A Matter of Trust (The Boston Five Series #5)

by Poppy J. Anderson

  He gave her a sympathetic smile. “Don’t worry about it. I loved my dad very much, too.”

  After the clan had finished all of the amazing food, Morgan joined the other women in the kitchen to help do the dishes. She was told a few interesting family secrets, as well as some sensitive information, like what anniversary gift Thorne was planning for her husband. They only let her leave the kitchen after she had told them, in detail, how she and Kyle met.

  When she finally stepped out onto the terrace, she saw Kyle holding a toddler in one arm and using the other to push another child on a swing. He was simultaneously speaking to his oldest nephew, who was standing next to him.

  As she watched the man who so obviously loved children, she felt queasy with longing for him.

  “Are they bothering him again?”

  Morgan gave a start. Kyle’s mom was suddenly standing beside her, looking at her son standing in the yard, surrounded by his nieces and nephews.

  “I don’t think it bothers him,” Morgan said.

  “No, you’re right,” Ellen Fitzpatrick agreed. She continued with pride in her voice, “He has a certain calm about him that children really like. My oldest friend used to say Kyle was a children-tamer. Not the most flattering epithet, but there you have it.” She winked at Morgan.

  “My best friend calls him a baby whisperer,” Morgan admitted.

  Ellen laughed. “Baby whisperer. I like that.”

  “Me too.” Morgan turned to face her. “Thank you for the wonderful dinner.”

  “No need to thank me, honey. It was nice to have you. I hope you’ll come more often from now on.”

  “I hope so, too.”

  “Oh, before I forget …” Ellen handed her a large plastic container. “Would you give that to Kyle? He knows what it is.”

  “Okay.” Morgan was puzzled but took the container.

  The older woman put a hand on her arm. “And say hi to Cody from me. I hope he likes the cake.”

  ***

  “The cake is awesome, Kyle. Your mom is a really good baker.”

  “I think she is, too. Do you know which of her cakes is my favorite?”

  “Nope.”

  “I love the one with ground nuts,” Kyle confided to the blond boy, on whose hospital bed he was sitting as they devoured the cake. That’s what had been in the large container Kyle and Morgan brought along on their hospital visit.

  While the two guys sat together on the bed, discussing the merits of their favorite cakes, Morgan sat cross-legged on the tiny couch next to the door. While she observed the two, the corners of her mouth kept twitching in amusement.

  They were too cute, the way they shared the fluffy cake like brothers, peeking at the door from time to time, worrying that a nurse might come in and take away the coveted comfort food. As she leaned back, she realized that though she hadn’t expected to spend the evening after Kyle’s family dinner in a hospital room listening to an enthusiastic conversation about cake, there was really no place she’d rather be. She felt an inexplicable urge to walk over, sit on the bed with Kyle and Cody, and help finish off the cake.

  “If your mom bakes that cake with nuts again, I’d like to try that, too.”

  “Of course,” Kyle replied. “The next one’s all yours.”

  The ten-year-old’s eyes widened. “But I can’t eat a whole cake!” As if to contradict himself, he shoved another giant piece in his mouth and sighed happily.

  Morgan was about to advise him to moan a little more quietly, since his enthusiasm might draw the nurses, but Cody piped up, “Hey, Kyle.”

  “What is it, pal?”

  Cody stared into the almost-empty container. “Dr. Kleypas told me I’m going to be released from the hospital next week. But … but I still don’t know where I’m going to live.”

  Morgan saw Kyle hesitate. “Cody …”

  “Do I have to go to a children’s home?”

  Kyle drew a sharp breath. “I don’t know …”

  When the boy’s shoulders slumped, Morgan wanted to jump from her seat, but Kyle wasn’t done yet.

  “Listen, Cody, I know it must sound pretty complicated to you … and you won’t have to stay in that orph—institution for long ... but it might be a little longer before you can come live with me.” He swallowed. “Someone else might come talk to you first.”

  “Okay,” the boy murmured, dismayed. “I understand.”

  “Hey, it’ll all be okay, pal.” Kyle placed his hand on the boy’s head. “Before you know it, we’ll be setting up your room and eating cake.”

