by Cindy Kirk
“Did you now?” Granny took a sip of tea, not appearing impressed. “You don’t have a widow’s peak. Anyone in your family have one?”
July shifted in her seat. “Not that I know of.”
“Then the baby must have gotten it from the father.” Granny cast a pointed glance in David’s direction.
July refused to look at him. “I never noticed.”
“He must have.” Granny gently stroked the baby’s cheek with a crooked finger. “It’s an inherited characteristic.”
“My grandmother has a strong interest in anything to do with genealogy,” David said.
“I believe knowing a child’s heritage gives them a strong foundation in life.”
July thought of her mother. Of the father she’d never known. Addict mother. Absent dad.
“I’m sure it plays a part.” July rose and took the baby from Granny’s arms. Regardless of what happened between her and David, she’d give Adam that strong foundation. His legacy would begin with her. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to my room. It’s time for Adam’s feeding.”
“Feed him here,” Granny urged. “Breast-feeding is natural. There’s no need to hide away in a bedroom.”
It might be natural but July had no interest in baring her breast with David in the room.
“I’m still getting the hang of it,” July said. “An audience would make me nervous.”
David experienced a pang of regret when she left the room. They’d been having a good conversation…until Granny showed up. He pushed the uncharitable thought aside.
“He’s a cute little boy,” Granny said. “Kind of scrawny but cute.”
“Yes, he is.”
“It’s still odd.”
David lifted a brow. “What is?”
“He really is the spitting image of you when you were a baby.”
The words played over and over in David’s mind all week. While he didn’t put much stock in his grandmother’s observation, he kept wondering if there was something he’d missed. But he hadn’t seen July recently and hadn’t gotten a good look at the baby since that night.
Though David knew it was probably pointless, his next day off he headed to Mary Karen’s hoping for a few quiet moments to study Adam’s face. But when he got there, quiet was nowhere to be found.
The place was in an uproar. The baby was crying. The dog was barking. The boys were running through the house shrieking.
David grabbed two of them as they ran by. “No running in the house.”
Caleb skidded to a stop beside his brothers. “We were just playing ‘monster-catch-me.’”
“I don’t care what you’re playing,” David said firmly. “Walk. Not run. Understand?”
“Yes,” Caleb said, hanging his head.
Connor nodded.
“I sorry,” Logan said, though mischief danced in his eyes. The medicine clearly had done its work. The two-year-old appeared back to his high-energy self.
David didn’t know how Mary Karen handled these boys alone. He firmly believed children needed a dad, as well as a mom. Of course, his ex-brother-in-law hadn’t gotten that message. He was too busy enjoying the single life back in Boston.
He smiled at his nephews. “Why don’t you get out the Lincoln Logs and see what you can build me?”
Caleb and Connor exchanged looks then nodded and ran toward the living room with Logan close behind.
“Walk,” David called out.
The boys immediately slowed their steps.
“Thank you.”
He turned to find Mary Karen in the hallway, Adam wailing loudly in her arms. Her face was as white as the blanket wrapped about the baby. David narrowed his gaze. “You don’t look so good.”
Her lips lifted in a wan smile. “Migraine.”
“Let me have him.” David took the crying baby, not surprised she didn’t protest. “All that screaming can’t be helping your headache. Where’s Granny?”
“Downtown having coffee with some friends.”
“July?”
“Scouting locations,” Mary Karen said. “She left early this morning.”
“Did you take your medicine?”
“The drugs make me tired and light-headed.” Mary Karen had to raise her voice to be heard above the baby’s screams. “I couldn’t take the chance of falling with the baby.”
“Take the pills and lie down,” David said. “I’ll watch the boys.”
Hope filled her pain-filled eyes. “Are you sure?”
“Get to bed, little sister,” he said. “In a few hours things will look totally different.”
“I owe you.”
“I’ll add it to your tab.”
The response brought a smile to her lips. With a hand to her head, she turned toward her bedroom, leaving David with the screaming infant.
“Granny thinks you look like me.” He studied the scrunched up red face and trembling chin. “I have to tell you, I’m not seeing the resemblance. But then you don’t really look like your mom, either.”
The baby screamed louder.
He jiggled the infant gently. After a minute, the crying subsided. David continued to talk in a low soothing tone about his week while he searched for a bottle. He found one in the refrigerator behind a carton of juice. He’d assumed that even though July was nursing she had a backup plan.
David heated the bottle, using the microwave technique his sister had taught him when Logan was a baby. Logan had been a fussy baby and those had been difficult days. David’s brother-in-law had packed up and left town. Shortly after that happened, Celeste had died. Working extra shifts and helping Mary Karen with the twins and new baby had kept David busy through the long, lonely months that followed.
After checking the temperature of the milk on the inside of his wrist, David carried the baby into the living room and sank into the overstuffed rocker. From this position he could watch the boys and feed Adam at the same time.
The baby took easily to the bottle, his little face relaxing as he sucked. He smelled clean, like baby powder, and fine, dark hair covered his head. Gazing down at the child, David still didn’t see a resemblance, but holding him felt right. He wondered now why he and Celeste had chosen to wait, how their travel and their lifestyle could have ever been more important to them than this.
