“Is it?”
“Hell yes, it is. We’re going to have a baby!”
“I wasn’t sure you’d be happy about it. Everything is so new, and we never talked about—”
He put her down and kissed her, nearly knocking her over with his enthusiasm. When he finally pulled back, she was touched to see tears in his eyes. “This is the best news ever.”
“I have no idea how it happened.”
“You don’t? Really?”
She laughed at the silly face he made. “I mean, I’m on birth control, but somehow, we fell into that five or ten percent of whatever it is that get pregnant anyway.”
“You’re happy about this, right?”
“I’m stunned. I think I’ll be happy after the shock wears off.”
“How did you even know to check?”
“Gigi figured it out before I even suspected.”
“Of course she did. She knows you better than anyone.”
“Not better than you.”
“Maybe a little better, but I’m catching up fast.” He brushed the hair back from her face. “You’re the best thing to ever happen to me, and I can’t believe there’s going to be even more. I’m going to be a dad!”
“Yes, you are,” Jordan said, elated by his reaction.
“We’ll get married.”
“Whoa. What? We don’t have to get married just because I’m pregnant.”
“It’s not just because of that. How can you even say that? I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone in my entire life, and all I want is forever with you and our baby and any other babies we might have. Will you please marry me and make me the happiest guy who ever lived?”
“You swear this isn’t just because of the baby?”
“I swear to God. I’ve been dreading the end of filming and you moving home.”
“My home is wherever you are, Mason. You have to know that by now.”
He hugged her again. “Are you going to answer my question?”
“Yes.”
Pulling back, he gazed down at her. “Yes to what?”
“Yes, I’ll marry you. And by the way, I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone other than Nikki and my gram. Oh, and Gigi.”
Mason’s handsome face lit up with a big smile. Everything about him was big, especially the way he loved her. “I don’t mind sharing you with them.” He kissed her again. “How soon can we get married?”
“I’m not upstaging Nikki, so any time after November.”
“I suppose I can wait a few months, as long as it’s not longer than that.”
“We’ll see what we can do.”
“I’ll get you a ring as soon as I can.”
“I don’t care about that.”
“I do.” He continued to stare at her as if he couldn’t quite believe she was there and bringing him this life-changing news. “We’re going to have a baby—and we’re getting married.”
“Yes, we are.”
“Best news ever.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
“I hope you didn’t worry for one second about what I might say.”
“Maybe one or two.”
Shaking his head, he said, “You never have to be afraid to tell me anything, Jordan. I’ll always be happy about whatever you tell me.”
“Even if I wreck the car or spend all our money?”
“Even then.”
“You’re crazy.”
“About you.” He pulled the portable radio off his hip. “Dermott, come in.”
“Yeah, Chief. What’s up?”
“You’re in charge for the rest of the day. I’ve got to take care of something.”
“On it. Hope everything is okay.”
“Everything is just fine. Don’t bother me unless something’s on fire.”
“Got it.”
Mason returned the radio to the holster on his hip.
“What do you have to take care of?” Jordan asked, even though she already knew.
“My baby mama. Let’s go home.”
“I have to get ready for tonight.”
“We’ll do that. Too.”
* * *
As Jared ended a call with his investigator, it was all he could do not to throw the phone against the wall. No sign of her. The trail had gone cold. They could find no trace of a woman named Jessie Morgan or Jessica Morgan anywhere in Rhode Island. The investigator said he was expanding the search to include Massachusetts and Connecticut. He’d also said these things could take time, they needed to have patience, etcetera. Jared had no patience on this topic.
Every second that baby spent in their custody, Lizzie fell more deeply in love with a child they would eventually have to surrender.
Jared wanted to scream from the sheer injustice of this situation.
Cooper appeared in the doorway to Jared’s office. “Is it safe to come in?”
“Yeah.”
“Any news?”
“Nothing.”
“Shit.”
“Yep. What the hell are we going to do?”
Cooper came in and took a seat in the chair that he and Lizzie called their “meeting chair.” She sat there whenever she came in to talk him into some new scheme that usually resulted in helping someone who needed it. “Have you thought about turning her over to Blaine and letting the system do what it does?”
“Hell yes, I’ve thought about it, but Lizzie won’t go for that.”
“What if Blaine said she has no choice? You guys aren’t licensed foster parents, so won’t they have to intervene eventually?”
“Blaine said this is a slightly different situation in that we know Jessie, and she asked us to watch the baby, so it’s not quite as sticky as it would be if, say, we found the baby on our doorstep and had no idea who the mother was.”
“Somehow, that makes it worse.”
“I know. And every minute that goes by, Lizzie gets in deeper.”
“But you don’t?”
“I’m trying to stay removed, but that’s easier said than done. She’s awfully cute.”
“She sure is.” Cooper wanted to ask a question that he was almost afraid to pose. “So, um, what if you never find Jessie?”
“I don’t know. I just don’t know. I’m talking to Dan Torrington in an hour. I’m hoping he’ll know what to do.”
“Is there anything I can do for you guys?”
“Nah, but thanks for asking. It’s good to have you here right now.”
“Are you sure? I don’t mind getting out of your hair if you want to be alone with your wife.”
“For the first time ever, I’m afraid to be alone with my wife. I feel like I’m in the midst of an emotional battlefield that’s full of land mines everywhere I step.” He let out a deep sigh. “Lizzie wants a baby so badly, and nothing we’ve tried has worked. For someone to dump their newborn on her, of all people…”
“I know. It’s awful.”
“You can’t tell her that. She’s so blissed out and happy to be taking care of that little one. I’ve never seen her like this before. It’s like she was born for this moment, or some shit like that.”