Adopted Son (16 page)

She rested her head in the crook of his shoulder. They sat that way for a while.

“Tomorrow I have to turn in some evidence on a case then I’m off the rest of the week. Caleb’s taking over for me. We planned this in case I got custody of Brady. And I’ll take over for him when their baby comes. When I leave the courthouse, I’m going to see an architect about remodeling the house. I’d like to add on, maybe make the master bedroom and bath larger, add a bathroom upstairs and maybe a game room with a pool table.”

“You’ve really thought about this.”

“I have to start living my own life.”

“I know what you mean.” Her voice sounded melancholy.

“Another way we’re alike,” he murmured against her face and took a moment to breathe in her scent. “Now’s a good time to start,” he added, getting to his feet and leading her into the bedroom.

For a moment he stared at the pictures on the wall then went into the other bedroom for a plastic storage box. He’d bought several to store things away so Brady could have the room. Now he had another use for the box.

He began to take the pictures down and place them in the container.

“No.” Grace grabbed a photo. “You have to save the ones with you in them.”

“Grace…”

“Humor me.”

“There are tons of other photos in albums.”

“Okay.” She handed them back, all but one. “I like this one and I think you need to keep it.”

He glanced at the photo of him and Eli with the Cochran boys. “Okay.”

She kissed his cheek. “Thanks. What are you going to do with the rest of the photos?”

“Store them for now. Tomorrow I’ll start to clean out the attic. Ma’s and Pa’s clothes are up there along with everything they’ve ever owned. I need to sort through it. And Eli’s going to help. We’ve put this off long enough.”

She rubbed his arm. “After work, I’ll help, too.”

“I’d like that.”

That night he went to sleep with Grace in his arms. He didn’t feel guilty or disloyal. He felt an incredible peace that he was getting on with his life.

All it took was one woman to open his eyes.

All it took was Grace.

T
HE NEXT MORNING
Grace slipped from the bed, careful not to wake Tuck. But he was a light sleeper. The moment she moved, he woke up. He scooted up against the headboard.

“Are you leaving?”

“Yes.” She slipped into jeans. “I want to be in the office by eight. The day care opens today and I want to make sure everything goes smoothly. I also need to have a meeting with the partners to explain my absence.”

She fastened her bra, pulled a wrinkled T-shirt over her head and leaned over, whispering, “See you tonight.”

“Grace.”

She stopped in the doorway and looked back. Morning light was creeping into the room, bathing him in a golden light, a fairy-tale kind of light. At that moment she knew Jeremiah Tucker was her Prince Charming.

“Aren’t you going to kiss me goodbye?”

She shook her head. “If I kiss you, I won’t leave and I have to go to work. I’ll make up for it tonight.”

He winked. “You have a deal. Good luck.”

Grace found her purse in the kitchen, took a moment to pet Sam and hurried to her car.

Within the hour she was in her apartment, showered and dressed in a beige power suit with a brown silk blouse. She chose a pair of Manolo Blahnik shoes, slipped her feet inside and waited for the feeling.

Nothing happened.

A smile split her face. She’d finally found something better than shoes—Tuck’s love. She twirled around and said the words aloud, “I love you, Tuck.” Then she wrapped her arms around her waist and enjoyed that all-encompassing feeling.

Now she had to make her job fit back into her life. Her time would be split, but she could make it work.

She had to.

G
RACE WAS IN THE DAY CARE
at eight. Doris Hayden was already checking in some kids. She looked up, saw Grace and immediately came to her side.

“Ms. Whitten, I’m so glad to see you.” There was obvious relief on her face and in her voice. Of medium height with graying dark hair, Doris had been a nurse for twenty years and had a spotless record. On the first interview, Grace knew she was going to hire her. Doris had worked on the pediatric ward of a large hospital and loved children, but she wanted her nights and weekends free.

“How are things going?”

“Wonderful. We have fourteen children registered. If this keeps up, we’ll need more help.”

“I was thinking we might need some extra people anyway. I want every child to receive the best care.”

“Yes, ma’am. I must say the decorators did a wonderful job.”

The main room was open and appealing, the walls a soft yellow and a pastel green. Balloons, a train and cartoon characters were hand painted on them. Furniture of red, green, blue and yellow made the room even brighter. A babies’ room was to the left and through the double doors at the back was a room with a large TV screen for watching movies or cartoons. There was, of course, a kitchen.

“Yes, they did,” Grace responded.

“Ms. Whitten.” Grace turned to see Nina standing behind her with her two-year-old daughter. “Am I glad to see you.”

“We’ll talk upstairs,” she said, not wanting to get into a conversation about her absence in front of everyone. Grace shook hands with several employees and made her way to her office.

