“You’re welcome. And it’s been a long time since I attended a birthing,” Tina added, smiling. “It was right nice, Haley.”
The sight of that newborn, pink, red and mottled. Her lusty cries. Her big eyes, squeezed shut or rounded. Blinking.
A miracle, for sure. “I couldn’t agree more, Tina.”
* * *
Haley was pretty sure nothing could eclipse what she’d just experienced, but when she walked into the Christmas wonderland of her little apartment, she promptly burst into tears.
The boys stared, uncertain.
Brett didn’t fare much better.
Their bemused expressions made her smile through the tears.
The half smile broke the impasse. The boys raced for her. Brett stayed where he was as the boys escorted Haley into the decorated living room.
“Brett.” She swiped her face with the back of her hands and tried to smile up at him. “This is—” Her eyes welled again.
“Wonderful,” he supplied, hopefully. “Our goal was to make you happy...”
“Oh, I am!”
“Women.” He angled a look to the boys and squatted low. “They cry when they’re happy.”
“And when they’re sad,” Tyler added.
“Mommy cried a wot,” Todd went on.
His words pushed Haley to dry her tears. Her overworked emotions were pushing the boys into a past filled with sadness and uncertainty, when her intent was to draw them into a present of love and security. “Well, boys.” She accepted a tissue from Brett, wiped her eyes and sat down on the floor. “This is the most beautiful Christmas present I’ve ever received.”
Tyler frowned.
So did Todd.
“But,” Tyler began, confused. “Aren’t we going to—”
Brett put a finger to his lips. “Remember it’s okay to keep good secrets at Christmas, right?”
Todd clapped a hand to his mouth. “That’s wight!” he squealed and poked his brother. “We’re not ’upposed to tell, Ty.”
“I didn’t.”
“You almost did.” Todd settled a serious look of admonishment on his older brother, obviously pleased to call him out.
“Listen, you—”
Todd crawled behind Brett, searching for safety.
“And we’re back to normal,” Haley breathed, laughing. She hugged Brett’s arm and looked around, letting the beauty of the room pull her in. “I’m overwhelmed.”
She turned his way and hoped the sincerity of her gaze said more than simple words. “I don’t know how to thank you.” She stretched and pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek, a kiss that lasted seconds longer than a neighborly peck. A kiss that said she liked the feel of his roughed-up evening skin beneath her lips, the smell of a working man, the joy of close proximity.
His gaze said he got the message, but she read concern in his eyes, too. Concern for her. How could he know her so well after such a short time?
The verdant words of Solomon’s Song of Songs filled her. If love was of God, could it be this sweet, this quick, this true? Her family experience said no. Her faithful heart pushed her to become more open.
“Show me everything,” she told the boys.
“Well.” Tyler took charge and for once, Todd let him. “First we took Brett’s mom shopping with us.”
“We did?” Haley arched a brow of approval in Brett’s direction.
“Mom enjoyed directing us because she has a lot more experience with decorating and shopping and little boys than I do.”
“Utilizing resources is the mark of a great leader,” Haley teased.
“So we went to the store and we got stuff,” Tyler continued.
“Like?” Haley prodded.
“All of it.”
“That pretty much sums it up,” said Brett. He smiled and palmed Tyler’s head. “Of course he’s leaving out the best part.”
“The Cwistmas twee farm!” Todd jumped up and down, wriggling with glee. “I got to see a bajillion Cwistmas twees, and some of them were blue and we don’t like blue trees, do we, Tyler?”
“No.”
“Something they agree on,” Haley murmured to Brett. “We’ll have to remember that.”
“For future use,” he whispered back, and the word future made her think of possibilities she’d thought unrealistic. But right now those options seemed almost tangible.
“We wanted a monster tree,” Tyler explained.
“But this apartment is too small.” Todd swept the small room a tragic look. “But Bwett said maybe someday we can get a huge tree.” His widespread arms added emphasis. “But I fink this twee is really, really nice, don’t you, Aunt Haley?”
She didn’t hesitate. Stretching to hug both boys she gave them her most sincere, serious look. “I think it’s the most beautiful tree I’ve ever seen. And I love these ornaments.” She scooched forward and touched a miniature rustic birdhouse. A wee goldfinch perched in the tiny hole, a twig of greens offering a ledge for itty-bitty feet. “They’re so precious and country. How did you know I’d love things like this?” she asked Brett.
“Joanna knew.” Tyler slid in alongside her and showed her a cotton quilted ornament. The word JOY was hand-embroidered on the ornament face. “This one says joy, but they all say different things. Only we got two ‘joys’ because we want you to be happy about Christmas.”
A pang of guilt hit, midsection. “I am happy.” She slipped an arm around him, longing to reassure. “And who picked out the angel for the top? She’s absolutely beautiful.”
“Me.” Tyler half whispered the word. He nudged closer to Haley’s side and gazed up. His eyes grew moist. His words stumbled, just a little. “She kinda looks like Mommy, doesn’t she, Aunt Haley?”
A solid lump reformed in Haley’s throat, but she fought it down. “She does, Ty. That pretty brown hair, big blue eyes. Beautiful, just like your mommy.”
