Their Special-Care Baby by Fiona McArthur

Author:Fiona McArthur [McArthur, Fiona]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2007-09-29T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

SOPHIE settled into the Kramer household next door to Amanda’s room as if she belonged there, which, thanks to Stewart assuming guardianship of Sophie, she did. Nobody could imagine life without Sophie.

Even the first night, when Stewart and Amanda stood together and each kissed her brow and tucked her in, the little girl settled easily. She didn’t cry in the night and the following nights were no different.

In that first week, when Sophie woke up in the morning, she brought sunshine into all their lives and Leanore especially found joy in her baby ways.

Somehow the time slid into Amanda’s second week of residence with a certain poignancy because she knew her time was limited there. For the moment they all had their routines.

On the following Tuesday morning, Leanore and Winny sat and watched while Amanda bathed and dressed Sophie.

Sophie had taken her first steps since arriving and each day she improved her balance, much to the delight of her grandmother. Sophie didn’t mind that her name changed with her grandmother’s memory each day.

‘See how she walks.’ Leanore could barely contain her glee and Winny had tears on her cheeks from laughing.

Sophie felt her way across the room on tottery feet and the toddler’s cherubic smiles made the women watching shake with laughter.

Stewart heard the commotion and, absently knotting his tie, he too came to watch Sophie’s antics before he left for work. ‘You sound like a bunch of hens cackling in here. It’s a shame the only rooster has to go to work.’

Amanda glanced up as he stood in the doorway and Sophie bared her sharp little teeth in delight at her new uncle and clapped her hands.

For Stewart, the sun streamed in the window and backlit the gentle smile on Amanda’s face as she held his niece’s hand. This was how a family should be. This was how he wanted his family to be. A wave of desire hit him firmly in the stomach, snatching away the words he’d been about to say.

He saw Amanda tilt her head questioningly but for the life of him he couldn’t get past the moment and produce even a banal comment.

‘She’s lovely, isn’t she?’ Amanda looked away from him, stroked the downy soft cheek and hugged Sophie to her. ‘Desiree seemed tense but she mentioned a nanny who usually cared for Sophie,’ Amanda said. ‘Whoever she was, she must have been wonderful because I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a settled child.’

His chest ached from lack of air and with sudden clarity he remembered to refill his lungs. He drew a sharp breath and the warm air rushed into his lungs. This was ridiculous. ‘I’ll try to track her down if I can.’ He knew Amanda would go soon. He hadn’t wanted to think about it but he knew her need for independence was never far from her thoughts. Her comment proved it.

Enough. The woman had him spinning like a top and in a place he didn’t have the head space to be.

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