Marriage For Baby

Jared’s watchful gaze, however, made her uncomfortable.

“What?” she asked.

He glanced back to the crib. “Let’s eat before the baby wakes up.”

She wasn’t going to disagree.

Jared pulled his dinner from the bag, unwrapped his cheeseburger and took a bite. He wiped his mouth with a napkin. “I don’t know about you, but I was starving.”

Kate picked up a fry. “This hits the spot. I owe you.”

“It’s on me.”

She hadn’t meant owing him financially, but she understood his response. They had kept their own bank accounts after they married. Every month they would each deposit an equal amount into a joint household account to cover the mortgage payment and utility bills. The method worked well and made splitting the assets for the divorce settlement easy. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

They finished eating in comfortable silence, a difference from the negative undercurrents they usually encountered when they were together.

Kate finished her soda and wiped her hands. “The nurse said the doctor might release Cassidy in two days, three at the most. Did you and Don finish going through the paperwork?”

“Completed and filed.” Jared said to her relief. “Don hopes the court will appoint me personal guardian tomorrow so we can start the guardianship proceedings.”

“And then the real fun begins.”

“I’ve been thinking about this whole guardianship issue,” Jared said.

“Me, too.” Kate leaned back in the chair. “It isn’t going to be easy. We don’t know anything about babies.”

“You’re right, and this is going to be hard on Cassidy. She doesn’t know what’s going on or where her parents went so we need to make sure she’s the priority.”

“I agree,” Kate said. “We need to think about Cassidy and the effect on her with every decision we make.”

Suddenly the situation didn’t seem so overwhelming to Kate. She wasn’t alone. She and Jared were discussing matters logically, rationally, without disagreeing. A positive sign. She only hoped their getting along continued in the future.

Jared’s easy smile sent Kate’s heart beating faster. “Sounds like a good plan.”

No doubt he felt the same way about their conversation and getting along. That bolstered her spirits and gave her the courage to ask what had been on her mind all afternoon. “Once Cassidy is released from the hospital, could I please take her back to Portland with me? At least until the divorce is final.”

“Another good idea.” He glanced at the crib, then back at Kate. “My family can watch Cassidy when you are at work. Unless you had thought of other arrangements?”

Child care. Kate hadn’t thought about that, but a nanny or day care didn’t make sense when the Reed clan was right there. And Susan wanted Cassidy to be part of a large family.

“I hadn’t thought of any child care arrangements,” Kate admitted. “Do you think your family will mind?”

He laughed. “They’ll be fighting over her.”

“That will be good for both Cassidy and me.” And Susan. That was what she wanted. She must be smiling up in Heaven.

Except, Kate wondered, would she see the recrimination in Jared’s family’s eyes? Sure, they still invited her to dinner and gatherings, but she knew they weren’t happy about the situation between her and Jared.

“I could come down and help out on weekends,” he added.

“That would be great.”

“Yeah, great.”

His gaze locked with hers. The temperature in the room increased. She needed another soda or a glass of water or a…kiss. Kate looked down.

No, this couldn’t be happening. Her reaction was simply due to the situation. The grief following the death of Susan and Brady. The emotion of inheriting Cassidy.

Kate wouldn’t let herself think otherwise. “What about after the divorce?”

“I’ve been thinking about that,” he said. “The best thing for Cassidy would be if she had a mother and a father who were married.”

“I know that’s what Susan and Brady would have preferred.” Kate would give Jared that. “But in our case a traditional family is not possible.”