Heartbeats, p.20
Heartbeats, page 20
She looked over at Grayson, her finger nails biting into the flesh of her palm. “What was that?”
“The wind shifted,” he reported, his face stone still. Seeing the worry on her face, he quickly added, “We’re okay. Just a little crosswind, that’s all.” As if to reassure her, he took his hand from the dials and squeezed her hand. “Don’t worry. We’re safe.”
A breath of relief escaped her lungs. Of course they were safe. She was silly to worry otherwise. Grayson was piloting the situation. He wouldn’t let anything bad happen.
Within minutes, the tires touched down on the runway, coming in straight and steady despite the momentary scare. When the plane came to a stop, Grayson shut down the engine. After climbing out, he handed off the keys to an attendant with instructions to gas up, then he moved to help Karyn out of the plane. “You okay?”
She folded her hands in his. “I’m fine, as long as I’m with you.”
She followed him inside the terminal. “I’ll meet you at the ticket counter,” he told her before heading off in the direction of the men’s room.
Karyn nodded and made her way through the modest terminal. She glanced sidelong out the glass panels of the automatic entrance trying to remember where she’d parked her car—her hands fishing her phone from her purse. She needed to make a quick call to Leigh Ann to report in.
Her sister picked up on the first ring. “He’s here—safe and sound.”
Karyn listened to the details and let out a breath. “That’s good news. What about Joie?”
“Clint and Nicole are up there. They’ve no doubt found her by now. I expect to see them riding in any minute.”
Karyn nodded. “Good, well—let me know. Grayson is having the plane gassed and we’ll head back up if you don’t hear from her in the meantime.”
A man walked past, dragging a duffel on wheels. They exchanged courteous smiles.
“And, Leigh Ann?”
“Yeah?”
“Give Daddy a kiss and tell him I love him.”
Leigh Ann promised she would, and they hung up.
Karyn looked around the small terminal. She’d stopped short of telling Leigh Ann about the conversation she’d had with Grayson. That kind of news deserved to be delivered in person. They would celebrate, of course. The three of them—Leigh Ann and Joie would both be delighted for her.
Grayson exited the men’s restroom and stopped at a vending machine where he shoved a bill through a slot and pressed a button. A pack of gum dropped and he bent to retrieve it.
“They found Dad and he’s home, safe and sound. Clint and Nicole are still looking for Joie.”
“So, you want to head back up?”
Karyn quickly pondered the options before committing to the choice that made the most sense. “Yes, but let’s wait a half hour. Leigh Ann seemed convinced they would all show up at the ranch anytime now.”
“Sure, okay—but if you change your mind, just let me know.” He leaned and kissed the top of her head, then tilted her face to his and grazed her lips. “Maybe we should catch a quick bite of breakfast—or, whatever.” His smile turned into a grin. “Celebrate our decision alone—at my house.”
“Maybe after we drive out to the ranch?”
He nodded. “Of course. But later—definitely later.” He grinned and coiled his arm around her shoulder. Together, they headed through the terminal, past the chandelier made of elk horns and toward the parking lot.
This time it was her turn to smile. An unfamiliar giddiness enveloped her. How could one woman possibly grow to be this fortunate?
“Grayson?”
They both turned to face a woman heading toward them, a young toddler in her arms.
The woman looked vaguely familiar. Her eyes were so blue they seemed almost scooped from the sea—her skin pale against a dramatic short pixie bob, dark in the back and graduating to a platinum blonde front. She wore white jeans, a turquoise silk shirt, and open-toed short booties, with turquoise jewelry adorning her neck and wrists. Very chic, and intense style.
The little boy in her arms studied them, his thumb stuck securely in his mouth.
Grayson’s arm dropped from around her shoulder.
Karyn glanced his way to find his expression had turned to stone—the first sign her life was about to go seriously off track a second time.
31
Despite her exhaustion, Joie gazed down at the face of her newborn infant with pure infatuation. How could something so perfect come from someone so flawed? Did God even know what he was doing when he chose her to be little Hudson’s mommy?
