Baby in His Arms (17 page)

“Should we call Chief Farnsworth now? She should know.”

“I’ll do it later after my head settles.” He stroked a comforting hand down her arm, leaving trails of goose bumps. “JoEtta won’t be happy that we didn’t call her yesterday.”

“Lizzy would have run if we had and we’d never have gotten the valuable information about her asthma.”

“True. And the other odds and ends she shared.” He leaned back against the couch and drew in a deep breath. His chest expanded the black T-shirt. Haley longed to lean into that chest and feel his arms around her.

Would Lizzy have anyone to hold and comfort her? Would her boyfriend even care about the loss of another man’s baby? Haley suspected the question would haunt her for a long time.

“She wants the best for Rose,” Creed said.

Haley bit the inside of her lip, nodding. “Yes, she does. Whatever that might be.”

Creed shifted on the sofa, turning to face her. Eyes dark with sincerity caressed her face. “I think God’s trying to tell us something, don’t you?”

“What do you mean?”

“Lizzy’s coming here is no coincidence. The fact that she thought you and I were the adopting parents isn’t a coincidence, either.”

“I guess that’s true.”

“It is. Trust me on this. God’s been working on me for a while.” He took both her hands into his, turning her palms up as he held lightly. “It’s time to lay all our cards on the table, Haley.”

Haley’s heart banged against her rib cage like a sledgehammer. “What do you mean?”

“I think you know. I love Rose. I want to be her dad.”

The sledgehammer became a knife slicing through the cardiac muscle. “You want to adopt Rose Petal?”

“Yes.” He pressed one of her hands to his heart. “But I want something else even more.”

Hope, that sneaky weed, sprouted again, though Haley’s rational mind said she’d be sorry.

“What?” Was that her voice, so breathy and uncertain?

“Rose needs a mama and a daddy. Both of us. Don’t get me wrong. You’d do an awesome job all by yourself. You already have, but I love her, too.” He dropped her hand to push off the couch and stalk to Rose’s crib. “Ah, man, I’m doing this all wrong.”

“Doing what all wrong?”

“I have to know before I make a complete fool of myself. You and me, we’re different. Do you want Rose or not?”

Confused now, she nodded. “I do.”

“Me, too. I want her. I want you. I want the ring, the cake, the mortgage, the kids. Do you want other kids?”

“What? Creed, you’re confusing me.”

He rubbed a hand over his dark hair. “I’m confusing myself.”

“Why don’t you just say whatever is in your heart.”

He turned back, his beloved face tender. “All right. Here it is. I love you, Haley. I love your mother earth ways and your artsy side. I love your heart for kids and your pure goodness. I just plain love you.”

“You do?” she asked in wonder.

“An ICU room is a weird place to ask, but I want what Lizzy wanted. You and me, as a couple.”

“Are you asking me to marry you?”

He blew out a breath. “Yeah, I think I am.”

She bit her bottom lip. “I don’t know what to say.”

He scowled. “What do you mean you don’t know what to say? Either you love me back or you don’t.”

“Life isn’t that simple.”

“Sure it is.” He came toward her then, eyes locked with hers. “I know you’re scared. So am I. But this is right. You and me and Rose as a family. We’re right together.”

“Nothing lasts, Creed.”

“You’re wrong about that. Lots of relationships last. Look at my mom and dad and my grandparents and lots of others in Whisper Falls. Most of all look at yourself. You’ve lived in the same house how long?”

“Seven years this fall.”

“That’s a long time.”

“Not forever.” But she wanted forever. She was even starting to believe in forever as long as Creed was there with her.

“Stop arguing and answer this,” he said in exasperation. “Do you love me or not? If you don’t, fine. I’ll live. But for one minute, forget all that other junk. Forget about your strange childhood. Forget about the people who have let you down. Because I won’t. Not if I can help it. Tell me the truth. Do. You.
Love.
Me?”

“I do.”

“Good enough. Come here.” He yanked her into his arms and kissed her until her toes curled. His whiskers scratched her fair skin, but Haley didn’t care.

When he finally released her, she laughed up into his face. How did she resist a man like this? He was everything she’d ever wanted and more. He loved her. He’d been at her side every single time she’d needed him. He hadn’t let her down even though she’d pushed him away.

Haley stood in the circle of Creed’s arms, secure. For the first time in her life, she believed in someone besides herself. Two someones. God and Creed.

And she was no longer afraid.

Epilogue

T
he party was in full swing and half the town of Whisper Falls, maybe more, was gathered in Haley’s backyard for a celebration. The smoke from charcoaled hot dogs scented the early autumn afternoon, and the yard was alive with conversation and laughter.