Todd gazed up, wistful, but then he plopped himself into Haley’s lap, alongside his brother. “I fink our mommy would like her.”
“Me, too.” Haley hugged both boys. “I think it’s the best tree ever, guys.”
“Exactly what I told them,” Brett agreed. “And we were going to make you a special supper, but we ran out of time. Do you like fried bologna?”
She twisted to peer at him. “Can’t say I’ve ever had it, but it sounds delicious.”
“I fink I love it so much,” Todd whispered up to her. “I didn’t fink I’d like it, but Bwett said I should try it, so I did.”
“You convinced him.” She sent a congratulatory look Brett’s way.
He shrugged. “The size difference was a mitigating factor. And I may or may not have threatened his life.”
Todd giggled outright. “You’re funny, Bwett.”
“You, too, my man.” He shifted his gaze to the small table they’d moved to the side wall. “Did you guys show Aunt Haley the Nativity scene?”
“The...” Haley turned, saw the aged wood barn and figures and sighed. “I felt so bad this morning, knowing that I used my Nativity set to decorate the co-op and I had done nothing here for the boys. I don’t know how to thank you.”
“I might think of a way.” His grin and wink held warmth and promise. A warmth she’d never felt before. “We’ll discuss that later. Right now I’m going to make you a sandwich while the boys put their pajamas on.”
“Do we have to?”
“Now?”
“Yes and yes.” He pointed toward the bedroom. “Go.”
“All right.” They trudged off and Haley followed Brett into the kitchen.
“They listened.”
He grinned as he heated the small frying pan. “This time.” He cut into the edges of two pieces of thick bologna and settled them into the hot
pan. “This takes only two minutes, but you can use those two minutes to tell me what upset you today.”
“That obvious?”
He shrugged. “Maybe not to everyone. But to me?” He put mustard on two slices of bread and turned. “Yes.”
“It’s too long to go into right now, but I got a surprise visitor at the co-op today. A younger sister I’d never met. From my father’s third failed marriage.”
“Aha.” Brett turned the bologna before shifting a look her way. “It didn’t go well?”
“There’s the question of the hour,” Haley answered. “I found a sister and delivered a newborn niece in the space of four hours.”
“Say what?” Brett frowned at the pan, turned the hot bologna out onto the fresh bread and slapped the sandwich together with a deli man’s finesse. “Tell me you’re kidding.”
“The miracle of life, a new sister who may or may not be sincerely sweet and wanting to do the right thing and a baby who may be given up for adoption. Who could make that up?”
Brett put the sandwich in front of her and sank into the adjacent chair. “This all happened today?”
“Within the last five hours.”
“Haley.” He put a big hand on hers. “She’s all right? The baby’s all right?”
“Fine. Tina Foster went to the hospital with me. We were the birth coaches.” His expression of disbelief almost made her sputter. “Hey, I did just fine, I’ll have you know. When I wasn’t fighting nausea.”
He laughed out loud, but his grip said he commiserated. “What a day. We’ll talk later,” he added as the boys trooped out. Todd had Panther clutched tight to his chest, but Haley noted a difference instantly.
“Panther has pajamas?”
“Cwistmas pj’s,” confirmed Todd. He held the scruffy cat up. “Bwett saw these in the store and he figured we could match.” While the plaids were slightly different, the red, gold and black color scheme was similar.
“I love them,” she declared.
Todd’s grin said he agreed. Tyler asked, “Can we watch TV now?”
Brett shook his head, gave Haley’s arm a squeeze of reassurance and stood. “Nope, we’re going to read two of those new books we got today, and then bedtime.”
“But...”
“But!”
“No buts.” He tapped his watch. “Church in the morning and you boys need to get up and get moving when Aunt Haley calls you. The first time,” he added in his tough voice.
“Okay.”
“We will.”
“And that way you might be able to make it to Good Shepherd in time for the nine o’clock service.” Brett added the aside to Haley.
Mouth full, she waved her sandwich in affirmation.
By the time the boys were tucked into bed after stories, bathroom and teeth brushing, Haley was ready for a good night’s sleep herself, but she needed to share the day’s crazy journey with Brett.
She closed the bedroom door with a gentle click and sank into the one and only chair. “So, do you think God forgives us when he nudges us to do nice things and we ignore him?”
* * *
Brett pondered her words, unsure where she was going. He’d been on the flip side of that question for years, and he had no answers, but he’d promised God he’d move beyond. “Always.”
“Hmm.” Haley frowned, drew up her knees and wrapped her arms around them. “I’ve been meaning to search for Fiona and get to know her ever since I graduated from Bucknell. I didn’t do it. And I barely stayed in touch with Anthony, and now he’s gone. Maybe if I’d been a better sister to Fiona, she’d have chosen more wisely. I feel like God was pushing me to find her, and I ignored Him. How do you explain dissing God?”
Brett spread his hands. “You apologize and move on.”
“That easy?” She turned a troubled gaze to him. “I’ve had ten years as an adult to get to know her. I should have tried harder.”