The minute Nicole placed that tiny boy in her waiting arms, her entire world tilted. It was as if someone waved a magic wand in the air, and Cinderella traded in her torn and tattered wardrobe for an elegant ball dress.
She was a mother.
Joie leaned back into the padded stretcher, more content than she’d been in some time. Nothing—not even practicing law—felt like this.
The EMT held an intercom mic to his mouth as they pulled up to the hospital, “We’re bringing in our out-of-hospital birth, near-term, baby weighing in at six pounds two ounces. Apgar score is nine. Mom’s BP is one-thirty over eighty. Baby and Mom both seem to be doing fine.”
The intercom crackled. “ETA?”
“We’re arriving now,” the EMT reported. The ambulance lurched to a stop and the doors flung open.
“Okay, young lady. Let’s get you inside,” a nurse said as they pulled the gurney from the vehicle.
Leigh Ann rushed forward, immediately appeared at her side, her face still flushed from the argument she’d gotten into with the EMTs when they refused to allow her to ride in the ambulance with them, even after she threatened to unleash demons they did not want to meet.
Her sister gazed at the little bundle in her arms with reverence. “Oh, Joie!” She looked down at the infant in her arms. “Oh, goodness. He’s amazing.”
She looked up at her oldest sister. “He is, isn’t he?”
“Joie? Joie, we heard and couldn’t get here fast enough.” Miss Trudy lifted to her tippy-toes and waved from a nearby sidewalk.
“Congratulations, sweet thing!” Ruby added. “We were so worried when we heard the story. Thank goodness you’re all right.”
“Colby’s wife delivered little Hudson,” Leigh Ann volunteered proudly. “Right up there on the side of the mountain.” She walked alongside the gurney. “Just like a pro.”
The hospital doors slid open and they entered. Her dad, Colby and Sebastian all came racing over to meet her.
“Ah, honey—let’s see our little man.” Her dad lifted the blanket back and tears immediately formed. “He’s a fine one. Look at that hair.”
Sebastian grinned from ear-to-ear. “Congratulations, Miss Joie. That was sure something, having that baby up there on the mountain.”
“It was a dangerous thing to do,” Leigh Ann scolded. “Taking off on a horse at such a late stage in your pregnancy.”
“But things turned out okay,” Colby reminded.
“Yes, thanks to Nicole. I take back all those comments I made about all those birthing books she constantly pored over—well, almost everything.” Leigh Ann glanced around. “Where is your wife, anyway?”
“She’s with Clint. They were going to stop and pick up a quick bite to go—said they’d meet us here.”
Joie swallowed emotion building in her throat. “I’m—well, very grateful—to them both.” She reluctantly tore her eyes from little Hudson. “Seriously, I hate to consider what might have happened had Clint and Nicole not shown up when they did.”
The nurse smiled at the small crowd. “Well, we’d best get this little lady and baby over to the unit so they can be checked.”
“Well, there she is.” Maddy Crane scurried toward them from the lobby, her arms loaded with a massive bouquet tethered with balloons. “Congratulations, sweet thing.”
Joie grinned. “Thanks, Maddy.”
Her partner neared the gurney wearing a lime green suit and matching heels. “Let me catch a peek at that darlin’ baby.” She leaned and pulled the blanket back. “Oh my goodness, isn’t he something?”
Karyn bolted through the hospital doors. “Joie?” She rushed to her side, peered down at the bundle in her arms. “Oh my goodness, look at him! Hello, little Hudson. I’m your Aunt Karyn.” She leaned and kissed Joie’s cheek. “He’s precious. I’m so happy for you.”
Joie squeezed her sister’s hand. “Thanks, Sis. I can’t believe I’m a mother.” She paused, looked into Karyn’s face. “Are you okay? Is something wrong?”
Her sister took a step back, stared back with a blank look. “It’s nothing, really. A little unexpected wind blew in is all.”
