by Lara Lacombe
Not that he blamed her. It was only natural she’d be anxious to see her baby again.
He parked quickly and jogged inside in time to see Emma walk through a door that led to the back area of the ER, presumably where the patients were seen. Reaching out, he snagged the door before it closed and caught up to Emma in a few strides.
The nurse leading her turned and gave him a questioning look, but before he could explain his presence, Emma glanced back and saw him. Relief flashed across her face. Without a word, she reached out and grabbed his hand, gripping it tightly.
Her silent expression of trust was surprising, and so was the lump that formed in his throat. Since when did he get emotional about holding hands with a woman? But there was nothing normal about this situation, and he knew it.
“Is my baby okay?”
The other woman shot Emma a sympathetic glance. “The doctor will speak with you soon. I should wait for him, but...” she trailed off. When she spoke again, her voice was softer. “She’s fine, Mama. No need to worry.”
Emma let out a soft sob of relief. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Matt smiled as he walked quickly to keep up with Emma. The woman led them through several corridors, finally stopping outside a nondescript door. She rapped on the surface, and a muffled voice from within sounded. “Yes?”
The nurse pushed the door open. Matt kept a firm grip on Emma’s hand to keep her from running over the woman to get inside. The nurse stepped to the side and Emma shot into the room, dragging Matt along. He caught a glimpse of two uniformed police officers and a tiny dark-haired figure sitting inside a hospital crib before Emma’s body blocked his view.
“Christina!” She practically sobbed the baby’s name as she reached out to hold her child.
The baby turned to the door and her face lit up when she saw her mother. “Ma, ma, ma!” she babbled happily, reaching out with chubby arms. Emma scooped up her baby and held her tightly, her nose pressed into the folds of the little one’s neck. She inhaled deeply, and Matt watched as the worry lines vanished from Emma’s face.
The two police officers exchanged a glance. “That’s all the proof I need,” one said drily.
“Works for me,” said the other.
Emma didn’t react. It was clear she wasn’t aware anyone else was in the room with her. She simply held her baby, swaying from side to side and whispering in the infant’s ear. Christina’s little hand rested on her mother’s shoulder, her fingers alternately clutching and releasing the fabric of Emma’s shirt. Matt could hear the baby coo softly, the sound mostly absorbed by Emma’s body.
It was a touching reunion. From the corner of his eye, Matt saw the nurse wipe away a tear. He was feeling a little misty himself at the sight—she looked totally at peace and blissfully happy now that she had her baby in her arms again. The transformation was stunning; he’d thought Emma was pretty before, but now she was beautiful.
“Ma’am?” One of the officers stepped forward, seeking Emma’s attention. She didn’t respond, making Matt wonder if she’d even heard the man.
He tried again. “Miss?”
When she still didn’t react, Matt reached over and touched her shoulder. She jerked, her eyes flying open in surprise. She glanced up at him questioningly.
“The police need to talk to you,” he said gently. He hated to interrupt this moment between mother and baby, but the officers weren’t going to wait forever.
“Oh,” she said blankly. “Of course.”
The nurse slipped out of the room as one of the men gestured for Emma to take a chair. The other officer regarded Matt curiously.
“Who’re you?”
Emma looked up. “He’s a park ranger. He’s been helping me search Big Bend for Christina.” Her arms tightened protectively around her daughter as she said the baby’s name. Matt got the impression she wouldn’t be letting go of the infant anytime soon.
“Do you want him to stay?”
Matt felt a spike of unease at the question. While there was no reason for him to remain now that Emma and Christina had been reunited, he wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye to the pair just yet. Of course, it wasn’t exactly his decision...
“I do,” she said simply. “He’s my friend.”
Her declaration warmed his heart, triggering an unexpected surge of emotions that gave him a lump in his throat. For reasons he couldn’t name, Emma’s words meant a lot to him.
“All right,” the officer said. “There are a few things we need to take care of before we can release the baby into your custody. First of all, do you have ID on you?”
“Um, yes. I should.” Emma glanced at her bag, which had fallen to the ground in her rush to hold Christina. Matt bent down to pick it up, and she flashed him a grateful smile as he passed it to her.
She fished out her wallet and passed it to Matt. “My driver’s license is inside.” She turned to the officers. “Will that work? I have her birth certificate in a safe-deposit box back home.”
“The license will do for now,” said the man. Matt easily found it and passed it over. To his surprise, underneath her license was a candid snapshot.
It was Emma, standing next to a man who was sitting on a tree stump. She had her hands resting on his shoulders and he was leaning into her, his head resting against her stomach. This must be Chris, he realized. The picture had the look of an engagement photo shoot, with both of them sporting the wide, bright smiles of people in love.
Emma looked happy and relaxed, a far cry from how he’d seen her the past couple of days. He knew he should close her wallet and stop staring at the picture, but he couldn’t look away. The image was strangely compelling, and Matt found himself focusing on Emma’s face and the beauty of her smile.
He glanced at Christina, then back at the photo, this time examining Chris. She looks like her daddy.
