Wanted: Parents for a Baby! (15 page)

The projected mortgage plus property taxes was only about two hundred more than what she was paying in rent now.

She could do this. She really might be able to do this!

Cassie called the real estate agent listed on the website and left a message, stating she wanted to see the property as soon as possible. Then she clicked through the photos again, thinking that the townhouse was the perfect place for her and Emma.

And she had no doubt she'd be able to convince Mr. Davies to make an exception for her.

As she headed over to Gloria's building, she battled the need to call Ryan to share her good news.

But she didn't.

The excitement of being Emma's foster mother paled when she realized just how
much she'd come to depend on Ryan's emotional support.

And how much she missed his support now that it was gone.

* * *

Ryan finished packing the last box in the back of his buddy's pickup truck, swiping a hand over his forehead in relief. Once this load had been hauled away, he'd be one step closer to getting rid of the albatross around his neck.

Simon came around the pickup to meet Ryan. “Is that everything?”

“Yes. Are you sure you don't mind taking it for me? I'd be happy to make the run over there myself.”

“No problem.” Simon waved away his offer. “Let me know if you need anything else.”

“I don't, unless you know someone who wants to buy this place,” he said wryly.

Simon made a face. “Sorry, man, but Holly's pregnant again and this place isn't exactly child-friendly.”

Ryan couldn't blame his buddy considering they already had a three-year-old son who was constantly getting into everything. “Never mind. Thanks again.”

“Okay, see you later.”

Ryan watched as Simon jumped into the
cab of the pickup truck, which slowly lumbered away.

Finishing up with the house had kept his mind busy, but now that he had the rest of the day stretching before him, thoughts of Cassie came flooding back. He'd come close to calling her at least a dozen times that morning, and the urge to do so again was strong.

He wanted to apologize for walking away, although at the same time he knew he'd wouldn't be able to live with himself until he'd told her the truth. The entire truth.

When had he become so dependent on Cassie to get through the day?

Since Emma. The safe-haven baby had been the catalyst to draw them together.

But his past was keeping them apart.

Trammel had called to let him know that they were still trying to track down the Oliver Stevenson from Illinois. Interestingly enough, the address listed on Trey's oxycodone prescription was also an abandoned office building in yet another strip mall just over the Wisconsin/Illinois border. Ryan was depressed that they'd hit another dead end.

Thankfully Trammel was like a dog with a bone, determined to get to the bottom of where exactly the prescription had come from.

Since Trammel didn't need his help, his thoughts swirled back to Cassie. The memory of their lovemaking kept looping over and over again in his mind, making him want nothing more than to have her again. He knew she'd been with him, too, begging for him to take her. Their lovemaking had been an experience that had pretty much blown him away.

Stop it
, he told himself firmly. No matter how much he wanted Cassie, he'd been the one to walk away. He'd taken the easy way out, too cowardly to tell her the truth.

Would she give him a second chance? Even though he didn't deserve it?

And what if her feelings changed once she knew the real him?

Ryan's head pounded with indecision. He showered, shaved and changed his clothes, before reaching for his phone. They needed to be able to work together so he sucked in a deep breath and called Cassie. When she didn't answer, he decided against leaving a voice mail message.

Really, it would be better to talk to her in person. Without giving himself a chance to think too much, he headed out to the convertible.

With any luck, she'd be at her apartment.

But, of course, she didn't answer the door. Dejected, he turned away, wondering if she was avoiding him.

He didn't want to go back home, and since it was close to lunchtime he decided to stop and grab something to eat. Driving past the Sunshine Café, he did a double take when he saw Cassie standing next to Gloria as they waited for a table to be cleared. She looked happy, even laughing at something Gloria had said.

His stomach clenched painfully as he realized Cassie was doing fine without him. She wasn't upset about the way he'd left last night after all.

He forced himself to face the truth. That she might not be as emotionally involved in what had transpired between them.

Not the same way he'd been.

* * *

Cassie caught a glimpse of Ryan's red convertible, but before she could move, either toward him or away from him, he was gone.

