Jared said.
She opened her eyes. He held a tissue out to her. She wasn’t sure if his offer was out of compassion or pity. She didn’t want him to think she was weak. Kate stiffened. “I don’t need it.”
“Just in case.”
His half smile unfurled warmth inside her. And made her feel like an idiot. Jared was only trying to help her, not point out her weaknesses. She had to stop thinking of him as the enemy. Kate took the tissue. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
His dark eyes seemed to see right through her, to her secret thoughts and feelings.
Heat. Fire. Passion.
Kate forced herself to breathe.
Okay, some sort of volatile chemistry remained between them. She’d go so far as to admit her physical attraction to Jared had increased during their separation.
No big deal.
A marriage couldn’t survive on desire alone. She’d learned that lesson. She looked away.
“Are you finished?” Jared asked.
“No.”
“I’ve read mine three times.”
Did the letter mention her? Old inadequacies floated to the surface. Had Brady questioned her ability to care for Cassidy? Kate bit the inside of her cheek.
“What did the letter say?” she asked.
Jared smiled. “Typical Brady stuff that helps.”
“I’m glad.” She only hoped hers helped, too. Up until now, Susan’s letter hadn’t. “I need to finish mine.”
“Go ahead.”
Kate read how proud Susan was over Kate’s accomplishments, their friendship and their love for one another. As she continued, the paper shook and Kate realized her hands were trembling.
You and I know family doesn’t have to mean blood relation, and that’s what I’m counting on because I want Cassidy to experience what being part of a loving family is all about. Jared with the crazy, meddlesome Reeds can provide that for her. She can have what we didn’t have growing up. I need that for my child.
As tears streamed from Kate’s eyes, she struggled to read the rest. She didn’t like what Susan had written, but Kate understood and somehow that hurt more. Each word felt like a wound to her already aching heart. She fumbled for the tissue.
Jared handed her another one. She muttered thanks and wiped her eyes.
So much for challenging the will. She couldn’t. Not when she knew what Susan wanted for her daughter. Kate would want the same for her own child. Wasn’t that one reason she found Jared Reed with his large, supportive family so attractive when they’d first met? He’d had everything she hadn’t had growing up.
But knowing the reasons and understanding them didn’t make the circumstances any easier on her.
“Katie?” Jared placed his hand on her shoulder. The warmth of his touch nearly did her in, but she couldn’t—didn’t want to—pull away.
He and Cassidy were all Kate had left.
She dabbed her eyes with a tissue again. “I’m not finished.”
Forgive me if I’ve written something that has hurt you. I’m only doing what I feel is best for my daughter. I love you, Katie. I always have and I always will.
Take care of my baby and love her the way we wanted to be loved!
Hugs and love,
Susan
She didn’t want to let Susan down, but Kate didn’t think that kind of love, the kind you didn’t have to earn, was possible. Not any longer. But for her best friend, she would give it her all.
She traced Susan’s name—the only word handwritten on the many pages—with her fingertip. Tears dropped onto the paper, and Kate dried them off. She didn’t want the letter to be ruined. She wanted to keep it. For herself. For Cassidy.
Kate inhaled and exhaled slowly. Steady. Calm. In control. She squared her shoulders. With a steady gaze, she met Jared’s inquisitive eyes. “They want you to have Cassidy.”
“I know.”
“It’s…okay.” Or would be. Someday. Somehow.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.” No matter how much Kate would have liked to blame him for this, she couldn’t. If only she knew what to do next. “I want to see Cassidy.”
Jared nodded. “Let’s sign whatever papers Don has prepared then go to the hospital.”
The children’s wing of the hospital was painted with bluebirds, colorful flowers and rainbows, but the cheery decor did nothing to ease Jared’s growing anxiety. He’d been trying to come to terms with a divorce he didn’t want and now he was about to become a guardian. A father.
A dad.
He thought about Brady’s letter.
You’ve always wanted kids.
Jared had wanted to be a dad. After he and Kate first got married, she was enthusiastic about wanting kids, but they’d agreed to hold off for a couple of years to concentrate on their careers. Still he’d imagined having a family, the perfect family to go with his fantasy of the perfect marriage—two children, a fancy double stroller and a fully loaded minivan. But when Kate’s company exploded onto the PR scene, she resisted starting a family. And then the Seattle opportunity arose. He thought the promotion and transfer was a way to have the family he desired, not destroy his marriage.
Divorce.
Jared hated that word. Divorce meant failure. He hated failing or losing at anything. But there didn’t seem to be a damn thing he could do about it.
He was the first to admit they’d both made mistakes that contributed to the collapse of their marriage, but whereas Kate called the problems irreparable damage, Jared believed they could work through them. He missed Kate so much. If only she would get off the divorce kick and give their marriage a go…
Jared waited in the lobby for her. He would have preferred driving together, but she’d wanted a few minutes by herself. He didn’t like her being alone when she was tired and stressed, but he understood. Their lives had been changed completely. Whatever the future held, however, they were in this together.
“Sorry.” Kate’s steps echoed on the tile floor. “I couldn’t find a parking place.”
Her red eyes suggested she’d been crying again. He wished she would let him help her get through this. “I just got here.”
She adjusted