Good people. Good times. An incredible day of dreams come true.

Except for her wayfarer mother, everyone Haley cared about was here. Creed’s parents and Grandma Carter, old friends such as Cassie, Davis Turner, Dr. Ron and Melissa Plymouth, Uncle Digger and Miss Evelyn, their pastors, and the list went on and on. New friends, too, such as the newlywed Blackwells, Annalisa and Austin, and Creed’s army buddy Kyle Longwell, had come to celebrate the special occasion of Rose’s adoption.

“Great party, Haley,” Davis Turner said, toasting her with a hot dog fresh from Creed’s grill as he passed with his two children, Paige and Nathan, in tow. Davis was a great guy. She hoped someday he’d find his happy ever after as she had.

“It is, isn’t it? Thanks to my husband.” Husband. Haley gazed across the expanse of folding tables, overflowing plants and fall decorations to where Creed stood with a handful of other men manning the charcoal grill. His dad was at his side, a man she’d come to love.

After six months of marriage, Haley still thrilled to the idea that Creed and his wonderful family had chosen her and she’d had sense enough to listen.

“Where’s the baby of the hour?” In high heels and skinny jeans, Cassie Blackwell came up beside Haley toting a plate mounded with chips and dip, veggie sticks and watermelon and two hotdogs. Her slender friend could eat a horse and not gain weight.

“Rose is with Grandma Kathy.” She motioned toward the porch where Creed’s mother and grandmother played with Rose, now eight months old and the life of any party. Dressed in a pink frilly dress of tiered ruffles with satin shoes, lacy socks and a rosebud headband, the dark-haired princess was beautiful. Like her daddy.

“If they put her down, she’ll crawl all over the place and get her dress dirty.”

“Love the outfit,” Cassie said, widening her eyes in humor.

Haley bumped her friend’s side with hers. “Thank you for buying it. The rosebud headband is pure genius.”

“It is, isn’t it? A rosebud for a Rose.” Cassie laughed, intentionally immodest. “Gotta have perfection for adoption day.”

“I never knew I could be this happy,” Haley said, her heart full to the brim.

“Love does that. I’m so glad you and Creed found each other.”

Even though Cassie had tragically lost the man she’d loved, she wasn’t bitter or jealous. She was genuinely happy for Haley and Creed. Haley prayed the Lord would send Cassie another love. She’d even tried to fix her up a time or two, but Cassie seemed to make friends rather than romances.

“I’m thankful God knocked some sense into me.” Maybe He’d do the same for Cassie someday.

“Well, that, too.” Cassie hoisted her plate. “Going back for more watermelon. Want some?”

“No, I’d rather have
that.
” She pointed across to Creed who’d turned, grilling tongs held aloft, gaze scanning the crowd.

Cassie giggled, her cherry-red mouth upturned. “I think he feels the same. He’s obviously looking for you.”

“And I want to be found.” Wiggling her fingers and grinning, Haley sailed through the crowd, stopping only long enough to say hello and offer more strawberry lemonade and food. It felt good to be part of a town with such deep roots. She was part of this now. Just as her bushes and plants had taken root here in the beautiful Ozarks, so had she. All because of a flyboy who wouldn’t take no for an answer.

Creed spotted her then, coming at him, and his dark eyes flamed like the grill at his side. “Hey, gorgeous. I missed you.”

He dipped to kiss his wife on the mouth. Smoked puffed up from the grill and for a second Haley thought it was coming out her ears. The man could kiss!

“Ready to do the festivities?”

“Almost. Rose is having the time of her life with your parents.”

“Mom is loving this grandma business.” He tonged the last of the hotdogs and put them on a platter. The grill lid clattered shut. “That should be enough until after the cake is cut.” Then as if he could read her heart—which he often could—he said, “I’m sorry your mother didn’t make it.”

Haley waved a dismissing hand. She’d invited Mona to come and had even offered to pay her airfare, but her mother had refused. She had a new boyfriend and he was the one. Again. “She sent Rose a gift, the first time she’s ever acknowledged anything important to me. That’s a major improvement.”

“We’ll keep praying. God will catch up with her yet.”

“That’s what I love about you. All that confidence and optimism.”

He winked. “Good things happen.”

Creed was right. Many good things had happened in the past six months. They’d married in early summer in a ceremony above Whisper Falls where they were both certain God had answered a young girl’s desperate prayer. After a ride on Uncle Digger’s train, they’d honeymooned in Eureka Springs, a gingerbread town of Victorian houses and breathtaking beauty. Then they’d come home to her house to stay, a house they’d bought together from Brent Henderson.

