At All Costs by Heather Woodhaven

Author:Heather Woodhaven
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

TEN

Rachel rolled over on the twin bed and stared at the two cribs on the opposite wall. Cynthia had insisted she take a rest while they wait for Derrick. “I’m sure he’s just swamped sorting things out,” she’d said, but her eyes had lacked luster, worry lines creasing her forehead.

Judging by how tense James had seemed, she didn’t think he was entirely sold on the idea, either. Yet, it was probably the best scenario for the boys. Why’d it have to be a nursery? She’d never once questioned her decision to avoid motherhood at all costs until now.

Her heavy eyes closed as she tried to take deep breaths, but the only picture in her mind was a car sitting outside. She flinched and looked at the blue LED clock on the bottom shelf of the diaper station. She’d apparently fallen asleep for forty-five minutes out of pure exhaustion, but dreams of trying to keep men from Caleb and Ethan woke her up, covered in a cold sweat.

Everything hurt. Rachel took deep breaths. God sets the lonely in families. She longed to have her phone to look up the passage in the Bible. James said it was in Psalms somewhere.

Cynthia seemed like she would make a good mother. She’d told James her parents and Derrick’s parents would alternate staying at their house for a few weeks once their twins were born. She probably had examples of nurturing, good parents in abundance.

It was true God had given her Meredith when she’d needed it most. One of her coworkers always talked about friends like they were family. Maybe that’s what she needed, to open herself up more to friends and to learn about what it was to be a family that way.

The blinds tempted her. A peek would ease her mind whether the man in the mysterious vehicle still sat outside the house. She restrained herself. If he was out there and saw movement, he might get curious. And what if the black sedan had joined them? At least they had taken their guns away. Though, with men like that, guns might be a dime a dozen.

She rolled over. The night-light shone on the ceiling’s grooves. James had looked so strong and handsome in the moonlight. Thoughts like those would not help her get back to sleep. She’d never realized how tethered she was to her smartphone until now without a game to play or a book to read.

Rachel sat up, fully awake. Her hair, slightly damp from a late-night shower, fell onto her shoulders. She stood and tugged her T-shirt down to cover the back of her sweatpants. She twisted the doorknob softly and tested the wooden floor for creaks. The last thing she wanted was to wake anyone after such a physically and emotionally exhausting day.

She tiptoed to the kitchen where she found the oven hood light still on. A Sudoku book had been on the coffee table so if she found a pen, she’d be set. On the countertop, next to the refrigerator, a stack of bills was in a cute, wicker basket along with.

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