it through. And that was just fine. At this point she didn't care who Brittany's father was. There was no way she was letting this precious child into the foster care system. She might have to move back with her grandmother, but she would find a way to make this work.

  "There's additional information." DJ held out a few sheets of paper. "These are copies of Brittany's birth certificate and release of parental rights."

  "Really?" Heavy undertones of irritation laced Missy's response. Becky hadn't realized that DJ had withheld that information from the state.

  "Brittany has immediate family here in Tuckers Bluff," DJ continued.

  Flipping pages, Missy studied the papers thoroughly before flipping back and starting again.

  DJ inched closer to Becky but continued to address the social worker. "I should have corroborating DNA results some time today or tomorrow."

  Both Adam and Brooks swung their gazes in DJ's direction. Becky knew what they were asking. The same thing everyone wanted to know. A single drop of DJ's chin answered their silent question. Yes, the DNA results were back and Brittany is definitely a Farraday. Becky should have been elated at the news. As soon as the family was able to reach Ethan, he should be coming home. And if he was half the man she still believed him to be, he'd be staying home as soon as the Marine Corps allowed. So why wasn't she ready to dance for joy? A real chance to get Ethan to notice her as a wife, mother, lifetime companion and not as just the skinny kid always under foot along side his little sister.

  "Why," the social worker looked up at DJ, "weren't we given these before?"

  DJ blew out the tiniest of sighs that Becky had come to recognize as his raising his guard. "There were doubts of the veracity of the data."

  "But not anymore?" Her voice harsher, gritty, she looked from brother to brother. "Which one of you is Ethan?"

  "He's not here," DJ answered, his stance stiffer. "Active duty marine. I apologize—"

  Missy held up her hand and shook her head. "Save it. In spite of the fact that I have a stack of files up to my nose on my desk and could have been using my time more wisely on any one of those cases, I am glad to have one less child in the system. What I am most definitely not thrilled with is the way this entire matter has been handled." She held up the papers she'd just read and some of the tension in her features seemed to soften. "May I keep these?"

  "Yes. That's your copy." DJ's stance relaxed a fraction.

  "Very well." Lifting a briefcase from the floor she set it on a nearby table, opened it, slid the folder and new papers inside, and then closing it, quickly scanned the assembled group of people silently staring as though waiting for her to perform a new circus trick. "There's still some paperwork to be done, but I'll let y'all work out who actually cares for Brittany on your own."

  DJ relaxed a bit more and his arm brushed against Becky's. Leaning closer in her direction, his warmth, his mere presence gave her strength and courage, and at the same time shoved her heart down a steep slide to the pit of her stomach. The family would be making new arrangements now. DJ wouldn't need her. Wouldn't smile at her like she'd hung the moon for making him coffee in the morning. Wouldn't look at her as though s
he were the top contender in a beauty pageant. Wouldn't be sleeping on the other side of the bed, fully clothed, on top of the covers to preserve her honor and keep her from sleeping on the sofa. Even if at her size it did make more sense.

  Looking at him, she blinked to hide the tears pushing to the surface. No more silly conversations with the lighter side of the big bad police officer. No more butterflies in her stomach every time he came near. No more warm and fuzzy feelings when he played with the baby. No more DJ.

  Her breath caught and her heart flapped around like a landed trout struggling to breathe. Oh my lord. Becky's jaw snapped shut. She was in love—honest to God real love—with Declan James Farraday. Holy crap. What the heck was she supposed to do now?

  ***

  DJ held his breath. He'd taken a hell of a risk withholding the papers with Ethan's name on it and only sharing the personal letter with the mother's name. He'd hoped to have confirmation before Missy had moved along so far as the home visit.

  He followed the social worker to the front of the clinic and out the door. At her car, as was expected of every good Texas born and bred boy, he'd opened her door for her.

  Missy tossed her briefcase onto the passenger side and with one hand on the top of the door spun around to face him. "I really am glad this is going to work out without putting the baby in the system."