Immune to the tension gripping David’s chest, the baby waved his fists in the air and gurgled happily. David blew out a breath and trailed a finger down the infant’s soft cheek. One thing was certain, if Adam was his son, he’d never let him go.
July returned home a little after five. Though she and her guide had found some great locations, it had been difficult to concentrate. She missed Adam horribly. She hoped leaving him would get easier. Her only salvation was she trusted Mary Karen to take good care of her son.
Turning the key in the lock, July pushed the door open. The sound of childish laughter brought a smile to her lips. She supposed she could have called out her arrival but instead she simply followed the happy voices to the kitchen.
For several seconds she stood in the doorway absorbing the scene. Granny stood at the counter tossing a salad and chatting with Mary Karen, who was busy loading the dishwasher. Adam was in David’s arms, contentedly watching the boys as David patiently instructed them in the art of making English muffin pizzas.
The heartwarming family scene could have been lifted straight from a Hallmark movie. A sharp pain lanced July’s heart. Sometimes it felt as if she’d spent her entire life on the outside looking in. She sighed and forced a smile to her lips. “Well, well. Look what the cat dragged in. Don’t you have your own home?”
David’s head jerked at the sound of her voice. He turned and met her gaze, his lips widening into a welcoming smile. He chuckled. “Sometimes I wonder why I bother with one.”
“I had a migraine today.” Mary Karen glanced at her brother. “David sent me to bed and watched the boys. He was a real life saver.”
“How’s Adam been?”
&nb
sp; “Calm now,” David said. “But just a second ago he was fussing.”
“He’s probably hungry.” It was the wrong thing to say. Just when she thought the moment couldn’t get any worse, the mere thought of Adam nursing made her milk flow. July crossed her arms across her chest.
David’s eyes darkened before he looked away.
Mary Karen, who’d breastfed all three boys, shot her a knowing smile.
“How was work?” David crossed the room and handed over the baby.
“Found a few locations that we’ll definitely be revisiting,” July said.
“I hope you didn’t overdo it,” Granny dumped the salad into a large red bowl. “You just had a baby. You make sure they know that.”
“I didn’t do anything, really,” July said. “Except let the guide drive me around. Still, I’m exhausted.”
“Most women take six weeks to rest up,” Mary Karen reminded her.
“Well, this one doesn’t have that luxury.” July held Adam close, feeling a surge of satisfaction when he snuggled against her.
David slid a cookie sheet full of mini pizzas into the oven then straightened. “At least you can come home and relax in the evenings.”
“Usually,” July said. “Not tomorrow, though.”
“What’s going on?” David asked.
“I’m taking candid photos at a Chamber of Commerce event right after I get back from Yellowstone.” July hadn’t sought out the assignment. The last thing she wanted was to come home, change her clothes and leave again. But Tom, the Chamber hospitality chair, had contacted her. Once again the money was too good to pass up.
David cocked his head. “Is that the Jackson After-Hours event they have monthly?”
July shrugged. “All I know is that I’m supposed to show up at a downtown brewery by five with my camera ready.”
“It’s good to see you getting involved in the community,” he said after a long moment.
July let the comment go. While Adam’s father might be here, once her job in Jackson Hole was done, there was nothing keeping her here.
Chapter Eight
David hadn’t been to a Jackson Chamber event in several years. He’d tried to get Celeste interested in the group. That hadn’t gone well but her business wasn’t in Jackson so he’d had to agree there was little point in networking here.
He always hoped that in time she would start meeting people, making friends, putting down roots. But her travel schedule made that hard to do. Then she was gone.
He paused at the bottom of the steps leading to the front door of the popular brewery. Laughter and talk floated in the air. How long had it been since he’d just relaxed and socialized with anyone other than family? David thought for a moment. It had been in Chicago…with July. And she was the reason he was here tonight. He wanted to speak to her without Granny and Mary Karen listening to his every word.
Thankfully, for a Friday it had been a slow day in the E.R. and he’d been able to leave the hospital on time. David climbed the stairs with purposeful steps. Once inside the restaurant he followed the sounds of conversation to the bar. A few gray-haired businessmen and women were in attendance but most were young professionals in their thirties and forties.
Though the area was packed, he spotted July immediately. Dressed in a green silky shirt, black pants and high-heeled boots, she fit in perfectly, yet still stood out. Maybe it was the red cast to her hair. Or perhaps the proud, confident stance. Whatever it was, just like in Chicago, he found himself intensely aware of her.
After grabbing a glass of beer, David made his way through the crowd. Though he stopped several times along the way to talk, he kept July firmly in his sight. She’d occasionally snap a few pictures but seemed more interested in the man at her side than in working.
David recognized the guy flirting with her. Tom Harding was the manager of one of the sporting goods stores in town. With messy sun-bleached blond hair and sporting a year-round tan, Tom always looked more like a ski bum than a responsible husband and father. Although he had a perfectly lovely wife, rumor was Tom still liked the ladies. And from the attention he was giving July, it appeared the rumor had some validity.