He felt a pang in his chest as Fisher’s face flashed in his mind’s eye. The boy hadn’t resembled him at all, and it was no wonder since Matt wasn’t his father. Would he ever have a child of his own? Or had he tossed aside his one shot at a family? Yes, Jennifer had lied to him, but perhaps with counseling they could have worked things through...
“Here.” Matt was pulled out of his thoughts by the officer holding out Emma’s ID. “You can put this away now.”
He slid the license back into place, hiding the photo once more. Did Emma stare at this picture often, or had she forgotten it was even there?
“Where did you find her?” she asked, glancing from one officer to the other. “And where is my—” She hesitated, grimacing. “Where is Joseph?”
“Two men saw your brother and the baby in a grocery store in Terlingua. They work as guides in Big Bend, and they recognized the pair from a flyer they had picked up.”
Emma turned to glance at Matt, her eyes shining with gratitude. A tingling rush went through him at the realization his actions had led to this moment.
“Your brother went to the bathroom to change the baby,” the man continued. “They called the police and followed him inside to confront him. He panicked, thrust Christina at them and took off running.”
“Did they find him?” Her tone made it clear she wasn’t asking out of concern for his safety. Matt hoped that for his sake, Joseph never saw his sister again.
“No, ma’am. We’re still looking, of course.”
“He’s long gone,” she said dismissively. “He always did have a flair for self-preservation. There’s no way he stuck around here now that he no longer has Christina.”
“You’re probably right,” said one of the officers. “We’ve put out a statewide bulletin, so hopefully someone will recognize him.”
Emma nuzzled Christina’s hair, shrugging slightly. Matt got the impression that now that she had her baby back, she didn’t care what happened to her brother.
“We’ll leave
you for now,” said one of the men. “But don’t go yet. There are still some things we need to take care of before we can officially release your baby to you.”
“I understand,” Emma said. “As long as you let me hold her, I’ll stay here forever.”
The two men smiled and nodded, then turned and left the room. Once they were alone, Emma let out a huge sigh.
Matt remained quiet for a moment, unsure of what to say. Did Emma want him to stay with her, or would she prefer some privacy with her daughter? He shifted from one foot to the other, not wanting to interrupt the moment, but not wanting to linger if she wished to be alone with Christina.
Give her some time, he decided. Both she and the baby had been through a hell of an ordeal. It was only natural she’d want a few minutes to herself to process everything that had happened.
He started toward the door, but as he moved he noticed Emma’s shoulders drop. She seemed to fold in on herself, and then he heard the unmistakable sound of a sniffle.
She was crying.
The sound just about broke his heart. Before he could think better of it, he moved to her chair and placed his hand on her shoulder. “Emma,” he said softly.
She didn’t respond, but she placed one of her hands over his, accepting his touch.
Matt racked his brain, trying to come up with the right words. There had to be something he could say to comfort her, to let her know she wasn’t alone right now.
Her shoulder shuddered under his hand as she cried. He knelt next to her and gathered her into his arms as best he could. She leaned against him, still holding her little one tightly.
“I didn’t think I’d ever see her again,” she said. Her voice was a broken whisper, a jagged sound that cut through the defensive walls he’d built around his heart. “I tried to stay positive,” she continued. “But as the days wore on, I began to lose hope.”
“You don’t need to think about that now,” he said softly. “She’s back with you, and everything is fine.”
“Yeah.” She exhaled, her breath a little shaky. “But for how long?”
Matt stroked her arm with one hand. “What do you mean?”
“My brother,” she said flatly. “He’s still out there. And he still needs money.”
“You think he’ll bother you again? After coming so close to being caught here? I thought you said he was good at self-preservation.”
“He is,” Emma replied. “But he’s also got an impulsive side. He’s already demonstrated he’s capable of anything. I can’t imagine what he’ll do once he’s truly desperate.”
There was real fear in her voice, the kind that wouldn’t be assuaged by pretty words. Matt wished there were something he could do to reassure her that she and her baby were safe; despite her worries, he didn’t think Joseph would be so stupid as to bother them again. But Emma seemed convinced she had a reason to be concerned, and who was he to tell her otherwise?
“The police will help you,” he said, but even as the words left his mouth, he wasn’t sure they were true. Unless Emma could demonstrate a real danger to herself or her baby, the authorities would probably not be much help. Her fear that Joseph might try something else likely wouldn’t be enough to qualify for assistance. Unless they wanted to use her as bait to draw her brother out again... He clenched his jaw at the possibility, hoping the police wouldn’t be so cavalier about her safety.
Matt hated the thought of Emma alone in her apartment, cowering under the covers and jumping at every sudden noise. But what could he do? His life was here—he couldn’t very well uproot everything and go to El Paso to guard her against a threat that might never materialize. And even if he could leave, she likely wouldn’t want him there. Helping Emma search for her daughter had created an artificial sense of intimacy between them—it wasn’t as if they really knew each other.
Besides, he told himself. She was a strong woman. Her actions had made that clear enough. If she thought her brother was going to try to hurt her again, she was more than capable of taking steps to protect herself and her daughter. She didn’t need him swooping in like some knight-errant when she could handle things on her own.
