Bea stepped between Devin’s legs and laid a hand on his shoulder. “I honestly don’t think your conversation with Wendell put him in the hospital. He’s been sick off and on for a while.”

  “Well, I hope he pulls through.”

  “I do, too. Everyone in the family has been urged to go and see him.” She took a step back. “I’d like to drop by and visit him before I go to work. The hospital is across town from here. I should probably leave now.”

  “You should. That way you won’t have to rush to get to the café on time.” Devin stood. “I’ll make you something to go for breakfast. What are you in the mood for? A smoothie? Some oatmeal?”

  “A smoothie would be nice, but you don’t have to make me anything.”

  “Yes, I do.” He kissed her forehead and rested his hand on her stomach.

  A sense of feeling wholly protected by Devin came over her. It would be so easy to get used to him taking care of her, but maybe she shouldn’t. Yes, they were getting along, but there was still so much for them to figure out.

  Still, she lingered until he let her go.

  On the way to the bedroom, Bea paused. “The Wells family—have you found anything about them?”

  “Just a bunch of dead ends.” Resignation was in Devin’s raised brow expression. “They don’t want to be found. And maybe that’s the way it should be.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Bea stood by Wendell’s bedside in a private room at County General Hospital. As he slept, his breathing was steady, but he looked so frail, and his face had an unhealthy pallor.

  She gently took his hand. “Hi, Wendell. It’s Bea. I’m just going to sit here and visit with you for a bit.”

  The dark-haired nurse checking his IV glanced over at her. “He’s doing well. He’s on pain medication, so don’t be alarmed if he doesn’t wake up while you’re here or if he wakes up in a daze.”

  “Thank you for letting me know.”

  “You’re welcome.” The nurse left.

  Empathy filled Bea as she looked at Wendell. The poor man. It was too bad that he didn’t have children of his own to look after his welfare. That made it even more crucial for her and the rest of the family to be there for him.

  As she moved to sit down in the chair by the bed, Wendell’s hand grasped her fingers.

  “I’m sorry...” His eyes remained closed as he mumbled, “I should have done right by you. I should have done better.”

  “You have done right be me.” She patted his arm. “It’s okay.”

  “No...” As he shook his head, his breathing grew a little heavier. “I didn’t. I should have acknowledged you publicly as my own instead of hiding from it.”

  The nurse’s warning about him possibly waking up in a daze was accurate. He was clearly mixing her up with someone else.

  Bea lightly squeezed his hand. “Wendell, I’m Bea, your niece. Bea Fortune.”

  Wendell’s eyes opened, and he stared up at her with a confused look that became shadowed by a pained expression. “Don’t hate me. I was just trying to do what I thought was best. I know you loved him, but he was destitute...a miner. I just wanted a better life for you...you’re my child...”

  His what? Was Wendell saying he had a daughter? Maybe an illegitimate one, from the sounds of it.

  “Wendell...” She gave his hand another light squeeze. “Who are you talking about? What’s her name?”

  His eyes fluttered closed with a sigh, and as his hand went slack in hers, his breathing grew steady.

  That was weird. Had she heard him right? No one had ever mentioned to her about Wendell having a daughter. Had he kept this secret from everyone...until now?

  Moments later, sitting in the car, she struggled to make sense of what he’d said. In his dazed state of mind, maybe he had told this to someone else. Glancing through the names and numbers associated with the test message alerting the family he’d been hurt, she debated who to call.

  Aunt Freya maybe? But what if she didn’t know about him possibly having a child? This could potentially be a bombshell for her and maybe everyone else on the list.

  One name caught her eye. Tabitha Buckingham. She was family via the twins, but she was also the most neutral party connected to the Fortunes. Talking to her might help. And Bea had been meaning to reach out to her anyway. She could squeeze in at least a half hour or so visit before she went to the café.

  Bea gave Tabitha a call.

  “Sure, come on over. I could use some adult company,” Tabitha said. “But fair warning—I’m in the middle of folding laundry, so it’s a little messy.”

  Bea arrived at Tabitha’s house. Just as the young mother had claimed, stacks of folded laundry along with baskets of unfolded clothes took up most of the living room couch.

  Tabitha’s blond hair was tied back. Dressed in yoga pants and a T-shirt, she was in casual mom mode, and from the flush in her cheeks, she’d been busy.

  Bea glanced around. “Where are the twins?”

  “Napping.”

  “Oh...” She lowered her voice.

  Tabitha waved her off. “You’re good. When they’re conked out, unless there’s shouting, nothing wakes them up.” She moved a basket of unfolded laundry and set it on the coffee table, before perching on the end of the couch. “Please have a seat.”

  Bea settled into the spot she’d cleared for her. “Would you like a hand?”

  “I would love one.”

  As they started sorting and stacking bibs, blankets, socks, sleepers and onesies, Bea was reminded of the newborn-essentials checklist.

  She’d emailed the checklist to Devin along with the parenting questionnaire, but he hadn’t said anything about them. Maybe she should have reminded him? But shouldn’t he have remembered their conversation and mentioned them to her or at least acknowledged he’d received them? He’d mentioned last night that he’d finished the parenting plan for Carly. Wasn’t the parenting questionnaire for their baby just as important? Or was she being selfish...?

