About a Baby

by Ann Yost

  He was silent a moment. She knew he was trying to figure out what to say. An impossible task, really, since he didn’t know what he was going to do.

  But Hallie knew. “Bye, Baz,” she said.

  “Hang on, hang on. There’s a cradle in the attic.

  “My dad made it, and he held onto it for his grandchildren.” She was surprised at the slash of pain that arrowed through her at the word cradle.

  “Fine. Bye.” She hung up.

  Nicole deposited her dishes in the sink while Hallie told her about the cradle. “I can look for it if you want to hold Robert.”

  Nicole’s eyes looked troubled as she stared at Hallie. “You’re the one, aren’t you? The one he wanted to marry?”

  Hallie shook her head and handed over the baby. “I’m the one he didn’t want to marry.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Hallie had planned to spend Sunday looking for jobs. She’d found several small practices looking for assistants. One was in Glacier, Alaska. Another was in Inkspot, Texas. The one near the Arctic Circle had one obvious advantage. There would be no possibility of running into a snake. If she made her decision purely on the reptilian aspects she would definitely go north to Alaska.

  She searched the Pacific Northwest. She’d always wanted to see Seattle and maybe live on one of those islands up there. Maybe the best thing would be to choose a spot and just drive there.

  Surely she could get a job doing something even if it was just walking dogs.

  She discovered she was too busy to spend any time on the computer. Nicole was a talker. She had lots of questions about the Outlaw family and about Eden. It was almost as if she knew her life would be here.

  “The family is fantastic,” Hallie said. “Cameron is Baz’s brother. He is a widower with a daughter named Daisy. Then there’s Lucy. She just got out of college, and she’s applying for jobs at some of the newspapers around the country.”

  “I wish I could’ve gone to college.”

  “That’s always a possibility.”

  “I couldn’t afford it. Now I’ve got Robert.” She sounded resigned.

  “I’m sure Baz will help you with tuition and babysitting. What would you like to study?”

  “Oh, anything. I mean all you hear about is panty raids and beer parties and fun stuff like that.”

  Hallie blinked. “Community college is a good alternative.”

  “I know, I know. I had a girlfriend for a while, another waitress. She was taking cosmetology at community college. I think I’d be good at that. Or nails. I guess you went to college, didn’t you?”

  Hallie nodded. “I was very lucky. My father left me some money when he died.”

  Nicole sighed. “I never really knew my father. I mean, my mom said he split when he found out she was pregnant. There were some guys in there. Quite a few guys. But none of ’em took. Mom finally got tired of living in a rusted out trailer on a road outside of Plummet, Oklahoma. She found out about this commune in Northern California. That’s where she is now.”

  Hallie’s heart went out to the young woman.

  She’d had a hard childhood.

  “Ya know, it’s really nice here. I mean, except for the cold. When I first met Baz, he told me he never planned to come back to Maine. I guess he changed his mind when he found out you were here.”

  Hallie didn’t know quite what to say to that.

  “I know you two were together,” she said. “He talked about you in the beginning. Not so much after that. Mostly we talked about the baby. He got me a doctor and vitamins, and we went to childbirth classes. There was this one really hot guy in the childbirth class. Kenny. He had the greatest eyes.

  He asked me to go out for a beer one night but there was no way.”

  “I would think not.”

  “Baz would never have let me have a beer. ‘No booze,’ he said.” She imitated a scolding voice. “It’s not good for the baby.”

  Hallie couldn’t help smiling. “He just wanted you and Robert to be healthy.”

  “Yeah. Well, we were. I got high blood pressure, ya know? I had to stay in bed. He hired people to come in and take care of me when he had to go to work. If I’d been on my own I’d’ve definitely lost Robert. I might even have died.”

  Hallie’s throat clogged. She visualized Baz taking care of the young woman. Nicole didn’t know it but she’d been in the safest possible place.

  “So why didn’t you guys get married when he came back?”

  Hallie shrugged. “It didn’t seem like the right thing to do. Now I realize it was because Baz had another family.”

  “What family?”