Nina was a few seconds behind her. Grace took a deep breath and resumed her role as managing partner. “I’d like to see Byron in thirty minutes. Set up a meeting at ten for the partners—all partners, no excuses. I expect everyone to be there.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Nina scribbled on her pad, and then looked up. “I’m glad you’re back.”

“Thank you.”

After Nina left, Grace wanted to call Tuck, just to hear his voice, but she would see him later. She would be content with that.

Opening a drawer, she pulled out a phone book and looked up the hospital where Brady was. She made an appointment to see the CEO and the hospital administrator.

Then she walked to Byron’s office. His secretary jumped to her feet. “Oh, Ms. Whitten, Mr. Coffey was coming to your office in a few minutes. I’ll let him know you’re here.”

“Since I’m early, I’ll let him know I’m here.” She opened the door and stepped inside. She wanted the upper hand with Byron and surprise was a good tactic.

Byron was on the phone and he immediately hung up. Standing, he said, “Grace, did my secretary get the time wrong?”

“No, Byron, I finished with my other appointments early.” She looked directly at him. “I’m sure you’ve already talked to my father.”

He frowned. “The last conversation we had he said we weren’t hiring Mann and that he’d be in touch, but I haven’t heard from him.”

Grace thought it was time to bring everything out into the open. “I want to get a few things straight.” She stepped farther into the room, her eyes holding his. “I’m not the ditzy blonde you think I am.”

“Grace…”

She held up a hand. “Let me talk, please.

“I’m well aware that when my father ran for judge and won, he retained fifty-one percent of this law firm in a blind trust for his daughters—until the time one of us was willing to take over as managing partner. You drew up the blind trust and my father paid you very nicely to keep his secret. The secret being that he still had control of every major decision made by this law firm.”

“It wasn’t…”

“It was just like that. And neither you nor my father thought I had—” she narrowed her eyes in thought “—what do you guys say? You didn’t think I had the balls to run this company.”

“That’s crude.”

“Yes, it is, and it’s even cruder that you and my father thought I would never notice the manipulation and under-the-table tactics.”

He stiffened visibly. “Stephen and I have known each other since law school, I’ve always been very loyal to him, even when he ran for Congress.”

“But you resented his wish to have one of his daughters running the firm.”

He stiffened even more. “I’ve been loyal to you, too, Grace.”

“Yes, you have, and I appreciate that and I also appreciate your help in adjusting to the role as managing partner.”

“You’re a natural.”

“Thank you. And I wanted to let you know that I won’t be spending as much time in the office. I will have a personal life, too.”

“I see.”

“I make all major decisions concerning this law firm and you will not report anything that goes on in this firm to my father. Are we clear on that?”

“Yes. We’re very clear.”

She felt she didn’t need to say any more. She’d made her point.

The board meeting went off without a hitch, and then she dealt with two lawyers who had complaints. Grace couldn’t wait to get away. She could almost feel that strict, stern exterior lifting from her as she made her way to the hospital.

The administrator was more than glad to accept her money for comfortable chairs for the pediatric ward. He warned her there wasn’t a lot of room and they’d do the best they could. Grace could see that just donating the money was no guarantee it would be spent how she wanted it.

After some more negotiating, he agreed to let her buy the chairs and have them delivered. Then she made a quick stop at a furniture store and bought three leather recliners. She talked the manager into delivering them that day. Tonight Barbara Wilcott would be able to rest comfortably.

On impulse, she went back to the hospital to see how Lisa, Keith and Brady were doing. On the way she picked up food for Barbara. Everything was quiet on the ward. Barbara was flipping through a magazine and Grace was surprised to see Brady in his bed. Keith and Lisa weren’t there.

“Where are the Templetons?” she asked Barbara.

“Lisa was really sick and Keith took her home.” Barbara laid down her magazine. “She’s probably coming down with something.”

“How’s Brady doing?”

“Better, but he keeps watching the door. I think he’s looking for Ranger Tucker. That’s my personal opinion.”

Grace thought she was probably right. Even at Brady’s age, he knew Tuck cared about him.

“How’s your little girl?”

“No change.”

“I’m sorry.”

“My husband and I are still praying and hoping.”

“Have you eaten today?”

Barbara nodded. “Yes. I’ve had a snack this morning. I don’t need much.”

Grace held up a bag. “How would you like a hamburger, fries and chocolate malt?”

“You’re one of a kind.” Barbara smiled and took the bag without any protest.

“The good part is you can eat it in here before anyone sees you.”

“Thank you, Grace.”

As Barbara ate, Grace walked over to Brady. He was walking around his bed, eyeing her warily.

“Hi, Brady.” She smiled at him.

He touched one eye.

She clapped her hands. “Yes. I see those long eyelashes.”

Loud noises came from the corridor and Grace knew the chairs were being delivered. She had wanted to be gone before that happened.