There was no reason to be disappointed. He'd walked away last night and clearly didn't plan to apologize anytime soon.

And maybe putting distance between them was for the best.

While she and Gloria waited for their table to be cleared, she subtly checked her phone, hoping the real estate agent who had listed the townhouse had called her back.

Andrea Langley hadn't responded, but Cassie did find a missed call from Ryan.

She stared at the screen in shock. And despite her earlier vow to stay away from him, a warm glow spread through her at the fact that he'd tried to get in touch with her.

Maybe he did want to apologize after all. And if she was honest, she'd admit that Ryan wasn't the only one with secrets. Maybe they needed to clear the air between them once and for all.

“Hello, Cass, are you listening?” Gloria said in exasperation.

“What? Oh, sorry. What did you say?”

Gloria rolled her eyes. “I asked how our safe-haven baby was doing.”

“She's had a rough couple of days, but she's doing better,” Cassie said. She leaned forward and propped her elbows on the table. “Remember I told you how I'm trying to become a foster parent? Turns out I need a
two-bedroom place or to get special approval from the administrator, first.”

Gloria's jaw dropped open. “You're kidding.”

“Nope, and, worse, the administrator is out of the office until next week. There aren't any two-bedroom apartments open at our place, so I've been scouring websites for potential houses. Right now, there isn't much out there that I can afford.”

“Maybe you should hold off, Cass,” Gloria said, her eyes reflecting her concern. “Seems drastic to do all this when you don't know for sure you'll even have the chance to take care of Emma.”

Cassie frowned, dejected by her friend's doom-and-gloom attitude. “Important things are never easy,” she said, glancing down at her menu. Ironically, her appetite had returned with a vengeance. “Hmm, the grilled chicken sandwich looks awesome.”

“It sure does. I should have a salad, but what the heck. Let's go for it.” Gloria shoved her menu aside, as if just looking at it would change her mind.

“Okay. And I can vouch for the homemade chips, they're amazing.”

“Really?” Gloria raised a brow. “I didn't realize you've eaten here before.”

Cassie blushed, remembering the burger she'd had with Ryan. “Just once,” she said. “Although I'm not sure why we haven't come here more often. This café is close enough to our apartment building.”

Her phone rang and she pulled it out of her lap, her heart racing when she recognized the number of the Realtor. “Sorry, Gloria, I have to take this,” she said hastily.

“Hello, this is Cassandra Jordan,” she answered, rising to her feet and moving off to the side so she wouldn't bother anyone.

“Andrea Langley. I understand you're interested in seeing the townhouse on Lavender Drive?”

“Yes, I am,” Cassie said firmly. “Can we set up a time to view it as soon as possible?”

“Yes. How about three o'clock this afternoon?”

Cassie's heart sank. “I start work at three. Could we meet at two instead?”

“Sure. I'll switch things around so I can meet you there at two o'clock.”

“Great, thanks.” Cassie disconnected from the call, tempted to do another little happy dance.

She managed to restrain herself, but as she turned back toward Gloria she caught a glimpse of Lydia, the cane lady.

It was starting to be uncanny the way she kept bumping into this woman, and Cassie headed over with steely determination.

“Hello, Ms. Lydia. How are you doing this afternoon?”

“Oh, I'm fine, just fine.” Lydia looked flustered, although Cassie wasn't sure why. This woman seemed to be following her, not the other way around.

And suddenly Cassie was tired of playing games.

“Do you want an update on Emma's condition?” she asked bluntly. “Because I know you're related to that baby in some way.”

Lydia opened her mouth and then closed it again without saying anything. She looked down at her cane and then dragged her gaze back up to meet Cassie's. “I have rheumatoid arthritis, and my doctor says that my physical condition is going to deteriorate rapidly over the next year or two.”

Cassie wasn't sure why this poor woman was telling her this. “I'm sorry, that must have been very difficult to hear. Isn't there
any treatment or medications available that might help?”

Lydia shrugged. “Steroids and anti-inflammatory medications, which I'm already taking. And physical therapy, which I attend three mornings a week.”

