Their Accidental Baby by Hannah Bernard

Author:Hannah Bernard
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-10-14T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

“IMAGINE,” Laura muttered, in the back of the taxi on the way home, thinking about little Jenna. “Imagine having parents who can’t look after you, and nobody else in the world. Without you, she’d have no one.”

“I don’t know Laura, that really stretches my power of imagination,” Justin growled. Laura started. She’d forgotten that Justin’s situation had been the same. “Poor kid,” Justin continued. “Not exactly stellar genes she’s starting out with.”

Laura grabbed his hand, not sure if she meant to comfort or reprimand. “Don’t talk like that, Justin.”

“Why not? I share her genes. We’re two peas in a pod, and we both share whatever it was that made our father the jerk that he is.” He was staring out the window, jaw clenched. “Not a great starting ground for a kid.”

“You make your own fate,” Laura objected. “Scientists may be finding links to just about everything in our genes, but I strongly believe in free will.” She tightened her grip on his wrist, and shook him. “You’re nothing like your father, Justin. Nothing at all! And neither is Jenna.”

A small smile broke through the dark cloud of Justin’s face. “She’s not even four months old, Laura. You can already tell?”

“Yes.” She heard her voice soften just at the mention of the little girl. “She’s an angel. And she’s a lot like you.”

Justin’s smile was bittersweet as he glanced at her at last. “Thank you. I can only take that as a compliment. Tell me, what did you two talk about while I was dismissed?”

“You. She wanted to know what kind of a man you were, and how you took care of Jenna, how you felt about her, if you got impatient when she cried, that sort of thing.”

“Funny that she wants to research me, but intended to dump her on her father without even a word.”

“I know. She seems to have been fixated on his biological fatherhood, as if that would ensure he’d take care of her. She does love Jenna deeply. She’s sacrificing a lot for her.”

“Jenna deserves sacrifices.”

Laura smiled at him. “She’s getting plenty of them.” She glanced at her watch. “Look, my mother isn’t expecting us back for another hour. Why don’t we stop somewhere for lunch and plan the next step?”

“I’d really like to get home to see Jenna as soon as possible.”

“Okay.” She could understand that he was eager to see his sister again, to hold her and realize that they were family. “You know, it would help your case if we made sure you had your father’s consent to adopt Jenna,” she pointed out. “His name is on her birth certificate. Do you think he’ll agree?”

Justin shook his head. “I have no idea. I haven’t met him since I was five years old.”

Jenna was sleeping in Laura’s bed when they got back. Justin vanished immediately inside the bedroom. Laura sat down with her mother in the kitchen for a cup of coffee, sensing that he needed to be alone with his sister.

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