Tail of Two Hearts by Charlotte Carter

Author:Charlotte Carter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Vivian arrived home to find her father’s pickup parked in front of her house, the lights on inside and her dad carrying a dark walnut crib up the porch steps. He’d made the crib when Lisa, his eldest child, was born. Every child since, including Vivian, had slept in that crib...and had left teeth marks to prove it.

Her mother stepped out onto the porch, and Vivian hurried through the steadily falling rain to greet her.

“I’m so glad you’re home,” Mindy Duncan said. “Marcia Toliver is bringing over her grandson’s car seat. He doesn’t need it anymore. Beth Ann has a high chair, though I don’t suppose Theo will need that right away. Deborah is bringing clothes and a playpen. Everyone is so excited for you.”

She opened her arms and Vivian stepped into them for a hug. “Sounds to me like you’ve been on the phone quite a bit since we talked.”

“Oh, you know how it is. Good news spreads fast.” Her mother’s infectious laugh spurred Vivian’s similar response. Their joyous duet rose to the heavens, filled with praise and gratitude.

“Mom,” Vivian said, stepping out of her mother’s embrace. “We have to be careful not to get carried away. At this point I’m only a foster parent. I may not get to keep Theo.”

“I know, dear. I’m just going to relish the moment and leave the rest up to God.”

Vivian knew she had to do that, too. Have faith that she was on the path the Lord wanted her to travel. But it was hard when she wanted to be a mother so much she could feel her heart reaching out to tiny Theo with all the love she could muster.

They walked inside together. Vivian’s sister Sophie, a reddish-blond eighteen-year-old, sat cross-legged on the floor playing with a toy that mooed or barked or gobbled when she pressed on a particular button.

“I used to love playing with this.” She pushed on the button next to the cow.

“You can’t remember back that far,” Vivian said.

“Sure I can.” Sophie pressed another button, this time for a pig. Oink oink.

“You were only two years old when you played with that.”

Sophie tossed her long hair over her shoulder. “It’s just like having perfect pitch. I have a perfect memory.”

Laughing, feeling overwhelmed and a little frightened by the reality of it all, she gave her sister an affectionate flick of a finger on her head. “My perfect sister.”

Ducking her head out of the way of any further attacks, Sophie cried, “Ouch. Stop that.”

Dad came out of the second bedroom. “You want the crib set up in here?”

“I guess so. But won’t Roger keep the baby awake?” Vivian asked. Why hadn’t she thought about that when she had bought Roger? She’d been thinking about adopting then. She shouldn’t have—

“Gene, why don’t you move the desk and Roger’s cage out here?” Vivian’s mother suggested. “There’s room in the dining area. Then we can get her a low dresser to keep the baby things in and use for a changing table.

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