  Cody’s brave but despondent nod made Morgan’s heart ache, and she asked herself what the hell she was doing here. Cody couldn’t wish for a better foster father than Kyle, and the agency had probably never seen a more suitable candidate than Dr. Kyle Fitzpatrick.

  And she suddenly wanted to belong to these two people so badly she could hardly breathe.

  Kyle was right. How could she even think about not doing her job anymore, after all that had happened?

  “Hey,” she heard herself say. “Why don’t you two plan out exactly how you’re going to paint and furnish Cody’s room?” Her eyes met Kyle’s, his gaze open and hopeful.

  “What?”

  She nodded, tears welling in her eyes. “The least Cody should have when he’s released is a bed to sleep in, don’t you think?”

  Kyle blinked. “But the recommendation—”

  “Will be on Mr. Simpson’s desk tomorrow morning.” She stood. “Is it okay if I sit with you guys?”

  When Kyle reached out his hand and Cody held the container for her to grab the last slice, Morgan walked over to the bed.

  Chapter 15

  One year later

  Kyle was standing in his yard, watching the barbecue, but also glancing at his family, who had gotten together to celebrate Cody’s official adoption.

  It wasn’t as if the Fitzpatricks needed a special reason to get together, but for Morgan, Cody, and Kyle, this day was so special indeed that they had invited the whole family to their house to commemorate the memorable day. It was also probably their last chance to have a grand celebration in their house, since Morgan was pregnant, which meant they wouldn’t be getting sufficient sleep for the next eighteen years or so.

  Automatically, Kyle’s gaze searched the yard until he spied his wife, who was standing next to the table, her hands at her back, pushing out the nine-month bowling ball of a belly and laughing at something Jordan had said. His twin’s wife stood opposite Morgan, her hands on her back in a position very similar to Morgan’s, her own nine-month bowling ball just as conspicuous. When the bellies of the two pregnant women touched briefly, his wife and his sister-in-law laughed out loud, which made him chuckle, too.

  He turned back to focus on keeping the hot dogs on the grill from burning just as his twin asked, “Are you sure you can’t tell me whether it’s a boy or girl?”

  As sensing that his brother was thinking about the fact that Morgan and Jordan had gotten pregnant at the same time, Ryan was suddenly standing next to Kyle, sliding a brotherly arm around his shoulder. At least they hadn’t gotten married at the same time, because that would have been weird. Ryan looked rather tense, considering he was a newlywed, having finally tied the knot a month ago. He’d stood in front of the altar with his very pregnant bride before a large and motley mob of Espositos and Fitzpatricks. Kyle knew his brother was irrationally scared of the upcoming birth, but Jordan was coolness incarnate.

  Kyle was nervous, too, when he thought about the fact that Morgan could go into labor any day now, but that didn’t mean he was afraid of being a father. He’d been practicing for a whole year, after all.

  His gaze wandered to Cody, who was sitting next to Joey on the porch swing, he and his cousin putting their heads together. Kyle’s eleven-year-old son and his nine-year-old niece were thick as thieves, and they reminded him of Heath and Hayden, who’d sat on the very same porch swing when they were the same age, inseparable. A m
onth ago, Cody had even gone on vacation with Heath, Hayden, and their three girls, because Joey hadn’t wanted to spend those two weeks without her favorite cousin. That’s when Kyle and Morgan had finally found the time to unpack the last of their moving boxes, though they had missed the funny kid terribly. He’d settled in quickly, and they’d had time to become a family. Kyle could not imagine letting go of the boy who had entered his life so unexpectedly, and who was now legally his son, too.

  “Well?” Ryan prodded. “What’s it gonna be? Boy or girl?”

  Kyle put a few ears of corn on the grill and grinned. “You go first. What are you having?”

  “Jordan forbade me from telling anyone,” Ryan complained.

  “Then why should I tell you what ours will be?”

  “I need to know if I should buy a cigar with a pink or a blue label for you.”

  “I don’t want a cigar,” Kyle told his brother, setting the tongs aside for a moment. “But I couldn’t tell you even if I wanted to. Morgan and I didn’t want to know. It’s a surprise.”

