He groaned loudly. “I’m too tired to move anyway.”
She ran her fingers through his thick hair and held on to his back, now slick with sweat, with her arm. “I have something I need to tell you,” she said.
“Umm,” he murmured.
“We’re going to have a baby.”
She felt his body stiffen, before his head jerked up. Then she felt his upper body lift from hers as he braced himself on his arms.
Faith kept her eyes closed, afraid to see what effect her news had. She wanted Randy to be happy, because she was. They both still had another year of college to finish, but the baby wouldn’t be coming until summer. They hadn’t planned to have a baby right away, and she’d been taking the pill. But she’d been sick with the flu over Halloween, and everything had come up for a few days—including, apparently, her birth control pills.
Now she was pregnant.
“How...? Open your eyes, Faith,” he said.
She hesitated a moment, then squinted up at him. When she saw he was smiling—grinning, actually—she opened her eyes and grinned back. “Remember when I was sick with the flu? I guess I lost my pills along with my lunch.”
“I can’t say I’m sorry,” he said.
“You look pretty proud of yourself.”
“I’m going to be a father,” he said in wonder. He slid to her side and laid his hand on her belly. “There’s a tiny little Wright growing inside you.”
“A tiny little Butler,” she corrected.
“We’re not going to let Miss Carter’s wedding preparations go to waste, are we?” he said, still grinning. “Somebody should get married on Saturday.”
Faith sighed. “I’ve been a sorry failure as a matchmaker. Last I heard, Jake was still planning to marry Miss Carter on Saturday.”
“Really?” Randy said. “I thought Hope—”
“Despite all my machinations, I don’t think Hope is going to be able to stop the wedding.”
“Hope may still get some help from Rabb. I wonder who I need to see to arrange a wedding.”
Faith arched a brow. “I don’t remember agreeing to marry you.”
He shot her a chagrined look. “Gosh, Faith. I’ve proposed so many times over the past three years I’ve lost count. You’ve always said you wanted to wait until we graduated. But surely, now that—”
“Yes, I’ll marry you,” Faith interrupted. “But I don’t know if I want to do it at the end of the week. I just realized I haven’t told you yet that my mom’s in the hospital.”
Randy sat upright. “What? When did this happen?”
Faith sat up across from him and said, “I was at the hospital before Hope dropped me off here. Mom had a heart attack.”
“Holy cow! Just like that? Out of the blue?”
Faith made a face. “She had a shock. It put too much stress on her heart.”
“What kind of shock?”
“There’s something else I haven’t told you. I have another sister named Charity.” She put a hand over Randy’s mouth to prevent his interruption and continued. “Hope and I aren’t twins. Hope, Charity and I are triplets.”
Randy’s jaw gaped. “Good God.”
Faith felt the weight of guilt again and lowered her chin to her chest. “It was all my fault Mom and Dad gave Charity away. She showed up at Jake’s ranch with Kane Longstreet—they’re dating. It was so amazing—she looks just like us. She wanted to meet Mom and Dad, so Hope and I got in the car right then and there and took her home with us.”
Faith shuddered. “She was horrible to them. And Mom... After Charity ran out, she collapsed.”
She felt Randy’s hands at her waist, lifting her into his lap. He cradled her in his arms, and she laid her cheek against his chest. She felt the tears filling her eyes and felt one spill over.
“Don’t cry, babe. You know I can’t bear it when you cry.”
She sniffled and then sobbed. “I can’t help it. I can’t stand it. It’s all my fault.”
“Shh, babe,” he soothed, rubbing his hand against her back and pulling her close. “Shh. How could it be your fault?”
“If I hadn’t been born like this—” She held out her handless arm. “Taking care of me was so expensive, my parents couldn’t afford to keep all three of us. So they gave Charity away.”
She felt Randy’s arms tighten around her. “You couldn’t help how you were born. And it sounds like your parents were in a tough spot and did what they thought was best. Why don’t you blame them if you have to blame somebody?”
“It wasn’t their fault I was born this way.”
“It wasn’t your fault, either,” Randy reminded her.
“I feel sorry for Charity.”
“Did she end up getting adopted?”
“Yes, but I don’t think she had it too easy. The worst of it was, she wasn’t given away at birth. Mom and Dad kept all three of us for two years before they decided they had to give one of us away. They chose Charity.”
“How on earth do you make that sort of choice?” Randy asked.
Faith put a hand to Randy’s cheek and said, “They said they picked the best of us to give away, ‘the one certain to be loved by strangers.’”
Randy said nothing. Faith finally looked up and saw his eyes were glistening with tears. She watched his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed, then said, “You can’t be mad at them, Faith. And you can’t blame yourself. It must have been terrible for them. I can’t imagine...” He swallowed again. “I can’t imagine giving up a child of ours. The pain must have been awful. And they’ve had the two of you to face every day, all these years, knowing they have a third child who looks exactly like you out there somewhere.”
“I can understand what they did,” Faith said. “I can even forgive them. But I haven’t been able to forgive myself.”
