Because of the Baby(18)

“It’s cool outside,” he remarked as they stepped off the elevator. “Why don’t you wait in the lobby while I bring the car around?”

Lark settled into a seat by the door and he set the diaper bag beside the chair. Before he could leave, she stopped him with a light touch on his arm. “Keaton, I’m sorry about what my father said about Jake. My sister adored your brother.”

He didn’t like her use of the past tense. “I believe she still loves him. I don’t know what’s happened between them these last four years or why he’s not here now, but until I know for certain that my message about Skye and Grace has gotten to him, I’m going to trust that they’re still together and very much in love.”

“I wish I had your faith.”

Her melancholy expression weighed on him as he strode to the parking ramp where he’d left his car. Until he’d approached her about assisting with Grace’s care, she’d never struck him as someone who needed help. Her competent exterior deflected anyone from noticing her vulnerability to harsh words and malicious intent.

Today, watching her in the NICU with the other nurses, seeing her anxiety, had cemented his perception of her as someone he should be taking care of.

The feeling had been building since the day he went with her to buy Grace’s crib, working its way through his subconscious. Now it burst upon him like a solar flare.

Thanks to the land dispute between the Taylors and Holts she might not ever be his friend, but with Baby Grace’s arrival, she’d become his family.

With this fresh insight firmly entrenched in his awareness, Keaton helped Lark settle Grace into her car seat for the ride home.

“I’m going to sit in the back with her,” Lark said, fussing over the straps that secured the tiny infant.

“I’m sure she’ll feel safe with you beside her.” Keaton got behind the wheel and started the truck. As the vehicle eased away from the curb, he worried over every bump in the road. “How is she doing?”

“Great. She’s still asleep.”

“Good.” Silence reigned as Keaton concentrated on navigating the traffic around the hospital. Lark’s house was a ten-minute drive, but it seemed to take twice that long. At last they arrived and began the process of releasing Grace from her safety seat. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about our situation in the last couple days,” he began as Lark unlocked her front door and stepped inside. Keaton followed her with Grace nestled in his arms.

“What situation is that?”

The baby was starting to wake and Lark offered to take her, but Keaton shook his head. Now that he’d grown accustomed to how tiny and fragile she was, he liked snuggling her against his chest and watching her yawn and blink.

“The one where we trade off taking care of Grace.”

“You’ve decided you’re too busy to help out?” She set her hands on her hips and regarded him with resignation. “I think she’s hungry.”

“Then this is a great time for you to show me what goes into one of her bottles.” He waited patiently until she spun on her heel and headed into the kitchen, and then he followed with Grace. He watched how Lark went about measuring the powdered formula and mixing it with water. “Most new mothers get to take off six to twelve weeks off work. You’re only taking a week. I think you’re going to need me around to do more than watch Grace while you’re at the hospital.”

Lark turned with the bottle in her hand and eyed him. “You don’t think I can manage?”

“I think you will wear yourself to the bone trying to take care of Grace and Skye while working full time.”

“My mother already offered to pay for a nanny and I refused.”

Keaton saw the hurt in Lark’s eyes and voiced the idea that had been cooking in his subconscious for several days. “I think I should move in here.”

“Move in?”

It made perfect sense. Ever since the DNA results came back he’d been contemplating how best to stake a claim on Grace for the sake of his brother and the Holt family. Moving in with Lark would prove he was as dedicated to his niece’s welfare as she was.

“You demonstrated last week that your schedule is subject to change,” he pointed out, seeing his logic was encroaching on her doubts.

“That’s true, but it’s not exactly as if you have a lot of time on your hands.”

She was right about that. Between his regular duties at the ranch, the rebuilding efforts there and in town, he was stretched thin.

“Grace is my family. I’m going to do everything in my power to take care of her.”