She looked uncertain. “To tell you the truth, I was never all that close to them. I was to others in my life—just not my folks.”
His eyes returned to the cookbook with the kid chefs on the front. “Which is where the gran who gave you the cookbook came in,” Thad guessed as William burped in his ear.
Smiling, Michelle watched Thad turn William around and offer him the last of his bottle. “I got to stay with my dad’s mom whenever my parents traveled on the guest-lecturer circuit—which was practically every summer and during the semester breaks. Gran lived in Killeen, Texas, and was very down-to-earth. She never really understood how her son changed from a humble kid to an elitist snob.”
“Is that how you think of him, too?”
Regret flashed in Michelle’s face. “Let’s put it this way—I didn’t have a typical childhood. While all my friends were going out to barbecue places and seeing movies on the weekend, I was attending lectures, going to museums, being tutored in five different languages. We dined out constantly. But only in five-star restaurants. The only time I ever got to go to an amusement park or eat at a fast-food restaurant was when I was on a school field trip.” She sighed. “You know how they say kids rebel against whatever their parents want them to be? Well, I craved normal. I would’ve given anything to eat off the children’s menu. Since that wasn’t possible when I went out with my parents, Gran taught me how to make all the kid-friendly things—which I could only eat at her house. Mac ‘n’ cheese. Chicken fingers. Grilled cheese.”
Thad could only imagine how tough that had been on her. “Did your parents know that?”
“They knew I ate kid-friendly fare when I was with her. I never let on she taught me to cook, though, and such pedestrian fare. I think that might have put an end to our visits.”
Obviously the deception had cost Michelle emotionally. “Where’s your gran now?” Thad asked.
Sorrow darkened Michelle’s eyes. “She died five years ago.”
Had Thad not been holding William, he would have taken Michelle in his arms and held her until she felt better. Unfortunately all he could do was tell her how he felt. “I’m sorry.”
Michelle accepted his sympathy with a nod. “I had a lot of good years with her. She taught me how to connect with people.” Michelle paused, reflecting. “To see more than just someone’s career potential or IQ.”
“She sounds wonderful,” Thad said softly.
“She was.” Michelle smiled. “And she gave me this cook-book.” She tapped the cover of the much-used instruction manual. “And now I’m lending it to you. So…good luck. Keep it as long as you need it. I know all the recipes by heart, anyway.”
MICHELLE SLIPPED out the door before Thad could entice her to stay. She congratulated herself as she crossed the street to her own home. She’d been helpful, neighborly. But she hadn’t gotten overly emotionally involved with one of their firm’s clients.
Nevertheless, as the evening progressed, she couldn’t help but wonder how Thad was faring. She was still wondering at 6:00 a.m., when she left the house for her run.
Half an hour later, she was back. Thad stepped out onto his front porch before she reached her mailbox, waved her over.
Acutely conscious of the way she must look, in her running shorts and T-shirt, the top section of her chin-length hair caught in a messy ponytail, Michelle sprinted up his sidewalk.
Thad flashed a smile that upped her pulse another notch. “Got something to show you,” he announced proudly.
Michelle could have begged off. She had to shower and prepare for work. However, curiosity prompted her to step inside his house. Thad was dressed as casually as she was, in a pair of gray sweatpants and a white T-shirt. William was dozing in a canvas baby carrier strapped to Thad’s chest. Something else that was new, which seemed very well suited to his style.
“That cookbook you lent me is great!” he said.
Michelle blinked. “You tried it out already?”
Satisfaction radiated from him. “Sure did. Grilled cheese sandwiches last night. Oven-baked eggs in muffin tins this morning.” His grin widened. “I made enough for two.”
He ushered her into the kitchen. The table had been set. A bowl of fruit salad and buttered toast sat on the table. The aroma of fresh-brewed coffee and baking eggs filled the air. “I cheated on the fruit salad,” he admitted sheepishly. “Got that out of the produce section. But the rest I did.”
Michelle checked her watch in amazement. “How long have you been up?”
“Since five. William decided he was done sleeping. I gave him a bottle, but he showed no signs of going back to sleep and fussed every time I put him down. Finally I put him in this—one of the nurses at the hospital recommended it. It works. Little guy goes right to sleep.”
Michelle could see why. As she’d thought before, snuggled against Thad’s broad chest, who wouldn’t want to drift off to dreamland?
A timer went off and he pointed to the oven. “If you wouldn’t mind…”
Michelle put the heatproof mitt on her hand and removed the eggs. They looked done to perfection.
Thad pointed. “Those two are yours. There might be a little shell in the other two. It took me a couple of tries to get the hang of breaking the eggs into those little cups.” He winked. “Thus, if anyone lives dangerously, it should be me.”
Gallant to the core, Michelle thought. She worked the eggs out and slid them onto plates. “The social worker would be impressed if she saw how hard you’re working. Although I have to tell you, it’s not necessary to do all this. You just have to demonstrate the ability to feed your child. That could be by hiring someone to come in to cook…”
Thad shook his head. “I remember what it was to have our mom cook for us, versus our dad, who never did. Her way left us feeling pampered and loved.”
