“Counselor Arden, the only thing in question here is who is better equipped to care for the child. I spent some time on this last night. We can’t decide based on DNA. The child belongs genetically to an egg donor and a sperm donor who wish to remain anonymous. It puts the court in an awkward position because then it comes down to who owned the ovum which would no doubt be the Cornings since they have the documentation to prove it.”
He thumbed through his notes and shook his head.
“Ms. Webster, why would you give birth to a child for another woman when you haven’t had one for yourself? It’s quite unusual and not recommended from everything I researched.”
Eden stood holding the baby to her chest. “It’s simple. I loved my sister more than I loved myself. My loyalties might have been misplaced, but they were honest.”
“Your honor,” Frank said. “Will you at least give our questions a look before you decide the fate of Tommy Webster?”
Thomas couldn’t wait to make Eden his wife and give them both his last name. Eden and Tommy Cross had a ring to it.
The judge huffed. “Bring them here.”
Frank rushed the list of questions to the judge and then stood beside Eden. Thomas could hear her question him about what was on the paper.
Frank replied loud enough for him to hear. “Just simple things that your sister should have to answer. You did or at least you will.” He turned toward the people who had come out to support them. “They are here for you too.”
It killed him to be separated from her. She was drowning by herself. He could see her knees shake and her lip twitch. He couldn’t stand it any longer. He raised his hand. “Your honor. Can I join Eden so she has support?”
The judge shook his head then nodded.
Thomas rushed to her while the judge poured over the questions.
It was the longest minute of his life, but he kept hold of Eden and the baby and waited for the judge to decide.
“I came in here today thinking it was an open and shut case. The Cornings paid for an ovum and found a host in Ms. Webster. She went into the job open eyed and knowing that at the end of the term she would relinquish the child.” He paused for a few minutes. “By all rights the Cornings should be the legal guardians of the child currently named Tommy.”
Suzanne turned to them and smiled. She thought she’d won.
It never occurred to Thomas that if they lost him, everything about Tommy would change, including his name.
“However, I did come with a few questions myself because something about Mrs. Corning’s last-minute change of heart doesn’t sit right with me.” He stared straight at her. His look was hard and penetrating. “What would have happened if your sister had done as you asked and put the baby up for adoption?”
Suzanne stood and held her head high. “I would have searched the ends of the earth for him.” She sounded convincing.
“Maybe, but that’s not how parenthood works. You don’t get to buy it and return it when it doesn’t fit. I do feel a few questions posed to both of you would help me decide.” He removed his glasses and cleaned them on his black robe. “First to the Cornings. Do you have a room set up for Tommy?”
“Well,” Suzanne said. “We’ve hired an interior designer to start on one as soon as we get word that Tommy is ours.”
“Okay.” The judge was stone-faced. “And you, Ms. Webster?”
“Oh, um well…”
Thomas broke in and pulled a handful of photos from his shirt pocket. “Your honor, I took these this morning. This is Tommy’s room.” He fanned them out in front of Eden before he handed them to Frank to give to the judge.
“Oh, my God,” Eden whispered. “That’s what you were all up to?”
“Yes.”
She swiped the tears from her eyes and leaned into him. “I love you.”
The judge moved through the photos and smiled. “Love the letters. Know where I can get them? I’ve got a grandchild on the way.”
“Yes, sir,” Thomas said. “Cannon Bishop makes them.” He turned and pointed to his friend, who lifted his hand and smiled.
“What about a doctor? Mrs. Corning, have you set up a pediatrician? Children need immunizations and check-ups.”
“Um … we have one in mind.”
The judge looked at Eden. “And you?”
A broad smile spread across her face because she knew where this was heading. “Tommy has two doctors. He was delivered by Doc Parker and he is also seen by Doctor Lydia Covington. He has a lovely nurse named Sage Bishop who worked for years in labor and delivery.” She turned and they stood and waved.
“I see.” He went through his list of questions and each time Eden had a solid answer and person sitting behind her willing to step up to the plate. Suzanne couldn’t say the same. Even her husband had started to grumble and tell her to give it up.
“One final thing.” He looked at Eden. “Bear with me for a moment. Can you please walk Tommy over to your sister so she can hold him?”
Eden gave him a feral look. The kind a lioness gives when her cub might be in danger.
“Humor me, Ms. Webster.”
Eden walked Tommy to her sister and placed him in her hands. Suzanne held him out with her arms stretched far in front of her as if to avoid being infected.
“If I were to grant you custody today, are you prepared to take this child home and love him like you gave birth to him?”
The look on Suzanne’s face was priceless. “Well, no. You asked the questions. His room isn’t ready. I have nothing prepared to take care of a child. Surely my sister can keep him until we’re ready.”
