The Baby Claim by Catherine Mann

Author:Catherine Mann [Mann, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-11-17T16:51:53+00:00

Ten

The next morning, Glenna woke to streaks of sunlight coming in through the windows. The days were lengthening, but Alaska nights were still long, even in the spring. She stretched and wriggled her toes to work away the remnants of sleep.

And then the night came flooding back.

How she and Broderick had decided to stay in the room with Fleur. How they’d fallen asleep while waiting to make sure she was really okay. They’d had the small parenting victory of figuring it out together.

She found herself drawn to the word together.

Sleep had come so quickly in that domestic scene. She opened her eyes fast and found—

The bed was empty. The pillow held the indention of his head and the Egyptian cotton sheets were tangled. The fat comforter dragged off his side of the bed. She touched the space and found the fine thread count sheets to be cool. He’d been up for a while.

Her gaze skirted over to the portable crib. It was empty, as well, the whale-and-fish mobile swaying lightly. The house was silent, with not even a bark from Kota.

Curiosity, along with a hint of panic, wafted through her.

She swung her legs off the bed, the furry rug warm on her bare feet. She tiptoed along the floor until she found her fleece-lined slippers and shoved her chilly feet inside. Threading her fingers through her tangled mass of hair, she padded to the bedroom door...

And oh my, the sight took her breath away.

Broderick stood by the soaring window overlooking the water, Fleur in the crook of his arm as he fed her the last of a bottle. Kota snoozed on the sofa with an unrepentant air. The whole tableau had such a natural look, the epitome of so many dreams she’d had for her life back when she was married to Gage.

Except right now, she was having trouble remembering her dead husband’s face. All she saw was Broderick’s tender expression as he talked to the swaddled infant.

“Shh, little one. Let’s not wake up Glenna. She’s been taking such very good care of you. She needs her rest.” He set aside the bottle and eased the baby to his shoulder, and a rag draped over his shirt. He patted her back a little awkwardly still, but was becoming better and better with practice. A tiny foot in a pink bootie slipped free from the blanket and Broderick ensured the little leg was well covered.

His attempt touched Glenna deeply. She leaned against the door frame, tilted her head to the side as Broderick continued, “You know, one day I’ll help you with homework. We’ll discuss y=mx+b and other mathematical equations that will blow away the rest of the class. And I’m sure you will be the smartest kid in the room. Hey, probably even the whole school—”

Then he stopped short, as if feeling Glenna’s gaze. He turned on his bare heels, a sheepish grin on his face. “She seems to like math.”

Glenna laughed softly and padded closer, her heart warmer than her toes curling inside the fleece slippers.

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