  Ryan gave him a suspicious look and then shook his head. “I don’t buy it!”

  “I swear!” Kyle raised both hands innocently. “And why is Jordan forbidding you from announcing the baby’s sex?”

  “She’s superstitious,” Ryan grumbled, apparently anything but happy about having to keep mum. Ever since he’d learned he was going to be a father, he’d been running around with his chest puffed out, proud and beaming. He even told the people he arrested that he was expecting a child. Ryan was actually the last person on earth who Kyle would have suspected of that kind of behavior.

  “Superstitious?” he asked. “Since when?”

  Ryan rolled his eyes. “Since she read all those hocus pocus books. She’s driving me crazy with all that crap.”

  “Poor bastard.” Kyle hit him on the shoulder good-naturedly.

  Ryan ignored him. “Doesn’t Morgan read all those terrible baby advice books? I want to burn them all, but I’m afraid Jordan would come after me with something pointy.”

  “With the move, Morgan suddenly didn’t have time to go out and buy all those baby books,” he gloated like a mastermind.

  “You bastard,” his twin huffed.

  “Hey, it’s your own fault! Mom asked you as well.”

  Ryan put his hands on his hips. “If you and Morgan hadn’t nabbed the house out from under our noses, Jordan and I wouldn’t be living among moving boxes right now. And my dear wife wouldn’t have found the time to read those stupid books.”

  Kyle grinned at his brother. “I’m really grateful that you guys hesitated. Morgan loves the house.”

  “At least that’s something,” Ryan grumbled. “As long as my sister-in-law is happy, I’m happy, too. And I know the house is in good hands.”

  “Did Mom tell you Bill’s going to sell his house to go travel around the world with her? When they get back, they’re going to look for an apartment in the neighborhood.” Kyle was lying, but it worked too well—Ryan’s eyes bugged.

  “What? But … but we just renovated Bill’s house a month ago! And what about the babies? Mom can’t go traveling when the babies are coming!”

  Kyle chuckled. “Worried your babysitter is setting sail?”

  “Of course not, but I …” Ryan narrowed his eyes at Kyle. The suspicion in his gaze was palpable. “You ass!”

  “You should have seen your face,” Kyle laughed gleefully. “I can already picture you flipping out when your wife’s in labor!”

  “You got our family house,” Ryan grumbled, “and now you’re making fun of me on top of that. Thanks a lot.”

  Kyle chuckled cheerfully. “You’re welcome.”

  “Why don’t you watch the grill, you clown?”

  “Don’t worry, I got it.” Sobering a little, Kyle added, “If you need any help with work on the house, you just have to say the word. Jordan’s not the only one with brothers who can lend a hand.”

  “I know, but there’s not a lot more to be done now.” With a wide grin, Ryan announced proudly, “The baby’s room was finished yesterday.”

  “Do you like the blue wallpaper?” Kyle asked casually.

  “Why would it be blue?” Ryan asked. “We painted the walls pink and—”

  “Aha!” Kyle shouted. “Pink! You’re having a girl. Congratulations.”

  “Dammit,” Ryan muttered. “Jordan’s going to kill me.”

  “My lips are sealed,” Kyle assured him, struggling to suppress his laughter. “Jesus, you of all people becoming the father of a daughter!”

  His brother’s face twisted into an offended scowl. “What’s so funny about that?”

  Kyle picked up the tongs again and began moving the meat onto a large serving plate. “It’s only fair, I guess, considering how many fathers have blamed you for their sleepless nights in the past.”

  “Hey,” Ryan protested. “My father-in-law adores me, okay?”

  “Because you’re a cop, and he’s a cop, too.”

  “Because I make my wife damned happy.”

  With a smug roll of his eyes, Kyle handed his brother the loaded plate. “Go make yourself useful.”

  When Ryan stalked off, Kyle started to turn back to the grill, but then he noticed Jordan flinch and straighten her back. He watched her for a moment before sauntering over to the two pregnant women, who were still engrossed in conversation.

  “Hi, babe,” Morgan greeted him with a kiss on the cheek. “Everything okay on the barbecue front?”

