“OH NO, POOR BABY.” Trisha put her hand to Henry’s forehead for what must have been the tenth time in five minutes. “You’ve got a fever, for sure.” She walked slowly around her living room, bouncing her sick baby gently, trying to get his crying to stop.
Glancing down at her carefully curated outfit, she sighed. The dark jeans, the heels, the pretty red sweater—they’d all have to go back in the closet for another time. Henry gave a little cough that just about cracked Trisha’s heart in two. It must have hurt because he screwed up his mouth and wailed.
“It’s okay, Henry, love.” She took another lap around the living room, watching him carefully, trying to figure out if bouncing made him feel better or worse. He cried louder and she stopped the bouncing. Maybe the poor guy had a headache.
Trisha moved Henry onto her hip and held him with one arm while she wrestled the phone from her purse with the other. She called Kathy, who’d been planning to come over and babysit so Trisha and Liam could go to dinner. When Kathy answered, Trisha told her what was wrong.
“Oh, the poor baby. Do you want me to come over there and help?”
“We’re okay right now. And I don’t want you to catch it.”
“Do you have some of that infant pain reliever?”
“I do.” Trisha swayed gently back and forth with Henry. The motion seemed to soothe him a little and he quieted. “I’ll give him some if he doesn’t settle down soon. Thank you for offering to babysit tonight. I really appreciate it. May I take a rain check?”
“Of course. And don’t hesitate to call if you need some backup.”
“Thank you, Kathy. Will do.” Trisha set her phone down and chewed on her lower lip. She’d never thought to get Liam’s phone number, and now she had no way to call and tell him that their date was off. She tried Vivian’s phone number, thinking that she’d know how to reach Liam, but it went straight to voice mail. Vivian had probably set her phone aside to spend time with the kids and Jace.
Henry started crying again—she shifted him higher up in her arms so he could look out over her shoulder, which he usually liked. Instead he put his head down and clung to her. Trisha pulled up his favorite playlist of kid songs on her phone and stuck it in the dock. The happy beats of “Baby Beluga” filled the room and she danced slowly, hoping his favorite song would bring him some comfort.
It seemed to work, so she put the song on repeat and she and Henry danced to it a few more times. When she shut the music off, intending to try putting him in his crib, he started crying again.
“All right, one more time.” She started up the song again but it was interrupted by a soft knock on the door. She danced over to answer, and there was Liam, standing on her porch, looking amazing in dark jeans, a black T-shirt and a leather jacket. A wave of disappointment washed over her. She’d been looking forward to seeing him tonight—she hadn’t realized how much until it wasn’t actually going to happen.
She was about to tell him that their date was canceled, but he raised the bag he was carrying. “Takeout from the barbecue place. We can eat here.”
“How did you know I couldn’t go out?”
“Kathy called Lillian, and Lillian called me.” He grinned. “I am dialed into the local gossip network.”
“I didn’t have your phone number or I would have called. I tried Vivian.”
“She and Jace and the kids are having a movie night. I bet she has her phone off. I’m glad you didn’t reach her. This way I can still see you.”
“But Henry is sick.”
“And I’m here to help.” His smile was a little shy. “Isn’t that what fathers do?”
“I don’t know.” She thought of her own dad, so formal and brisk. He’d left most of the nurturing to her mom, who hadn’t been much better at it. She’d seemed to find most aspects of childcare an annoying burden, especially when her almost-grown daughter had become so needy after the accident. “You don’t have to stay. Henry and I will be fine. We’ve been through this before.”
“Of course you have,” he said reasonably. “But now you have me.”
“You don’t need to take the trouble...”
“It’s not trouble. Where else would I want to be right now except here with the two of you, trying to help?”
She couldn’t argue with that, and she didn’t want to because the truth was, she wanted to see him. “Come in.”
He kicked off his boots and set them inside the door, which she appreciated. She liked to keep the floor as clean as possible for Henry to crawl around on. Not that poor little Henry would be up for much crawling tonight.
