Adopted Son (11 page)

It had taken her years to get to this point. The dutiful, good daughter had rebelled. Caroline had done it years ago, but it had taken Grace a little longer. She had to be her own person now, find her way. She was starting over. Being unemployed would terrify most people, but discovering the real Grace hidden inside was suddenly her most important priority. Fortunately, she had a healthy bank account and she intended to use it wisely.

Without realizing it, she found she was driving south on the I-35. She passed the round Holiday Inn and Fiesta Gardens before she crossed the bridge over Town Lake. She took an exit and stopped, got out and sat on a bench, watching the easy movement of the water. This peace, this quiet was what she needed. The wind tossed her hair and she breathed in the scent of the fresh outdoors. People were headed for the walking and biking trails, but she hardly noticed them.

Her cell kept buzzing. She finally checked the callers. Her father—five times. Her mother—four times. And Caroline—three. She didn’t want to worry her sister so she called her back.

“Grace, where are you?”

“I’m fine, Caroline.”

“Tell me where you are and I’ll come so we can talk. Mom will stay with Jesse. Just you and me, like old times.”

“I don’t need to talk. I know what I’m doing.”

“Grace, your life is that firm. You can’t just walk away from it.”

“I really thought it was and I really thought Dad trusted my abilities to make it one of the best law firms in Texas.”

“He does.”

“No. I’m a puppet for him. He still controls everything from Washington. I finally can see I’m just a figurehead like everyone said from the start.”

“Grace, Dad is worried sick. He even has Charley looking for you. You and Dad can work this out. I know you can.”

“How many times did you try to work it out with Dad?”

There was a slight pause. “That’s different. I’m stubborn.”

“So am I.”

“Grace…”

“There’s a big world out here and for once I’m going to live my life my way. I don’t need Daddy’s approval anymore. I haven’t been happy for a long time, Caro, and that’s what I want…to feel happy with my life and myself. I’ll be in touch.”

“Grace…”

She clicked off and sat staring at Austin in the distance. Everything was the same, yet so different. If her father had Charley on her trail, then it was only a matter of time before he found her.

T
UCK WAS DRESSED
for the evening in his starched jeans, white shirt and dress cowboy boots. He called them his dancing boots and he intended to dance the night away.

He splashed a bit of aftershave on his cheeks and winced at the scent. Damn, that was strong. Sam barked at the smell.

“Don’t like it, huh?”

Sam barked again.

He grabbed a washcloth and wiped it off. “How’s that?”

Sam sprinted for the kitchen. “What…?” Then he heard Eli’s voice and followed Sam more slowly. Eli sat at the table bouncing Jesse on his knees, the diaper bag on the floor. He glanced up as Tuck entered the room.

“Whoa.” One eyebrow shot up. “You must be going out.”

“Yep. I have a date.”

“Well, Jesse and I were hoping you needed some company, but I can see that you don’t.”

“Caroline tired again?”

“No. The Whittens are at my house and all hell is breaking loose. Grace resigned from the Whitten Law Firm today.”

Tuck’s head jerked up. “What?”

“I’m not clear on all the details, but evidently Stephen and Grace had a disagreement over hiring some lawyer. Grace resigned and walked out. Stephen has the company P.I. looking for her.”

“You mean no one knows where she is?”

“No. I didn’t offer to help. I figure Grace can take care of herself.”

“Why do you talk about her in that tone of voice? She does have feelings and she’s very vulnerable.”

Eli frowned. “Uh…I…what did you say?”

Clearly he’d thrown Eli for a loop with his response, but he didn’t have time to explain. He reached for his dress Stetson and placed it on his head. “I’ve got to go. Stay as long as you want.”

“Tuck…”

He kissed Jesse and walked out.

His one goal was to find Grace.

B
ACKING OUT
of his driveway, Tuck glanced at his watch. Six-thirty. In the turmoil of her day, had Grace forgotten about their date? He’d thought of very little else. What had happened to make her walk away from everything she’d worked for? With a little luck, Grace would be at her apartment getting ready.

She wasn’t.

In his car, he called the highway patrol station where Tuck’s office was located. “Stan, I need a favor.”

