“I’ve always said that it didn’t matter to me who the biological father was of any of my children. They’ll all belong to you, Jack, and Adam, no matter what, despite the fact they bear the Warner name. Emma and I worked out a probable window when this baby was conceived so she could calculate the due date. Curiosity got the best of me and I went back and looked at that calendar. I…I kept track of when we made love.”
Ethan’s eyebrows rose slightly. “And?”
“You and I had the house to ourselves on the conception date. It looks like we made this baby.”
“Mine?” he said, a soft, vulnerable smile growing on his handsome face that made her heart ache with love. “He’s mine? Ours?”
“Yeah. I hope nobody minds that I went back and checked. It really didn’t matter to me, as long as the baby was okay, but I got curious.”
“It’ll be our secret. How about that?”
“For now, anyway. I’m hoping he’ll look just like his handsome father.”
She lifted the pretty cupcake from the box. The mouthwatering scent of the frosting Cassie Resendez made always reminded her of her wedding day. She peeled the paper back and nibbled the edge of the cupcake and then held it so he could take a bite, too. Then he kissed her again. “Congratulations, Daddy.”
He looked down as he smiled and smoothed the blanket over her thigh and said, “Know what we ought to do?”
“What?”
“I remember you saying that you hoped that you had a baby from each of us at some point.”
“Yes. I’d love to have at least one from each of you if at all possible.”
Ethan gazed into her eyes and said, “When you’re ready to try next time, let’s skew it to Jack’s advantage. Adam wouldn’t object and I know I wouldn’t either. The two of us could use condoms to make sure, if you’d like. Since he’s the one who brought the four of us together, it seems right.”
“I think that’s a wonderful idea. Not to change the subject, but has there been any word about Patterson’s condition? Any improvement?” Her heart ached at the thought of such a vibrant and strong man’s life being cut short, and for the pain the people closest to him were suffering.
Ethan shook his head, his blue eyes reflecting her sadness.
A soft knock sounded at the door but she didn’t hear the door click open. Ethan went to the door and opened it. With limited mobility in the bed, she couldn’t see around the corner but heard a soft female voice and then Ethan said, “Hi, Presley Ann, how are you?”
“I’m fine. Is this a bad time?” she asked quietly as though she was afraid of waking Grace.
Ethan backed up and motioned her in. “This is a fine time. Come in.”
Presley Ann peeked around the corner and smiled. “Hi.”
Grace smiled back and beckoned her into the room. With shyness Grace still thought of as uncharacteristic, Presley Ann entered the room clutching a little gift bag. She couldn’t help but notice there were dark circles under her eyes as though she hadn’t slept. “I hope I didn’t interrupt your visit.”
Grace shook her head and Ethan grabbed the chair from the corner and moved it closer and ushered Presley Ann into it. “Not at all, Presley Ann. I’ll leave you ladies to your conversation. Gracie, enjoy your cupcake and I’ll see you at lunchtime.”
He kissed her and then made his exit as she turned to her visitor. Presley Ann said, “I heard about the accident. I’m so glad you and Charity and Justine are all right.”
“Thank you,” Grace replied. She told Presley Ann what she was able to about the accident and Charity and Justine’s conditions, and after they’d moved on to pleasantries and the weather conditions the room went quiet. It wasn’t an awkward silence but Grace had the impression that Presley Ann had something she wanted to say but she couldn’t quite work up to it.
Presley Ann looked down at the bag in her hands as though just realizing it was there. “Oh, I brought you something.”
The first decent conversation she’d ever had with Presley Ann had been the day before in the dress department at Stigall’s. While she could say that was certainly enough to begin a genuine friendship with her, she wasn’t sure how to begin with her. Presley Ann seemed to need a friend.
She accepted the gift graciously but kept quiet, thinking it wasn’t necessary for Presley Ann to bring a gift for them to be friends. Maybe her other friends had been like that. Having learned a little about human nature, Grace waited for Presley Ann to either become comfortable enough to open up or uncomfortable enough to confess if she had a motive. It was up to her. At least it would be out there.