Karyn hung toward the back as she followed the entourage down the hall. To steady her shaky mind, she focused on the portraits of the hospital’s benefactors as she passed each framed wall hanging. Despite these efforts, images of that woman in the airport—Grayson’s former wife—continued to barge into her thoughts.
Admittedly, in the past, she’d wondered about Robin Chandler occasionally—especially after her relationship with Grayson turned more serious. She’d imagined what his ex-wife might look like, if she was short or tall, if she was as pretty in person as the photograph Grayson had once shown her.
Karyn had never envisioned her looking like she’d just stepped off a movie set. Robin was one of those women who didn’t have to try to look stunning, she simply was—even when she’d just climbed off a long flight from Alaska with a baby kid in tow.
And that little boy—
Karyn swallowed hard against the lump in her throat.
That was the rub—none of them had to say the words. One look and the situation had become apparent.
“Yes,” Robin confirmed before Grayson even had to ask. “He’s yours.”
Grayson had a son.
Karyn’s stomach knotted.
How could a woman have a baby and not alert the father? Even Joie knew withholding that kind of information was wrong. And, what did that mean—the fact that this little boy was Grayson’s son? What did Robin want, exactly?
“What do you mean, he’s mine?” Grayson rubbed at his jawline. “I—I don’t understand.”
Robin then landed another sucker punch. “I’m here because I made a horrible mistake. Grayson, I want you to be part of his life.” Her eyes teared up, betraying her stoic stance. “I’ve made a huge mistake keeping him from you. I need you to forgive me—” She tenderly swept a piece of damp hair off the little guy’s forehead. “For his sake.”
“What’s his—” Grayson’s voice was ragged with emotion. “His name—what’s his name?”
Robin quickly glanced at Karyn, then back. “His name is Michael.”
Grayson knotted his fist in front of his mouth, let out an emotion-filled cough. “My dad?”
Robin slowly nodded. “Yes—after your father.”
Karyn felt something like fear come into her, sit down in her stomach. She swallowed, tried to breathe.
Her mind could barely wrap itself around any of this. Nor could she erase the look in Grayson’s eyes as he gazed at that little boy.
Without any warning, this woman—this stranger—had delivered a sucker punch right to her gut.
She’d watched as Grayson reached and took the little boy from Robin’s arms, the way he placed a kiss at the top of his head. Obviously, while shocked, he was in love with the idea of this little boy—his son.
Karyn stared at the two of them, perversely needing to imprint the scene on her brain.
She knew now, that was when the moment shifted. A key moment. One that spun her around and pointed her in a new direction.
Grayson Chandler—her Grayson—was a father.
She’d never planned on being a stepmother. Still, if she wanted to be Grayson’s wife someday, and she did—she’d have to find a way past the fact she would not be the woman to make him a father, as heartbreaking as that was for her to grasp. One thing remained paramount—Grayson loved her. She loved him.
Karyn softened.
The most important thing now was to be supportive. Grayson hadn’t planned on his ex-wife showing up with a surprise announcement. No doubt, the news had rocked his world as well.
She drew a deep breath, knowing there was only one choice before her.
He’d need her, now more than ever.
32
Joie stared out the hospital window as darkness fell on what had been a mind-boggling and wonderful day.
Hudson’s birthday.
While unexpected, Hudson’s birth had gone well, considering she’d delivered on the side of a mountain. Even so, she’d no longer take any chances when it came to her baby boy. Which is why she’d so easily agreed to remain at St. Moritz overnight with him for observation. That, and she simply didn’t have the emotional strength to argue otherwise with Leigh Ann.
A parade of visitors had shown up—Crusty and the boys, Rory Sparks, the sheriff, and several of her former co-workers at the stables. Candy Newberry Tubbs had gifted them with a well-funded college fund for little Hudson. Nash Billingsley named a new menu item after her son—the Hudson sandwich, teasing that it featured “mountains” of beef on a sourdough roll.