  “Yep, everything’s fine.” He looked at his sister-in-law and raised his eyebrows. “When did the contractions start?”

  His brother’s dark-haired wife returned his gaze with a stunned expression. “I’m not having contractions, Kyle!” she protested with amusement. “What makes you think that?”

  “I saw you flinch and then straighten, repeatedly, at regular intervals. How long exactly between contractions?”

  Her eyes widened, but then she shook her head. “No, that’s not labor. My back just hurts, but that’s hardly surprising.” She pointed at her gigantic belly, which the dark-gray maternity blouse couldn’t really hide from view. “I’ve gained forty-four pounds.”

  Undeterred, and with expert calm, he probed, “How far was the cervix dilated the last time you saw your gynecologist?”

  Her face reddened. “I’m not telling you anything about my cervix, Kyle!”

  “What’s going on?” Hayden asked. She stepped toward the table to fetch a glass of lemonade, holding her youngest in one arm. Tara was only six months old.

  “Your crazy brother-in-law thinks I’m in labor,” Jordan hissed at her. “When really all I am is hungry and aching. Like any pregnant woman!”

  “My back aches, too,” Morgan chimed in merrily. “Has for weeks. When’s your due date again, Jordan?”

  “Not for three weeks.” She glared at Kyle. “I’m not in labor yet, so don’t get any wild ideas. I’m not letting you examine me!”

  He didn’t point out that she’d just flinched again and instead fixed his gaze on his watch.

  “What are you doing?” Jordan demanded.

  “Checking the intervals,” he informed her plainly.

  Morgan didn’t seem to think that was such a good idea. “Kyle, stop it, please. She’s not due for three weeks.”

  “Joey was born several days after her due date, and Kayla two weeks earlier,” Hayden said cheerfully. “And I almost had Tara at home because I thought my contractions were stomach pains.”

  “You’re not helping, Hayden,” Jordan shot at her.

  Kyle couldn’t suppress a grin, so he turned his head and looked for Kayleigh, who was sitting on a bench chatting to Bill. As if she’d sensed that he was looking for her, she raised her head and looked in his direction. The wordless communication between medical professionals worked even when they were off duty and at home. She excused herself and came over to them. “Is everything okay over here?”

  “No, it�
�s not,” Jordan answered for Kyle. “Your impossible brother thinks I’m in labor.”

  “Can you be a little more precise? Which of my impossible brothers are you talking about? I have four of them.”

  Kyle raised a hand. “She’s talking about me. And yes, she’s going into labor.”

  “No, I’m not! It’s just that my back—OW!”

  “Okay, honey, whatever you say,” Kayleigh said in an amused voice. “But I still think we should go to the hospital and have that checked out.”

  Jordan began to protest, which of course brought Ryan into the fray. He grew pale when Kayleigh told him to go get his car keys. “Are you in labor or something?”

  “No, dammit!” Jordan barked at her clueless husband, who seemed utterly confused. “My back just hurts because your baby is so damn big! Pregnant women have back pain! Ask Morgan—she has the same problem.”

  But Ryan had paled during her explanation. “We’re going to the hospital now, Jordan!”

  “Now, we’re not,” she objected. “I want a hot dog, and then you can give me a foot massage, but I’m not having a baby today!”

  “But—”

  Jordan cut her panicking husband off. “Not before the kitchen is set up and all the appliances are installed in our new house, no! I’m not having this baby, Ryan Fitzpatrick! The kitchen stuff will be delivered next week, and until that—”

  “Until that?” her husband spluttered. “You’re going to stay in labor until that?”

  Thankfully, Kyle’s mom joined them at that moment, coming out of the house with a large salad bowl in her hands. Like a tattling teenager, Ryan called to her, “Mom, put your foot down, please! Jordan’s in labor, but she won’t go to the hospital! She wants a hot dog instead! And apparently she won’t have this baby until the refrigerator delivery guy gets here!”

  Ellen nearly dropped the salad bowl.

  The ensuing ruckus ended with Jordan being led from the house and into the car despite her vocal protests. Kyle watched the hullabaloo his brother and sister-in-law were causing, before turning to Morgan with a weak smile.