Justin couldnt say more on Helena. For him to discuss a patient, any patient-he just never did. Not with anyone, even Winona. But he still hadnt taken his eyes off her and didnt want to give her the excuse to shoot past him. Well, at this point, I think everyone on the flights been through here, checked out, even if they seemed to be fine. And the whole town was as shook up as the passengers on that flight, it seems like, because people were flooding in right and left.
You didnt hear what caused the emergency landing, did you?
On that he had to lift his eyebrows. I was just going to ask you that, Ms. Police Officer. If anyone had answers, I figure it would be the cops first.
You didnt hear what caused the emergency landing, did you?
On that he had to lift his eyebrows. I was just going to ask you that, Ms. Police Officer. If anyone had answers, I figure it would be the cops first.
Well, normally Id be elbowing my way to the middle of the mess from the start, she admitted wryly, but I got sidetracked.
When she lifted the corner of the pale pink flannel blanket for him to get a peek, Justin finally figured out what the emotion was in her eyes. Fierceness. The fierce protectiveness of a mama lion for her cub, or a mama eagle for her eaglet. There was nothing strange about thinking of Win and motherhood, or of her wanting to be a mom, but it just hadnt crossed his mind before what a major thing it might be for her. His knuckles-almost accidentally-brushed her hand when he touched the babys cheek.
Dont tell me anyone hurt this darling, or Ill have to go out and kill someone, he said gently.
Her voice melted. Oh, God. Justin. Thats exactly how I felt. Isnt she beautiful?
Considering she was swaddled up with nothing showing but about two inches of face and some blond spriggy hairs, Justin was hard-pressed to use the word beautiful. On the baby. Whats the story?
Her names Angel. I ran out my front door this morning, headed for the crash site-Wayne called me around seven in the morning-and there she was. In a basket on the doorstep. With a note saying her name was Angel and asking me, specifically, to take care of her.
Justin felt his pulse still. This isnt the first time youve had to handle an abandoned kid, he said carefully.
No, of course not. But this babys so young that obviously I had to bring her here first. Im sure you know the beat. This day and age, a deserted baby could mean drugs or AIDS or all kinds of things in the childs background-so before we can do anything else, we have to know the state of the childs health for sure.
And?
And Dr. Julian gave her a terrific bill of health. Just under three months old, he thought.
So, the next step is? He was watching her face, not the babys.
Finding the mother, of course. Its not like Royal is that huge. And if anyone has a birds-eye view to kids in trouble, its got to be me in my job. So if anyone can track down the parents, Ive got the best shot.
Uh-huh. And where will the baby go in the meantime?
Her head shot up. Blue eyes blazed on his. I spent years in foster care, she said belligerently.
I know you did.
The systems overcrowded. Even in an area this wealthy, theres no answer for it. Adoption is at least a possibility for a blond, blue-eyed baby-but not for this one, not for some time. Even if I run a hundred miles an hour and get answers zip-fast, theres still no way to rush a-
Win, you sound like youre fighting with a judge in a court of law. Youre just talking to me. Whats the deal here? I take it you want to keep the baby?
Her shoulders sank, losing all that tough stiffness. And again her eyes got that softness, that terribly fierce vulnerability that hed never seen before. No ones going to let me keep her. Im single. And Im working full-time besides. But right now-especially today-the towns in chaos because of the Asterland jet crash. So the only thing that makes sense-
Justin heard his code paged on the loudspeaker. An orderly pushed past both of them to clean up the examining room. Bodies were still hustling in both directions, they were blocking the hallway-and the baby suddenly opened her rosebud mouth, yawned, and blinked open sleepy, priceless, exquisite blue eyes.
He looked at the babyand then at Winona again. Weve both got our hands full right now, he said casually. How about if I stop by for a short visit right after dinner?
You dont have to do that.
Oh yeah, he thought, he definitely did.
Three
Just as Winona lifted a fork to her mouth, she heard the babys thin cry. Somehow thered been no time for lunch. Now it looked as if the odds werent too hot on sneaking some dinner, either. Not that she minded. Who needed food? Dropping the fork with a clatter, she charged toward the living room. Im coming, Angel! Im coming!
Well, shoot. It wasnt quite that easy-as a woman or a temporary mom-to deliver on those optimistic words. Although it was only the distance of a fast gallop between the kitchen and the living room, reaching the baby was becoming more challenging by the hour.
