by Susan Gable
Amelia forced herself not to step backward
She was looking into her daughter’s aquamarine eyes, at her daughter’s strong jaw line—in a decidedly masculine, sensual face, rough with five o’clock shadow.The edges of his mouth curved, revealing a deep dimple in his right cheek, and his eyes twinkled. He’d caught her staring. “You’re not the construction guys.”
She shook her head. “No. I’m not.”
“Can I help you?”
“Y-yes,” she stammered, then cleared her throat. “At least, I hope so. You’re Finnegan Hawkins, right?”
“Finn. Last time I checked, yeah.” The confident, borderline-smug smile faded. “Why?”
“The Finn Hawkins who, thirteen years ago, was a donor for American Fertility Labs in New York City?”
For a long moment, he stared at her. Then he dragged his hand over his face. “I’m going to need coffee for this conversation, aren’t I?”
“Probably.”
Dear Reader,I hope you enjoy returning to the Hawkins family as much as I did. After writing A Kid to the Rescue, I knew Greg’s siblings had to have stories of their own, and I’m pleased to share Finn’s with you.
Stories that involve assisted reproduction fascinate me. Partly because I’ve experienced fertility issues, but I think what fascinates me the most is the emotional aspect. When people talk about assisted reproduction, you hear a lot about science and morality. But you don’t hear a lot about the emotions that come into play.
And there are plenty of emotions involved—love, fear, hope, sorrow, joy….
I’ve wanted to tell a savior sibling story for years, ever since I heard the story about parents who, before preimplantation genetic screening could guarantee a match, rolled the dice and had another child to save their daughter from leukemia—and succeeded.
Hayden Hawkins is next in line, so keep an eye out for his story.
I’d love to hear from you! Please visit my Web site, www.susangable.com, e-mail me at [email protected], or send me a letter at P.O. Box 9313, Erie, PA 16505. Or add me as a friend on Facebook! Although the heroine in this book has ambivalent feelings about Facebook, I happen to adore it and have a lot of fun there. Please join me!
Susan Gable
The Family Plan
Susan Gable
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Susan Gable was born with a book in her hand. Well, maybe not quite, but she grabbed one soon after and since then has always had a book nearby. Her love of reading is shared by both her parents. Susan passed on her love of books as an elementary school teacher for ten years, then turned to writing after a year of homeschooling her son caused her to lose what was left of her mind. Writing, it turns out, is cheaper than therapy, and homeschooling is harder than teaching other people’s kids. Susan is a Waldenbooks bestselling author. Her books have been Golden Heart and RITA® Award finalists, and three times nominated by RT Book Reviews for Best Superromance of the Year. In addition, she’s won numerous awards, including the National Readers’ Choice Award. She has been praised by readers and reviewers alike for her ability to tell emotionally compelling stories that make them laugh and cry.
Books by Susan Gable
HARLEQUIN SUPERROMANCE
1103—THE BABY PLAN1150—THE MOMMY PLAN
1204—WHOSE CHILD?
1285—THE PREGNANCY TEST
1545—A KID TO THE RESCUE
To Butch and Sue, two fabulous folks, who gave me a quiet escape to work on this book.
Special thanks to
Kate Marquart, who answered a million questions about leukemia, aplastic anemia and bone marrow transplants. I couldn’t have done it without you. Any errors are mine.
Jen, for sharing the details of life with a stitched cervix, flat on your back in bed for months during a pregnancy.
Jen and Diana, as always, thank you for your support, encouragement and friendship. For talking me off the ledge when I needed it, and for slaying the Doubt Demons.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
EPILOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
MEN WERE UNRELIABLE creatures at best. Toxic at worst.
A few—very few—could be delightful and amusing in discrete, small doses. But a woman with an education and career, a well-stocked toolbox and easy-to-follow home repair book, along with a steady supply of batteries for her B.O.B.—battery operated boyfriend—didn’t actually need one.Certainly Dr. Amelia Young didn’t.
And yet, here she was. In North East, Pennsylvania, a little town outside of Erie. About to finish a quest she’d started a month ago, a search that included private investigators whose methods she suspected involved computer hacking. She didn’t know, didn’t care to know, only cared about the results: this address.
Another step forward in her larger plan.
She eased her Jeep Liberty into the parking lot on the side of the massive old Victorian. The house perched on a bluff, overlooking Lake Erie. The October dawn streaked the clouds over the vineyard across the street with bright colors. The leaves on the towering oak in the front yard had begun to turn, their tips red. According to her reports, the building had once been a bed-and-breakfast.
Well, Amelia wasn’t in need of either.
After pulling into a space alongside a green Dumpster, she jerked the gearshift into Park. Rehearsing several more possibilities of what to say to the donor, she climbed out.
Sets of sawhorses dotted the front lawn, and another pair graced the wide wraparound porch. Lumber was stacked near the front door. The construction crew she’d observed late yesterday afternoon was nowhere to be seen as yet. Exactly how she’d planned.
