The Lawman's Yuletide Baby

by Ruth Logan Herne

  Gabe worked, eyes forward, focused and silent.

  He didn’t sing. He didn’t smile. He didn’t join in Tee’s chatter.

  Tucker sat at the base of the ladder, looking up. He wagged his tail whenever Gabe glanced down, and even a firm curmudgeon couldn’t ignore the dog’s obvious affection. And when Callan called Tucker over for a game of Frisbee catch midday, the dog didn’t move. He stayed right by Gabe’s side until his master’s work was done.

  “Such loyalty deserves a reward, my friend.” Corinne slipped Tucker a piece of sliced ham, then petted his shaggy head. “You’re such a good boy.”

  “He is.” Gabe tipped the ladder down, then balanced it carefully from the middle.

  “Coach, I’ll help you carry it back.” Callan took the front end without being asked. “Mom made sandwiches and the one o’clock game started half an hour ago. Wanna watch it with us?”

  “Wish I could, but I’ve got some things to take care of this afternoon.”

  “Oh. Yeah. Sure.” Callan fumbled the words, as if embarrassed he’d had the audacity to ask. His quieter nature meant he didn’t put himself out there like his younger sister, so he wasn’t as accustomed to rejection.

  “Next week?” Gabe’s question smoothed what could have been an awkward moment, and Corinne blessed him for it. “I’ll be ready to relax over a game once the festival is over.”

  Callan’s eyes lit up. “That would be great.”

  “Is that all right with you, Corinne?”

  What choice did she have? It wasn’t a date. It was a neighbor, coming by for football and nachos. “Sounds good. I’ll put a pot of something on and we can just relax for the afternoon.” That was what she said, but the thought of relaxing around Gabe Cutler was an impossibility. But that was her problem. Not his.

  His phone rang after they’d rehung the ladder. He took the call and paced toward the water, talking quietly. And when he disconnected the call, he stayed where he was, staring at the calm, thin stretch of Canandaigua Lake, unmoving.

  “Coach, I can’t wait to try the lights tonight! Our first Christmas on the water and so many decorations! Isn’t it the coolest ever?”

  Quiet moments of grave introspection were brief when Tee was around. She raced across the yard and seized Gabe’s hand. “Won’t it be beautiful?”

  He looked down, as if he couldn’t help himself. Did Tee recognize the pain in his face?

  Probably not, but her mother did. Gabe looked at Tee, then the house. He tried to smile, but it was more of a grimace. “Sure will.”

  “And I’m turning every radio station we have to the Christmas channel,” she declared, still wringing the big guy’s hand.

  “Tee, it’s not even Thanksgiving yet,” Callan protested as he stowed a box of supplies in the back of their detached garage. “Give us a break, okay?”

  “If we weren’t supposed to listen, the radio station wouldn’t play them all day. But I’ll leave yours alone,” she added as if being magnanimous. “Mostly because you’ll kill me if I mess with your stuff.”

  Callan laughed. “Glad we see eye-to-eye on that.” A car pulled into the driveway to drop off two of Tee’s friends. Callan made a pretend face of fear, and headed for the house. “Family room is off-limits to girls during football if they giggle and talk like you do.”

  “Worse than me, by far,” Tee promised him, then laughed. “See ya, Coach! Thanks for helping!”

  She ran to greet her friends, and then they disappeared into the house, too, leaving Corinne with Gabe. She crossed the driveway to thank him. “I appreciate the help, Gabe.”

  His jaw firmed. He glanced from decoration to decoration, almost grim. “It’s okay.”

  Not “happy to help” or “glad to do it,” and that was all right, because Corinne was pretty sure he wasn’t happy to do it. And yet he had.

  “Coffee?”

  That perked his interest, but then he surprised her by pointing at his place. Not hers. “Drew’s coming by in a few minutes.”

  If ever a man looked like he bore the weight of the world on his shoulders, it was her new neighbor. “With the baby?”