Shed only called a couple of neighbors that afternoon, but it seemed that the news about the baby had spread and help had been pouring in nonstop. The whole neighborhood was kid-studded-which was one of the reasons shed chosen to buy her house here-and almost everyone had some baby gear stored in their garages or back rooms. Buying anything would have been silly: Winona had no idea how long she would be allowed to keep the baby. But her neighbors loans had been extravagantly generous. She had to dodge a half-dozen car seats, a couple of high chairs, several playpens and walkers, backpacks, front packs, diaper bags, toys, enough blankets to warm a child in the Arctic, and heaps of baby clothes. Finally she reached the white wicker bassinet with the pink quilted lining.
Inside was the princess, who happened to be garbed in her fifth outfit of the day. Winona figured they surely wouldnt go through quite so many clothes tomorrow. She was getting close to mastering disposable diapers.
There, there. There, there She picked up the precious bundle, and started the crooning, patting and rocking movements that seemed to be the eternal song of mothers. But on the inside, panic started to ooze through her nerves.
Are we hungry, sweetheart? Wet? Do you want the TV on? Off? More lights, less lights? More noise, less noise? Are you cold? Constipated-no, come to think of it, Im positive thats not a problem. Are you mad? Bored? Sick? Sad? Whatever it is, Ill fix it, I swear. Just dont cry. There, there. There, there, love
The panic was new. All day, shed been in seventh heaven. Babies had been on her hearts agenda for a long time, and no, of course Angel wasnt hers and wasnt likely to be for long. Winona was trying her best to be completely realistic about that. It was justcarrying the little one around had seemed as natural as breathing. Thered been a thousand things to do, starting with taking the baby to the hospital for a checkup, then carting her back to the station, talking to Wayne, then claiming some computer time, then calling some moms in the neighborhood before stopping at a store for supplies. The busier she was, the more the baby seemed to love it. But then theyd come home.
Alone.
And Angel had lived up to her name tag all day until, it sure seemed, the point when Winona realized she was alone with the baby. And knew nothing about child care. The baby had barely let out a peep all day, but now she seemed to be scaling up every few minutes. The darling either desperately missed her real mother, or Angel had suddenly figured out that she was stuck with a complete rookie.
The doorbell rang. Winona whipped around, thinking, please, God, not another car seat or another well-meant baby blanket. Hunger was starting to set in. Exhaustion.
A nightmare-strength panic.
Before she could reach the front door, the knob rattled and Justin poked his head in. Her pulse promptly soared ten feet. There was no stopping it. So typically, even after a long workday, he looked as revved as the satin-black Porsche in her drive. He stepped in like a vital burst of energy, his face wind-stung, his eyes snapping life, his grin teasing her before hed even said a word. Win? Are you there-well, I can see youre there. And a little on the busy side, huh?
I never thought you meant it about coming over! Come in, come in! She wished shed had a chance to brush her hair and put on lipstick, but what was the difference? It was just Justin. And no matter how mercilessly he ended up teasing her, she was thrilled to see him. What do you know about babies? she called over the caterwauling.
Nothing.
Never mind. She didnt care what he knew or didnt know. She closed the door with him firmly on the inside. He was still another body. She wasnt alone. Youre a doctor, you have to know something-
Yeah, Ive been trying to tell my patients that for a long time. He peeled off his sheepskin jacket, took a step toward her living room and froze. Holy cow. Did you have a cattle drive in here this afternoon?
Very funny. Its just baby gear. Loans from the neighbors. Now listen, Justin, whether you know anything or not-you could hold her for a second, couldnt you? I just need a minute. Time to get some dry diapers and fresh clothes and a bottle warmed up-
Okay.
It wont take me long to do any of that stuff-
Okay.
Dont panic because shes crying. Shes really a darling. I just have to figure out whats wrong. Thats all there is to it. You figure out whats wrong, you fix it, she quits-
Hey, Win. Could you try and believe its okay? I really did come over to help.
Its not that she didnt believe Justin. It was just that his offer to help seemed so unlikely. The town may have labeled Justin a devil-may-care bachelor, but Winona had always known better than that. Something had happened to him in Bosnia, because hed come back a different person-quieter, more closed in, and hed left his once-loved trauma medicine specialty in favor of plastic surgery. But his reputation as a surgeon spanned the southwest. His participation with the Texas Cattlemans Club was another unrecognized involvement. And shed never forgotten meeting him back when she was twelve, on the first day shed been fostered with the Gerards. To her, hed been the best-looking teenage guy in the universe. Even that young, hed had the sexiest eyes. The laziest drawl in Texas. A way of looking at a woman. And a way of picking up a little girl-and her bike-from the sidewalk, and somehow making her skinned pride feel better in spite of impossible odds.