Almost a Family by Roxanne Rustand

Author:Roxanne Rustand [Rustand, Roxanne]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2005-02-15T05:00:00+00:00

ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON, Connor paced the length of the house once. Twice. Three times, his frustration building with each stride.

There was no point in coming back here to relax after a long day. Every waking minute he heard the echoes of Drew and Tyler’s voices when they’d played outside in the snow. Of Lily’s voice, nearly breathless with anticipation, when she’d invited him downstairs for the pancakes she’d helped prepare.

They were all good kids. Friendlier, after he’d started taking the time to stop in at their place now and then. He missed the laughter and the boisterous horseplay…and he missed Lily’s fragile, childish beauty, and her soft, sweet voice.

He’d missed too much, dammit—eight years of his daughter’s life, thanks to Stephanie’s secrecy. Eight years that he could never take back.

And now…what should he do now?

The letter from his lawyer lay open on the counter. He’d been denied his rights—no kidding—and had valid grounds for contesting the adoption. Numerous cases before this had set a strong precedent for winning full custody, if he chose.

But what was best? His selfish need to never miss another day of Lily’s life? The prospect of a home with no siblings, without a mother who would know how to tie ribbons in her hair and give her home-cooked meals?

Or was there some value in growing up with her father—her own flesh and blood—who would simply love her more than anyone else possibly could?

In the past twelve days, he’d agonized over what was best for her. Longed to stop at Erin’s place where he could just sweep Lily up into his arms and tell her who he was—and how he’d instantly, irrevocably fallen in love with her.

But always, his more practical side warned him what that could do to her. She’d had uncounted changes in her young life. Long hospitalizations, foster homes. There’d been no one person in her life who’d loved and cared for her every day—until Erin adopted her.

Surely the child had bonded so thoroughly with Erin that to wrench her away would be an unpardonable sin. Yet there could be shared custody…visitation rights….

The unfairness of it all burned at his soul. Stephanie surely should have known that he would have welcomed their baby in an instant. Yet she’d stolen that opportunity from him, and had left their child in the uncertain and changeable world of foster care, where the home Lily had one day might not be available six months later. What kind of mother would do that?

And Erin Lang had kept her secret.

As Connor paced the room several more times, Maisie lifted her head from her paws and watched with mild interest, flapping her silky tail against the floor whenever he drew near.

Uttering a soft curse, he wheeled around, grabbed his keys and whistled to her. “Come on, girl…want to go visit that pup? It’s time we went for a little ride—and it may be the last time we’re welcome.”

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