CHAPTER 36

The day after Evelyn’s birth, Julia leaned back in her hospital bed with the baby in her arms. She’d just finished feeding her, and now as Julia gazed down at Evelyn’s perfect features, she relished the peace and contentment on her newborn’s face.

Thank you, Lord, for this precious gift. May I always be a good mother to her and do whatever I can to keep her safe.

With the warm weight in her arms, Julia’s eyelids grew heavy, but worried that she might lose her grip on the baby, she fought to stay alert until the nurse came to take Evelyn back to the nursery.

Footsteps brought Julia’s eyes open. But instead of a nurse, Richard Hawkins stood inside the door.

Julia tightened her hold on Evelyn, clutching the tiny bundle closer to her chest as a protective wave surged through her. What was he doing here? If he thought she would let him have any access to her daughter . . .

“I heard you’d had the baby.” Richard removed his hat, his eyes straying to the swaddled bundle, then back to her. “I wanted to come by and see how you’re doing.”

“I’m fine, thank you.” Julia kept her gaze steady. She’d known she wouldn’t be able to keep the news from him. As a physician with privileges at several hospitals in the city, he would have access to any information he wanted. And though she’d tried to mentally prepare herself for this moment, her heart still thumped unevenly in her chest.

“You had a girl.” He came farther into the room, standing awkwardly by the foot of the bed. Once again, his gaze darted to the baby, whose tiny face was just visible from inside the blanket. A look of pure agony flashed over his features.

Something about his demeanor stirred Julia’s sympathy. She’d expected him to come in uttering threats, but this unassuming attitude had her baffled. “Would you . . . like to see her?” she asked hesitantly.

He nodded and moved to the side of the bed.

Julia shifted the cloth away from the infant’s face so he could see his daughter more clearly.

“She’s beautiful.” He stared at Evelyn for several moments, his throat muscles working, then he raised his head. “I want you to know that what you said in the courtroom had a profound effect on me.” His gaze faltered, shifting to the baby again. “I owe you a deep apology for my actions. In my arrogance, I made a lot of erroneous assumptions about our relationship, which caused me to take liberties that were very wrong.”

Julia shifted the baby’s weight, unsure how to respond to this seemingly remorseful man in front of her. Was it a ruse to get her to allow him access to the child, or did he sincerely regret his actions?

He paused and ran his hand over the back of his neck. “I got caught up in grief and in my own selfish desires and didn’t stop to consider that you might not feel the same about me. I hope you can find it within you to forgive me.”

She studied him for a moment, searching for some evidence of an ulterior motive for his apology. “If you are truly sorry,” she said quietly, “then you’ll leave us alone. My daughter will have a good home and a good father. Let us live our lives in peace.”

His attention flickered back to the baby, who had begun to squirm in Julia’s arms, her tiny face scrunching up as though preparing to cry. He straightened. “If you’d given birth to my son, this would have been a much harder decision. I would never willingly abandon my heir, a son to carry on the Hawkins name.” He exhaled slowly. “But I will abide by your wishes . . . if we can both agree to let the unfortunate matter between us rest and not invite further legal action.”

Julia blinked, barely able to believe she’d heard him right. If her silence was all he wanted, then she could certainly agree to his terms. In truth, she had no wish to go through an arduous court proceeding, subjecting herself and Quinn to harsh judgment. Richard’s apology had helped somewhat to ease her wounds. And now she had her precious baby, whom Julia wouldn’t trade for the world. She nodded. “Very well. I can accept that.”

The lines of tension in his face softened, and he took a step backward. “Despite everything, I wish you well, Julia.” He gave a slight bow and turned toward the door.

“Richard, may I offer you some advice?”

Her words halted his departure, and he turned, his brows lifted in question.

She leaned forward in the bed. “Make an effort to repair your relationship with your wife. Surely there is something between you worth salvaging.”

A wry smile twisted his lips. “Ah, a romantic until the end, eh, Julia?”

“Perhaps. But I believe that a marriage should be preserved, if at all possible.”

“Well said, young lady.” Rev. Burke entered the room, coming to stand beside Richard. “Ending a marriage should never be undertaken lightly. Not until every solution has been explored.”

Richard’s features became shuttered. “I’ll keep that in mind. Good day to you both.”

Julia released a long breath, the tension draining from her muscles as he exited the room. Could the threat from Richard really be over? She bent to kiss Evelyn’s forehead, thankful that Quinn hadn’t arrived to find him here. Heaven only knew what he would have done.

“Dr. Hawkins didn’t threaten you again, did he?” Rev. Burke pulled up a chair beside the bed.

“No. Believe it or not, he apologized.” She shook her head. “And he’s agreed to leave us in peace.”

“It seems our prayers have been answered.”

“Indeed, it does.”

But a niggle of unease wound through her. What would this mean for her and Quinn going forward? Would he feel his duty fulfilled now that the baby had arrived and the danger from Richard had been resolved?

The minister leaned forward. “Tell me, Julia, have you been able to forgive Dr. Hawkins for what he did to you?”

Julia gazed down at her sleeping child, for the first time without the fear of losing her, and her heart swelled with gratitude. “I think I will be able to in time. I already feel a tremendous weight lifted off of me.”

“I’m glad.” He paused. “I hope this means you’ve forgiven yourself too.”

Julia frowned.

“Before you married Quinten, you confessed you felt some degree of culpability for Sam’s death and for not rebuffing Dr. Hawkins. Have you come to see things a little clearer now?”

She pursed her lips, considering. “I believe so.” She stroked a finger down Evelyn’s soft cheek. “I still wish I’d handled things differently, that I could have done more for Sam, but I . . . I know I did the best I could under the circumstances. With Sam and with Dr. Hawkins.”

Rev. Burke patted her arm. “With the past behind you, hopefully you’ll be able to focus all your attention on this beautiful child and the wonderful future in store for you.”

Julia lowered her gaze once again so he wouldn’t detect the uncertainty that plagued her. Perhaps the only course of action was to wait and see how God’s plan for her life would unfold over the coming weeks.

Because right now her marriage “in name only” was beginning to chafe like a pair of ill-fitting shoes. She only hoped that once she and Quinn had the chance to talk, they would both be of like mind about what their future would hold.