He knew it was true, but he still felt a bit uneasy at the thought of Emma facing Joseph alone. He’d kidnapped her daughter, yes, but he hadn’t been violent about it. If he came back, would he escalate his behavior and physically hurt Emma or Christina?
The idea made his stomach turn, and his arms tightened involuntarily around Emma. Even as he held her close, the rational part of his brain was questioning his actions. She’s not mine, he told himself. So why did he feel the need to protect her as if she were?
The baby began to fuss. He released his hold on them, and Emma shifted her into a different position. “We’re not ignoring you, sweetie,” she crooned. “Mommy’s still here.”
Matt got his first good look at Christina as she beamed up at her mother. She was an adorable baby—dark curls, bright blue eyes and chubby pink cheeks. She babbled happily, flashing a few white teeth as she spoke. Now that he’d seen Chris’s photo, he could tell she looked more like her father than Emma. But she had parts of Emma, in the curve of her smile and the shape of her eyes.
Watching the two of them and the obvious love they shared made Matt’s heart feel too big for his chest. That was the kind of bond he wanted—one of absolute trust and total devotion. It was something he’d thought he’d had with Jennifer, but now he knew better. He wanted to wake up next to someone, knowing they had his back no matter what the day brought. He wanted to hold his child close, to revel in the small joys of discovery as they explored the world. To have his baby gaze up at him, totally secure in the knowledge that his father loved him beyond reason.
Maybe it was too much to ask. Maybe no one ever got the total package. Emma had her baby, but she’d lost her partner. Plenty of his friends had unhappy marriages or troubled kids. Perhaps that was just the way of it—he needed to pick one thing and accept that he couldn’t have it all.
Christina reached out, grabbing for the brim of his hat. Matt removed it and placed it on her head, laughing as it slid down to cover her face. He waited a beat, then plucked it off. “Peekaboo,” he said playfully.
The baby giggled, the sound one of pure joy. She reached up again, so he put the hat back on her head, repeating the game. Playing with her lightened his heart, and he soon cast aside his heavy thoughts and focused on the moment, enjoying the sound of her laughter.
After several minutes, Matt became aware of Emma’s eyes on him. He turned to find her watching him, a faint smile playing at the corners of her mouth. There was a strange look in her eyes, one he couldn’t read. What was she thinking? Did she not want him to play with her daughter? He could understand if she was leery of Christina being around a man so soon after Joseph had taken her. But surely she knew he wasn’t a threat to either of them?
He got to his feet and took a step back, establishing some distance between them. “Well,” he said, stalling as he searched for something to say. “I think I’ll duck out for a minute and get something to drink. Can I bring you anything?”
“Some water would be nice,” Emma replied. She didn’t sound upset, but her gaze was still assessing as she watched him. He got the feeling he was being evaluated in some way, and he was curious to know if he’d passed this unspoken test.
“Water it is,” he said. He plucked his hat from Christina’s head and sat it firmly on his head. “I’ll be back soon.”
“We’ll be here,” Emma said. She pressed a kiss to the baby’s forehead as he turned to go. He took one last look before heading out the door, enjoying the sight of this woman and her child far too much.
Not yours, he reminded himself as he headed down the hallway in search of a vending machine. He tried to hold on hard to that thought, but a sense of longing was building in his chest. No, Emma and her daughter weren’t his family. But
perhaps, maybe, one day they might be?
Matt considered himself more of a realist than an optimist. But in this case, hope was starting to take over.
He was setting himself up for a huge fall. He recognized it, knew he should take steps to protect himself. It was the right thing to do.
The problem was, his heart didn’t seem to care.
* * *
Joseph swallowed hard and entered the truck stop diner, pulling his hat down low as he glanced around. He was here for a meeting—his last chance at saving himself from Karnov’s thugs. One of his friends had told him about a man who paid handsomely for kids—the guy apparently worked for some fancy adoption lawyer, procuring children to be placed with wealthy couples desperate for a family. “He pays extra for babies,” Jimmy had said.
So after losing Christina in Terlingua yesterday, Joseph had made a call. The man he’d spoken to had said he’d be wearing a green shirt and black cowboy hat; sure enough, someone matching that description sat in a booth near the restrooms. Joseph headed that way, dodging the busy waitress as she made her circuit of tables.
He slid into the booth with a nervous smile. “I’m Joseph.”
The man studied him, his dark eyes devoid of any hint of friendliness or welcome. “You a cop?”
The question made Joseph’s heart pound. “No. Are you?”
The man’s lips twitched with what might have been a smile. “No.” He looked past Joseph’s shoulder and nodded once. A second later, two large men appeared at the table. “Let’s go.”
Adrenaline pumped through Joseph’s system, making his limbs tremble and his palms sweat. “Go where?” This was not what he had anticipated. He was supposed to meet this person and talk business. He’d made no mention of going somewhere else when they’d spoken on the phone.
He glanced at the two heavies looming over him, hoping to see some hint of humanity. But their faces were blank, almost bored. He looked at the man sitting across from him, who was smiling now, plainly enjoying Joseph’s discomfort. “We’re gonna take a walk.”