The last thing she wanted was an audience for this.
The doorbell chimed as she leaned on the button. “Don’t say Jordan’s name,” she reminded herself softly. “No gender-specific pronouns. No unnecessary information. Get in, get what you came for, and get out.”
Several minutes and a few more ding-dongs later, muttered curses accompanied the sharp click of the dead bolt on the other side of the large double door. “Damn it, I told you guys not before nine today! It’s the freakin’ crack of dawn. I catered a party last night and…”
The deep voice trailed off as the door opened.
Leaving Amelia staring at a lean, rippled torso, dusted with dark hair that meandered down to an unbuttoned-but-zipped pair of faded jeans. Meandered down to…
Her face heated. Batteries were so not included with that. Good morning to you, too.
Amelia lifted her gaze—and forced herself not to step backward.
She was looking into her daughter’s aquamarine eyes, at her daughter’s strong jawline—in a decidedly masculine, sensual face, rough with five o’clock shadow.
The edges of his mouth curved, revealing a deep dimple in his right cheek. He’d caught her staring and found it amusing. “You’re not the construction guys.”
She shook her head. “No. I’m not.”
“You’re way better looking, that’s for sure. Much easier on the eyes this early. Can I help you?”
“Y-yes,” she stammered, then cleared her throat and straightened her shoulders. “At least, I hope so. You’re Finnegan Hawkins, right?”
“Finn. Last time I checked, yeah.” The confident, borderline-smug smile faded, replaced with a wary expression. “Why?”
For a long moment, he stared at her. Her stomach tightened, certain he was about to deny it. But there was no denying that jaw, or those eyes.
Finn Hawkins was her daughter’s father.
“Freakin’ hell.” He dragged his hand over his face. “I’m going to need coffee for this conversation, aren’t I?”
“Probably.”
He muttered a few more choice curses. “It hasn’t been eighteen years.”
“No, it hasn’t.”
“I’m supposed to be anonymous. I opted to stay anonymous even after eighteen years.”
“Sorry about that.”
“You don’t look very sorry.”
Perceptive guy. Because she wasn’t. Not in the least. She’d do what needed to be done, no matter what it took, no matter who else got trampled in the process. Though she could understand his desire to remain unknown—she’d certainly never wanted to meet him—it didn’t matter. Jordan was counting on her. “Really, Mr. Hawkins, I—”
He held up a hand. “Coffee first. Guess you’d better come in.” He opened the door wider, then turned. From his left shoulder and muscular back, the tattoo of a white tiger with blue eyes and bared fangs glared at her.
Well. That was a surprise. Totally not what she’d expected from the sperm donor she’d chosen based on his profile, which had indicated that at twenty-two, he’d already obtained a bachelor’s degree in business, with a 3.89 GPA, and was pursuing further education. An IQ solidly above-average. Serious, well-thought-out responses on the essay questions.
The rest of him fit. Thirteen years later, now thirty-five, Finn Hawkins was still tall and lean, no spare tire or love handles in sight. Honestly, if you were going to choose a man to stud for you, this prime specimen would do nicely. Had done nicely.
Pity there hadn’t actually been any sex.
The blue eyes and short-cropped brown hair matched her own coloring, exactly as she’d wanted in a donor. And it was thick. At least Jordan wouldn’t have to worry about passing on premature hair loss to any future grandchildren.
Amelia swallowed hard. Not prone to superstition, she still crossed her fingers that Jordan would have a chance to have kids of her own one day.
And may she never have to face what I’m going through right now.
“Are you coming, or what?” he called over his shoulder. “If not, shut the door so I can go back to bed.”
“I’m right behind you.” She pulled the door closed and scurried to catch up with him as he strode down the main hallway of the house.
She barely had time to register the dark wooden staircase, or the rooms off either side of the foyer, each littered with tools and building materials.
They passed several other doorways before reaching the back, where the hall opened into an enormous kitchen that ran the width of the house. Amelia stopped in the archway. “Wow. Nice.”
He grunted what she assumed was thanks.
In this stunning combination of home and commercial kitchen, the scent of new still hung in the air. There were glossy tile floors and marble countertops. A large island work space, a raised serving counter, and two stools at one end. An eight-burner stove with a double oven beneath it, and another double oven mounted in the wall beside it. The stainless steel appliances gleamed, including the commercial dishwashing station in the far corner.
The tiger stretched as Finn reached into a cabinet, pulling out what she assumed was his precious coffee. Just as well. She wanted him fully awake. Bad enough she had to go to a complete stranger for help. No way she wanted to repeat herself. Especially since she still hadn’t figured out what to say.
A grinding whir was followed by the sharp scent of coffee, which he dumped unceremoniously into a filter basket before jamming it into the coffeemaker.
She slipped onto one of the tall stools at the island. Without another word to her, he pulled out two mugs, plunking one down in front of her.
