Maybe he needed a push to get it out. “What does all of this have to do with Trace?”
“Once again, you cut to the meat of it, don’t you? Trace is—well, it’s highly probable that Trace is Rachel’s son.” Boone told Hannah about the note addressed to him and written in pink gel ink that was left with the baby at the fire station. “I’ve seen a picture of the note. I recognize Rachel’s handwriting. Nobody’s sure about whether or not the baby is her child or if she acted on behalf of the infant’s mother.”
Hannah thought about the revelation a moment, then shook her head. “What’s the piece I’m missing? Why would Rachel give you a baby?”
“Beats me. If it’s actually going to happen, that is. It’s possible this is her way to make me pay for letting my personal issues get in the way of professional ones. I let her down. I’m forging ahead as though that’s not the case because I really can’t afford to do otherwise. That said, I have serious reservations.”
“Because those personal issues prevented you from doing your best in her case.”
“Yes. Well, I allowed it. Unnecessarily.”
“What were they? The personal issues?”
“O-o-oh,” he groaned. “That is the soap opera part of the story. I don’t think we have the time for it. I’ve told you about Rachel, and that’s what I really wanted you to know tonight before we meet with Sarah.”
Leave it to a man to dangle tantalizing information like that and then slam the door shut.
“Okay.” Hannah unfolded from the sofa, stood, and slipped on her sandals. “Shall we go?”
He gave her a long look, and his lips stretched in a slow smile. “You are a good sport, Hannah Dupree.”
She nodded. “Doesn’t mean I’m not curious. You should expect me to nag you for more info at some future point.”
“Fair enough.” He pulled his phone from his pocket and ordered an Uber. They exited the suite and headed for the elevator. Upon reaching the lobby, Boone made a scan of the area before moving forward. Within a few moments, they climbed into their ride and made small talk during the short drive to the restaurant.
Hannah inhaled the mouthwatering aroma of smoking meat the minute she opened the car door. She realized she was seriously hungry. She hoped their dinner companion would arrive on time. “There’s Sarah,” Boone said, moments after entering the restaurant. He waved and headed for the round table in the corner where a middle-aged, dark-haired woman wearing a purple polo shirt and a welcoming smile sat with a glass of iced tea in front of her.
She rose as Boone approached. He kissed her cheek, introduced Hannah, then suggested they order before diving into their meeting. “Lunch was a long time ago, and I’m hungry as a horse.”
With Sarah’s and Hannah’s okays, he ordered for the table. Brisket and ribs and chicken and something called bacon burnt ends. Slaw and mac-and-cheese and corn and beans and onion rings. And rolls.
“Just how many people do you intend to feed?” Hannah teased when he finally sent the waiter on his way.
“Don’t make fun of me. This is one of my favorite restaurants in the world, and I’ve missed it. Besides, we’ll have great leftovers.”
They spoke about the weather until the food arrived. Once Hannah got a taste of the brisket, she couldn’t help but moan aloud. Boone gave her a knowing look. “See, I told you so.”
It wasn’t until both Sarah and Hannah had set down their forks, and after Boone had plowed his way through two plates of food and placed an order for banana pudding for dessert, that he was ready to get down to business. “Any updates on the little fellow? We are still set for a meeting this evening?”
Sarah’s gaze flickered away for a moment, and Hannah’s stomach sank. Boone saw it too, because Hannah saw that he subtly stiffened. “Sarah?”
“Everything is on course,” she assured him. “You will meet the baby today. There are just a couple of details I need to go over.”
Warily, Boone asked, “Details?”
Sarah wiped her mouth with a napkin and stood. “Excuse me, please. Before we get into this any farther, I’m going to make a quick visit the ladies’ room.”
While Sarah was gone, Boone signaled the waiter for the check. He asked Hannah how she’d liked her meal. That question devolved into a debate about the superiority of Texas-style barbecue in comparison with what she’d sampled in Nashville during a recent visit. He’d just coaxed Hannah into trying the pudding when Sarah returned and took her seat. Without preamble, she said, “You and I have known each other for a long time, Boone. We worked together very well as colleagues, and I have long considered you a friend. You were a champion for children here in Tarrant County. I knew I could always count on you to put the children first.”
Boone traced the rim of his water glass with his fingertip. “Cut to the chase, Sarah. What’s wrong? Is it Thompson? Has he decided to eff this up for me?”
“No. David Thompson isn’t involved with this adoption in any way. Waggoner, Thompson, and Cole isn’t handling any of the paperwork. I told you that.”
“Well, the firm is involved somehow. Ashleigh knew I was coming into town today. She ambushed me at the hotel.” To Hannah, he explained, “It’s her father’s law firm.
“Did you tell her, Sarah? How is she involved in this? Wait, did she track down Rachel Davis and convince her that I’m a head case? She has a history of that, you know. I guess I should have anticipated—”
Sarah interrupted. “No, Boone. Ashleigh isn’t part of this. I don’t know how she found out about your visit. It wasn’t from me.”
He dragged his hand across his mouth. “I think Ashleigh has—”
Sarah slapped the table. “Boone. Hush. Let me talk! The sooner I’m able to say what I’ve promised to say, the sooner you’ll get to meet the baby.”
“Promised? Promised who?”
She rolled her eyes and muttered, “Hardheaded Texan. Like I was saying, you’ve always put the children first. Tonight, I need you to remember that I’ve always put the kids first too. You know that, don’t you?”
“Yes. That’s why we clicked. We were always on the same page. Had the same sign on our desks.”
“THE MOST VULNERABLE DESERVE OUR BEST EFFORTS,” she quoted. “You gave the sign to me for Christmas one year.”
“That’s right. I’d forgotten.”
“I have never forgotten. I will always put the children’s best interests first, even if that means bending a rule a time or two. You were the one who taught me about rule-bending, remember? I can quote you exactly: Don’t be afraid to bend or twist or massage a rule, Sarah. Trust your judgment.”
“I am not liking the direction this is going.”
“Well, you should like it, because, in my judgment, becoming your child is in the best interests of this baby. So I massaged the rules a bit.”
“I want this adoption,” Boone said with a warning in his voice. “But if it’s not legal, we are stopping it here and now.”
“No worries. Everything is legal. Where I’ve done some bending is with the broader picture.”