there’s okay.”
Her nervousness reminded him of the first time he invited her home to meet his family. She’d brought flowers and a bottle of wine. Kate had been pleasant, personable, perfect. He’d later discovered she’d bought a new outfit and had her hair done that day. Her efforts had touched him and taken their dating to a new level. Jared took her hand in his. “Let’s find out how okay Cassidy is.”
As they followed the yellow bricks painted on the floor and stepped onto the elevator hand in hand, he felt as if nothing had changed between them and they were still together. Still in love. Those had been the days.
He’d been attracted to Kate since the moment he first saw her, and that attraction had only grown once he realized her brain matched her beauty. They’d been a perfect match. The perfect couple.
He missed their conversations, even their disagreements. He missed everything about her from the sound of her laughter to the birthmark on her left shoulder. He especially missed the lovemaking. Their problems had never reached the bedroom. Yet somehow the marriage had gone wrong. Bad. But that didn’t mean it was over. Maybe he could make something new, something good happen between them to show Kate they could still be together.
He stopped at the nurse’s station. “I’m Jared Reed and this is Kate Malone. We’re here to see Cassidy Lukas.”
“I’m Rachel.” The nurse smiled. “Don Phillips said you were on the way.”
“How is she?” Kate asked.
“Cassidy is recovering well. She’s in Room 402.” The nurse picked up a file. “I’ll make a note to have the doctor speak with you.”
“Thank you,” Kate said.
The small room had a chair in one corner, a sofa bed under a bank of windows and a strange looking crib against the far wall. The four-month-old baby girl slept oblivious to them or any of the machines connected to her. Cuts—some that had been stitched—and bruises—some purple, others yellow—covered her arms and face. A white bandage was wrapped around her head.
A wave of protectiveness washed over Jared. This baby was his and Kate’s responsibility.
“She’s so beautiful,” Kate whispered with a hint of awe in her voice.
Seeing the compassion in her eyes as she stared at the baby triggered something deep within him. This—Kate, him and a baby—had been his dream.
She sighed. “Cassidy looks so much like Susan.”
He saw the resemblance especially around the mouth and eyes. “But she’s got Brady’s chin. I hope that doesn’t mean she’s as stubborn as he was.”
Kate smiled wanly. “Let’s hope not.”
He glanced around the room. A stuffed bear and a basket of flowers sat on a cart. He read the cards. The bear was from Don Phillips and his wife. The flowers from Brady’s work.
Why wasn’t the room full of flowers, balloons and cards? Where were all the visitors? Jared didn’t get it. “Why is Cassidy all alone?”
“What do you mean?” Kate asked.
When his sister Heather gave birth to her third child, his family camped out in the waiting room. “There isn’t anyone here with Cassidy. How come?”
“We’re all she has.”
“But friends. Surely Brady and Susan had some friends—”
“Who have their own families and lives,” Kate explained. “Not everyone has a family like yours, Jared. A lot of people end up in the hospital alone. Even babies.”
His mind accepted the truth of her words, but his heart and his upbringing rejected it. “That’s not right.”
“She won’t have to be alone again. We can take shifts.”
Shifts meant they wouldn’t be together. He’d been apart from Kate for so long, too long, and wanted to make the most of this time. He needed to show her they could save their marriage.
“Is something wrong?” she asked.
The sight of the baby hooked up to beeping machines gave Jared second thoughts. His needs came a poor second to hers. “You want to take the first shift? I need to meet with Don.”
Kate hung her jacket on the back of the chair, tidy as always. “That will be fine.”
But it wasn’t fine with Jared. He felt funny leaving them alone. His gaze returned to Cassidy.
“The baby will be fine, too.” Kate’s voice sounded a little strained.
He wasn’t worried only about the baby. Kate looked so tired. Jared wondered if she’d eaten lunch. He would be gone for at least a couple of hours. What if she or Cassidy needed something?
“Go.” Kate motioned to the door. “The sooner you’re named personal representative, the sooner we get guardianship.”
“If you need anything—”
“I’ll call.”
Would she? Kate, ever capable, never had called in the past. But he wouldn’t stop hoping. “Please do.”
He wondered if she heard him or if it mattered to her because she didn’t look up as he walked to the door.
“Jared.”
He turned.
“It’s been a full day and—” she moistened her lips “—please be careful.”
The concern in her voice brought a smile to his lips. Maybe she wasn’t so indifferent to him after all. Maybe he stood a chance. “I’ll be back, Kate. Just as soon as I can.”
CHAPTER THREE
AN HOUR later, Kate struggled to keep her heavy eyelids open. A sleepless night and overloaded emotions had taken their toll on both her body and her brain, but she wasn’t about to give into the exhaustion plaguing her. Not here in Cassidy’s hospital room. What if the baby woke up, and Kate didn’t hear her?
Sure, nurses came in and out with regularity, but she didn’t want to let Susan down. Or, Kate realized, Jared.
All she needed was a second wind. Stretching her arms over her head, she wiggled her fingers. Caffeine would help, but she didn’t want to leave Cassidy alone in case she woke up.
The minutes ticked by. Kate felt her head fall forward. Dazed and disoriented, she straightened. The smell screamed hospital and Kate knew where she was, but she still took in the cream-colored walls, the overhead lighting, a bed couch and a crib surrounded by noisy machines.
Cassidy.
The baby lay sound asleep. So small. So fragile.
And Kate’s responsibility.
She sat with her back straight and the balls of
