Two Weeks (The Baxter Family #5)(55)

A conversation came back to her, from dinner the other night with their friends Brooke and Peter West. Brooke had brought up Alan Green. “I really think he’ll get your profile to the top of the list.” Brooke had leaned forward, clearly convinced. “He was ready to do whatever he could for me. Because of his little girl.”

Like every other time, Lucy didn’t want to get her hopes up. But after that dinner, when they were in bed, Aaron had cuddled up to her. He kissed her and softly brushed her hair from her forehead and eyes. The way he used to, before everything about their intimacy became so measured and calculated. So disappointing.

“You’re beautiful.” He kissed her again.

For years, when they drew close to each other like this, Lucy would feel herself tense up. What was she doing wrong? How come she couldn’t get pregnant? Would this be the time, and if not how could they take the letdown?

But those days were behind them. Gradually they were trying to get back to when nights like this were about touching and loving and finding their way to being one again. Truly. Madly. Deeply.

The other night seemed like it might be one of those times, but after a few minutes of kissing, Aaron eased back on his pillow and searched her eyes. “I have something I want to ask you.”

She figured his request would have something to do with a baby. She smiled. A sad smile, yes. But one she hoped would tell him she cared. She wanted to hear him. “Tell me.” Her fingers ran the length of his arm. Gentleness. Tenderness. The way things used to be. She had loved him all her life. They couldn’t let the empty nursery change that.

“This attorney.” Aaron swallowed, like he was nervous to talk about this again. “Alan Green.”

“Yes.”

“I have a feeling this could be it, Lucy.” His eyes glistened in the darkness. He wanted a baby so much. “I mean, I really believe it. I feel like God is saying it’s time. This is it.”

How often had Lucy responded with an exaggerated look or an eye roll when Aaron insisted that God was on their side, that He was certainly going to give them a baby? Lucy didn’t want to think about it. Aaron was one of the most genuine, godly men she knew. He deserved better.

“Yes.” It was time she support him. Time she really listen. “Brooke sounded excited.”

“Exactly.” Hope lit up his expression. “So what I want to ask is . . . Lucy, please, if you could pray and believe. If the two of us could trust God together about this. Even if it feels crazy after all this time.” He took gentle hold of her face and kissed her again. “Please?”

His eyes looked the same as the day they’d gotten married, the way they had been lost to everyone in the church but her. Lucy slid closer and hugged him, body to body. “Yes, Aaron.” She brushed the side of her face against his. “I’ll believe with you. I’ll pray and trust God. Yes.”

So it was only right that she had wound up on her knees in the nursery this morning on her way to work. She had promised Aaron and she would keep her word. She had known there would be moments like this, times when she opened her heart to God about the most difficult subject in all her life. It was part of Aaron’s request, so she had expected this.

What she hadn’t expected was the call she got as she pulled into the hospital parking lot. It was from a number Lucy didn’t recognize. She still had ten minutes to check in, so she found a spot and took the call. “Hello?”

“Lucy Williams?”

“Yes.” What was this? “How can I help you?”

“This is Alan Green. I have good news.”

? ? ?

LUCY COULD BARELY complete her shift. This was the most hopeful news they’d heard in far too long. A teenage girl in the area had chosen their profile. The attorney wanted to go over the details in person.

At four o’clock Lucy met Aaron in the hospital lobby and the two of them drove in his SUV to Mr. Green’s office.

“Can you believe it?” Aaron couldn’t stop smiling. “I told you. It’s going to happen.”

Lucy couldn’t respond. Her fingers were trembling and her stomach was in knots. Every time they’d ever gotten good news it had been followed up with pain. And she wasn’t sure how much more pain she could take. The whole drive, she let Aaron do the talking. In response she did just one thing.

She reached out and took her husband’s hand.

When they arrived, the attorney ushered them into his office. As they sat down, the man sounded upbeat. “First the good news.” He smiled at them. “The young mother wants you to raise her baby. Yours was the only profile she wanted to work with.”

Next to her, Aaron squeezed her hand. He kept his eyes on Mr. Green. “What all can you tell us?”

It was hard to hear over the whoosh of her racing heart, but Lucy managed to track on the details. The birth mother’s name was Elise. She had gotten pregnant by a guy in her hometown in Louisiana. In January she came to Bloomington to live with her aunt and uncle. And to get away from the guy.

“The birth father has terminated his rights, so he’s out of the picture. Elise has chosen not to name him.” The man went on to say that Elise had chosen a closed adoption. “She doesn’t want her child confused about who the parents are. She wants it to be you two alone.” He checked his notes. “Oh, and she’s due August fourteenth.”