“Oh, really, that’s not—”
“Indulge me. I don’t like to drink alone. If you’d prefer tea…”
“Coffee is fine, thanks.”
“Good.” He opened the oversize, side-by-side refrigerator. “You like cheesecake?”
“Cheesecake?”
“Breakfast of champions. Gotta have something to go with the coffee. Plain or strawberry sauce?”
“Plain.”
Finn Hawkins slipped the plate in front of the woman and turned away quickly, before she could see that his hands shook like a drunk who’d been dry for less than twenty-four hours. He returned to stare at the dark brew streaming into the pot, not certain how he was going to serve without spilling. He sure as hell didn’t need a jolt of caffeine to wake up. Ever since she’d said “sperm donor” and “American Fertility Labs” he’d been wide-awake.
“I don’t intend to disrupt your life, Mr. Hawkins—”
“And yet here you are.” He carried the coffee to the island, managed to pour it without incident.
The woman sat a little straighter. “Thank you.” She spooned raw sugar from the bowl. “Yes, here I am.”
“I take it that you’re, uh, we, that is…” Oh, great, he sounded like an utter ass.
“I have a child who was created with your donation.”
Finn tried to hide the fact that all the air had vanished from his lungs. A child. She’d given birth to his child. Which was what he’d suspected.
But he still didn’t even know this pull-the-rug-out-from-under-him woman’s name.
Recovering his breath, he guessed that was as good a place as any to start. “You seem to have the advantage here. I’m Finn, and you are?”
“Amelia.”
“Just Amelia?”
She nodded. “I think that would be best. Like I said, I’m not really interested in disrupting your life. You wanted to stay anonymous, and I can understand that. But unfortunately, I had to find you.”
He dragged the empty stool from beside her, positioning himself on the opposite side of the island. “Okay, Amelia. I figure you must want something. So here’s the million-dollar question. What?”
She paused, then set down her mug, rummaging in her purse. “Nothing more than you gave thirteen years ago.” Plastic crinkled and she placed a wrapped specimen cup next to her coffee.
“What the hell?” Finn jumped up. “Whoa, whoa. Wait a minute here. Number one, I gave at the office. Number two, I don’t do that kind of thing anymore.”
“Mr. Hawkins, as I said, this is urgent. I wouldn’t be here otherwise.”
“Lady, the sperm bank has plenty of other little swimmers for you to choose from. Go through the catalog and pick someone else.”
“It has to be you.”
“Why?” He slowly sank back to his seat, eyeing the specimen cup warily. Did she seriously expect him to simply pick the thing up, excuse himself to head to the bathroom, and return with it filled? Good grief, the woman was a nutcase. No wonder she’d had to resort to a sperm bank to have a child.
“I need a full biological sibling for my child. A half sib won’t do.”
A horrifying suspicion struck him. But she was asking for sperm. Not blood. Not a kidney. Not, God forbid, bone marrow. “Why?”
She twirled a strand of shoulder-length, chestnut hair around her index finger. “This doesn’t have to be a big deal,” she said softly. “Just give me what I came for, and you never have to hear from me again.”
“I wasn’t supposed to be hearing from you now. And yes, it is a big deal. You’re asking me to father another child for you.”
“No, I’m not.” She nudged the container in his direction. “I’m asking you to fill it and forget this ever happened. Just like you did thirteen years ago.”
“It’s not like you’re asking to borrow a cup of sugar.”
“It doesn’t have to be any more complicated than that.”
Finn si
ghed. “Look, I’m flattered you’re so thrilled with my genes that you want more of them. But I shouldn’t have done it then, and I’m not going to do it again now.”
The color drained from her face and she propped her arms on the counter, staring into her coffee. “Oh. That’s…that’s unexpected.”
“What? That I don’t believe in indiscriminate reproduction anymore?”
She looked up. “You believed in it thirteen years ago.”
“Thirteen years ago, I was young and stupid. I hadn’t thought it through. It was an impulsive, crazy thing to do.” Of course, crazy and impulsive defined most of his life. He’d applied and been accepted to grad school, but, inspired by Greg’s success as a comic-book artist, and their parents’ grudging acceptance of his brother’s somewhat unorthodox pursuits, Finn had chosen culinary school. His life had been one kitchen after another, one location after another, one relationship after another….
Until he ended up here, back home.
“Look, Mr. Hawkins—”
“Finn. I think, given the situation, you can use my first name.”
“All right. Finn. Is there a woman whose permission you need for this?”
There was one woman in his life who would care.
He snorted. “Yeah, my mom. And she would rip me a new one if she found out I’d created grandbabies she never knew about.” Which was why he’d only donated twice before his conscience had slammed the door—and his zipper—shut.
Amelia’s eyebrows drew together. “This is not your mother’s grandbabies we’re talking about. We are talking about my child. You and your mom have nothing to do with it.”
“I’m pretty sure I have something to do with it, or you wouldn’t be here.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry. I can’t. I won’t.”