  “You. You and Robert. You’re his family.”

  “I guess. In a way. It’s not like we’re in love or anything.”

  “Love can grow.” It was hard to talk.

  “Did it grow for you and Baz?”

  Hallie nodded. “For a little while.”

  Nicole tilted her head to one side. “You know, Baz once said you were the kindest person he’d ever met. He called you an inspiration.”

  “Well, he didn’t know me all that well.”

  She smiled to indicate that was a joke, but Nicole didn’t laugh.

  “I think you’d make a good mom,” she said. “Do you think you’ll have children some day?”

  “No. No, I can’t have children. I have a condition called endometriosis. Stuff grows inside the uterine wall so a fertilized egg has no chance to attach.”

  “It’s weird to think we were all just fertilized eggs at one point, isn’t it? I guess you could adopt a child.”

  Hallie smiled. She didn’t want to debate the merits of adoption. Not now. Not with this young mother. “Tell me something. This guy, Jimmy. Is he dangerous?”

  “Oh yeah. I mean, at first I thought he was kinda hot. He’s good looking and all that, and he’s got lots of money. Then I found out he was married, and I was so like pissed. You know? I mean, not that I wanted to marry him, but jeez he coulda been honest with me. When he found out about the baby, he just wanted it in the worst way. He was willing to pay me and everything. I said no. I mean, I wasn’t even sure I’d have it. He wouldn’t give up, though. He was on my butt every day.”

  “Why do you think that was?”

  “It’s cause his wife can’t have a kid. She’s sterile or whatever.”

  “Barren.”

  “Yeah. Oh, I guess it’s the same for you.

  Anyway, they wanted a kid real bad, and Jimmy wanted his own kid. He’s Italian. He said it’s real important to Italian men to be able to become fathers.”

  “What did you mean you weren’t sure if you were going to have the baby?”

  “I figured I’d get an abortion. I mean, I’d had three before this.”

  “Nicole!” Hallie just couldn’t help herself. “Don’t you know about birth control?”

  “Yeah but…I don’t know. The pill makes me sick. Besides, I never have insurance. Anyway guys forget to use condoms. I decided to keep the baby after I met Baz.”

  That answered one question at least. “So you were already pregnant when you met him.”

  “Yeah.” The girl didn’t look her in the eye, and, once again, Hallie found herself wondering if she was lying.

  “I knew I’d be okay with him.” Her voice softened. “I mean he was real strict but he was kind and he always took real, real good care of me. I knew he’d make a good dad, too.”

  “Did you realize he would feel responsible for you?”

  “Yeah.” She looked down. “He kept saying it was temporary and all that, but when you’ve met enough guys, you get a pretty good feel for the ones that’ll stick around. I figured he’d never just cut me loose.

  Then when Robert was born, I knew. You should have seen the look on his face when they pulled that baby out of me. I didn’t want to hold him, but Baz did. I think he held him all night.”

  “Excuse me a minute.” Hallie hurried into the bathroom. She couldn’t seem to s
top the tears from leaking out of her eyes. She and Nicole were sisters under the skin. They’d both recognized the father potential in Baz Outlaw. Too bad only one of them would get to keep him.

  There was a knock on the door. “Hallie?”

  “Be right out.”

  “Did I make you cry?”

  Hallie opened the door and smiled at the girl.

  “Just a little. I knew Baz would make a good father, and I was right.”

  “Are you in love with him?”

  She considered lying but she decided against it.

  “Pretty much.”

  “He’s in love with you, too, isn’t he? I mean you’re much closer to his age and all that.”

  “You don’t have to worry about me, Nicole. I’m getting a new job. I’ll be moving away.”

  “Oh.” She looked sad. “Where’re you going?”

  “Alaska. Probably.”

  Nicole made a face. “Sounds even colder than here.”

  Hallie chuckled.

  “Baz talked about you on our wedding day.

  When we were standing in front of the judge or whatever he was. When it was time to say my name, he said Halliday. I didn’t understand. I mean it doesn’t sound like a normal name.”

