And Father Makes Three

“Is that a threat, Blake?” she whispered harshly as panic twisted her features. Her gaze darted from him to Jordan’s room.

He felt like a cad, but he had no choice. “It’s a promise.”

When she turned to step away, he put his hand out again. His gaze traveled slowly over her as if he were memorizing her in detail. Keeping his voice low, he ground out the words. “Don’t shut me out, Elizabeth. Please.”

“You can’t meet her. Not now. Not yet.”

“Why not? Doesn’t she know she’s adopted?”

Defeat flickered across her face. “No.”

The knowledge sucker punched him in the gut. “I don’t understand. Tessa—the letter—”

“There’s so much you don’t know, but I don’t feel comfortable talking about it here.”

“Then where would you suggest we go?”

The awareness that his hand lingered on her arm made it difficult for her to breathe or come up with anything to say. All she knew was that she felt inadequate and unworthy of the gift God had given her when the obstetrician placed Jordan in her arms, especially now.

Elizabeth felt the weight of everyone’s stares on the fourth floor even though she knew it to be a figment of her imagination. The kids on the floor would be oblivious to them, and their parents too occupied to care. The staff might notice Blake, who was sure to set the hospital gossip mill into action, but there was nothing she could do about it now.

Inhaling sharply, she held her breath for a few moments to calm the storm raging inside her. She’d get through this as she had every other uncomfortable incident in her life—by sheer force. She gave Blake a fractured smile and found her voice. “We’ll go to the staff break room. This way.”

Once inside the small room, her gaze swept over the hands that knew how to cradle, knew how to comfort, knew how to help. Would they help his daughter? Or was this just an act before he decided to rip Jordan from the only home she’d ever known?

What if he tried to contest the adoption? What if he actually sued for custody? Fear and anguish shredded her composure. Why had her attorney suddenly decided to take an extended vacation? She needed to get Arturo’s phone number from Marcella.

Elizabeth sank down into one of the plastic chairs. “So, where should I start?”

“How about at the part where Jordan doesn’t know she’s adopted? Who made that decision?”

“Tessa. She never told me why, but she was adamant. Even though she remained a part of Jordan’s life until the end, she was always Auntie Tessa. Even after she died, I kept my promise. Jordan can’t find out. I mean, how would you feel if you found out your whole life was a lie? That the mom raising you—” Elizabeth clenched her hands into fists. “I have to protect her. At any cost.”

Blake acknowledged her words but remained silent.

Elizabeth reached for his hand. His warmth permeated her skin and an unexplainable energy passed between them. “Please. If you have any feelings for your daughter, you won’t challenge me on this. I’ll find a way to tell her. Soon.”

Elizabeth was grateful Blake blinked, breaking the connection. He extracted his hand and rubbed it across his face. “I can’t believe I’m going along with this.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m not doing it for you. Now tell me about Jordan.”

Inhaling sharply, Elizabeth breathed in the clean scent of soap underneath Blake’s aftershave. She turned away from his probing eyes and ran her fingers up and down her stethoscope. “Why don’t you tell me what you know and I’ll fill in the blanks.”

“You adopted Jordan at birth. She doesn’t know that she’s adopted. Her birth mother was my ex-wife and she has leukemia. For someone who’s been alive for almost ten years, that’s not a lot.”

Elizabeth nodded. There was so much to tell, but they only had minutes because her break was almost over. “Her birthday is May 8. She loves animals, cats especially, and wants to be a vet when she grows up.” Elizabeth’s voice hitched. Would Jordan grow up? “She’s normally a fun-loving, active girl, who plays soccer and volleyball.”

“If she needs a bone marrow transplant, I want to be tested to see if I’m compatible.”

His generosity moved her and time stood still as her gaze traveled over Blake’s face, settling on his crystal blue eyes.

Sometimes family members were a match. Some of the time.

“But—”

“Don’t try to talk me out of it. You got tested, didn’t you?”

“Of course I did, but—”

“I have to do something.” At the desperate look in his eyes, Elizabeth kept her thoughts to herself. She’d tested because she wasn’t biologically related to her daughter. He’d find out soon enough the odds were against him, no matter that she would pray for a positive match.

“Then, thanks. I appreciate it, because this time around, she needs a bone marrow transplant.”

Elizabeth bit down on her lip. “When she got leukemia the first time when she was eight, we got it into remission. It came back right after the new year before Tessa died. She’s not responding to chemo this time. She needs to be healthy to get a bone marrow transplant but she’s already had three infections. Each one has made her weaker, which is why I can’t tell her about you. It would be detrimental to her precarious health. I can’t lose her. I won’t—not without a fight.”

Elizabeth fought hard to keep her tears at bay—losing it in the hospital wasn’t an option. But a tear slipped from her eye, and once that one managed to break free, another followed. Within seconds, Blake was by her side, pulling her from her seat, gathering her in his arms.

“We’ll get through this, Elizabeth. We’ll find a match,” Blake murmured as he held her gently. His shirt bunched under her fingers as she freed the emotions that had built up since she’d first gotten Jordan’s diagnosis. It felt good, as if she were purging herself. Hope flared deep inside her as he continued to hold her until she had no more tears to cry.

She needed his optimism.

Lifting her head, she stared at him as his thumbs brushed the moisture from her cheeks. She pulled away from him, reaching for a napkin to wipe the remaining tears. “Thanks, Blake. I—don’t normally break down like that.”

“Don’t worry, your reputation is safe with me.”

“As yours is, too.” She gave him a hesitant smile. His actions spoke of a caring person, one who could have a positive influence in Jordan’s life. Someone who could help her get through each day with support and companionship.

Yet Elizabeth stood there afraid, knowing she couldn’t postpone the inevitable. Blake would meet his child, with or without her, as she’d just seen earlier, but it would be better on her terms. “I’ll introduce you to Jordan as an old friend. Just until I can tell her the truth, okay?”

“Fine. After all this time, a few more days aren’t going to matter. I don’t want anything to affect her health either.” Blake stepped away, which helped the confusion lingering in the recesses of her brain.

“Thanks, Blake.” Hope and wonderment filled her expression as she reached for his hand and squeezed it gently. “Okay, let’s go.”

As they walked down the hall toward Jordan’s room, Blake prepared himself. Most fathers had months to adjust to the idea of fatherhood, not days. Still, he couldn’t wait to take a healthy Jordan to the zoo or the bowling alley, or even one of those girly-girl places. Even if they did something as simple as a picnic in the park, he could do the things he’d missed out after his mother died, but with his own child.

“Here we are.” Outside room 403 again, Elizabeth turned to face him.

“Here we are,” Blake whispered. With his free hand, he pulled at his shirt collar. He stared into her eyes—light blue with flecks of gray. Yet in their depths, he saw a blaze of hope.

Fighting for breath, Blake faced the stark reality of his lonely existence, a reality that could change when he stepped inside the room. She gave him an encouraging smile. “I’ll go inside first. Please wait out here.”

Before he could stop her, she stepped over the threshold of Jordan’s room.

“Hi, sweetheart.” Elizabeth was amazed her voice didn’t tremble as she approached Jordan’s bed. Her daughter greeted her with a smile that lit Elizabeth’s world.

“Hi, Mom. What are you doing here? Are you done with your shift already?”