Linc would get a head start on reaching Jax. And maybe he could succeed before Ray even found out about Maddie’s involvement.
“Stokes said to call his clerk Monday morning first thing,” Archer told her. “The judge’ll make room earlier in the schedule if it’s humanly possible. It’s that or emergency foster care for the next several days,” he concluded.
“I’m aware of that.” It wasn’t as if Braden had an overabundance of qualified providers willing to take an infant on a moment’s notice. The last baby she’d had to place in emergency care ended up more than fifty miles away. If a caregiver couldn’t be found, the baby would be assigned to the hospital, which wasn’t ideal, either. For now, Maddie did have time on her hands. And she was perfectly qualified to take care of Layla for a few days, so long as she didn’t have Linc breathing down her neck the whole while.
“So? What’ll it be, Maddie? He’s waiting for me to call him back to confirm.”
Layla burped again and then turned her head against Maddie’s throat, letting out a shuddering sigh.
Maddie sighed, too. She’d always been able to keep an emotional distance when it came to children—at least professionally.
But none of the children who’d ever passed through her casework had been a relative of a friend.
Linc finally moved, but only to plant his hands flat on the foyer table while he bowed his head.
Or a former friend.
She looked away. When Ray did discover what she was doing, he would just have to understand. She might be on vacation because of him, but what she did on that vacation was entirely up to her. “Tell Judge Stokes that I agree.”
“You don’t sound too happy about it, kiddo.”
She didn’t look back at Linc. “It’ll be fine.” The trick would be to maintain her usual professionalism. Forget the past. Forget everything but the baby. “I appreciate the help. Sorry to interrupt your evening.”
“No harm. I’ll catch you Monday.”
“Thanks, Archer.” She ended the call.
“What hearing? What did you agree to?”
There was a mirror on one wall and she could see in it that Layla’s eyes were at half-mast. She also could see that Linc had lifted his head and his eyes were dark and intense.
Professionalism. She took a quick breath and turned to him. “The judge is willing to let me take Layla into protective custody. There will be a hearing scheduled by the middle of the week, at the latest, when he’ll probably order her into foster care.”
“But he could leave her in my care.”
“She’s not in your care, Linc. She’s in mine. Temporarily. What happens after that depends greatly on Judge Stokes. If he decides that placing Layla with you is in her best interests, then that’s what he’ll do.”
“But if my DNA proves she’s my niece—”
She lifted her hand. “That’s going to take at least a week. Maybe more. Until then, I’m telling you not to put all your eggs in that particular basket. Because it’s beyond unlikely that you’ll be granted temporary custody as a foster-care provider. You’re not qualified, and I know Judge Stokes. He’s never done that before. He’s not likely to do it now just because you want him to.”
His lips twisted. “You’re enjoying this.”
She had enough experience under her belt dealing with families in turmoil to keep from losing her patience.
“There is nothing enjoyable about an abandoned child, I promise you. And maybe none of it will be necessary. Maybe you’ll reach Jax. He’ll come back and offer proof that he knew nothing about this situation at all. He’ll claim her and everyone will be happy.” Maddie turned the car seat around on the table and carefully lowered Layla into it.
Linc looked alarmed. “Where are you taking her?”
“Nowhere.” Yet. “She’s falling asleep and the seat is as good a place as any.” She shook out the pink blanket and gently spread it over the baby before picking up her phone again.
“Now who are you calling?”
“My uncle.” Because that was one thing she would not neglect.
“It’s too late.”
She shook her head, already finished dialing. “He’s had late calls like this before. Uncle David! Hi.” He’d answered on the first ring. “It’s Maddie. Sorry for the late call but I have an abandoned baby—”
“She’s not abandoned,” Linc interjected.
She turned her back on him. “I don’t know how long she was left alone outside, but I didn’t see any signs of frostbite or other injury. I’m guessing somewhere between eight and twelve weeks old. But she’s in my care at least through the weekend, and you know how we’ll ultimately need a medical eval for her case—”
* * *
Unable to stand listening to Maddie’s one-sided conversation, Linc picked up the baby—car seat and all—and carried her from the foyer.
He wasn’t thrilled with the decisions being made around him. But he also knew that he didn’t have much of a choice.
He bypassed the kitchen and carried the baby into his study, where he carefully set the car seat on the floor.
He sank wearily onto the couch, staring down at the baby’s face. Her eyelids were closed, looking delicate and pink. Her lashes were soft feather fans of pale brown, much darker than the wisps of hair on her round little head.
He’d never been around babies. Never wanted to be, particularly after his wife got pregnant with someone else’s. Dana had then become his ex-wife. That had been nearly six years ago.
Layla hitched in an audible breath, which made him hold his. She sucked at her bow-shaped lips and her pink eyelids fluttered.
But she didn’t wake.
He exhaled slowly, and slid off the couch to sit on the floor next to the car seat.
“Linc?”
“In here.” He didn’t raise his voice. Maddie still must have heard, because a moment later she came into his study. She stopped when she saw him sitting on the floor.
The leather creaked as she slowly perched on the far cushion of the couch. “Are you all right?”
“They must pay you to ask.” He was certain she hadn’t asked out of friendly concern.
She didn’t answer immediately, but slid down to sit next to him on the floor, her back against the couch. The car seat was between them. “Considering I’m on vacation, technically, I’m not really getting paid for this at all.” She sounded carefully neutral.
He gave her a sideways look. “Vacation?”
“Another