The judge laughed. “That’s what I thought. The way I see it, Mrs. Corning, is that you had over nine months to prepare for the birth of your child. You never wanted a child, just loved the idea of having one. You can’t buy a baby like you do a purse. I don’t know who’s nuttier in this case. You for wanting a baby or your sister for wanting to give you one.” His dark hair shone like obsidian under the overhead lights. “Take your child back, Ms. Webster. Take him home and love him like you have been. He’s in good hands.” The gavel hit its mark on the desk and the crowd erupted into cheers.
“He’s mine?” Eden took him from her sister, but she didn’t gloat. “Suzanne, I’m sorry. Maybe someday when you’re ready. When I’m ready. We can talk about this. He’s a wonderful little boy who wouldn’t have come into this world without you.”
Her sister watched as she cradled Tommy and gave her a half smile. “You know how I hate to lose.”
She moved closer. “Look at him. How can any of us consider ourselves losers?” She walked away.
Thomas embraced them both and held on tightly. “I was going to tell the judge I’d marry you on the spot if that was what he needed.”
“I don’t know where you came from.”
“Hell, baby, I came straight out of the pits of hell and landed in your heaven. Shall we go home and show our boy his room?”
They walked out hand in hand. “No wonder you’re so tired.”
“I’m exhausted.”
She sidled into him. “You know … I was told I’m good to go.”
“Good to go?” He stopped and cocked his head.
“Yes, as in … you know … healed. I thought maybe since we had a child together it might be time to make love.”
“All of a sudden, I’m not that tired.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Eden
Eden stood for far too long in Tommy’s room staring at all the town had done for them. She tucked his little blanket up over his shoulders and gave him a pat. Tonight would be the first time he’d sleep away from her.
How would she have given him to her sister when she couldn’t walk down the hallway to be seconds from him? The only thing that kept her moving away was Thomas, who was waiting for her in their bedroom.
When she walked inside, he was already in bed, the sheet only covering his lower body. God was he beautiful. He’d always b
een respectful with her. Short of seeing him once in a towel, he never slept out of his shorts and T-shirt. He said it was his uniform. If he got the call about a fire at night, all he’d need to do was jump into his gear.
“Is he down?”
She moved toward him. “Yes, he’s had quite a busy day. I think he’ll sleep for hours.” She sat on the edge of the bed, but he grabbed her and pulled her to him.
“Good, because I’ll need hours.” He tugged her shirt over her head and stared at her. His fingertips caressed the exposed flesh of her breasts. “I’ve hoped for this moment for a long time.”
“Really? Since when?”
“Since that first day when I saw you from behind in the store. Baby, your body was perfection.”
“I was eight months pregnant.”
“Yes, with my son and I didn’t even know it.” He reached around to unclasp her bra. Her full breasts fell into his hands. He laid her back and leaned over her, kissing her with the same love and passion she had for him. They’d quite excelled at kissing since they’d been practicing for months. She loved it when he nibbled on her bottom lip. Couldn’t get enough of his velvet soft tongue against hers. He tasted like sweetness and sex and forever.
It didn’t take long for him to strip her down to nothing. She didn’t have anything to hide. He’d seen it all and came back for more.
His hand rested on her soft tummy.
“Kind of gross,” Eden said.
“Kind of awesome.” He kissed her from her belly button down to the single stretchmark that marred her lower stomach. “We can wait. Tonight, we can just rejoice in our good fortune. It doesn’t have to be this.”
She tugged off the sheet that was still wrapped around his hips. “Thomas Cross, I’ve been waiting for you all my damn life. Now make love to me.” She reached down to grip his length and inhaled. “But be gentle. I hear it’s pinchy at first.”
He lined himself up and entered her slowly. It pinched for only a second, and then it was pure bliss. His body moved inside hers like a symphony. Each stroke hitting the perfect note. Sex with someone she loved was different. It was more than feeling good. It started in her heart and ended with her core quivering around him. While the climax was amazing, the connection was what she’d feel for the rest of her life.
Thomas was everything she didn’t know she needed. When he moved inside her, he was everything she could never live without. They made love over and over again until Tommy woke up hungry. She fed him, and they made love again.
She’d never get enough of this man who’d rescued her and in turn seemed to rescue himself. As they lay sated and exhausted after a night of perfection, she rolled into him.
“You gave up your man cave for us. Maybe I can help you work on the spare room if we can get Porkchop to ever leave it.”
He chuckled. “Poor cat is damaged for life. She’ll never recover from seeing Tom in a tuxedo but maybe we can coax her out of the room.”
“We can start on that soon if you want. I don’t want you to be without.”
“You think I’m ever going to be without with you and Tommy in my life?” She laughed. “We’ll fix up the room, but it won’t be a man cave. I gave the sofa to Tilden Cool and the big screen to Peter. The man is almost blind. Although he sees more than he lets on. He saw early on that you were right for me.”
She laid her head on his bare chest. “He’s a wise one, but what are we going to do with the spare room?”
