His Unexpected Family (17 page)
Chapter Twenty-One
T
hat evening, Greg lay on his couch at home, one arm over his eyes. It had been a long day. He’d been up late the night before, driving the two hours back to Haggerston after his visit with Senator Lindgren, and then he’d been up early for the hearing. Now he felt the comfort of his couch against his tired back, but his mind wouldn’t stop turning.
Jessica Shaw hadn’t been the wild child he’d assumed she was. He liked being proven wrong in things like that, but another part of her story was nagging at him: her rejection. She’d been upset coming back to her hometown, and her emotional state probably had a lot to do with the accident. She just hadn’t been as alert as she could have been—a split-second decision made a split second too late. She’d been rejected by her boyfriend, but people recovered from breakups. The rejection that probably ate away at her was the parental one. Her own father had rejected her, given her money to go away and leave him alone.
Greg sighed. He’d lost his dad, too, but he’d never doubted that his father loved him. There was a difference there. He could remember sitting with his dad on the step of their little house, looking out at the sidewalk. His dad would just sit there with him in silence, for the most part. They liked to watch the shadows lengthen. There were times even now when he’d sit on the step to his house and look out at the drive that led to the road. It wasn’t the same view as when he was young, but if he closed his eyes he could almost feel the solid warmth of his father sitting next to him.
The phone rang, and Greg reached blindly for it and picked it up.
“Hello?”
“Chief?” It was Fran. “We’ve got a bit of a situation here. Your mom is pretty upset.”
Greg swung his legs around and sat up, blinking himself back into wakefulness. “What’s happening?”
“She won’t calm down. It’s been getting worse lately, Chief. What would you like us to do?”
In the background he could hear his mother’s voice rising above the din. She was afraid. He could hear the fear in her voice, and he rammed his feet into his shoes.
“I’m on my way,” he said. “I’ll be there soon.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
Greg hung up the phone and immediately dialed again. “Hi, Emily? I wonder if you’d be willing to do me that favor?”
* * *
Emily pulled into the nursing-home parking lot. The sun had set, and Cora snoozed comfortably in her car seat. With the pressure gone now, Emily felt as if she was riding a wave of love and thankfulness. They belonged together—the court had ruled in her favor. On Monday, she already had an appointment with her lawyer to start the process of legally adopting Cora.
Greg stood by the doors to the nursing home, waiting for her. When he saw her drive in, he raised his hand in a wave and walked in the direction she turned to park. He met her at her door and held it open while she hopped out.
“Is she okay?” Emily asked.
“Not really. She’s upset. I convinced them to wait for us before they sedate her. I want to at least try.”
Emily nodded and pulled open the rear door, leaning in to pull out Cora, still asleep in her car seat.
“We should hurry.” He reached toward the car seat. “Do you want a hand?”
“No, thanks.” She grinned up at him. “I’m okay.”
He smiled back, and she sensed he understood. As they made their way back toward the front door, she tried not to lean into his warm arm. There was no need to make being just friends harder than it had to be. He pulled the door open for her, and as they stepped inside Emily could hear the cries of an old woman. She wasn’t angry; she was weeping, frightened, and her heart immediately melted. Looking up at Greg, she saw tears mist his eyes.
The nurse met them at the door.
“You’re here. Thank goodness.”
“Fran,” Emily said quietly. “Would you hold Cora for me for a few minutes?”
Fran smiled tenderly down at the baby. “My pleasure. She and I will just wait for you here in the hall.”
Emily turned to Greg uncertainly. “What do you want me to do?” This was his mother, and she knew how desperately he wanted to help, but she wasn’t sure what he even wanted from her.
“Just go in first. She’s more comfortable with women. She won’t remember you, but I think she’ll be calmer with you here.”
Emily nodded and tapped softly on the door.
“Hello?” she called.
The sobbing lessened, and as Emily came into the room she saw the little woman on her bed, her legs pulled up against her chest and her gray hair hanging down into her reddened eyes. An orderly stood to the side, but he wasn’t bothering her at all—just standing there, making sure she didn’t hurt herself.
“Where’s my mommy?” Greg’s mother whispered. “I want my mommy and daddy.”
She’d slipped back years to her childhood, and Emily felt a wave of pity. She moved slowly toward the bed, then sat down on the edge. Greg came in after, but he hung back.