“You have nothing to forgive yourself for,” Randy said, kissing her brow. “You’re not responsible, Faith. If anyone bears the burden of what happened, it should be your parents. And even if Charity didn’t have a perfect life, it appears she survived and has finally found her way back to your family.”
“I don’t think she’s going to forgive Mom and Dad anytime soon,” Faith said. “Although she did show up at the hospital when she heard Mom was sick, so she must care a little.”
“How do you feel about having another sister?” Randy asked.
“It’s strange,” Faith admitted. “Hope and I have always felt like there was a part of us missing. Now we know why. But Hope and I have also been inseparable all these years. I don’t know how another sister is going to affect that. I mean, we haven’t shared our lives with Charity. She’s a stranger, even though she looks like us.”
“Do you want to get to know her?”
“I’m not sure I’m going to get the chance. She lives in the hill country near Kerrville. On the other hand, she came here with Kane Longstreet. It would be amazing if she ended up marrying him. Then we’d all live close to one another.”
“What are the chances of that?”
“I have no idea,” Faith admitted. “He had his arm around her when they entered the waiting room, but he didn’t stay with her, so I don’t know quite what their relationship is.”
“Maybe they need some matchmaking help, too,” Randy suggested.
Faith’s eyes narrowed. “You’re kidding, right?”
Randy shrugged. “I don’t think you’ve done such a bad job with Jake and Hope or Rabb and Miss Carter. Frankly, if a match with Kane Longstreet will keep your sister nearby, why not?”
“I hardly know Kane. And Charity is a mystery to me. It would be pretty presumptuous to get involved in their lives.”
Randy grinned. “Remember who you’re talking to. Interfering is what you do best—especially on behalf of t
hose you care about most.”
“Like I said, I hardly know Charity.”
“She’s your sister,” Randy said. “Don’t you want the chance to get to know her?”
“Of course I do.”
Randy leaned over and kissed her on the nose. “Then go to it.” He slid to the edge of the bed and reached for the clothes he’d discarded, pulling on his shorts and jeans in quick succession.
Faith stretched across the bed and reached down for her prosthesis. Randy beat her to it.
“Let me,” he said, picking up the hooked device.
Faith never stopped marveling that Randy accepted her as she was. She held out her arm so he could slip the prosthesis onto it. He paused long enough to kiss her wrist before doing so, and then attached the strap around her shoulder. She went up on her knees to embrace him. “I love you,” she said.
“And I love you,” he replied. “And I want to marry you on Saturday. What do you say?”
She pushed him to arm’s length and looked into his eyes. “It’s awfully short notice.”
“Who else would you invite that isn’t already invited? And my sister and brother-in-law will be back by then.”
“What if my mom is still in the hospital?” Faith asked.
“Do you really think she’d want you to postpone getting married once she knows you’re pregnant?”
“That’s not fair,” Faith protested.
Randy grinned. “I’m right. Admit it.”
Faith laughed. “All right, you’re right.” She sobered and said, “I’ll marry you so long as her condition remains stable or improves. If she gets worse...”
Randy put his arms around her and said, “That’s not going to happen. She’s a strong woman. And she has a great deal to live for—a long-lost daughter and her first grandchild.”
“I hope you’re right.” She pulled his head down to kiss him, and their lips caught and held. He tumbled her back onto the bed and she went willingly with him.
She would do what she could for Charity and Kane. Later. After she’d made love once more to the father of her child.
* * *
CHARITY
* * *
CHARITY PACED THE HOSPITAL CORRIDOR waiting for the opportunity to see her mother. The nurse had said she was resting peacefully but couldn’t have visitors. Charity feared that her mother would die before she had a chance to know her. Which surprised her, since she hadn’t realized until the opportunity was nearly stolen away that she wanted to get to know her.
“How is she?”
Charity turned and walked into Kane’s arms. “I think she’s going to be all right. At least, that’s what the doctor told my father an hour ago.”
“Where is he?” Kane asked, glancing around the empty ICU waiting room. “For that matter, where is everybody?”
“They left when the nurse said my mother couldn’t have visitors.”
“And you’ve been waiting for me,” Kane said, giving her a hug. “Sorry to be gone so long, but my sister wanted to talk and show off my tiny new nephew. She asked about you, and I told her about your mom.”
“I should have gone with you,” Charity said. “I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize. She understood that having found your mom, you’d be worried about losing her again so soon.”
Charity’s eyes widened. “Amazing that she realized how I felt, when I’ve only just discovered it myself.”
“It’s hard for me to imagine what you’re going through. Finding your biological mother would be amazing enough, but discovering that you’re one of a set of triplets must be pretty overwhelming.”
“It is,” Charity admitted. She glanced toward the door to her mother’s private room. “What if she dies? I’ll never forgive myself—”
“Hey,” Kane said, rocking her in his arms. “She’s going to be fine.”
“You don’t know that,” Charity said, jerking herself free of his embrace. “If I could just talk to her, tell her I’m sorry—” At that moment a nurse left the room, closing the door behind her, smiled at Charity and Kane, then headed down the hall.
