Page 15 of Reasonable Doubt (Wounded Heroes: The Redemption #7)
The weather cleared today, a miracle for February, so the ribbon cutting for the Scotty Redmond Children’s Wing would take place outside. Noreen stood in the crowd gathering in the area in front of the building and saw the friends they’d made in the last few months had come to support Nick.
Jackson Kane approached her. Dressed in an impeccable suit and crisp white shirt, he nonetheless held in his arms an infant bundled in a pink fuzzy snowsuit. “You brought the baby!” On cue, Hope Kane, the tiny little girl in pink cooed and babbled.
“Maisy says I won’t let her out of my sight. But she sleeps a lot.”
“Said no new father ever. You, Jackson Kane, are a totally different breed of man.”
“Why thank you.” He grinned. “Did you hear that when Maisy goes to back work, it’ll be at Pathways?”
“I had lunch with her and some others and she told us that.”
“It won’t be for a few more months, though.”
A bit later, Annie and Diego Rodriguez found their way over to her.
“Hi, Noreen.” Annie kissed her cheek. She was due any day now and her big belly was evident beneath a wool navy poncho. All these babies!
Diego, big and brawny, greeted them.
“Diego’s got a new job,” Jackson told her. “He’s going to travel the state and lecture about law enforcement supporting troubled kids.”
“You want to travel?”
“It won’t be too much. Annie’s on board. But we’re both taking parental leaves of absence from Pathways for six months before all that.”
“Wow.”
“How’s the clinic?” Diego asked.
“We help a lot of people there.” The couple had already contacted her to say how sorry they were about what happened with Pierson.
Joe Romano joined them and offered her their congratulations on the new wing. He and Lara were holding hands. These days, Joe was more relaxed and seemed happier. Everything was working out after moving Lara and her ex-husband into his house. And of course the two had eloped months ago.
Nick came up behind his fiancé who stood with his friends. He swallowed hard at his good luck in finding this community. “Hello, everybody.”
“Hey, Nick.” Jackson put his arm around him. “You doing okay?”
“Yeah. Noreen and counseling got me here today.”
“The love of a good woman…” Jackson trailed off.
“What about good women?” Gemma Kendrick asked as she and Caleb found them in the crowd.
“They made a difference in all our lives,” Jackson boasted. He clapped Caleb on the back. “What’s this I hear about you?”
“I’ll be preaching again on Sunday mornings. As a lay pastor.”
Nick knew this was a huge deal after losing his faith because of the tragedies he’d had in the past.
“We’ll come listen to you,” Nick commented. “After you marry us.”
The last to join them were two couples. Stephanie and Pax and Will and Katie had driven together.
Will and Steph had become partners in his security business and the four of them had become close friends, socializing often.
Katie was remarkably slim for having given birth to twin girls a month ago.
And Steph had confided in Noreen that she and Pax were trying to conceive, too.
“Did Audrey make it?” Jackson asked.
“No, she moved to California where her parents still live and apparently didn’t want the reminder. I don’t bear her any resentment, though.” Nick motioned to the front. “I think they’re about ready to start now.” He kissed Noreen’s forehead. “Do you want to tell them before we go up there, love?”
“I know what it is.” Katie grinned. “You’re pregnant, aren’t you Noreen?”
“How did you know?” Noreen asked.
“You’ve got that pregnancy glow.”
“We just found out.” Noreen’s hand went to her stomach. “We’re thrilled.”
“Just you wait,” Will said, looking very tired. He shrugged boyishly. “But it’s worth it.”
“I can’t wait,” Nick told him. “Listen we’ll see you when the tour of the wing begins. Be sure to check out the father’s room. It’s where Dads—and Moms—can go and do some work when their child is hospitalized.”
“Nick.” This from Jackson who knew the extent of Nick’s guilt from that fateful day in the park.
“It’s good. It’s all good.”
The ribbon cutting took place in front of the double doors to the new wing.
Anthony Johnston and Nick stood together and at that moment, a ray of rare sunshine appeared in the sky and shone down on the group.
A blessing, indeed. And what was this? His mother and Tommy and even Liam stood behind everyone else at the back of the pavement.
His heart clutched at his family’s presence.
Nick said hoarsely, “Welcome to the Scotty Redmond Children’s Wing.” He could feel his eyes moisten, but he battled the emotion back, took the scissors from Anthony and snipped the blue ribbon in half. “Now let’s see what’s been done to help the children and parents of Westwood.”
He took Noreen’s hand and she gave him a loving smile as Anthony opened the doors. Nick knew he could get through today because of her, and because of the support of all his friends. Ironically, he felt very lucky as he entered the wing dedicated to the memory of his dead son.