  “Yes.” He didn’t sound one bit resolved. “I haven’t heard back from my mother. I don’t know if she’s aware of any of this, but I can’t leave it like this. Babies don’t belong in limbo. They belong somewhere. With someone.”

  She believed that, too. “Then coffee at your place sounds good to me.” She didn’t ask if he’d made any decisions. It wasn’t her business. But she’d dealt with parents in crisis and grief far too many times over the years, and Gabe Cutler fit the profile.

  Whatever he chose—whatever he decided—she prayed it might relieve some of the angst he tried so hard to hide. Angst that seemed to go far deeper than a thirtysomething bachelor, trying to live his life. And how did she know this?

  Because she was guilty of the very same thing.

  Chapter Six

  Drew pulled into Gabe’s driveway a quarter hour later. Pete and Kate Gallagher followed him into the drive. Once Pete parked the car, Gabe realized why.

  Pete and Kate had Jessie with them.

  His heart sped up as Kate lifted the baby carrier from the car seat base. His hands flexed. His palms went damp. He swung the door wide. Pete caught it on his side, then stepped back for Kate to come through. “You kept her overnight?” Gabe wasn’t sure what to say. How to react. He was used to being the one taking care of things. Not the one being helped. “Thank you.”

  “Kept things simple,” Pete said. “If we’re doing a friend a favor by babysitting, county protocol becomes a non-issue.”

  “I’m grateful, sir.” He was, too, because once legal wheels got rolling, putting the brakes on was next to impossible. “I want to apologize for taking off yesterday.”

  “None needed,” Drew told him. “And Pete and Kate have offered to babysit longer if you need them to step in.”

  Kind people. Caring people. The Gallaghers reached out to help others all the time. Only Gabe wasn’t used to getting help, or accepting it.

  Corinne undid the car seat straps and lifted the baby from the seat as Mack and Susie’s car rolled into his driveway. They’d stayed by his side through thick and thin and they understood his mixed emotions better than anyone.

  “Hey, precious. How are you?” Corinne nuzzled the baby’s soft cheek. “Oh, I could just eat you up, you are that sweet!”

  “She’s happy for the moment because she downed a full six ounces just before we came over,” Kate offered. “She loves to eat, and that’s never a bad thing, is it, Shnookums?”

  “A good appetite is a wonderful thing in a baby.” Corinne blew bubbly kisses against the baby’s cheek, laughing, then drew back, totally relaxed, and Gabe had another flash of intuition.

  Corinne didn’t relax often. Not fully, anyway. Another trait they shared. But here, holding a baby, he glimpsed the tender woman within her.

  The baby’s face split into a wide smile. She opened her mouth, staring up at Corinne, and tried to smile wider but couldn’t. It was...adorable.

  “Are you just so happy to be here?” Corinne cooed the words gently, still smiling.

  Jessie batted her hands. She kicked her feet, cooing soft sounds that sure sounded like she was happy to be here.

  His heart stretched open, watching.

  What if Adrianna hadn’t made her arrangements ahead of time? What if she’d left this baby with whomever? Then Jessie would be a cog in the system. If she even made it to the system.

  “Your cousin went to great lengths to find a safe place for her baby.” Drew stated the truth in a matter-of-fact voice as Susie and Mack slipped in through the front door. “She might have been over the edge, but she jumped through a lot of hoops to make sure Jessie would be cared for. The ball�
��s in your court, Gabe. We can have the county step in if that’s what you want, but if you need more time, we can do that for you.”

  Could he actually hand this baby over to Child Protective Services? Turn his back on her?

  No.

  But did he trust himself enough to care for her?

  His pulse increased. A cool sweat broke out on his neck. The room felt cold and hot, all at once.

  Serious discussion paused when Tee raced through the back door, skidded to a stop and whistled like a pro. “Who’s under arrest? The baby?” she teased as she crossed the room to where Corinne had Jessie snugged in the curve of her arm. “Are you a hardened criminal?” She spoke in a baby-friendly voice. She leaned down into the baby’s face, and when Jessie burbled up at her and smiled, Tee burst out laughing. “Uncle Drew, you can’t arrest her unless the charge is too cute for her own good. Can I hold her?”