Liam set the bag down on the dining room table. “Nice music. How is the little guy?”
“He cries every time I shut this song off. He’s got a low fever, a hundred and one.”
“That’s low?” He looked at her with concern furrowing his brow. “That seems like a lot.”
“It’s not great, but it’s not terrible for a baby.”
He whistled low. “Man, babies are tough.”
“So are their parents. I’m not sure how much more ‘Baby Beluga’ I can take.”
He laughed quietly and pulled off his jacket, setting it on one of the dining room chairs. “Want me to take him? I can dance, if you want to change into something more comfortable.”
Gratefully, she handed him the baby. She wasn’t used to wearing high heels and tight jeans.
He got Henry settled on his shoulder and then caught sight of her outfit. “You look amazing. Can we try this date another time?”
Trisha felt her face heat. It had been so long since she’d seen open admiration on a man’s face. “Sure. That would be great.” She fled to her bedroom and changed into comfortable yoga pants and her favorite pink sweatshirt. She chose some pink fuzzy socks and pulled her hair back in a ponytail, to keep it out of Henry’s way. She glanced in the mirror a little ruefully. So much for trying to look like someone who was more than just Henry’s mom.
She stopped in the kitchen for plates and silverware, just in case they got a chance to eat. The barbecue smelled delicious. In the dining room, she stopped and stared.
Liam was in the living room, swaying to yet another round of “Baby Beluga.” He held Henry close to his shoulder and his head was bent over the baby’s, like he was singing along quietly. He was completely immersed in his son, dancing in the dim golden lamplight, his big frame and long legs making Henry seem even tinier in his arms.
It was beautiful and perfect, and father and son looked just right moving around her living room. Tears burned behind Trisha’s eyes. This was what she’d almost missed out on. What Liam had almost missed out on. And more importantly, what Henry had almost missed out on—having a daddy to love him like this.
“Baby Beluga” wound down for the umpteenth time and Liam reached for the volume. “I think he’s sleeping,” he whispered.
Trisha motioned for him to follow and led him back to the bedroom. He went to lay Henry down in his crib and Trisha almost intervened to tell him how to do it, except he handled the baby like a pro, supporting his back and neck with his hands and forearms.
“You’re a natural,” she breathed.
He winked and said nothing. Just took the baby blanket she offered and put it over Henry’s legs. Then he removed the toys that had ended up in the crib earlier today, when Trisha had set Henry down for a few minutes.
“You really have been reading the baby books,” she told him as they made their way back down the hall to the dining room.
“Something like that.” He opened the bag of food, allowing heavenly smells to escape. “Are you ready to eat? It might be a long night.”
Their first meal together. She was nervous as she opened the containers of meat, while he dished potato salad and coleslaw onto the two plates.
“Barbecue tofu?” She stared at the skewers in disbelief. “How did you know?”
“I asked Lillian what you’d like. She said you’re not a big fan of meat. Which makes sense, I guess, since you’re such a big fan of animals.”
He opened a second container. “I got chicken. I hope that doesn’t upset you.”
“No. Not at all.”
“Tell me why you like animals so much.”
“They’re cute.” It was her standard answer and he saw right through it.
“And...?”
She studied him, deciding what she wanted to reveal. “After that car accident, I didn’t want to be around people much. It was so awkward. I worried nonstop that they blamed me, or felt sorry for me, and I guess I blamed myself so much, too. And I missed Julie a lot. She’d been my best friend forever.”
“Did you have pets already?”
“No, my parents didn’t like pets. They said they made the house dirty. But I was so lonely after the accident and I begged and begged. Eventually they let me adopt a poodle from the animal shelter, because poodles don’t shed. Frenchie was about nine years old when I got her. She lived to be sixteen and she was such a good buddy. She’s the reason I decided that I wanted to work with animals.” Trisha took a bite of her barbecue. “Oh my gosh, that’s so good.”