“Get it ready for the daughter I’ll give you someday.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Eden
Two months later.
Thomas and Eden sat at their favorite table. It was the one they’d sat at the first time they ate together—when he’d known the table would be more comfortable than a booth for her. He was always observant in a way her sister never could be. Maybe that came down to maturity or self-awareness or both. How could anyone consider another when they were focused on themselves?
The diner was fairly full, with Doc sitting in his corner booth reading his paper. The Williams family took up several tables with their family of ten. Sheriff Cooper and Marina sat with Kellyn and Logan, who had been born the day Tommy officially became theirs.
A quiet man Thomas called Tilden sat alone by the silent jukebox. She’d always wondered about him. He was like a knot in the wood paneling. Always around but no one really noticed.
Tommy played with the toys hanging from his carrier. He was partial to the stuffed monkeys and giraffes his Aunt Suzanne had sent him.
Today was a big day. Eden’s newly single sister was coming for her first visit.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Thomas asked. He’d been testy all morning. He was protective of them. Like a caveman who pounded his chest and yelled mine. She loved him for it. He’d proven he’d do anything for them, including giving up his beloved man cave. He had to love her to send his ninety-six-inch, high definition TV across the street to Peter Larkin. He might not like the idea of Suzanne right now, but he’d come around. Thomas always did.
“It’s the right thing to do.”
“Maybe, but she doesn’t deserve it.”
“No, you’re probably right, but how will she learn if others don’t teach her?”
“She’s a damn grownup, Eden. Over a decade older than you, and yet, you’re so much smarter.”
Eden laughed. It was true. There were all kinds of smart. Street smart. Book smart. Love smart. A person could be smart about anything, but they’d never be smart about everything. Her sister was on a steep learning curve to intelligence.
Brady had left her and taken everything with him. Suzanne was back to working a lesser job for lesser pay. She no longer lived in a Breckenridge mansion but a small apartment in Keystone. Her days weren’t filled with high-level business meetings and expensive lunches. She got a single property out of the divorce. A small townhome complex that catered to ski bums and summer hippies.
The door to the diner opened and Suzanne walked in, looking so unlike the woman Eden knew. Her hair was pulled into a ponytail. Her face was free of makeup. Her smile was genuine.
She approached slowly as if walking a minefield.
“Hey,” she said. “Thanks for meeting me.” She took a seat next to Eden and looked at the baby.
“Good to see you, sis.” She pulled Tommy out of the carrier. “You want to hold him?”
Thomas let out a growl.
“Down, boy,” Suzanne teased. “I’m not here to take your bone.”
He lifted a brow. “You wouldn’t even get to the door.”
Suzanne sighed. “I’m sorry for everything.” She looked at the baby again and opened her arms. “I’m not sorry about him though. He was a gift. My gift to you. Your gift to me. He taught me a lot about myself. Taught me that while you were selfless, I’d been otherwise. I’m working on that.”
Eden placed the baby in her arms and watched her sister melt.
“I’ve been practicing. I volunteer at the hospital and hold preemies for hours and rock them.”
“They let you volunteer?” Thomas grumbled. “Around babies?”
“Yes, there’s nothing like the feel of another woman’s child. At the end of the day, I get to go home and sleep eight hours. My boobs are still where they were years ago, and I can have all the wine I want.” She smiled. “This was always the way it should have been.” She cooed at Tommy and told him how she would spoil him. “I’ll make a better auntie than a mommy.”
“Wish you could have come to the wedding,” Eden said. She looked down at the simple gold band that meant everything. She and Thomas had tied the knot in front of a big oak tree in Hope Park surrounded by their friends. Doc had married them. It seemed fitting to be married by the man who had brought them together.
“It was the same day as my divorce. A fabulous day, for the records.” She looked at Thomas. “By the way, how did you two meet?”
Eden laughed. “He found me on the street and pl
ied me with Good & Plenty.”
“That’s a new take on finding a mate. I’ll have to write that one down.”
Just then, the door to the diner opened and a woman dressed in an elaborate white wedding gown rushed in. She looked around the crowd and said, “I need a groom, and I need one now.” She stared straight at Tilden. “What about you?”
“Scratch that,” Suzanne said. “I like her style.” She hugged her nephew to her chest and watched the scene unfold.
Find out if Tilden Cool will step up to the challenge.
Thank you for reading.
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A sneak peek in One Hundred Secrets
It was every girl’s dream wedding, from the dress to the stretch limousine. Goldie Sutherland sipped her champagne and looked out the window as the forest’s snow-capped trees stared down on her like disapproving giants.
“Stop judging,” she said out loud.
“Excuse me, ma’am.” The limo driver glanced at her in the rearview mirror. “Did you need something?”
Goldie pasted on her social smile. The same smile she’d been trained to perfect since she was a child.
“No, just thinking out loud.”
One Hundred Goodbyes: An Aspen Cove Romance Page 18