  Robert’s cry was the most welcome sound in the world.

  “Could you get him?”

  “Be happy to.” Hallie took the back stairs two at a time. She wanted to make the young woman feel welcome, but she’d heard about all she could take.

  She changed Robert and carried him downstairs.

  “Uh, Nicole, unless you have a supply stashed somewhere we’re running short of diapers. I’ll go up to the store.”

  “Oh, no, let me go.” Her eyes sparkled and color flooded her face. She was like a kid getting out of school for the summer. Hallie dug a credit card out of her purse and handed it over.

  “Do you know how to drive a pickup?”

  “Sure.”

  “Ferguson’s Market is on the corner of Main and―”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll find it. I’ve got a nose for shopping.”

  “Better get some more formula.”

  “Right. Sure.” She stared at Hallie for a moment. “I wish I’d had a mom like you.”

  After Nicole left, Hallie sat in Lucy’s room and watched Robert sleep. He was so perfect with his dark lashes resting on the curve of his cheek, the fuzz of light brown hair on his head, and the tiny fingers that stuck out of the wrists of his sleeper.

  With very little effort, she could fall in love with this baby. Probably she already had. It was something of a revelation.

  Maybe the blood tie wasn’t that big a deal.

  Maybe it wasn’t really so important to share allergies and a tendency to pronate. Maybe she’d been wrong all this time. Not that it mattered.

  Robert wasn’t hers. He’d never be hers. He already had a mother. And a father.

  “You are a very lucky boy, Robert Outlaw. You’ve got a mommy with a good heart and the best daddy in the whole world. I predict you’ll have a great childhood.”

  Robert screwed up his face, and Hallie heard a soft explosion. She grinned.

  “Good timing. We’ve got one diaper left.”

  ****

  Cam looked up from his newspaper and stared at his brother. “You’ve paced the length of the airport half a dozen times. What’s up? Why are you so nervous?”

  “Why? Because my ex-wife and my son are at the house with my girlfriend.”

  “They’ll be fine together. Everybody loves Hallie.”

  “Yeah and she loves everyone. I’m scared to death that by the time I get back Hallie will have adopted both of them and they’ll go off to live in the commune with Nicole’s mother.”

  Cam grinned. “Afraid you’ll get left out?”

  Baz scowled. “I’m not afraid of it. I know it. I know Hallie. She’s made up her mind. She thinks my place is with Nicole and Robert. I’ll never be able to talk her into marrying me.”

  “Wait and see. Things have a way of working out.”

  “Very philosophical. You didn’t take that attitude last night.”

  Cam fell silent and Baz cursed himself. His brother was just trying to help.

  “It’s not just that. Drama is Nicole’s middle name. Trouble follows her wherever she goes.

  Usually in the form of this guy Dinari. I don’t like it that the women are alone with the baby.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ve got to get back there.”

  Cam looked concerned. “Do you have any reason to think he’ll show up in Eden?”

  “I got a call from his lawyer. He was required to give me a heads up when Jimmy got a court order to get Robert’s DNA tested. If he can get biological proof the kid is his, he won’t have much trouble convincing the courts to give him at least visiting rights.”

  “Wouldn’t that solve your problems?”

  “Huh?”

  “Robert is really Nicole and Dinari’s business. If they take the boy, you’ll be free to marry Hallie.”

  “It isn’t that simple.”

  “Why not?”

  Baz heaved a huge sigh. “I feel responsible for the baby. Nicole’s an airhead and Dinari.’s a mobster.”

  “You feel responsible or you love him?”

  Baz glared at Cam, but he didn’t argue. He loved the little guy. Shit.

  “You could give him a good life. You and Hallie.”

  Baz stared at his brother. “I can’t have Hallie and Robert both.”

  “Why not? People get divorced all the time. They don’t have to lose contact with their kids. Our situation was just weird because Mom was whacked.”

  “You don’t understand. Hallie wouldn’t want to be a stepmother. Hell, she doesn’t even want to adopt. It’s been her lifelong dream to have a kid of her own. Robert would remind her of my betrayal and what it cost her.”