“And your dad’s way?”
The expression in Thad’s eyes was bleak. “Russell and I felt like a burden to my dad. I’m going to make sure that William knows he is loved.”
Michelle couldn’t help it. She reached out and touched Thad’s hand. “You feel a deep connection to him already, don’t you?”
His fingers closed over hers. “It’s funny,” he confessed. “My whole life I’ve had trouble feeling as close to people as I’d like—it’s as though I can get so close and no closer. But it hasn’t been that way with William. From the first moment I held this little guy in my arms, there was something special. I know it sounds kind of corny…but I know I’m meant to be William’s father in the same way that I knew I was meant to be a doctor.”
Michelle was impressed. Moved. “You’re very determined.”
He shrugged. “I’m used to setting goals and getting things done.” Thad held out her chair for her. He paused to study her expression. “I can see you still have your doubts, but I’m going to be the perfect father to this baby.”
Thad moved around to sit opposite her. “Everything is going to be so well organized and run so smoothly there is no way the court or children’s services can say I’m not qualified to be William’s dad.”
Michelle spread her napkin across her lap. “I admire your determination. I really do. I can see how much you want this.”
Thad’s glance narrowed. “I hear a but,” he said.
Michelle instinctively reverted back to lawyer mode again. “But you need to prepare yourself for the fact that despite everything you’re doing, Judge Barnes and Tamara Kelly might not see things your way.”
Thad didn’t speak, and Michelle went on, “I’ve had unfore-seen events develop and seen clients disappointed before. When it comes to child-custody cases, anything can happen. Decisions are sometimes made by the court that don’t seem fair.”
“Which is why, to do this, I’m going to need someone to stand beside me.” Thad leaned toward her. “You’ve already said you didn’t want do to it as my lawyer. Will you stand by me as my friend?”
THAD WAITED while Michelle considered his request.
“I’ll be happy to help you, one neighbor to another,” she said finally. “But I’d prefer not to get emotionally involved.”
Thad dug into his eggs. “You really think my situation is that risky?”
She swallowed and concentrated on her breakfast, too. “It’s not that.”
“Then what is it?” he demanded.
Michelle looked over at him. “Situations like this heighten the emotions of everyone involved.”
Exactly, Thad thought, why he needed a friend and a sounding board more than ever. To see him through it.
“We could become close to each other very quickly,” Michelle cautioned.
Thad added salt and pepper to his eggs. “I can see you also have a problem with that.”
She grimaced and tore off a small piece of toast. “It wouldn’t be genuine intimacy.”
“Says who?”
A pulse throbbed in the hollow of her throat, as she admitted in a low, hoarse voice, “Says someone like me, who’s been through it and made that mistake before.”
Thad wasn’t surprised to learn she’d been hurt. He’d known something was responsible for her skittishness where he was concerned. He waited for her to go on. Eventually she did.
“Four years ago I had a client, Jared, whose wife, Margarite, died in childbirth. His in-laws held Jared responsible for Margarite’s death because Jared had known about her heart condition when they married. The two of them had agreed they would not have children—too big a risk for Margarite—but she wanted a baby desperately and became pregnant, anyway. They all tried to talk her into terminating the pregnancy, but she wouldn’t listen, so Jared did the only thing he could do—he supported his wife.” A pensive look crossed Michelle’s pretty face. “Unfortunately the doctors were right—it was too much for her, and she died in childbirth. The baby survived. Margarite’s parents blamed Jared for their daughter’s death, and sued him for custody of their only grandchild.”
“That must have been awful for everyone involved,” Thad said.
Michelle put down her fork and clenched her hands together. “That’s an understatement. It turned into an ugly, protracted battle that went on for almost two years. I not only represented Jared and his son, Jimmy—I fell in love with both of them. The day the court battle ended, with a verdict in Jared’s favor, he asked me to marry him. I said yes. But as life returned to normal and the wedding day got closer, Jared realized that although I loved him…he did not love me. Not the way he’d loved Margarite,” she reflected sadly. “So we broke up. And I promised myself never again would I put myself in a situation where a man I was attracted to could mistake gratitude for love.”
Thad took a moment to savor the fact she had just admitted she was attracted to him. “I can see how that must have been difficult for you,” he said after a moment.
Remembered hurt shimmered in her eyes. “Try heartbreaking.”
“Our situation is different.”
She lifted her eyebrows and got up to pour them both more coffee from the carafe. “Is it? You have an adorable baby to whom I’m already feeling emotionally attached. I’m here having breakfast with you, when I should be home getting ready for work.”
Thad studied the conflicted look on her face. “This is about the fact I’ve kissed you and you’ve kissed me back, isn’t it?”
A blush pinkened her cheeks. She stood, restless now. “It’s about the fact I can’t stop thinking about the two of you and your situation.”
Thad shrugged and, finished with his breakfast, stood, too. “Then we’re even, because I can’t stop thinking about you, either, in ways that have nothing to do with your expertise in family law or the gentle way you handle William.”