“That's encouraging,” Cassie said, sitting down in the empty chair beside Lydia. “I've heard physical therapy can work wonders.”

Lydia scowled down at her tea. “I haven't been impressed, considering I'm going to have to give up my cane for a walker soon. I've already fallen once. If I have another fall, I'm stuck with the stupid walker.”

“I'm sorry,” Cassie said helplessly. She truly did feel bad for this woman. She couldn't imagine what it must be like to know what physical limitations one was facing.

“None of that is the point,” Lydia said in a feisty tone. Cassie had to give the woman credit for not letting her bleak prognosis get her down. “You asked me before if I knew Emma's mother, and I lied to you. I do know her. Emma's mother is my niece. My sister died several years ago and Avery—well, let's just say she's made a lot of bad decisions over the past few years.”

Cassie didn't interrupt, silently encouraging the woman to talk.

“You see, Avery delivered in the hospital, but then left the very next day, without any support other than her boyfriend. And then she drove up here to ask for my help in raising the baby. But she also made it clear she wasn't going to stick around.” Lydia's anguish was etched on her features. “It almost killed me, but as much as I wanted to take care of little Emma, I'm not physically able to. So I encouraged Avery to drop her off at the hospital. Giving Emma up as a safe-haven baby was the only option.”

Cassie reached over and took Lydia's hand in hers. “You and Avery made the right decision,” she said softly. “Emma is going to be fine. The doctor is hoping to take her breathing tube out soon, maybe even today. She's going to find a home with a lucky family one day soon, I promise.”

“Thank you,” Lydia said, tears welling in her eyes. “Thank you for taking such good care of my great-niece.”

Cassie battled tears, too. “I'm taking good care of Emma. In fact, I'm hoping to become her foster mother, so I can take care of her, forever.”

Saying the words out loud made them seem all the more real. But she didn't regret telling Lydia her dream.

She hoped the news would give the older woman some peace.

R
YAN HEADED DOWN
the highway that hugged the coastline of Lake Michigan, trying to talk himself out of going back to the Sunshine Café, but it was no use. He couldn't find it in him to stay away.

He desperately wanted to talk to Cassie, to apologize for leaving. And to tell her the truth, so that she knew everything about him, once and for all.

He made a U-turn so he could head back to Cedar Bluff. Maybe Cassie had moved on. Maybe she didn't need him the way he needed her. Maybe he was only doing this for himself, but he knew he wouldn't be able to move forward until he'd apologized. He parked his car a couple of blocks down and walked along the café's outdoor seating area. When he caught sight of Cassie talking to Lydia, he quickened his pace.

“Take care, Ms. Lydia,” Cassie said, rising to her feet. “Remember, you have my phone number now, so call if you need something.”

“I will, dear, thank you.”

He approached, glancing warily between them. It seemed as if their conversation was amicable, but what had changed? “Hi, Cassie. Is everything okay?”

Her smile didn't quite meet her eyes. “Absolutely. Ms. Lydia, you remember Dr. Murphy? He's one of the doctors caring for Emma.”

“Yes, of course. How are you, Dr. Murphy?” Lydia held out her hand to Ryan. “Forgive me for not standing up, but my old bones are a bit achy today.”

“Please, sit and relax,” Ryan said, raising a curious eyebrow toward Cassie. He couldn't imagine what had changed since the last time they'd tried to speak to the woman.

“Ms. Lydia was just telling me that she's Emma's great-aunt,” Cassie said, answering his unspoken question. “Her niece, Avery, has had some trouble and it was Ms. Lydia who told her to bring Emma to the hospital as a safe-haven baby.”

“I see,” Ryan murmured, turning back toward Lydia. “That was a wonderful thing you
and Avery did. Thank you so much for giving Emma a chance at a better life.”

“I would have kept Emma myself if not for this stupid rheumatoid arthritis,” Lydia said with real regret in her eyes. “But I'm glad to hear Emma is doing okay. I've been so worried about the baby.”