“What’s your name?” Emily asked softly.
“Laura.”
“I’m Emily.”
Laura sniffed and wiped her nose against her hand. “It’s dark,” she said.
“I know. Are you afraid of the dark?”
Laura nodded. “I don’t know where my mommy and daddy are.”
“They aren’t far away,” Emily said. “They’ll be here soon. Don’t worry.”
“Who’s that?”
Emily glanced back at Greg. He stood there looking at his mother, his eyes filled with sadness.
“That’s my friend Greg. He knows your daddy really well. He’s come here to be with you until your daddy can come.”
“Oh.” Laura looked up hopefully. “You know my daddy?”
Greg nodded, swallowing hard. “Yes, I know him well. Are you okay...Laura?” He stumbled over his mother’s first name, but he took a step forward. Emily stood up, making room for him.
“I’m okay.” Her voice still quavered. “I don’t like the dark.”
“Oh, it isn’t so bad,” Greg said softly. “Did you know that even in the dark, there are stars to light our way?”
He looked over at Emily, a small smile on his lips, and she felt her own eyes misting with tears. It was a small thing, but if her own father’s tenderness when she had been afraid of the dark could help Greg’s mother, she was grateful.
“So it isn’t so scary, then?” Laura asked hopefully.
“That’s right.” He sat down next to her. “It’s not so scary. There is always a twinkling star looking down at you. That’s why God made them—so you’d never be in the dark.”
His mother wiped her hair out of her eyes and then looked up at Greg hopefully. “My daddy hugs me when I’m scared.”
“Do you...?” Greg looked at her tentatively. “Do you want a hug from me?”
She nodded, her eyes still brimming with unshed tears. Greg carefully put his arms around her, and she leaned her gray head against his strong chest. Tears welled up in his eyes, and his chin quivered. He gently laid his cheek against the top of her hair and let out a deep sigh.
“It’s going to be okay,” he said softly. “Why don’t you close your eyes now, and I’ll hold you while you go to sleep?”
She obediently closed her eyes. She was exhausted, and as he held her, rocking her gently back and forth, he softly hummed that old familiar tune:
twinkle, twinkle, little star. How I wonder what you are...
Emily moved back to the door, leaving the two of them alone. Taking Cora back from Fran with a smile of thanks, she stood in the doorway, watching Greg as he softly sang his mother to sleep. Emily watched him for a long time, and when he finally laid her down on her bed, he kissed her forehead tenderly and turned back toward Emily silently.
They walked back down the hallway together, neither of them saying a word to each other.
“Thanks for coming, Chief,” Fran said before they left. “You’re a good son.”
As they stepped outside, the warm summer air engulfed them with the scent of flowers and the soft hum of insects. Greg looked down at her as they slowly walked back across the parking lot.
“Thank you,” he said quietly. “Thank you so much.”
Emily put her arm through his and rested her head against his shoulder. “It was all you, Greg. She needed you, whether she knew who you were or not.”
“She wanted her daddy.” Greg stopped walking and looked down at Emily. “Did you hear that?”
Emily felt the old sadness welling up inside of her. “I know. Dads are important. I’m not pressuring you, Greg. I understand.”
He chuckled softly. “I don’t think you do.” He guided her toward her SUV and waited while she put Cora into the backseat and lowered the window halfway. When she closed the door and turned toward him, he cleared his throat. “I always thought that losing my dad the way I did was the worst thing that could happen to a child. But then I started trying to find out Jessica’s story. She was looking for her biological father, and when she found him he didn’t want her. He rejected her. That loss—that was worse. I know how much my dad loved me, but Jessica knew the hard truth about the senator. He not only didn’t love her, but was willing to pay her to get rid of her.”
Emily nodded sadly. The warm breeze picked up, ruffling her blouse against her arms, and she ran her fingers through her hair to keep it out of her eyes.
“I know,” she said softly.
“I’ve been trying to protect Cora from going through what I went through, but maybe I should follow my heart instead, and protect her from what Jessica experienced.”
Emily blinked, looking up at him in surprise. “What are you saying, Greg?”
“I’m saying I want to be a family. I want to take care of you two, love you, grow old with you, be there to walk our daughter down the aisle. I’m not her biological father, but I could make up for that.”