Michelle lifted both her hands before he could take her in his arms. “Look, I understand how much is at stake for you here. I wish you all the best. I really do. But beyond that,” she claimed, “I can’t put myself in that situation again—I’m too vulnerable. And you shouldn’t put yourself there, either, Thad. Not under these circumstances.”
MICHELLE WORKED LATE the next two days, not getting home until after nine. By then, Thad’s car was already in his drive-way, the lights on inside. Even at that late hour, there was a steady stream of women driving up and dropping things off—everything from congratulatory balloons to casseroles to festively wrapped gifts.
Often they were invited inside.
More often, they did not stay long.
Michelle figured that was not by the visitors’ choice.
After all, who could resist sweet baby William? Or the handsome, eligible bachelor determined to adopt him?
Only her, of course.
Still applauding herself for her practical attitude, she headed to work Friday morning. Stayed unusually late at the office again that evening, not getting home until ten.
Curiously, even though she’d seen Thad leave for work just before eight that morning with William in tow and knew he got off at eight that evening, there was no car in Thad’s driveway. No lights on. No sign of either Thad or William.
Michelle told herself she shouldn’t be surprised. Friday was a date night, after all.
Thad was single and had made it clear he did not want to go through the adoption process without a supportive woman by his side.
He and William had probably accepted an invitation to dinner at someone’s home.
It was none of her business where he was or with whom.
That didn’t stop her from wondering—a little jealously, she admitted reluctantly—where Thad and William were as she took a long, luxurious bubble bath and changed into her favorite pair of white satin pajamas.
At midnight, when she finally slipped into bed, there was still no sign of them.
Minutes ticked by. Then half an hour. Another hour.
Michelle was no closer to sleep when finally, at one-thirty in the morning, she heard Thad’s car.
Before she could stop herself, she had slipped from bed and moved to the window.
She saw Thad get out of the SUV. Shoulders slumped, he trudged toward the house, unlocked the door and moved slowly inside.
William was not with him.
Or was he…?
Without warning, Michelle recalled news stories of new parents who had become distracted and forgotten they had an infant in the safety seat in the rear of their vehicle.
Surely Thad—an emergency-room physician and determined new father—would not have made a similar mistake, Michelle told herself. A shiver of unease slid down her spine.
But what if he had?
What if William were sleeping soundly in the car?
What if he wasn’t?
A raft of possible disaster scenarios filling her head, Michelle put on a pair of driving clogs, grabbed her raincoat out of the closet and ran outside.
Shivering in the brisk air, she headed across the street.
Chapter Seven
Thad had just polished off a slice of cold pizza and uncapped a beer when he remembered he’d forgotten to bring in the day’s mail. Wearily he went out to the foyer, set his beer down on the table, looked outside, then stopped in astonishment.
Michelle, hands cupped around her eyes, was peering into the back of his SUV.
Curious now himself, he quietly eased the front door open.
She was definitely snooping. Though what she could want with the back of his BMW, was anyone’s guess.
“Can I help you with something?” he asked dryly, trying not to notice how good it was to see her again after several days’ absence. He was fairly certain she’d been taking great pains to avoid running into him.
Michelle jumped at the sound of his voice.
Just for the hell of it, he reached inside and switched on the porch lights.
Michelle stood there, looking ridiculously beautiful in the glow of soft yellow lamplight and backdrop of dark night sky. Her hair was delectably tousled, her lips soft and bare, her cheeks a becoming pink. She was clad in her raincoat, whi
ch fell only to mid-thigh and which was open to reveal a pair of white satin pajamas that elegantly draped her slender form. It was clear, from the imprint of nipple against the silky fabric, that she was cold.
Desire sent an arrow of fire to his groin. Desire, he told himself, he did not want to feel.
“Well?” He arched a brow, waiting. “For someone who eased so deliberately from my life three nights ago, you sure are nosy.”
She flushed guiltily. “I’m sorry. I was worried. I was trying to see if by chance you’d accidentally left William in his car seat in the back. But—” she paused and wet her lips “—there’s no car seat.”
“I leave it with Dotty when I drop him off in the mornings, in case she needs it.”
“Oh.”
Silence fell between them, more awkward than ever.
Aware she wasn’t the only one getting chilled by the brisk mountain air, Thad said, “Anything else you want to know you’ll have to find out inside.”
Too tired and cold to stand on ceremony, he walked past her to the mailbox, grabbed the few letters and magazines there, then headed back into the house. As he suspected—or was it hoped?—she followed moments later. The first thing he noticed was that she had buttoned—and belted—her raincoat.
She wrung her hands. “I’m really sorry for snooping.”
Thad set down the stack of mail. He picked up his beer and took another swallow. It had been a hell of day and appeared not to be over yet. “Are you finished?”
Politeness would have dictated she murmur another apology and leave.
The attorney in her continued with the investigation into what he figured was his overall fitness as a parent. The fact he had done nothing wrong prompted him to make her work like hell for any further information.
“Is William all right?” she asked finally.
Thad turned and headed for the kitchen.
Deciding a second beer wouldn’t hurt, he went to the fridge and pulled out two icy bottles. He uncapped both and handed her one.
After a moment’s hesitation, she took it.
Eyes on his, she waited.
Found: One Baby Page 9