  Corinne said yes before Gabe could utter a word. “Of course. Have you washed your hands?”

  “Just did. We made PB&J with marshmallow fluff and I was pretty sticky.” Tee reached out and lifted the baby from her mother.

  Gabe moved forward to explain how she needed to support the baby’s head, and to hang on tight, and not to slip on the floor in her sock-clad feet.

  Tee turned, one hand behind the baby’s bald head, the other supporting the lower end like a pro. “Oh, she is the sweetest thing, isn’t she, Mom? I love being surrounded by babies now! It was like forever since I was born, and no babies in all that time, and now with all the aunts getting married, we seem to have babies and cute little kids everywhere.”

  Corinne’s phone jangled an upbeat song in Tee’s pocket. “Oops, Mom, someone’s been trying to get you. That’s why I ran over here. And to see what all the commotion was about, of course.” She grinned in admission. “Here.” In total tween nonchalance, she passed Jessie to Gabe before she withdrew the phone and handed it to her mother.

  Maybe if he held on tight and didn’t look down, it would be all right.

  If he just—

  Too late.

  He looked down.

  Wide blue eyes looked back at him. Blue eyes surrounded by fair lashes and a pale head with just a whisper of hair.

  Oh, his heart...

  She reached up. Touched his chin. The bristle made her face scrunch, as if wondering why he felt rough.

  He felt rough because he was rough, inside and out, but when he breathed in the scent of her, a hint of baby powder and baby soap...

  He was hooked. Mesmerized.

  He reached out a finger.

  She grasped it, quick as a wink, folding a tiny hand around his big pointer finger as if holding on forever.

  His heart clenched tight, then began to ease as if it had been waiting for this moment a long, long time. It opened just enough for him to say, “We won’t be needing a place for her.” He took a deep breath, a big, deep breath, then lifted his gaze to Drew’s. “It seems she’s got a place. Right here.”

  The room seemed to breathe again.

  “Consider it done,” Drew said. “We’re set for the moment. I’ll follow through with the report on our end. We’ll have to let Saratoga know what’s gone on.”

  “Let’s hold off on telling Adrianna’s parents about this,” Gabe said. “They’re quite rigid, and wanted nothing to do with their daughter or this child. They’ve kept themselves estranged from most of the family for years. I want to keep it from them just long enough for me to talk with my mother.”

  Corinne had reentered the room while he was talking. “The letter said they wanted nothing to do with the baby,” she reminded them. “I think that’s grounds for keeping things quiet for a bit. At least long enough for Gabe to do some checking.”

  “I’ll advise Saratoga, but it will be their call. Still...” Drew shrugged. “They’ll probably be glad to let us handle things here because the baby’s here.”

  “Where will she sleep?” asked Corinne.

  “We put our extra portable crib in the back of the SUV, just in case,” said Kate. “And Emily sent a bag of baby girl clothes over. They need a quick washing because they’ve been in storage.”

  A crib. Baby clothes from Kate and Pete’s middle daughter. A new reality emerging...

  “And I got a box of diapers and an extra can of formula last night, so we have the important bases covered.” Drew made the baseball analogy with a knowing grin, and he was right. Food and diapers were two very important things when it came to babies.

  Gabe swallowed hard. “That’s great. I’ll grab some money from my—”

  “I don’t want your money,” Drew cut in. He waved Gabe off. “Keep it to buy her something pretty. Pretend this is a baby shower and that’s my gift. Pete and I will get the crib and the clothes for you.”

  “Where should we set it up?” asked Mack. “Down here or upstairs?”

  Gabe hesitated, then pointed to the living room. “Here is good. Closer to bottles. I can sleep on the couch until we’ve got some kind of schedule worked out.”

  “Nothing like a baby to set their own schedule.” Kate sounded downright cheerful about the whole thing.

  “Coaching is done for now, so that’s good.” Corinne’s sensibility helped him see the positive side of this timing. “No extra-long days or weekends away. What about child care while you’re working?”