“Tuck, don’t you ever quit working?”

“My date’s run out on me and I need to find her.”

“You single guys have all the fun.”

“Seriously, Stan, I need to find this woman. Her name is Grace Whitten and she drives a white Lexus. Put it through the system and see if you can bring up her license number. Alert the patrol and let me know if they spot her car. Don’t stop her, just let me know.”

“You got it. I’ll be in touch.”

“Thanks, Stan.” He clicked off wondering where Grace could have gone.

And why she hadn’t called him.

G
RACE HAD NO IDEA
where she was going. When she looked around, she saw she was near the hospital. She wondered about Brady and if Tuck’s goodbye had affected him, or if he even understood. It was none of her business, she kept telling herself. She was no longer with the Whitten Firm. Somehow, that didn’t stop her from turning onto the street leading to the hospital.

Grace approached the pediatric ward, nodding to the woman at the desk. “Hello, Jennifer.”

Jennifer glanced up. “Ms. Whitten. You just missed your clients.”

“Oh?”

“They put Brady in his crib and they’ve gone for the evening. Mrs. Templeton said they’d be back at ten in the morning.”

“Brady’s down for the night?”

Jennifer looked at the clock on the wall. “Hardly. It’s barely six-thirty, but Mrs. Templeton said she wanted to get him into a routine of going to bed early.”

“I see.” But she didn’t. And Grace was sure this wasn’t what the judge had meant by providing Brady with stability.

“May I see him, please?”

Jennifer arched an eyebrow. “Why?”

“I want to see how he’s doing. Do you have a problem with that?”

Grace expected a comeback, and she got it. “I have a problem with the whole situation. Tuck said goodbye to Brady this morning and Brady’s been violent ever since. Brady may not respond or understand much, but he knows he’s never going to see Tuck again.”

“What do you mean by violent?” Grace was trying to keep her cool, to get some answers.

“He’s hitting and biting again. He’d stopped the biting, but today he’s taking a piece out of everybody. Mrs. Templeton hung in there. I have to give her credit for that. I personally think she was exhausted and that’s why they went home so early.”

Grace thought about this for a moment. “I assume you are keeping a record of all of this.”

“Oh, you bet I am.”

“Good. I’m going to check on Brady.”

“Suit yourself.”

“I will, and thank you.”

She walked across the hall and opened the door to the ward. The woman sat by her little girl’s bedside, flipping through a magazine. Another baby, not even a year old, lay in another bed. Brady sat in his bed, holding his stuffed dog.

“Hi,” she said to the woman, and moved toward Brady.

“Be careful,” the woman warned. “Brady’s not in a good mood today.”

“I heard.” She walked to the crib. “Hi, Brady.”

Brady rose to his feet and started toward her, a gleam in those dark eyes.

Grace held up a finger. “Don’t even think about biting me,” she told him, smiling. “I have sensitive skin and it would hurt.” She leaned in slightly. “And you want to hear a secret? I don’t take pain very well and I’d cry. Big tears would roll down my cheeks.” She tilted her head sideways and made a sad face. “Don’t make me cry.”

The corners of Brady’s mouth twitched and he sank to the bed.

“My, those eyelashes are much longer in the daylight, Brady. And I think we really need to trade. You can have my stubby ones and I could have your gorgeous ones. What do you think?” She blinked her eyes several times.

Brady reached up and touched his eye with one finger.

“I’ve never seen him do that before,” the woman said. “He’s interacting with you.”

Grace held out her hand. “Hi, I’m Grace Whitten.”

The woman shook her hand. “Barbara Wilcott. You’re one of the lawyers for the Templetons.”

“Yes.”

“Lisa was with Brady most of the day and she had a rough time. Maybe you need to give her some tips.”

Grace smiled. “I have a small nephew so I’ve learned to speak their language. Lisa will get the hang of it.”

“I suppose.”

She glanced at the baby in the bed. “How’s your little girl?”

“I don’t know. They removed a brain tumor days ago. We’re waiting for her to wake up. It’s taking so long, though.”

That sad voice tore at Grace’s heart. “What’s her name?”

“Molly.”