Charity watched her go, then glanced back at the closed door. “I’m going in there.”
“You said she’s not supposed to have visitors,” Kane said. “She’s probably not even awake.”
“If she’s sleeping I won’t disturb her,” Charity said. “But I need to see her.”
She felt Kane’s hands on either side of her face as he lifted it to look her in the eye.
“All right, sweetheart. I’ll be waiting here for you.”
She kissed him quickly on the mouth. “Thank you, Kane.” She turned and hurried to her mother’s room, pushing the door open and sliding inside.
Her mother’s room was considerably darker than the waiting room, since the venetian blinds were closed, shutting out the sunlight. Charity waited for her eyes to adjust to the difference in light before she moved into the room. What seemed like a dozen monitors were lit up beside the bed, and she could hear a steady beep that she realized must be the cadence of her mother’s heartbeat.
Charity wasn’t even aware she was walking on tiptoe until she reached her mother’s bedside and settled onto her feet. Her mother’s eyes were closed and Charity was glad to see there was no tube down her throat to help her breathe. But an IV was taped to the back of her hand and a plastic container of some liquid was being slowly dripped into her veins.
Charity sank into the chair beside the bed and leaned her forehead against the sheets beside her mother’s hand. She was surprised a moment later to feel her mother’s hand stroke her hair.
“I’m glad you came,” she said.
Charity resisted the urge to lift her head and look into her mother’s eyes, because she didn’t want her caressing touch to stop. “I’m sorry,” she said.
The caress stopped anyway. When she felt her mother’s hand move away, Charity lifted her head and looked into her mother’s dark brown eyes, which glistened with tears.
Charity’s throat was thick and painful, but she had to speak, had to apologize. “I’m sorry,” she said.
One of the tears slipped from her mother’s eye and ran down her cheek. “You have nothing to be sorry for,” she said.
Charity reached over and wiped the tear from her mother’s face with her fingertips. The touch felt electric. She pulled her trembling hand away and said, “I’ve wondered my whole life where you were, why you gave me away. I needed answers. I’m not sure what to think of the ones I got.”
“You were loved,” her mother said in a whisper. “You were cherished.”
Charity couldn’t speak, so she nodded.
“I won’t ask you to forgive me,” her mother said. “I—”
“I missed so much,” Charity cried. “I can’t ever get back what you took from me.”
Another tear slid down her mother’s cheek. Charity could feel her hands shaking and kept them locked in her lap. She realized suddenly the heart monitor was beeping more rapidly.
She rose abruptly. “I should leave. This isn’t good for you.”
“Wait,” her mother said, reaching out to grasp at her arm. She missed, but Charity returned to her bedside, allowing her mother to grasp her hand. Her hand was rough, callused. Her life hadn’t been easy, either, Charity realized.
“Won’t you stay for a while?” her mother said. “Give us a chance to know you?”
“Stay where?” Charity said.
“With us. With your family.”
Charity bristled. “The family that threw me out? No thanks!” She felt like marching from the room, but her mother still had a strong grasp on her hand.
“Give us a chance to know you. Let us give you a chance to know us. I may not... That is, I don’t know how
long...”
“You mean you might die,” Charity said flatly.
Her mother nodded. “My heart isn’t in very good shape. The doctor has promised that if I take care of myself, I could live a longer life. I want to know you’re happy before I go.”
“And knowing you is supposed to make me happy?” Charity challenged.
“Getting to know your sisters, getting to know your father—he suffered so much. You were his favorite. It nearly killed him to—”
“That’s enough,” Charity said. “You’ve said enough.”
Silent expectation filled the room.
Charity wasn’t sure what she wanted. She couldn’t help thinking that getting to know her “perfect” family would only make her more bitter over what she’d never had. On the other hand, she had a long life ahead of her that might be more fulfilling if she included her sisters and her father and mother.
She had never really had a father. Only she did have one. A father who had loved her best of all. The thought was painful...and wonderful.
“I’ll think about it,” she said at last.
“I’ll do my best to get better and get out of here so we can have a family dinner by Christmas,” her mother said.
“You rest and get better. I’ll—”
“What are you doing in here?” a nurse scolded as she hurried across the room. “This patient needs her rest.”
“I’m leaving,” Charity said, sliding her hand free of her mother’s grasp.
“Talk to your father,” her mother whispered. “He needs to know you forgive him.”
Charity barely managed to avoid blurting Why should I?
But she’d already forgiven her mother. Why shouldn’t she forgive her father? “I’ll speak to him,” she conceded.
To her dismay, he was waiting for her just outside the door, Kane at his side. He looked worried and upset, but what she heard in his voice was anger.
“The only reason I didn’t come in there after you, young lady, is because your boyfriend here assured me you wouldn’t upset my wife.”
She wanted to snap back at him but managed to bite her tongue. “Mrs. Butler is fine,” she said at last. “All we did was talk.”
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