Michelle studied the contents of the diaper bag. “As far as I can tell, there appear to be enough diapers, clothing and formula to last a couple of days.” She wondered if Thad would even have the baby that long. She knew better than anyone that the situation could change in an instant, that Brice and Beatrix or Candace or even Russell could show up to claim the baby. Which again was why she needed not to become too attached or overly involved in this situation.
Oblivious to her concerns, Thad continued, “If you need anything else, let me know. I’ll pick it up on the way back.”
This was suddenly getting way too cozy for comfort.
Reminded of the last time she’d had her heart broken, Michelle picked up William and held him. “Aren’t you supposed to be at work?” Michelle asked impatiently, beginning to see why women fell so hard for the notoriously sexy doctor.
“In two minutes.” Thad paused. “I just wanted to check with you before I actually went into the hospital and let you know how to page me in case anything else comes up.” Thad gave her the number. “Call me if you need me. Otherwise, I’ll check in with you later,” he promised before he hung up.
With a sigh, Michelle turned back to the fragile bundle in her arms. “Looks like it’s just you and me, little guy,” she said. She smiled, realizing he was already fast asleep. “At least until your uncle Thad returns.”
Chapter Two
Thad expected to have half-a-dozen calls from Michelle Anderson during the day.
There were no phone calls.
And the two times he did call her, just to check in, she had sounded a little exasperated.
He guessed he couldn’t blame her.
She probably thought he didn’t trust her to take care of William in his absence. Nothing could have been further from the truth. Like animals, children knew instinctively whom they could trust and draw comfort from. William had recognized Michelle for the maternal soul she was from the moment she picked him up and cradled him gently in her arms.
Still, the moment his shift was up, Thad headed out the door and drove the short distance home. He parked in his driveway, then headed across the street.
As he approached the front porch of her Arts and Crafts-style home, he noticed the windows were open. Mounting the front steps, he heard Michelle singing softly. He glanced through the window. She was sitting in an old-fashioned rocking chair he hadn’t seen earlier, William in her arms.
Thad couldn’t tell if the baby was awake or asleep—he couldn’t see William’s face—but the moment was so tender and loving it stopped him in his tracks. This, he thought, was what parenthood should be about. This was the kind of life he and his brother should have had as kids, even after their mother died.
But they hadn’t. And there was no going back. Only forward. To the family he wanted to create.
All he needed was a woman to love.
He rapped on the screen.
The lovely vocal rendition of “Brahms’ Lullaby” stopped. Michelle rose slowly and walked over to open the door and let him in. She had changed into vintage jeans and a pale blue knit shirt that clung to her curves. Her apparently just-shampooed hair had dried in a tangle of soft, strawberry-blond curls. He had never seen her wear it that way, but he liked it as much as the sleek, straight style she usually wore.
“William looks…happy,” Thad noted. And so did she.
A pretty pink blush lit Michelle’s cheeks. “He’s very happy,” she said, meeting Thad’s eyes, “as long as he’s being held.” She frowned in concern. “Every time I get him to sleep and put him down, he wakes up after about ten minutes and completely freaks out.”
“Probably remembering…”
“Waking up alone on your front porch?” Michelle asked. “That’s what I was thinking.”
Thad shook his head. His brother was very much like their father had been while he was alive. Neither held much regard for familial responsibility or blood ties. Their lives were all about the latest career challenge.
Thad shoved his hands through his hair in frustration. “Damn Russell,” he muttered.
Michelle exhaled softly. “Haven’t heard from him, I take it?”
“No. And I’ve left several messages.” Thad felt the vibration of his phone. He took it off his belt clip, looked at the caller ID. Speak of the devil. “Finally!” Scowling, Thad put the phone to his ear. “Where are you?” he barked.
“I’m on assignment in Thailand. What’s the emergency?” Russell demanded, sounding equally irritated.
“A baby was left on my porch this morning.” Briefly, Thad explained.
Russell swore like a sailor who’d just found out his shore leave was canceled. But typically, he offered no explanation or apology.
Thad pressed on. “Did you know you were having a baby with Candace when you left the country?”
“I assumed she was pregnant,” Russell retorted, surprisingly matter-of-fact. “I didn’t know for sure.”
And obviously hadn’t bothered to find out, Thad thought irritably. “Why didn’t you mention it to me?” he demanded.
“Because her pregnancy wasn’t relevant to my life,” Russell grumbled.
Figuring he was going to need legal advice sooner rather than later, Thad activated the speaker on his phone and motioned Michelle closer, so she could listen in on the conversation.
“What do you mean Candace’s pregnancy wasn’t relevant to your life?” Thad asked.
Russell exhaled. “It was a surrogate arrangement. I donated sperm for a couple of friends.”
Okay. That made slightly more sense. Thad withdrew the pen and notepad he habitually carried in his shirt pocket. He wrote “Help me out here” on a slip of paper and handed it to Michelle.
She edged closer, concern on her face. “According to the note left with baby William, Brice and Beatrix changed their minds about becoming parents,” Thad told his brother.
“You’ll have to ask Candace Wright about that,” Russell insisted.
Thad jotted down the last name of William’s birth mother. “Do you have a phone number?”
Another disgruntled sigh. “She lives in Big Spring. That’s all I know.”
“What about Brice and Beatrix, the adoptive couple?”
“The Johnsons live in San Angelo. Listen, I can’t do anything from here—you’re going to have to straighten it all out.”
“How?” Thad shot back, aggrieved his brother could be so cold. “I don’t have paternity.”
“Neither
