Having Adam's Baby

“Yeah, I visited Walter and Mavis at the nursing home back in April.” Adam crossed his arms over his chest. “The staff said his condition requires round-the-clock care.”

Elise nodded. “Mavis sold their home in town and moved to a small apartment in Cheyenne near the facility. She goes every day to see him. She sits for hours and reads or talks to him. Losing their only child … I can’t even begin to imagine their heartbreak.”

“With Scott’s death and Walter unable to be involved with Coggen Motors any longer, Walter’s partner took over the entire business. All six dealerships,” his father added.

“You mean he bought out the Coggens’ and Fay’s shares?” Adam asked.

Again with the shared looks between his parents.

“Honey, you know what a thriving gossip chain Destiny has.” His mother finally spoke. “There have been rumors that Fay’s been dealing with—”

“Well, look who’s here!” Alastair Murphy’s booming voice cut off whatever his wife was about to say. “Welcome, Fay.”

Adam turned.

Fay stood in the entry area near the receptionist desk, balancing two flower arrangements in her arms and a surprised expression on her face. She looked very different from yesterday. Today she wore a dress, sweater and heels, all in matching shades of pink, with her curly hair lying in soft waves to her shoulders.

“Ah, hello.” Her gaze darted between Adam and his parents until she focused on him again. “The front doors were unlocked, so I came in thinking Bryant or Liam might still be … Well, I didn’t expect any of you to be here.”

Adam started toward her, registering the same exhaustion on her face, but his mother hurried past him and reached Fay first.

“My, aren’t these pretty? They’re the silk arrangements we talked about for the upstairs rooms, right?” She took one of the flower-filled vases out of Fay’s arms, cradled it in her own and gave Fay a quick hug. “Oh, Al and I got back from our adventures just a little while ago. Everyone is out back fixing dinner for us. And for Adam! As you can see, Adam’s home!”

Fay gave his mother a gentle smile. The simple act transformed her features, as if someone had finally turned a light on inside of her. The unexpected change caused Adam to stop midstride.

It was the first time in years he’d seen a real smile from her. Not since Scott had shocked her—and Adam—by following in his footsteps to join the Air Force six years ago.

His friend had come to him to talk about his plans, after another night of drinking at the Blue Creek, but Adam had been too caught up in his own hell at the time with Julia to do anything but get his buddy home in one piece. By the time he’d finally surfaced from the mess of his divorce, Scott had completed boot camp and had been assigned to his reserve unit.

After that, his friendship with Fay cooled. When Scott had received orders for a tour overseas it had disappeared entirely.

“Yes, I do see that,” Fay replied to his mother, then she turned to look at him. “Welcome home, Adam.”

Her smile looked forced now. But Adam decided he would take what he could get even when she turned her attention to his father.

“Al, it’s nice to have you and Elise back in Destiny, too.”

“It’s good to be home,” his father said. “You’ll stay for dinner?”

Fay shook her head. “No, thank you. I just wanted to drop these off before I headed back to my shop. I’d planned to come by this morning on my way to Ch-Cheyenne, but I was running late.”

Did she go down to Cheyenne to visit with her former in-laws? Is that why she looked like she’d been put through a wringer?

“You sure you can’t stay?” Adam asked, wanting the chance to spend more time with her. “We’d love to have you with us.”

She looked at him for a long moment, an unreadable emotion in her eyes. “No, I can’t stay.”

Her words had an edge to them Adam couldn’t understand. She seemed almost angry. Because of their reunion yesterday? That hadn’t gone the way he wanted, but Fay had charged out of his place so fast, he’d barely had time to gather his thoughts.

“Oh, I think these beautiful blooms are going to match with the quilt in the suite upstairs perfectly!” Elise chimed in, breaking the silence. “I’m going to head up and see for myself. Be back in a jiffy!”

Adam grinned, watching his mother dash away. Some people walked, but Elise had always moved at a speed that spoke of a mother who raised six boys. “She’s been keeping you busy, hasn’t she?”

“Fay’s actually helping out with the model homes,” Al said. “We contracted her about six months ago to provide arrangements for the homes, guest quarters and the office. She now oversees the exterior landscaping as well.”

This was news to Adam. Even though he wasn’t involved in the day-to-day running of the business, he was surprised no one in the family mentioned it in their letters. “I guess that means you’re the one responsible for my new front yard as well?”

“I just added a few bushes and flowers to enhance the trees and lawn.” Fay looked down, her attention on the silk flowers in her arms. “Otherwise, it was just cleaning and straightening up.”

“And new curtains, dishes and bedding.” Adam rattled off the list of changes that had finally registered when he took the time to really see all the work Fay had done. “Sort of a mini Extreme Makeover.”

Her gaze shot back to his, uncertainty in her hazel eyes. “I kept asking your mother in our emails if she included you in any of the decorating changes. I’m sorry if there’s something you don’t like.”

“I like it, Fay, all of it. You went above and beyond by getting my father to part with his treasured oil painting.”

Adam had been stunned to find the original artwork depicting wild horses racing across an open field, the work of his great-grandfather, the first Alistair Murphy, hanging over his desk in the third bedroom.

“I’ve been after him for years to part with that painting. Believe me, I like everything you did to my home.”

The doubt in her eyes gave way to a sparkle of delight. A rush of male pride filled his chest that his words were the reason why.

“Nolan and Liam came over and hung it themselves.” Fay smiled as she nodded in his father’s direction. “They said your dad insisted it belonged in the home of a rancher.”

Adam’s chest swelled at that bit of news, knowing the gesture represented more than just the handing down of a family heirloom.

Alistair Murphy cleared his throat. “Yes, well, I’m sure your brothers are fighting over control of the spatula by now. Time for me to play referee.” He gave his son a genial pat on the shoulder before he walked away. “Son, do your best to change the lady’s mind, okay?”

Adam waited until his dad left before deciding to take his advice. Suddenly he wanted nothing more than to share his homecoming celebration with her as well as his family. “So, what can I do to get you to stay?”

“N-nothing. I need—” Her smile faded and she brushed past him, heading for the stairs. “I’m going to take this other arrangement up to your mother and then go home.”

“Fay.” He followed, catching her as she started up the steps. “Please, wait. I want to talk to you.”

She paused on the third riser. “It’s been a long day, I missed lunch and talking is the last thing—”

“Okay, don’t talk, just listen.”

Shaking her head, she put one foot on the next step.

“I’m sorry.” He followed, suddenly determined to say what he should’ve said before she walked out of his house. “About yesterday. I never should’ve pushed you about your business or money or … or about what happened between us.”

She whirled around, gripping the handrail with one hand. “Shh! Someone might hear—” Her voice broke and she closed her eyes. “Someone might …”

The sudden paleness of her features and the slight sway of her body sent off alarms inside him. Adam skipped two steps to get to her. “Fay, what is it? What’s wrong?”

Her eyes fluttered a few times as she struggled to open them before she went boneless in his arms.

“Oh, my!” Elise called out. “Fay!”