A surge of something that felt an awful lot like jealousy rose up inside David. He told himself it was merely a protective urge. She was a guest in his sister’s home and new to town. And then, there was still a possibility they shared a baby together.
David made his way to the end of the shiny mahogany bar where July now stood with her back to him. As he drew close a look of surprise crossed Tom’s face. “I sure didn’t expect to see you here tonight. Still doing the triathlons?”
While the man’s tone was friendly enough, the proprietary way he glanced at July told David he didn’t appreciate being interrupted.
“Last triathlon I did was Pinedale,” David said. “I’m planning on competing in a couple marathons this summer.”
July whirled at the sound of his voice. The shock in her eyes told him Tom wasn’t the only one surprised to see him.
“July, here,” Tom gestured with his head toward the redhead, “has been a casual runner and she’s interested in getting in marathon shape. I offered to do some one-on-one training sessions with her.”
The lecherous hint in the man’s eye told David exactly what he had in mind for those sessions. And the fact that he was even talking about running told David that July had failed to mention she’d just had a baby. It would be a good month before she could do more than walk.
“Hello, July,” David said when Tom made no attempt to do introductions.
If July felt the energy sizzling in the air between them, it didn’t show. “Hello, David.”
Tom’s brows slammed together. “You know each other?”
“She lives at my sister’s house.” David kept his tone as offhand as hers.
“Tom has done quite a few marathons.” July took a sip of club soda and gazed at him over the top of her glass. “Isn’t that nice of him to offer to help me?”
David tightened his fingers around his drink. If he didn’t know better, he’d think she was trying to make him jealous. He kept his expression neutral and focused on Tom. “I’m surprised you have time for that.”
“I’ve got a good crew at the store.” Tom slanted a smile at July. “Most nights I’m out of there by five.”
“Doesn’t Teresa expect you home?”
July lifted a brow. “Teresa?”
“His wife,” David said. “And they have a beautiful baby girl. What’s her name…Sarah?”
“Samantha,” Tom said stiffly. “I was just about to pull out the pictures when you walked up.”
From the skeptical look in July’s eyes, she didn’t believe the lie any more than David did.
“It’s been great visiting with you, July,” Tom said. “But it’s time for me to mingle. Stop in the store sometime.”
July offered up a noncommittal smile and lifted a hand in farewell.
“I didn’t mean to chase him away,” David said.
July waved a dismissive hand and David experienced a surge of satisfaction.
“I thought you came to take pictures,” David said in a conversational tone. “From the little I’ve observed that camera on the bar isn’t getting much action.”
July set down her glass and gazed over the throng of people. “I took quite a few at the beginning but then everyone started to pose. I thought I’d give it a rest for a while. Tom approached me and we got to talking about marathons.”
“You could have asked me if you had questions about running.” He inhaled the clean, fresh scent of her and his body stirred. “Did I mention I’m looking for a new running, ah, walking, partner?”
If she was surprised by the change in subject, it didn’t show. A thoughtful look crossed her face. “When do you go out?”
“Early morning. Before I head to the hospital.” He took a sip of beer. An early morning run had been his habit for as long as he could remember. Celeste had run
with him several times when they were dating, but had lost interest after they’d married.
“I need to get back into shape,” July admitted.
He jerked his attention back to her. Placing his glass on the bar, David let his gaze linger. “You look pretty good to me.”
A becoming shade of pink cut a swath across her cheeks. “You know what I mean…back in running shape. If I have to walk for a while to build up, that’s okay, too.”
“There’s nothing like knowing someone is waiting for you to help get you out of bed in the morning,” he said in his most persuasive tone.
To his surprise she appeared to be considering his proposition when her phone rang. It was an odd ring—a theme from some musical—but one she seemed to instantly recognize.
She pulled the phone from her bag, her lips lifting in a smile. “I’m sorry,” she said, not looking sorry at all. “It’s my friend A.J. We’ve been playing telephone tag today.”
A band of steel wrapped around David’s chest and began to tighten. He hadn’t known the two were in contact.
She flipped the phone open. “Hey, you. We finally connect.”
With a tiny wave she stepped out of earshot, cradling the phone lovingly in her hand. David knew he should look away, but it was like watching a train wreck. Even when she turned her back to him, he couldn’t pull his gaze from her. Her laughter floated above the conversational din and the tightness in his chest made breathing nearly impossible.
They’d been making progress. For a second he actually thought she was going to agree to meet him in the morning. Spending time with her would have been a good thing, a way to get to know her better. Because if it turned out they did share a baby, there would be all sorts of details to work out, like custody and visitation.
The strong desire to be with her didn’t have a thing to do with how much he enjoyed her company or how alive he felt in her presence. Not one thing.
The sky was awash in shades of orange and yellow as the sun began to rise over the flat range lands of the National Elk Refuge just outside of Jackson. July could see her breath in the barely-above-freezing temperatures but in Mary Karen’s running jacket and microfiber pants, she wasn’t the least bit cold.