A thin cry came from the bedroom. Trisha stood up. “I guess he’s really not feeling well, if he can’t sleep.”
Liam rose, too. “You eat a few more bites. I’ll go get him.”
Doubt warred with hunger. “Are you sure? Just pick him up and try dancing with him again. Call me if he’s wet.”
“No problem.” Liam disappeared into the bedroom and Trisha indulged in a few more delicious mouthfuls of food. She heard Henry cry a little harder as Liam picked him up, and then the cries quieted.
It felt absolutely decadent to just sit and eat while someone else saw to Henry’s needs. If she set aside her worries, and her need to be in control of every little thing when it came to Henry, she might actually get used to this.
LIAM GAVE HENRY the little bear he found near the changing table and removed the baby’s soggy diaper. He tossed it into the diaper pail, then reached for the wipes just like Lillian had shown him with the doll last night. One hand on the baby’s belly at all times, one hand setting the clean diaper over the baby in case he had an accident on the table. He found the wipes, cleaned Henry up and wrestled the fresh diaper on. It was definitely harder on a real baby than a doll, but in the end, it didn’t look too bad.
“Okay, let’s get you in some dry pajama bottoms.” Liam scooped Henry up and went to the dresser, opening drawers until he found them.
“What are you doing?” Trisha came through the doorway, looking shocked that her baby was only half dressed. “Does he need changing?”
“I just changed him.” Liam motioned to the dresser with his free hand. “Can you point me toward clean pajamas?”
She looked completely mystified but she rummaged in a drawer, then handed him some soft cotton pajama pants with dogs on them.
He took Henry back to the changing table and laid him down again. “I wasn’t sure what to do with his wet pants,” he said conversationally. “Should I rinse them in the hall bathroom?”
“Um...sure, that would be great.” She was watching him slide Henry’s clean pants on with the funniest expression on her face. Part disbelief, part protective mama bear. “How do you know how to do all this stuff?”
“Oh, I guess I’m not completely inept, that’s all.” It was way more fun to pretend like he was a natural baby whisperer than to reveal the baby lessons he’d had last night.
Once Henry’s pants were on, Liam picked him up and handed him off to Trisha. The baby coughed a couple times and Trisha felt his forehead. “His fever doesn’t seem worse. Maybe this is a cold.”
“Do you have a humidifier? That might help with his stuffy nose and cough.”
“You know about those, too?” Trisha shook her head like she couldn’t believe it. “There’s one in the closet right there. Be sure to—”
“Add salt. Yeah, no problem. Is there some in your kitchen?”
“In the cupboard to the right of the stove. But how did you know about that?”
“I’ve learned some things.” The truth was, when Lillian had called to let him know that Henry was sick, he’d asked her questions about what he could do to help the baby feel better. She’d told him about the humidifier. And the salt.
He got the humidifier, went to the kitchen to add water and salt, and brought it back into the bedroom. “Where should I plug it in?”
Trisha indicated the table near the crib. “That will be fine.” She was swaying back and forth with Henry, as if there was music on. Their son was snuggled against her chest and when she bent to kiss his head Liam’s heart went all soft and he had to hold himself back from going over there and wrapping his arms around both of them. They were becoming a part of him so fast, it was scary.
“I’ll just wait out in the living room,” he told her and hurried out of the bedroom, down the hall and straight out the front door. The night air smelled like wet leaves and earth and he breathed it in, trying to catch his mind up with the feelings growing inside. It was a lot to fathom, how much he was starting to care.
When he stepped back into the house, Trisha was leaving Henry’s room. She tiptoed toward him down the hall. “He’s sleeping for now.” She went into the living room and flopped down on the couch. “Thank goodness.”
He went to sit next to her. “You’re a good mom.”
“Thanks. I appreciate all of your help.”
“It’s what I’m here for.” They sat in silence for a moment and he thought about saying what was in his heart. Maybe it would scare her off, but maybe it would make her see that he really was here for her, in more ways than just as Henry’s daddy.
“There’s one thing I left out, when I told you about my past.”