  “I’m off on Monday. That will give me time to check things out.”

  “Sounds good.” Drew lifted a hand in farewell. “I’m heading out. I told Kimberly I’d get some outside stuff done while the weather cooperates. We’ll talk soon, Gabe.” He moved toward the door.

  “Drew.”

  The chief of police paused.

  “Thanks.”

  Drew acknowledged that with a quiet look. “It’s all right.”

  * * *

  Gabe snugged Jessie farther into the curve of his arm. She pulled his finger toward her mouth, gave him a toothless grin, then yawned, clutching his rusty heart a little firmer with each baby move. She yawned again, in earnest. “Ready for a nap, little lady? How about a fresh diaper first?”

  “Right here.” Corinne handed him a diaper from the bag. “Would you like me to change her?”

  “I’ve got it.”

  He settled her down on the cushioned carpet and undid a puzzle’s worth of snaps. When he had the new diaper in place, she scowled and batted tiny hands at his face.

  “She says you’re slow.”

  He almost laughed, then winced instead. “She’s right. This stuff takes practice.”

  “Gabe, I’ve got some unused vacation.” Susie moved two steps closer. “I could watch her for a week or two. Give you time to get used to things.”

  Susie would be great with her. He knew that. But what if she grew too attached?

  He glimpsed Mack’s frown behind her, as if he worried about the same thing. “Susie, can I put that offer on hold? Let me get my bearings, but there could be times when I need you and I don’t want to wear out my welcome this quick.”

  “Of course.” She tried to smile, and remorse hit him square.

  Why was such a nice couple denied the chance to be parents and an irresponsible young woman like Adrianna given a perfectly gorgeous child? He had no answers, only more questions. He didn’t want this surprise baby to drive a wedge between him and two dear friends. But he didn’t feel right accepting Susie’s quick offer, either, because he wasn’t blind to the longing in her voice. The hope in her eyes. He’d been praying daily for a healthy baby for them because he understood their round of losses far too well.

  “Rory has contacts with several local day care facilities,” Pete said.

  Rory was a regular at Callan’s baseball games, enthusiastic, funny and recently married with two adopted children wh
o were quickly becoming ardent baseball fans. “She’s got the preschool at the vineyard south of town, right?”

  Corinne nodded. “Casa Blanca. I’m sure she can hook you up with someone who’s got an opening for a baby.”

  “Can you have her call me later?” He hated to hurt Susie’s feelings, but what if this whole thing got messed up once Adrianna’s parents found out he had their granddaughter in Grace Haven? He’d be wrong to pile more anxiety on Susie’s already full plate.

  “I’ll text her right now,” said Kate. “She’ll be glad to help.”

  Gabe didn’t look up. He couldn’t. If he did, he’d recognize the hurt he put on his good friend’s face.

  Tee had taken Tucker over to meet her friends. In typical Tee fashion, she bounded back into the room. “So fill me in! Whose baby are we watching? And can I help? And how long is she here for?”

  Tee’s entrance offered a welcome interruption to the awkward exchange. Susie put a hand on his shoulder. “Gabe, I think you’ve got this under control. We’re going to head out. Call if you need anything, okay?”

  The tremor in her voice made him nod without making eye contact. “Absolutely. And thank you for running right over, guys.”

  Mack clapped him on the other shoulder. “That’s what friends are for. See you Tuesday at work.”

  “Will do.”

  Tee slipped onto the floor. “No toys?” She peeked into the diaper bag and frowned. “This is totally wrong by anyone’s standards. Mom, we should bring that bag of toys over that we get out for babies.”

  “You head back to your friends and I’ll get the bag while I check the pot of tomato sauce.”

  “Great! I’m starved!” She darted out, closed the door snugly and dashed next door.

  Corinne touched the baby’s cheek. “She’s precious, Gabe.”

  “Yes.”

  “And Susie told me they’ve been trying to have a baby for a long time with no success. She said that’s why she can’t just relax and enjoy her pregnancy like a normal person would, because they’ve all ended the same way. Sadly.”