Page 6

Ruby and I are sitting together on the sofa giving the babies their midafternoon bottles when I hear a car pull into the drive. At first, I feel a rush of panic, but almost immediately I relax. If it’s the blackmailer, he or she is hardly going to pull into our driveway and announce their presence. Besides, I’m surrounded by not one , but two bodyguards who won’t let anything happen to us.

Jerry peers out the front window. Miguel joins him, his hand automatically going to his lower back, where I imagine he’s carrying a handgun.

“It’s Tyler,” Jerry says in his calm, monotone voice.

Miguel lowers his hand as he follows Jerry to the front door. A moment later, Miguel steps outside, calling to Tyler. Then the door closes, and we can’t hear anything they’re saying.

I glance beside me at Ruby, who’s sitting stiff as a board, looking more than a little tense. I think she’s still affected by the stalker who terrorized her not that long ago.

“Everything’s fine,” I say as I pat her knee. “Besides, Miguel would never let anyone hurt you.”

She looks my way, her pretty blue eyes wide, and nods. Nervously, she tucks her red hair behind her ear. Her pale cheeks are a bit flushed, making her freckles stand out. “I’m okay.”

“Thanks for coming over today,” I say. “I haven’t seen you two in ages.”

Ruby doesn’t leave their apartment often. The fact that she did so today, for me and the babies, says a lot.

She smiles down at Lizzie in her arms. “I wanted to see the babies.”

“I guess you got more than you bargained for, didn’t you?”

“I suppose so. But Miguel’s here. I’m not worried. Really.”

“Remind me to tell you about the time Miguel saved my life.”

The front door opens again, and a moment later, Tyler and Miguel walk into the living room, followed by Jerry.

I rise to my feet, Will cradled in my arms as he sucks on his bottle. I notice something tucked underneath Tyler’s arm. “What’s that?”

He sets it down on the coffee table. “Later.”

Then he walks right up to me, takes Will from me, and hands the baby and his bottle to Miguel. When he pulls me into his arms, my breath rushes out of me, and I forget about everyone else in the room. His strong arms bring me in close, his blue-green eyes gazing into mine for the longest time. There’s so much emotion in his eyes, so much he’s trying to tell me, but we’re not alone, and maybe now isn’t the time.

“Did you find out who—”

“Yes,” he says.

“Is it my birth mother?”

“No.”

The rush of relief I feel at the news is so powerful my knees almost give out. Tyler grips my elbows to hold me steady.

My birth mother betrayed me, and hurt me, scarring me for life. I’ve tried to put it behind me and move on, but I’ve only been partially successful. If I found that she was still betraying me, years later, I don’t think I could take it. “Then who?” I ask.

“Her boyfriend. And I’m taking care of it.”

“I think we should go and let you guys talk,” Miguel says.

There’s a flurry of activity then, as Lizzie and Will, who are both well into their sleepy milk comas, are tucked into their bassinettes. Jerry gives Tyler a quiet update, and then everyone leaves.

The house is silent now, with the babies asleep and Tyler quietly observing me.

His entire focus is on me . “I saw the photos, Ian.”

I’m wondering if it’s my imagination that his voice cracked a bit as he said those words.

He nods at the photo album he laid on the table. “I took it for safe keeping until this is sorted out.”

I stare at it, half expecting it to strike out and bite me, or maybe explode.

“Do you want to look at the pictures?” he asks. His voice is hesitant, as if he’s cautioning me to think that through before I answer.

“I’m not sure.” I don’t know if I can face seeing visual reminders of the years of torment I lived through.

“I suggest you don’t,” he says, his voice low and gentle. “At least not yet.”

I nod. “Okay.” My gaze returns to his. “You saw them?”

“Yes.” He lifts his hands to cup my face, still staring deeply into my eyes. “I saw them, and they broke my heart. Seeing you like that, looking so lost and sad.” Tyler’s eyes harden, pain radiating through them. “I will never let anyone hurt you again, babe. Never .”

My throat tightens, and my voice shakes. “That’s got to be the most romantic thing anyone has ever said to me.”

Tyler’s thumbs gently wipe my cheeks. That’s when I realize I’m crying.

“Shh,” he murmurs. “It’s going to be okay, I promise.”

And then he presses a kiss to my lips, so gently it breaks my heart.

“Do you want to hear about your birth mother?” he asks. “I had a rather lengthy conversation with her at the diner where she works.”

“I don’t think so. I’m not sure my heart can take it.”

Tyler pulls back to look me in the eyes, his gaze filled with compassion. “Actually, babe, I think maybe you do.”

* * *

Just as we’re finishing our dinner, Tyler’s phone rings. He picks it up, frowns at the caller ID, and takes the call. “Tyler Jamison.” He listens for a few moments, growing more and more tense by the second. “I’m on my way.”

“What was that about?” I ask the second he ends the call.

He stands. “That was Rhonda Mitchell’s nurse calling, at Rhonda’s request. Gary Sharp attacked Rhonda when she got home from work today. She’s in the ER. She’s pressing charges.”

My stomach knots. “What kind of charges? What did he do?”

“From the sound of it, he tried to kill her.” He gives me an apologetic look.

Someone attacked my birth mother? I can barely wrap my mind around the fact she’s still alive, and now I’ve learned that someone tried to hurt her?

“Babe, I’m sorry to take off again,” Tyler says, “but I need to go to the hospital.”

“I’m coming with you.”

Tyler frowns. “I don’t think that’s a good—”

“I’m coming.”

Tyler sighs. “Fine. Then what do we do about the babies?”

“I’ll call my sister and see if she and Jason can watch them.”

He frowns. “Are you sure? Ian, this could be—”

“Yes, I’m sure. I’ll call Layla.”

Thirty minutes later, Layla and Jason are at our front door. Tyler lets them in, giving them a quick rundown.

I show them where the prepared bottles are. “They’re sleeping upstairs in our bedroom right now, but when they wake up, they’re going to be hungry.” I’m rambling nervously. “Their diapers are—”

Jason clasps my shoulder. “We’ll manage just fine, Ian. You guys go.”

A few minutes later, Tyler walks me out to his car. He opens the front passenger door for me, and I slip into the seat. By the time he’s sitting behind the wheel, I’m buckled in and ready to go.

Or, as ready as I’ll ever be.

As Tyler starts the engine, he glances over at me. “You okay?” He squeezes my hand.

I lean my head back and close my eyes. “Yes.”

“Are you sure you want to come along? You don’t have to. You can wait here.”

“No, I’m going. She’s—” My throat catches. “She’s my mother. I should be there.”

Tyler links our fingers and rests our joined hands on his thigh as he backs out of our driveway. He holds my hand the entire way to the hospital, never letting go once.