The Dilworth sisters hung around most of the afternoon, paying close attention to every detail of the story so they could adequately pass on the drama of little Hudson’s birth.
“I’m so sorry I put everyone through all that worry,” Joie said, apologizing to all of them.
Ruby waved her off with one of her movie quips. “No worries, dear. Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”
One-by-one, they each finally said their goodbyes and headed out, leaving a nurse as her only company.
“Honey, it’s time for him to eat.” She came over to the bed. “Let’s raise this up and get you comfortable.”
Joie looked over at her newborn son. He was wrapped up tightly in a soft blanket with blue and yellow boats all over it and he had a tiny blue cap on his head. She couldn’t take her eyes off him.
The nurse lifted her baby boy out of the bassinette cart and gently laid him on her lap. “There you go. There’s your mommy.”
The nurse’s words danced in her ears. She was a mommy.
Little Hudson’s eyes peeked open, his tiny lips parted and he opened his little mouth and yawned big. A contented sigh escaped Joie’s lungs.
The nurse puffed up the pillow behind her back and instructed her how to push the buzzer if she needed anything. Finished, she turned and headed for the hallway, pausing to smile at them before closing the door.
For the very first time—it was just the two of them.
Joie gazed down at his face. She gently removed the cap, bent down and kissed the top of his downy head. He smelled good—sweet, like baby powder. Her fingers slowly traced over each little eyebrow, then down his nose. She was looking at perfection wrapped in soft pink skin. His mouth opened and he began moving his head with his pink tongue extended like a little baby bird trying to catch a worm.
Joie smiled. So, this is what it felt like to be a mother.
She started to unwind the tight little blanket. “These nurses do a good job of this,” she told her little son. “You’re going to be in first grade before I get you unwrapped!”
She laid the blanket aside and lifted the little white t-shirt over his head. Then she unfastened the diaper and placed it next to the T-shirt and blanket.
There he lay—naked as the day he was born—because it was the day he was born! “Happy birthday, little one,” Joie whispered.
Joie examined every inch of this little miracle, lightly touched the crusty remnant of the umbilical cord that had tethered him to her. She caressed his legs, the dents of the dimples at his knees. She again counted ten tiny fingers and toes before leaning down and bringing his little foot to her lips.
Oh, look! There were still traces of ink in the creases between his toes from the footprints they had taken.
People had told her it would be like this, but no words could begin to capture this feeling—the fierce love she had for the little human she’d carried inside her body. Without any doubt, she’d die trying to protect him, if necessary.
She couldn’t help herself. She laughed out loud. Joy swept into the hole in her heart replacing years of feeling empty. It was nearly indescribable. She started to cry, giving her newborn son his first bath in her tears.
Suddenly, a yellow stream sprouted. She scrambled and quickly covered him with the diaper. “I guess I deserve that, after what I put us through,” she told him, laughing.
A noise pulled her attention to the doorway. She looked up to find Clint leaning against the door jam, watching. “Hey,” he said, his voice warm and steady.
Joie smiled. “How long have you been standing there?”
“Not long.” He moved to join her at the bed. In his hand was a vase filled with tiny yellow rose buds.
“Those for me?”
He nodded and placed them on the bedside table beside several other bouquets. “Looks like a florist shop in here.”
Joie grinned and pointed him to the guest chair. “Yeah, the little man and me have had a steady stream of visitors.”
“No doubt. I almost didn’t come. Thought you might want to be alone—”
She folded her hand over his. “I’m glad you’re here.”
He never said so, but she could tell he was pleased by her remark.
He leaned, placed his forearms on his knees. “You must be tired. That was something—up there on that mountain.”
“I guess I should be—tired, I mean. But, I’m not. I’m still on a high like nothing I’ve felt.” She cooed at little Hudson. He wrapped his tiny fingers around her own. “I can’t stop looking at him.”
After putting on a diaper, she snapped up the front of the onesie, then wrapped the matching blanket tightly and held the baby out in his direction. “Your turn. You want to hold him?”