He stood, crossed the room and crouched by her side. “Plenty of time yet. She sought you out. The baby is healthy. And whatever she decides, we’ll offer her love and support.”
“We?”
He nodded, stood and pulled her up from the chair. “This town takes care of its own. Always has. Always will. I didn’t always see that,” he admitted. “And I’ve spent years wishing I’d spent more time with Josiah before he died, so I get what you’re saying. But from now on, we face forward. And I’ll let Charlie and LuAnn know about Fiona.” When Haley frowned, he went on, “Charlie and LuAnn did foster care for years. And they’ve had more than one unwed mother in their care. If Fiona wants to stay, I’ll see if Charlie and LuAnn can offer their spare room.”
“Really?”
Her expression said he’d come through looking like a hero multiple times that night. He liked that reaction. He grinned, tweaked her nose and moved toward the door. “Yes, but let’s see if your sister is willing to stay. She might not be ready to put down roots.”
“She has a child, a daughter,” Haley protested.
Brett grimaced. “That’s not always enough, Haley.” Her expression said she agreed but didn’t like it. Neither did he. He sandwiched her hands between his and jutted his chin toward the living room beyond. “Pretty good tree, huh?”
She smiled back. “The best.”
“And the Nativity scene?”
“So beautiful.”
He drew her closer. “The boys loved doing this for you.”
“Did they?” She had to arch back to see him, and that made her kissably close.
“Mmm-hmm.” He bent down and feathered a gentle kiss to her mouth, her cheek and then just held her for long seconds, enfolded in his arms, tucked against his ribs. “Me, too.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He kissed the top of her head, released her and opened the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon. I’ll keep the boys while you work and if you want to go see Fiona before the co-op opens, I’ll grab them early.”
“You’re not too busy?”
He grinned, realizing that maybe this was what God had in mind all the while, that Haley would come here, needing love, short on time and funds with two tiny souls depending on her. What better match for that than a big, strong soldier with a growing business, money in the bank and a searching heart, just like hers? “Not at all.”
“Wonderful.”
His smile said he agreed. “See you tomorrow.” The half circle of light from her door followed him through thickly falling snow. As the arch thinned and faded, he mentally acknowledged his growing feelings. He hated to leave her. Hated to walk away at night, when what he longed for was a home and family. A fireplace for cozy nights with Derringer and the boys tumbling around a spacious room. To be with Haley, come home to Haley.
Or have her come home to him. That painted a more realistic picture.
Was he misreading the signs? He didn’t think so, but he knew she needed time. As far as he knew, it was his to give.
Chapter Sixteen
Petition for Legal Guardianship Granted.
Haley held the stamped official document up as she and Brett led the boys out of the county office building in Belmont on Monday morning. “It’s done!”
“It is.” Brett grabbed up Tyler and swung him around. “Tomorrow we get checked by the doctor, and then Wednesday you get to start school.” He ignored the hint of fear he saw in the five-year-old’s eyes. “But for today?” Brett tipped his head back and let snowflakes land on his face. “We play.”
“Play?”
“Play?” echoed Todd.
“Yup. We’re going to celebrate by eating good food and going sledding.”
Excitement brightened Tyler’s face. “I’ve never been sledding!”
“Ever?” Brett dre
w back, amazed. “Really?”
“Really.”
“Around here sledding is not only enjoyed, it’s pretty much expected for a good three months of the year,” Brett explained. “Let’s go home and get you guys dressed....”
“And ourselves.” Haley noted the skirt and stockings she’d set off with a tall pair of high-heeled boots with a quick glance. Boots that had drawn Brett’s attention more than once. “I’ve got some old boots stuffed in the back of my closet.”
“And layers,” Brett advised.
She gave him a quick salute. “Yes, sir. Do we have sleds?”
“Borrowed from LuAnn and Charlie,” he assured her. Once they got the boys strapped into their car seats, he gripped Haley’s shoulders. “How does it feel?”
She breathed out a sigh of relief. “Like I’m not in limbo anymore. Like we’re moving forward.” She jerked her head toward the beautiful, historic county office building. “But a little part of me wonders if that nice judge has a clue what he just approved.”
Brett laughed and hugged her. “I wish you had as much faith in yourself as others do.”
“You’re right.” She pulled back and stuck that cute chin into the air. “Enough with the self-doubt. Let’s go get bundled up and have fun.”
“I’m with you.”
His words inspired one of those special smiles, the kind that held hope aloft. They grabbed a celebratory breakfast at the Black-Eyed Susan Café, then headed for the Bald Mountain hills on Buehrings Road once they’d dressed in proper gear.
“Brett.” The awed look on Haley’s face said she loved the picturesque hillside setting as she helped Todd out of the car. Brett couldn’t disagree. Open land, dotted with trees, rose to thickly forested state park lands above them. Todd’s thick boots hit the deepening snow and he tumbled, face first.
“Oh, honey!” Haley reached to grab him, but Brett beat her to it.
“Got him.” He dusted the snow off, swiped Todd’s scarf across his rosy cheeks and set him back down. “Go slow, little man. It’s getting deep. You need to get a feel for it.”
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