She looked at him with wide, worried eyes. “Uh-oh.”
He smiled at the dread in her tone. “It’s nothing that bad, I promise. It’s just that I didn’t tell you the whole truth, when I told you why I left you that night in San Antonio. It wasn’t just that I was taking drugs and was unreliable. That night was a catalyst for me. It made me want to get help.”
“It did? How?”
“It’s hard to explain. You were so pretty and sweet, even when you’d had way too much champagne.”
She pressed her palms to her cheeks. “I still can’t believe how I behaved.”
“Is it terrible to say that I’m glad you did? It got us Henry, and I think it might have saved my life. I realized that night that I wanted to be the kind of guy someone like you would love. I could suddenly see a future that I wanted so badly. A future where I was clean and sober and in love with a woman as classy and smart and beautiful as you. I wanted it to be you, but I knew I had a long journey ahead of me if I was going to get clean. We’d just met. I couldn’t ask you to stick around for that.”
She glanced at him with compassionate eyes and he held out a hand. After a moment’s hesitation, she put her hand in his and he held on, savoring the connection.
“I left the hotel that night and drove back to the ranch. I got there just as my father and brothers were starting the day. I told them the truth about my addiction and begged them to get me some help.”
“I had no idea.” She turned her body to face him, as if she wanted to study his face for the meaning in all this.
“Ever since that night, I’ve thought of you as my angel. As the person who made me realize how much I wanted to change, and how sweet life could be if I did.”
Trisha put her free hand on top of their clasped ones. “I’m so glad you got the help you needed.”
He looked down into her blue eyes, feeling like he could live or die by what was reflected there. He feared her pity, wanted her admiration. He was relieved to see a flicker of the latter.
“It makes me happy to think that I might have made a difference for you.”
“You did. And you do now.”
He shouldn’t. There were a thousand reasons why he shouldn’t. They were just figuring out the situation with Henry. They didn’t need to make things any more complicated. But he gave in to the pull, leaned down and pressed his lips to hers, relishing the softness of her mouth and the way she kissed him back.
Pulse speeding, he ran his fingers into her hair and kissed her again and again, not wanting to stop. But he had to. The voice of reason was unwelcome, but it was right. Having Henry meant they had to take things slow. He had to go slow, build trust between them and help her see all the reasons they should be together as a family.
He kissed her one last time, softly, and pulled away, studying the dazed look in her eyes, hoping it was a sign that she’d liked their kisses as much as he had.
Her slow, satisfied smile was his sheer relief.
“I’d like to date you,” he said. “Really date you. Take you places, spend time with you, get to know you. Can we do that?”
Her yes was spoken on a shaky breath, but he heard it loud and clear.
“And I’d like to help with Henry, however I can. I want to learn to be his daddy. Can I do that, too?”
Her smile faded a little. “Yes. But I think Henry is already pretty crazy about you. Please don’t break his little heart.” She didn’t say it, but he heard it loud and clear. Or mine.
“I won’t. I know we can figure out any obstacle in our way.” He’d show her that they belonged together. Even if it meant they’d live in Texas for a while. He kissed her one more time, on the forehead. “But for now, let’s take it easy.”
“You mean no more kissing?” The glance she shot him was a combination of shy and flirty that could annihilate the best intentions of any man. But he wasn’t just any man. He was Henry’s daddy and he was going to get this right. “How about we finish our food, and then watch a movie? It’s not the most exciting first date, but it’s something.”
She smiled and pushed herself off the couch. “It sounds like a nice way to spend an evening when we’re home with a sick baby.”
He followed her to the dining room. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
She turned to face him and put her hands to his chest to stop him. Going up on tiptoe, she kissed him lightly on the cheek. “That’s a yes.”
She went into the kitchen to reheat their food. Liam put a hand to his cheek and felt her kiss still lingering. A blessing from an angel, his angel, saving his life back then in San Antonio, and rebuilding it tonight, here in Shelter Creek.