  "I sense a but coming." He tried for an easy smile, but with tension coursing through him so thick and strong he suspected his grin may have looked more like a nervous twitch.

  "For the record," she paused for him to nod, "pull a stunt like that again and I'll see you in court and you'll be the one needing a star witness."

  DJ bobbed his head. "Understood."

  He remained rooted to the sidewalk as Missy's car drove away, a headache building between his temples. "Damn it, Ethan, where are you?"

  Tapping at his phone, DJ flipped to Facebook first. Nothing new posted by his brother. Even knowing it was a waste of time he sent another message: NEED TO TALK ASAP. IMPORTANT. STAY SAFE. DJ had lost count of the number of messages sent and not responded to. The rest of his brothers had done the same. Texts, messages, computer calls and emails all unanswered. At least now they knew for sure about the baby.

  Ian appeared beside him, slipping his phone into his pocket. "Going to have to pass on the dinner invitation after all."

  "Duty calls?"

  "'Fraid so." Ian hesitated. "Listen, I may be overstepping my bounds here."

  "Never." DJ smiled and slapped his cousin on the back.

  "Good, 'cause I don't know when I'll be back this way. About you and Becky—"

  "There is no me and Becky." DJ took a half step back. "And speaking of Becky, I'd better get back inside."

  Ian grabbed hold of DJ's arm as he spun away. "I disagree. Everyone in there was watching that woman and the baby."

  "And?"

  "I watched you." Ian let go of his arm. "Watching Becky."

  "I wasn't—"

  "Yes. You were. Every time the mention of papers came up your gaze drifted to see how Becky took the information. Every time that protective services woman opened her mouth you inched a fraction closer to Becky. You couldn't have been more territorial if you'd peed on her leg."

  "That's—"

  "And she's in just as deep."

  "Now I know you're crazy. She loves Ethan. Always has."

  "Maybe, but she's in love with you." Ian waited a moment for some response then shook his head. "Okay. Don't listen to me. But when you go back inside, pay attention man. Just pay attention." Ian jingled his keys in his hand and crossed the street to where he'd parked his rental car.

  Pay attention. DJ spun back around and yanked at the front door. What the hell else did Ian think he'd been doing for days? He'd noticed all sorts of things about Becky he shouldn't have noticed. How the sunlight bounced off her hair. The twinkle in her eyes every time she smiled. The gentle rise and fall of her chest under the blankets when she'd finally drifted soundly to sleep. The easy way Brittany snuggled into her shoulder. The feeling of coming home, not to a place but to her. How delicious his morning coffee tasted when she made it, or how wonderful she smelled after a shower, after work, and after the baby spit up on her. Damn.

  He'd barely made it down the hall when half the Farraday clan filed out of the staff room, Aunt Eileen leading the pack. "Where's everyone going?" he asked.

  "The baby has a routine." Aunt Eileen came to a stop in front of him, a broad smile on her face.

  "And I have to get back to the office." Brooks kissed his wife on the nose. "You going to be all right?"

  "I am." Toni smiled up at her husband as he scooted around his aunt and past DJ.

  Meg squeezed Adam's hand. "And I'd better let you get back to your patients."

  Adam's gaze shot over her head to the few people and their pets patiently waiting to be seen. "Yeah."

  Down the hall, Becky came slowly out of the break room and stopped by the doorway. Worried eyes locked with his and he had to tamp down the urge to push his family aside and rush to reassure her everything would be just fine. And wasn't Ian right about that too. Pissing on her leg indeed.

  "Dorothy and Ruth Ann are probably almost finished with lunch by now," Aunt Eileen continued. "You and Becky have everything under control." Aunt Eileen shook her head and gave up an amused chuckle. "That girl is so much like her grandmother. Adam and Brooks make sense. Though you shouldn't have kept this from Sean and me, for now it's best to wait and speak with Ethan before we make any more decisions."