  “This is a nice surprise.” Tabitha added a folded bib to the stack on the coffee table. “But from the look on your face, you have something on your mind.”

  Bea debated how to dive into the topic. “You saw the text about Wendell?”

  “I did. But I have to admit, I’ve been so busy with the twins, I haven’t even gotten a chance to really read it. Something about a fall?”

  “Yes, he’s in the hospital, but he’s recovering.”

  “I’m so glad to her that. At his age, falls can be a scary thing. I wish I had time to go visit him now, but I’m behind on so many things, including the laundry, and I’m playing catch up. And then both Zach and Zane ended up with the diaper rash from hell. This week I wasn’t sure if I was coming or going. And then...” Chuckling, she shook her head. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to unload on you like that. You were saying...?”

  Although she’d come here intending to discuss Wendell’s dazed confession, after seeing Tabitha now, she had a change of heart. The young mom had said she’d needed some adult conversation, not speculation and gossip about things that weren’t even on her radar.

  Bea added a folded onesie to the stack beside her on the couch. “It’s not important. So is the diaper rash from hell gone?”

  “Yes, thank goodness! I had to remind my babysitter about sticking to the diapering routine. I need and appreciate her help, but it only makes it harder for me if she’s not on board with my routines. It’s tough.”

  “Other than managing the babysitter, how are you? And be honest. It’s okay to gripe... I don’t mind.”

  Tabitha’s shoulders fell as she released a slow breath. “Honestly, what I wish I had and need the most is West.” Her gaze strayed to the framed photo next to a baby monitor on the side table.

  In the picture, the golden-haired couple were a striking pair. And they looked so happy.

  Tabitha added. “But even if he was here, we wouldn’t be together.” Hints of sadness filled her tone.

  “What? No—what makes you say that?”

  “One, West never wanted children. And two, we broke up the night before he died. I had no idea I was pregnant at the time.”

  “But don’t you think he would have wanted to know his children? That he might have changed his mind once the twins arrived?”

  Tabitha gave her a slightly tremulous smile. “I don’t know if his mind would have changed. He might have adapted to the situation, but West’s job dominated his time.” She sighed. “And honestly, I’m not sure I could have handled me and the twins coming in second or third to a never-ending list of trials or another tough case. And I loved him too much to make him choose. He might have done it, but he also might have resented me for it later on. I wouldn’t have wanted to take that risk.”

  “So you might have chosen to be a single mom? It can’t be easy.”

  Tabitha offered up a small shrug. “It’s difficult to say. But I do know losing West the way I did was the hardest thing of all. I’m so lucky to have the twins. At least I have a part of him.”

  Bea’s heart went out to the other woman, but she also admired her strength. “Yes, you do. And you’re doing a great job raising them.”

  Tabitha smiled. “Thanks—I needed to hear that today. Sure, being a single mom is hard sometimes. But like I said, I’ve developed routines. I eat when they eat. I sleep when they sleep, or I catch up on laundry and housework. I make it work. And I have a network of friends that I can call on. But trust me, this isn’t the most nerve-racking part of having kids.” Humor filled her eyes. “Some people might think I’ve lost my mind by saying this, but I’ll gladly take all of the chaos I have now over being pregnant. Now, that was scary. Unless you’ve been through it, nothing can prepare you.”

  “I know—I’m pregnant.”

  A shocked smile came over Tabitha’s face. “You are? Oh my gosh! When did you find out?”

  “Just recently,” Bea admitted. “But you’re the first family member I’ve told.”

  “Don’t worry. I won’t breathe a word to anyone. So are you happy, or are you...”

  “Well... I’m definitely scared and...” A feeling Bea had never felt since finding out she was pregnant surfaced. “Thrilled?”

  Tabitha laughed. “That’s so normal.” She quickly set the laundry aside. Moving closer, she took Bea’s hand. “Tell me everything...”

  Bea poured out her excitement and fears. Tabitha listened, answered her questions, and gave her advice on everything from how to handle morning sickness to pregnancy books to maternity clothes.

  A cry from one of the twins came through the baby monitor. Then the second joined in.

  “It’s time to feed my boys.” Tabitha tilted her head toward the hallway. “Do you want to see them?”

  Bea hesitated. She really needed to head to the café soon. “I do.”

  In the nursery, Bea smiled and cooed at the light-haired twins along with Tabitha. She helped changed their diapers, and when Tabitha handed her a bottle, Bea settled into one of the rocking chairs with Zach in her arms.

  Looking into his eyes, Bea saw her world in the future. I’ll have support. I won’t be alone. But as scared as she was, she couldn’t wait to meet her baby.

  * * *

  Later that night in her bedroom, on a video call with Devin, Bea told him about her visit to see Wendell at the hospital.

  She propped up the pillows behind her back on the headboard. “I’m really baffled by what Wendell told me. If he has an illegitimate daughter someplace, where is she?”

  Devin was outside walking Francis. “That is strange.”

  “I don’t know. Maybe I should ask someone if they know anything.”