Emily felt tears rising in her eyes as she imagined a life with Greg, raising Cora together. He stepped closer, looking down into her face with uncertain, searching eyes.
“But you have to understand,” he went on carefully. “My job is dangerous. Something might happen to me. You could marry someone else and—”
“And what?” She laughed softly. “Wish I’d married you all along?”
A smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “I love you, Emily.”
He lowered his lips onto hers, and she closed her eyes and melted into his kiss. His arms wound around her, and he pulled her close so that she stood on the tips of her toes, her arms twined around his neck. When he pulled back, he touched her nose with his, smiling.
“I love you, too, Greg.” She swallowed nervously. “Now ask me properly.”
Greg laughed softly, the sound reverberating through his strong chest. “Emily Shaw, will you marry me?”
“Yes!” She nodded, laughter bubbling up inside of her. “Yes, I’ll marry you!”
As his lips came down over hers again, she closed her eyes in the starlight, feeling as if the entire world was swirling around her.
Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky.
Her happiness was complete.
* * * * *
If you enjoyed this story by Patricia Johns,
be sure to check out the other books this month
from Love Inspired!
Keep reading for an excerpt from
Plain Admirer
by Patricia Davids
Dear Reader,
This book emerged when I was wishing for
another baby. I think a lot of women can identify with that whisper of longing,
and what’s easier than having a baby dropped off on your doorstep? If you’re a
mom, you just burst out laughing at that line. Tiny babies have a way of taking
over your life regardless of how they arrive.
I’m a novelist who always has a book in process. We live on the
Canadian prairies where the winters are long and frigid, and the summers are hot
and buggy. It’s absolutely perfect because I always have an excellent excuse to
stay in and write.
I’d love to get to know you, too! I’m writing for you, and
connecting with my readers makes that circle complete. So come by my blog at
http://patriciajohnsromance.com
,
or look me up on Facebook under Patricia Johns Romance. I’ll be the one
hammering away on a novel and sharing quirky tidbits from my life. Drop me a
line—I’ll be sure to answer!
Patricia
Questions for Discussion
- Emily loves kids, but isn’t able to have a
baby of her own. Have you ever prayed for something that seemed entirely
hopeless? - Greg was bullied as a child, but he’s able
to help the son of his childhood bully through his own tough adolescent
adjustments. How do you think bullying can affect a person’s life, even
years later? How might God use that painful experience for good? - Greg’s mother suffers from Alzheimer’s, and
has forgotten who he is. Have you ever felt abandoned by a parent? Is it
possible to feel orphaned at the loss of a parent, even as an adult? - Greg is in the position of caring for his
ailing mother, and when she slips back into her childhood in her mind, he’s
finally able to hold his mother and give her a hug. What are some of the
challenges of caring for an aging or ailing parent? What are some of the
blessings in disguise? - When Cora’s mother is killed in a car
accident, Steve and Sara want to raise the baby. Do you think there are
times when good intentions end up causing more pain? - Emily’s father told her that God gave us
stars so we’d never be in the dark. What pinpricks of hope do you find in
tough situations? - Emily tells Greg that now that she’s tasted
motherhood, she can’t be happy without a child of her own. This is a
dividing point for them. Do you have anything in your life that you wouldn’t
be willing to give up for love? - Emily’s best friend Beth is married and
pregnant. Emily is happy for her friend, but it isn’t always easy. Do you
ever struggle with conflicting emotions when a dear friend achieves the very
thing you’ve been longing for? - Emily doesn’t want Cora to grow up without a
close and connected extended family. What benefits does a supportive
extended family offer? What is your extended family like? - Emily longs to raise Cora, but she isn’t the
baby’s closest biological relative. Should this matter? What do you think is
the most important quality in a mother? - Greg doesn’t want to be a father because
he’s afraid his job is too dangerous and he doesn’t want to be killed in the
line of duty and leave a family behind to fend for themselves. Have you ever
made a difficult decision because you wanted to protect the people you
love? - Emily’s cousin Jessica attempts to contact
her biological father only to be rejected by him. He is more concerned with
his career than his daughter. How does your father’s acceptance or rejection
of you affect your self-image? How does your Heavenly Father rectify some of
those hurts?