He could walk and he enjoyed the playroom, where he could play with the toys at his leisure. Tuck often sat and watched him. Occasionally he’d roll a ball to him and Brady would roll it back. Slowly Tuck was gaining his trust.
Beau called and said he’d filed the papers. Now they waited for a hearing date. Opal told him that they had another applicant file for custody. She didn’t offer a name and he didn’t press her. He would have to take his chances in court.
Beau called at the end of the week and wanted to meet. Tuck didn’t understand why they couldn’t talk on the phone, but he agreed to meet him at a local restaurant. Sliding into the booth, he noticed Beau’s worried expression.
“What’s wrong?”
“I wanted to tell you in person. A couple has filed a petition for temporary custody pending adoption of Brady.”
A waitress arrived and they ordered coffee.
“Opal mentioned that, but she didn’t give a name.”
“Lisa and Keith Templeton,” Beau said.
The waitress brought coffee. “Thank you,” Tuck said to the waitress as she left.
“With a couple in the picture, it makes our case that much harder to win. They both have spotless backgrounds, good jobs and are respected members of the community. They don’t have other children and the woman plans to quit her job to stay at home with Brady.”
Tuck’s stomach clenched. “It sounds too good to be true.”
Beau took a sip of his coffee. “Mmm. The Templeton’s want Brady badly and they’ve hired a very good attorney to make that happen.”
“Who is it?” Tuck asked.
“Have you talked to Eli or Caroline lately?”
“No. I’ve been spending all my free time at the hospital and with the boys I mentor. Why? Do they know this attorney?”
Beau shifted nervously. “Yes. The Templeton’s attorney is Grace Whitten.”
CHAPTER FOUR
“NINA!”
Grace’s door flew open and Nina rushed in. “What? Did you see another spider?”
Grace sighed heavily. “No.” A grown woman and she was still frightened of spiders. But that was so far at the back of her mind that it didn’t even register. She held up the document in her hand. “When did this arrive?”
“Uh…about an hour ago when you were in a meeting with Mr. Coffey.” Nina frowned. “Is something wrong?”
“No.” Grace sank into her chair. “Thank you. I’m sorry I yelled.”
“Sure.” Nina hesitated for a moment then walked out.
Grace stared down at the document. Everything was wrong. Jeremiah Tucker had filed for temporary custody pending adoption of a minor child, Brady Harper. How could this be?
She grabbed the phone and called Caroline. She answered immediately.
“Caroline, did you know that Jeremiah filed for custody of a little boy named Brady Harper?”
“Well, hello, Grace.”
“I’m sorry. I’m a bit stressed at the moment.”
“You’re always stressed,” her sister replied rather bluntly. “But you should see Jesse. He’d destress you quickly. He’s chewing on the phone cord and he’s absolutely the cutest baby in the whole world. Oh, now he’s looking at me with those big blue eyes, just like Eli’s.”
“Caroline, please. I need to talk about this.”
“Okay. Okay. Give me a minute to put Jesse in his Pack ’n Play.”
Grace drummed her fingers on her spotless silver-and-glass desk. The phone was to her right with a pad and pen beside it, Jeremiah’s petition lay in front of her and to her left sat a crystal Whitten paperweight her father had given her when she’d graduated at the top of her class. Suddenly it all seemed so sterile, so unemotional. Was that how people saw her?
“Now, what’s bothering you?” Caroline’s voice brought her back to her present situation.
“Did you know about Jeremiah adopting this child?”
“Yes. Eli told me.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wasn’t aware you were interested in Tuck’s life.”
Grace took a breath. “Caroline, this is important.”
“Yes. I can hear, but I don’t know what you’re so upset about. Everyone who knows Tuck is aware of his plans. He’s a member of Big Brothers and he’s always been involved with helping kids. That’s Tuck. He’s very dedicated to the plight of abandoned and neglected children. It’s important to him.”
“I know, but why this little boy?”
“Tuck was one of the officers who found him in a trailer living like an animal. His mother and father are both dead and no one in the family wants him. Tuck has formed a connection to the boy, probably because of the circumstances of his own birth.”
She squeezed her eyes shut. “Do you think he’ll make a good father?”
“Of course, but I’m not sure how he plans to work things out. He has a full-time job and according to Eli this little boy is going to need a lot of attention. But Tuck is very organized and, as I said, dedicated. He’ll make it work.” Caroline paused. “Why are you asking all these questions?”
“Remember Lisa Gates from college?”
“Yes. You and she were good friends. I remember a lot of shopping marathons. She married Keith something.”
“Templeton. They have been trying to have a child for a long time and it hasn’t happened so they’ve decided to adopt. But it takes a long time.”
“Where’s this going?” Caroline asked.
“I’ve agreed to represent them in gaining custody of a little boy.”
“So?”
“The little boy is Brady Harper.”
“Ooooh.”
“I just found out. I wasn’t even aware that Jeremiah knew this boy.” She had a strong urge to ask her older sister what to do, as she had so many times in her life. But she’d outgrown that. She’d handle this in her own way.
“Grace…” Jesse’s wailing drowned out Caroline’s words. “I’ve got to go. I think Jesse is running a little fever with the teething. Come here, sweetie.” A louder wail ensued.
“Take care of Jesse.”