  “I think you’re selling her short. Hallie loves rodents and pigs. There’s no way she wouldn’t fall in love with a baby.”

  A small flicker of hope ignited in Baz’s soul. Was it possible? Could he have both of them? Then he remembered the threat of the mobster. “Damn. What if Jimmy shows up?”

  “Surely he won’t hurt his own baby. And why should he hurt Hallie or Nicole?”

  “She’ll try to be a hero. You know her. She’ll fight him, and he’ll wind up hurting her. Goddam.”

  “Call Jake. He can check on them.”

  Baz didn’t like that option. The last thing he wanted was for the sheriff to hang around Hallie.

  Well, the second to the last thing. Mostly he wanted to be sure she was okay. “All right. Fine.” He placed the call. The sheriff promised to check on Walnut

  Street every half hour.

  “Now call her. If they’re in danger, you’ve got to let her know.”

  The phone rang at 4 four o’clock. Hallie’s stomach roiled. She picked up the phone. “Is Jesse all right?”

  “So far, so good,” Baz said. “Lucy’s still with him. Cam and I are in the airport in Atlanta. We missed our connecting flight. The earliest we can be home is midnight.”

  “Okay.”

  “Things sound quiet there.”

  They were quiet. Hallie was just sitting in the rocking chair admiring the way Robert was able to ball up his fist and stick it in his mouth. “Nicole went out for diapers.”

  “Lord. I hope you didn’t give her a lot of money.”

  Hallie thought of the credit card. “I didn’t.”

  He was silent a moment. “What am I going to do?”

  “The right thing, of course,” she said, firmly.

  “You always do the right thing, Baz.”

  “Not always.”

  She knew he was talking about last Christmas.

  “I think it’s time to let that go.”

  “I can’t let you go.”

  Her chest was filling and she was afraid her voice would shake. “We should talk about this later. When you get ho
me.”

  “Will you be there?”

  “Yes. You didn’t think I’d just bolt, did you?”

  “It crossed my mind.”

  “Robert’s hungry. You and Cam have a safe trip.

  I’ll see you later.”

  “Wait. There’s something I’ve got to tell you.

  This guy who’s after Nicole? He may be heading for Eden. He’s got a court order for a DNA test, but he can’t get one if Nicole and I refuse to let him have the baby.”

  “You think he’ll try to steal Robert?”

  “I think there’s a real good chance. He’s a bad guy. You and Nicole and Robert need to go somewhere safe. Like maybe a motel.”

  “You want us to go to a motel in Bangor?”

  For a moment neither of them spoke. Hallie knew he was thinking of the night they’d both tacitly understood they’d be spending the night in a Bangor motel. The night he’d proposed at the Buddy Burger and they’d celebrated in the front seat of the truck cab in the parking lot next door.

  “I think we’d be safer here,” she said, her throat dry with unshed tears. “I’ll talk to Jake. He can drive by every so often.”

  There was another silence. Hallie knew Baz was trying to come up with an alternative to the sheriff.

  She knew he couldn’t.

  “I already checked with him. He said he’d patrol the house. Lock all the doors and windows.”

  “You really think he’s coming tonight?”

  “I’ve got a bad feeling about it. Hallie, whatever you do, don’t get hurt. If he’s got any kind of weapon, give him the baby. He won’t hurt Robert.”

  “I’m not giving him the baby. No way. Forget it,

  Baz. Listen, I’ll keep them both safe for you.”

  “I know you will. It’s you I’m worried about.”

  “I’ll take care of myself, too. I’m pretty good at it, you know. I’ve been doing it a long time.”

  “Hallie?”

  “What is it—the baby’s crying?”

  “I love you.”

  He heard an odd, choking sound then the line disconnected.

  I love you, too.

  A short time later Nicole bounded into the house

  with half a dozen shopping bags.

  “I stopped at White’s. It’s pretty old-fashioned.

  This town needs a boutique bad. And a Starbucks. Anyway, I scored some clothes. What they lack in style they make up for in flannel.”