  DJ was baffled by how the woman who had been spitting mad that no one was taking her grandbaby away from her could be calm and downright cheery. Even if Brittany was technically a great-niece, the message was clearly understood. So what the heck did he miss by stepping outside? His aunt pushed up onto her tippy toes and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Call if you need anything."

  The corridor clear of all his family except Adam, DJ glanced back to Becky making her way up the hall.

  "I told Becky she could have the afternoon off if she wanted," Adam said. "But she insists on staying and working."

  "She can be pretty stubborn when she wants." His mind drifted back to the first night at her place and the battle of the bed. He'd wanted to stay on the couch for a lot of reasons and in the end, she'd gotten her way and he'd shared the bed with her. Sort of.

  Adam grabbed a folder and walked away. DJ couldn't bring his feet to move. He had to be out of his mind dragging this out. Totally, one hundred percent, batshit crazy. Both of his sisters-in-law and his Aunt had been willing to take over caring for Brittany. Too bad he wasn't ready to give up the job. Or Becky.

  "I guess deep down we knew it was true." Becky came to a stop beside him.

  DJ hefted one shoulder. "You might have been sure, but the rest of us not so much."

  “Brittany's asleep again and I have to get back to work."

  "Go." DJ let his hand land on her arm and instantly regretted the simple motion. There was nothing simple about the affect she had on him. "I'm going to take a minute with my niece before I head back to the station."

  Becky smiled sweetly and he noticed this time the sparkle didn't reach her eyes. And that didn't sit well with him either. Blast.

  In a few long strides, he was in the small room that felt palatial without all the people, and stood at his niece's crib side. His niece. That's twice he'd said it and the words still sounded so strange to his ears. His cell phone sounded off. Swiping at the phone, he put it to his ear. "Farraday."

  "Declan, man. How's it going?"

  "The same as it was an hour ago when we hung up. What's up?" A big part of him didn't want Brooklyn to answer. Something about no-news-is-good-news.

  "I haven't been able to confirm which team is involved."

  Already those few words had icy fingers tracing up his spine.

  "There's no easy way to say this. A helo went down…”

  Chapter Eighteen

  "Well i
t's about time you showed up." Dorothy handed Eileen some rolled up silverware.

  "It couldn't be helped." Eileen unwrapped the napkin, dumping a knife and fork on the table. "But this is so much better than we'd imagined. Well, most of it."

  "Most of it?" Ruth Ann asked. There wasn't any poker game this afternoon, just an impromptu lunch after Eileen and Dorothy had joined forces on a fact finding mission.

  "Did you fill her in?" Eileen asked.

  Dorothy shook her head. "Only that you didn't like the way the boys smoked cigars all night and were sure my Becky had answers for you."

  "And she did."

  Halfway through her dessert, Dorothy put her fork down on the plate. "What answers? She barely said a word."

  "Ever since the day that baby arrived in town I knew something was fishy. I just didn't realize how fishy."

  "I still don't.” Ruth Ann took a bite of Frank's pecan pie and Eileen quickly recapped her suspicions, her awkward accusation of DJ and the final unveiling of who Brittany belonged to. Ruth leaned back, her pie forgotten. "Oh, wow. I didn't see that coming."

  "There's more." Eileen's smile pulled at her cheeks.

  "How much more can there be?" Dorothy reached for her glass of water.

  "You and I are finally going to be real kin."

  Dorothy's glass froze half way to her mouth. "Is Ethan coming home?"

  "I have no earthly idea. I don't pay attention to his coming and goings. Makes me less nervous if I just picture him all the time at the camp pub."

  "Pub, in the Middle East?" Ruth Ann muttered before shaking her head. "Sorry."

  "So explain." Dorothy pushed her plate away. "How are we going to become kin?"

  "Becky and DJ." Eileen rubbed her hands together enthusiastically.

  Dorothy glared at her long time friend. "Are you mad?'

  "Don’t you see?" Eileen leaned forward. "Think about it. How did all this start?"