Adopted Son

“Now, what’s bothering you?” Caroline’s voice brought her back to her present situation.

“Did you know about Jeremiah adopting this child?”

“Yes. Eli told me.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I wasn’t aware you were interested in Tuck’s life.”

Grace took a breath. “Caroline, this is important.”

“Yes. I can hear, but I don’t know what you’re so upset about. Everyone who knows Tuck is aware of his plans. He’s a member of Big Brothers and he’s always been involved with helping kids. That’s Tuck. He’s very dedicated to the plight of abandoned and neglected children. It’s important to him.”

“I know, but why this little boy?”

“Tuck was one of the officers who found him in a trailer living like an animal. His mother and father are both dead and no one in the family wants him. Tuck has formed a connection to the boy, probably because of the circumstances of his own birth.”

She squeezed her eyes shut. “Do you think he’ll make a good father?”

“Of course, but I’m not sure how he plans to work things out. He has a full-time job and according to Eli this little boy is going to need a lot of attention. But Tuck is very organized and, as I said, dedicated. He’ll make it work.” Caroline paused. “Why are you asking all these questions?”

“Remember Lisa Gates from college?”

“Yes. You and she were good friends. I remember a lot of shopping marathons. She married Keith something.”

“Templeton. They have been trying to have a child for a long time and it hasn’t happened so they’ve decided to adopt. But it takes a long time.”

“Where’s this going?” Caroline asked.

“I’ve agreed to represent them in gaining custody of a little boy.”

“So?”

“The little boy is Brady Harper.”

“Ooooh.”

“I just found out. I wasn’t even aware that Jeremiah knew this boy.” She had a strong urge to ask her older sister what to do, as she had so many times in her life. But she’d outgrown that. She’d handle this in her own way.

“Grace…” Jesse’s wailing drowned out Caroline’s words. “I’ve got to go. I think Jesse is running a little fever with the teething. Come here, sweetie.” A louder wail ensued.

“Take care of Jesse.”

“Grace…”

“I’ll call you later.”

Grace sat for a moment, wondering what she was going to do. Lisa and Keith were her friends, but Jeremiah was part of her family. For years she’d waited for him to see her as someone other than Caroline’s sister. If she stayed with this case, any hopes of that happening would be over.

Loud noises erupted from Nina’s office. The door suddenly opened and Jeremiah stood there, an agitated Nina behind him.

“It’s okay,” she said to Nina, and stood on legs that felt like wet noodles.

Nina backed out, closing the door.

Jeremiah removed his hat, showing off his neat and trim brown hair. He was angry; that was evident in his taut body and his dark eyes, which burned like chunks of coal. He stood a few feet from the door, not making a move toward her.

“Why are you doing it?” he asked. His words were clipped and short.

She didn’t have to ask what he was talking about because she knew. It took a moment to find her voice. “I wasn’t aware you’d filed for custody of Brady Harper.” One finger touched the papers on her desk. “I just found out.”

His eyes narrowed. “Would it have made a difference?” Before she could answer, he went on. “No. It wouldn’t have. Ever since we’ve met you’ve had this need to stick it to me.”

“What are you talking about?”

“When Eli and Caroline got married, you had to be in control of everything.”

“I wanted their day to be perfect.”

“I was best man and I wanted it to be a day they would remember as fun and filled with laughter. But everything had to be synchronized and go according to plan. You never listened to any of my ideas. Everything had to be done your way. You couldn’t even let your guard down long enough to enjoy the dance. You were afraid I’d step on your five-hundred-dollar shoes. My God, who pays five hundred dollars for a pair of shoes?”

Each word cut into her like a sharp blow. “Jeremiah…”

“That’s another thing.” He pointed a finger at her. “You continue to call me Jeremiah. No one calls me that. It’s like a slap in my face every time you do. Evidently you get some perverse pleasure out of it.”

She was stunned. She never knew he resented her use of his given name. For a moment she was absolutely speechless.

“After Ma and Pa adopted me, I was given the Tucker name. They were so happy to have a child that they called me Little Tucker. When I started to grow, Pa said, ‘Boy, we can’t call you little anymore. We’re going to call you Tuck. That suits you.’ I felt like a king had given me a crown. I had no name, but this incredible man had given me this special gift and it meant the world to me. It still does. When you don’t use it, I feel you’re condescending to me.”

Her heart fell to the pit of her stomach. “I’m so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I like the name Jeremiah.”

“See.” He shook his head. “It’s all about you. You don’t even care what I like.”

“I…ah…” She had no words to defend herself. In his eyes she was a self-centered bitch and seeing his view of her she couldn’t deny it. Many of her hang-ups became crystal clear at that moment. She had to be smart, in control, organized and an overachiever because if she wasn’t, the real Grace would emerge.

The real Grace? She wondered who the real Grace was.

“Brady has been through hell and he needs someone to love and care for him. I don’t know anything about the Templetons and…”

“They’re very nice people.” She wanted him to know that.

“So Beau tells me. They sound picture-perfect.” His eyes caught hers. “But there’s always something wrong with picture-perfect.”

“Are you saying…”

“A judge will decide,” he told her. “He will do what’s best for Brady and I will abide by that.”

She hated that he made her feel so guilty, so weak, and her fighting spirit surfaced. “You think you’re what’s best for Brady?”