Molly’s head was completely bandaged and Grace stared at the cherub face. “She’s so pretty.”

“Yes. She’s my baby. I have three boys at home.”

“Who takes care of them?” Grace realized that was none of her business, but the words had slipped out.

“My mom is helping my husband. It’s been a rough time.”

Grace looked at the tired lines on Barbara’s face, the worry in her eyes. But she also saw the selfless, unconditional love. Her clothes were rumpled, her hair uncombed but her heart was solid gold.

Grace felt she had to do something to help Barbara. That feeling came out of nowhere and it surprised her. It didn’t stop her, though.

“Why don’t you go to the cafeteria for a good meal and I’ll sit with Molly.”

“Oh, no, I don’t leave her. I only go to the bathroom and the nurses let me use the one in this room. I have to be here when she wakes up. I don’t want her to be afraid.”

“Then I’ll go down and get you something.”

“I don’t want your charity,” Barbara snapped, her face slightly flushed. “I’m sorry…I…”

“It’s okay.” Grace immediately knew the problem. Barbara didn’t have any money to go to the cafeteria. Molly’s medical bills had probably drained them financially.

“If my husband has time, he’ll bring something. If not, the nurses always bring snacks. Don’t worry about it.”

“Oh, but I do.” Surprising herself even more, Grace held up a foot encased in a Manolo high heel. “I paid six hundred dollars for these shoes. So, you see, I’m a little crazy. And at the moment I’m feeling selfish, self-centered and out of touch with what’s really important in this world.”

Barbara looked back at her, shocked.

“I’m going downstairs to buy your dinner.” She held up a hand as Barbara began to protest. “It’s not charity. It’s a token for women like you who have their goals and priorities straight. If you feel the need to repay me, maybe you can keep an eye on Brady and help Lisa as she tries to become his mother. Because I have a feeling you’ve written the book on motherhood.”

“Oh, I’d be happy to.”

Grace nodded and headed for the door. The cafeteria was serving chicken spaghetti with green beans, garlic bread and a salad. Grace bought the works and topped it off with chocolate pie and iced tea.

Carrying the food down the hall, she met Jennifer. “You can’t carry food into the ward.”

“How does Barbara eat?”

“She eats mostly sandwiches. We allow her to do that.”

She could see Jennifer was going to be hard-nosed about this. “Is there a room with a table where she can eat a decent meal?”

“It’s at the end of the hall on the other wing and I can tell you she’s not going that far.”

“There has to be a table somewhere.”

Jennifer hesitated for a second. “There’s one for the nurses behind the nurses’ station.”

“Perfect.”

“But it’s only for nurses.”

Grace looked her in the eye. “Barbara hasn’t had a decent meal in days. Are you going to deprive her of that?”

“It’s against hospital policy.”

Grace wasn’t listening. She walked around Jennifer and into a lounge with a refrigerator, microwave, small sofa, four chairs and a table. “Perfect,” she said, and placed the food on the table.

Jennifer watched from the doorway. “You know, you’re very pushy.”

“Actually, I’m known for it.” She threw the plastic bag into the garbage. “I’m pushy and bossy, but I get results. Remember that.”

Grace walked past her to the ward without another word.

Barbara was straightening Molly’s sheets, though they were already perfectly straight.

“Your dinner is in the nurses’ lounge,” Grace told her.

“Oh, thank you, but I can’t leave Molly.”

“The lounge is across the hall in a small room, within shouting distance. I’ll watch Molly. If she moves a muscle, I will shout for you. I promise I’ll watch her closely.”

“It’s across the hall?”

“Yes. Now go. Your food is getting cold.”

“I…”

“Tell you what—I’ll leave this door open.” She took Barbara’s magazine and stuffed it beneath the door. “Now, even if I say your name, you’ll have no problem hearing me.”

“You’re a very unusual person,” Barbara said.

Grace knew she didn’t mean that in a bad way because she was smiling. Actually smiling. She gently pushed Barbara out the door and sat in her chair, staring at Molly.

“You can’t keep this door open.” Jennifer stood in the doorway. “It will disturb the other children.”

Grace took a deep breath and glanced around the room. Brady stood at his railing, watching everything. The other baby lay quietly, hooked to machines. “What’s wrong with that baby?”