  “Hold on a sec.” Devin turned his attention from the phone. “Francis...” he said in a warning tone. “Sorry—someone else is walking their dog. What did you say?”

  “I was wondering if maybe I should ask someone if they know anything.”

  “And if no one does, you’re back at square one, trying to get answers from Wendell. And with his health the way it is, do you really want to broach that topic with him?”

  “That’s true.” Her thoughts drifted to Tabitha. “I went to see my twin nephews today—Zach and Zane. They’re a little over ten months old and so adorable.”

  “Really?” From the background change, Devin was entering his house. “Twins. That’s a lot.”

  “Their mom, Tabitha, has a good routine. She says routines are important.”

  “Yeah, that helps.” He propped up the phone on the counter as he took care of Francis.

  “She gave me lots of ideas. And I love her nursery setup. She has a small refrigerator and counter space for a bottle warmer and feeding supplies. And on the other side of the room is the changing station. Seeing her setup inspired me, so I looked online and found a room design that I think will go well here. I’m sending you the page link.”

  “Sounds...nice.” He picked up his phone again, but from the distance in his voice, something else was on his mind.

  “And she hired a really good babysitter from Venus.”

  He gave her a lopsided smile. “I was paying attention. You like her nursery.”

  “You were half paying attention. Is something bothering you, or am I bothering you?”

  “No, you’re not bothering me.” As he briefly looked away, he paused. “It’s Lauren. She’s postponing our next meeting with the mediator. We were supposed to present our co-parenting plans. We can’t drag our feet on making this decision. And it feels like that’s what she’s doing.” He blew out an agitated breath. “And I even told her that over the next two weeks, my schedule was going to be busier with Quinn taking days off one week and Charles the next.”

  Bea’s excitement about her visit with Tabitha faded. She’d hoped maybe Devin would pull up the link on his laptop now so they could share ideas. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  He shook his head. “As always with Lauren, it’s complicated. I’m sorry for being so distracted. Next time we talk, I’ll be in a better headspace. I promise.”

  They said good night, and as Bea pulled up the covers, unease settled in with her again.

  Devin kept making promises to her. But what was that saying? The more promises you made—the more chances you took to break them.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Tanya pointed to three plates of scrambled eggs on the table in the dining room of the café. She was perfecting the breakfast and brunch catering menus and wanted Bea’s opinion. “The first plate is just eggs, butter, salt, and pepper. The second batch has cream added to it. The third has eggs, milk, butter, salt and pepper, and cheddar cheese.”

  “They all look good.” Bea picked up her fork.

  She tasted the food samples, but her thoughts felt as scrambled as the eggs on the plates. As much as she wanted to focus on this Wednesday-morning taste test, that past weekend and the last couple of days with Devin kept playing through her mind.

  Since Saturday, he’d been distant and preoccupied. And his afternoon walks this week with Francis hadn’t included a stop by the café. Although he had said he was coming by that afternoon. But when they did talk, the conversation always veered away from them toward the newspaper or issues with Lauren.

  “So what do you think?” Tanya asked.

  Bea brought her thoughts back to the task at hand, and she sampled the last plate. “I like plate number one and number three.”

  “Perfect.” Tanya smiled as she got up. “Those two are the most popular with everyone who’s tasted them, and they were my choice, too. The catering menu should be finalized in a few days. And the Belgian waffle makers I ordered are on the way. You know, chicken and waffles might be something to add to the dinner menu in the future.”

  “I like that possibility. We’ll revisit that when the time comes.” Bea added it to the notes on her digital tablet. Chicken and waffles wasn’t an entrée her mom had made, but being open to new things would keep the menu fresh and interesting.

  Bea returned to her office.

  She and Tanya had also finished the new shelf diagrams for how the food should be organized in the walk-ins. They needed to be printed out. But her printer was out of paper, and the stash in her desk was gone, too.

  Bea searched the storage room down the hall where they kept office supplies. But she didn’t see a box of printer paper or reams stacked on the shelf. They couldn’t have used all of the paper that fast. As she stepped back for a wider view, she spotted the packages on the top shelf out of reach.

  Really? Bea let out a long breath. Putting the paper on a lower shelf made more sense, especially since they used it on a regular basis.

  As she made a mental note to mention this to the stock person, Bea grabbed the small stepladder in the corner. After setting it up near the shelf, she climbed up, but she couldn’t quite reach the copy paper.

  A taller stepladder was in the dining room storage closet, but she just needed one package.

  Raising up onto her toes, she reached up, and her fingertips grazed the side of one of the packs, knocking it askew. Almost got it... She stretched her arm higher and slid it out a bit further.

  But instead of just one, a domino of reams broke free.

  “No!” A package started falling toward her head, and when she ducked out of the way, her foot slipped off the stepladder.

  As she landed hard on the floor, horror consumed her mind. The baby...!

  * * *

  Devin sat with Quinn in his office. He’d asked her to do some research on the Wells family, but the results were less than promising.

  “It’s like they disappeared.” Quinn shrugged. “I searched birth and death announcements, real estate purchases, old addresses. Nothing is coming up for Clint Wells’s family in the surrounding area. Do you want me to widen the search?”

 

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