Creed’s business was growing so much so that his buddy Kyle now worked for him part-time. During his few days of flying tourists when Rose was ill, the ex-army lieutenant had fallen in love with the Ozarks and decided to make his home here. He was in the process of moving to Whisper Falls. The handsome pilot was a huge help to the business and a good friend to Creed.

Even though she never expected to get rich, Haley was happy with her gourd art and now-commissioned pieces in the Train Depot Museum, thanks to an idea from the brilliant Miss Evelyn. Tourists seemed to like the folksy beauty of Haley’s gourd art. Her latest concept, decorative gourd lanterns, was strung between trees, giving off a golden glow. Already several people had asked to buy them.

They’d heard from her former foster child, too. Thomas’s letter sounded happy and he claimed his mother was doing well. His mama hadn’t once forgotten about him. Even though the admission squeezed Haley’s heart, an attentive mother was progress to Thomas and a sign she remained mentally healthy.

Haley drew in a charcoal-scented breath. Life was nearly perfect. She tugged on Creed’s hand, loving the strength and feel of his skin against hers. “Let’s cut the cake and introduce our daughter.”

Beneath a tented striped cabana they’d borrowed for this moment, Creed spoke into a microphone to get everyone’s attention. As the partygoers gathered around and the lively chatter subsided, he said, “Thank you, everyone, for coming today. Haley and I treasure each one of you and we feel especially blessed that you’re here to help us celebrate.”

“Free food always draws a crowd,” his dad joked and the gathering laughed.

News editor Joshua Kendle snapped a photo for the weekly newspaper. A baby was a big event in Whisper Falls.

Rose, in Haley’s arms, jerked at the flash and blinked rapidly, bringing another round of chuckles.

“Don’t think she appreciates you much, Josh,” Uncle Digger called.

“She will when I make her a star. Front page.”

“You two hush up and let Creed and Haley have their say before the ice cream melts,” Miss Evelyn said. “Now, go on, Creed. We’re listening.”

“I’ll keep this short and simple. Today my beautiful wife and I—” his eyes twinkled down at her “—officially became parents to a precious gift from God. You already know her story and how she became ours, so without further ado, I’ll introduce you to Rose Elizabeth Carter, our baby girl.”

Haley lifted the baby higher and to the delight of the applauding crowd, Rose waved her pudgy little fingers and babbled something that sounded like “Bye, bye.” Then together they cut the cake and posed for dozens of photos, a memorial to a special day.

As Creed and Haley stood with arms around each other, their daughter between them, she said, “I think Lizzy would be pleased, don’t you?”

“Absolutely. When she’s old enough to understand, I think Rose will be glad she carries her birth mother’s name.” He kissed her nose. “I love you, Mrs. Carter, for thinking of such a sweet gesture.”

Another camera flash went off, but Creed and Haley only had eyes for each other.

“Forever and always?” she murmured, pulse thrumming and soul singing.

“Think you can stand me for that long?”

Whatever happened, happened no longer ruled her life. God did. She knew from recent experience that all things are possible with God.

“Forever.” She sighed and leaned into her flyboy, the man who flew her to the clouds even while her feet remained firmly on the ground. “Forever sounds exactly right.”

* * * * *

Look for award-winning author Linda Goodnight’s
next
Whisper Falls
book later in 2013,
wherever Love Inspired books are sold!

Keep reading for an excerpt from
Plain Admirer
by Patricia Davids

Dear Reader,

Readers often ask where I get my ideas. The truth is,
they come from everywhere but mostly from within my imagination. However,
sometimes, as in the baby’s illness in
Baby in His
Arms,
the situations come from real-life experience. When my grandson
was a few months old, he developed a sudden, frightening respiratory illness. He
was thought to have RSV, a viral infection particularly serious in infants. RSV
can cause pneumonia, bronchitis or other respiratory distress that can even lead
to death. Although my son is a physician, he related his terror to me when his
wife brought the baby into his office. Struggling to breathe, lethargic and
running a high fever, Kade was hospitalized while both sets of grandparents
drove three hours to get to his side. Like Haley and Creed, we prayed. Thank God
Kade recovered quickly from his illness and today is a bright, funny
eight-year-old who has provided me with endless tidbits for my books, including
the scenes of baby Rose in the hospital.

I hope you’ve enjoyed
Baby in His
Arms
and will join me for the next installment of Whisper Falls,
coming soon.

God bless you and keep you in His care.