“His father threw him against a wall. He’s brain-dead. The hospital is waiting for orders to pull his feeding tube.”

“Oh my God.” Grace felt a tremor run through her.
Oh my God!

“We try to maintain quiet and order, Ms. Whitten, for everyone’s benefit, even if you don’t see that.”

“I’m sorry I disregarded your rules, but Barbara Wilcott needs a break. Ten minutes, Jennifer, that’s all I’m asking.”

Something changed in Jennifer’s expression. “That’s nice what you did for Barbara, but in ten minutes this door will be closed.”

“Thank you.”

Grace settled into her chair. Brady watched her. She waved at him but he didn’t respond. Her gaze kept going to the little baby, so still, so alone. How could someone do that?

Molly slept so peacefully, like an angel. Suddenly tears stung the backs of her eyes—the emotional overload had finally hit her. But she knew this moment, sitting in this room with these children, was very meaningful. Everything else paled into insignificance.

And that was probably the most real feeling she’d ever had.

G
RACE SLID INTO HER CAR
and glanced at her watch.
Seven o’clock!
She’d completely lost track of time. She needed to call Tuck. It seemed she’d been waiting her whole life for this date and she couldn’t miss it. Damn. She fished her phone out of her purse. What was Tuck’s cell number? Think. Think. She didn’t know it. Double damn.

Wait. He’d called her this morning so it would be on her caller ID. She flipped open her phone and searched her calls. Yes. There it was. She quickly punched in the number.

She started her car and drove out of the parking lot. “Hi, Tuck,” she said when he answered. “I haven’t stood you up if that’s what you’re thinking. I’m just running late.”

“Where are you? I can meet you.”

“I’m headed toward I-35. Oh, no.”

“What is it?”

“A highway patrolman is following me.”

“Is he stopping you?”

“I don’t…no, he’s passing me. Whew, that was close.”

“Where are you?”

She gave him her location.

“You can meet me at The Broken Spoke.” He gave her directions. “It’s a country dance hall—best dancing in Austin. Wait for me in the parking lot.”

“Okay.” She followed his directions and soon pulled into the graveled parking lot of The Broken Spoke—a big red barn with a large oak tree out front. And, of course, there was a wagon wheel with a broken spoke resting against the tree. Wagon wheels also adorned the long front porch and each side of the sign at the top of the building.

There was a very old broken-down bus with a Lone Star Beer sign painted on the side. Next to the bus was an ancient oil rig. She’d never been here and she had no idea what the bus and rig were about.

The marquee advertised the name of a band playing tonight. The place looked rustic and couples were going in, arm in arm. They were all dressed in jeans and boots. She had on a dress. Oh, well, she’d make the best of it. She wasn’t missing this date. She grabbed her purse, searching for her makeup.

Flipping on the light, she studied herself in the mirror. She looked tired, worried and a little excited. Her face was flushed and her hair resembled a bush, the wind doing a number on it at the lake. No one seemed to notice this at the hospital.

A car swung into the spot beside her. Charley, the firm’s P.I., got out. He’d found her. She pushed a button to roll down her window.

“Good evening, Ms. Whitten.” Charley bent to speak to her. In his early sixties, Charley was balding and about twenty pounds overweight. “Your father would like to speak to you.”

“Charley.” She heaved a deep sigh. “We’re not going to play games. I’ve spoken to my father and he knows how I feel. If he wants to continue the conversation, then I’ll be at my apartment in the morning. But tonight that conversation is not happening.” She touched the button and the window went up.

Charley saluted and went back to his vehicle. Her nerves were frayed. The emotional roller coaster she’d been on was about to slam into a solid wall and she felt powerless to stop it.

Grace saw Tuck drive into a parking spot and she quickly brushed her hair and applied lipstick. On a night when she wanted to be beautiful, she was a mess.

She watched as Tuck swung out his long legs and locked his car. Pocketing the keys, he strolled toward her. He moved in a sexy, loose-limbed sort of way. His shirt stretched across wide shoulders and his Stetson fit perfectly on his dark head, giving him a mysterious appeal. Her stomach tightened.