“Goodbye, Brady.” She waved and walked out into the hall.

Jennifer was arguing with the deliveryman.

“No one told me about any chairs,” Jennifer was saying. “We don’t have luxuries like that here. You must have the wrong hospital.”

“Lady, I’m not stupid,” the man snarled. “I can read a delivery order.”

“I’ll have to call the administrator.”

“Go ahead.”

Grace poked the elevator button, hoping to be gone before Jennifer spotted her. Her luck didn’t hold.

“Ms. Whitten,” Jennifer called.

Grace waved and stepped onto the elevator. She wasn’t waiting around for Jennifer to ask her if she knew anything about the chairs.

She didn’t want to lie.

T
UCK SPENT MOST
of the morning at the district attorney’s office going over details of the embezzlement case, then he stopped in to see a friend from college, an architect. Tuck told Joel what he wanted and Joel made plans to come look at the house. After that, he’d draw up plans for Tuck’s approval.

From there Tuck went by Caleb’s office to let him know that he’d only be taking a week off instead of the month they’d planned. Caleb said that was okay and wanted to make sure Tuck could handle Caleb’s office when the baby came.

Tuck razzed him about being nervous, but he assured Caleb he would be there for him. The McCains were big on togetherness and Tuck found he was, too.

He returned home to an empty house. Sam barked at him and Dee curled around his leg, as usual. Although nothing really had changed in the household, something seemed different. The scent of lilac lingered in the room and reminded him Grace wasn’t here. Suddenly she was becoming the center of his world. Glancing at his watch, he wondered how much longer she would be.

To keep from thinking, he would start cleaning out the attic. The stairs to the second floor went up from the den. The banister was made of cedar and he probably wouldn’t change that. Two bedrooms, both small, occupied the floor. He and Eli shared one for a lot of years. Tuck would like to make the rooms bigger and put in a bathroom.

When he pulled the cord in the ceiling of the small hallway, the attic ladder slid down and he began to climb. The sight took his breath away. Junk, clutter, dust and cobwebs covered the place. He coughed a couple of times to clear his lungs.

The place was a mess. He hadn’t been up here since Ma had died and he stored away some of her things. He picked up a lava lamp Ma had bought in Vegas when they had gone on one of their rare trips. Pa hated the lamp and Tuck couldn’t say he was all that crazy about it. So why was he keeping it? For the memories? He was living in the past and it was time to savor those memories and then let them go.

He could do that now.

“Tuck, where are you? I’m back.” When he heard Grace’s voice, he shimmied down the ladder in half the time it took to go up it.

“I’m coming,” he shouted. Taking the stairs two at a time he saw her in the kitchen, holding Sam with Dee curled around her leg.

“Look,” she said, staring down at Dee. “She’s finally made friends with me.”

He cupped her face. “You’re just too hard to resist.” He kissed her soft lips and Sam yelped. They laughed and Grace set Sam on the floor. Tuck sat down, pulling her into his lap. “How was your day?”

“Pretty good. Byron knows where I stand.” She played with the hair curling at his neck and lazy, languid feelings filled him. “I stopped by the hospital.”

“Why?” He was immediately alert. “Is something wrong?”

“Yes. Barbara Wilcott has no place to sleep.”

He blinked. “What?”

“I had a meeting with the CEO and the administrator of the hospital and they were very excited I wanted to donate some money. They had all sorts of causes that needed it, but I said I wanted to buy recliners for the pediatric ward. They tried to appease me with other, more urgent needs and I quickly told them what my bottom line was. Since I’m rather pushy, they eventually saw it my way. Tonight Barbara will be able to stretch out with a hand on her child and go to sleep in some measure of comfort.” She paused. “This is just between you and me. I don’t want Barbara or anyone else to know I purchased the chairs.”

Tuck stared at her and thought,
She’s the one. Grace is the woman for me.
So many times he’d wished he could help Barbara, but he didn’t know what to do for her. Grace, on the other hand, went out of her way to see that something was done and at her own expense.

“You’re wonderful,” he murmured, and tucked her hair behind her ear. He noticed that worried look in her eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“I stopped in to check on Brady and the Templetons, but Barbara said that Lisa had become ill and Keith had taken her home. Brady was all alone. I just hope everything’s okay.”

This news sobered him and he reached for the phone on the wall to call Opal.

“Hey, Opal, how are you doing?”

“Ranger Tucker, I’m doing just fine.”

“How’s Brady?”

“So that’s the reason for the call.”

“I heard Lisa Templeton is ill.”

“Twenty-four-hour bug, nothing else. She’ll be back at the hospital in the morning.”

“Good. I was just checking.”

“You have a hard time letting go, don’t you, Ranger Tucker?”