Dance Away with Me(59)

“Give her back to me!”

The grooves around his mouth deepened. “Stay here,” he said quietly. “It’ll be easier for you.”

He opened the fire tower door, and with the sobbing baby tucked in his arms, disappeared.

“No!” She ran toward the door, stumbled, and fell to her knees. “No!” And then, from the depths of her soul, she howled.

*

As long as he lived, Ian would never forget that feral sound. He cupped the side of the baby’s head to keep her from hearing Tess Hartsong’s heart breaking.

He kept the baby in his arms as he lied to the Dennings. “Wren was fussy, and Tess took her for a walk.”

The Dennings weren’t suspicious by nature, and they accepted his explanation at face value. “Where is she?” Jeff said. “We need to thank her.”

“She’s staying away. She’s gotten attached to Wren, and it’ll be easier for her.”

Diane pressed her hand to her heart. “Of course. We understand. And we can never thank either of you enough for what you’ve done.”

It didn’t take a trained observer to see they were both nervous. Diane kept licking her lips. Jeff fidgeted with his shirt collar. “We’ve had a lot to do to get ready for the baby,” he said. “I don’t remember Simon being this much work.”

“We were younger then.” Diane pulled at her bottom lip with her teeth. “I prayed to be a grandmother, but I confess I never imagined it exactly like this.”

“It’s funny how life can change with a single phone call,” Jeff said. “One day you’re peacefully retired with nothing to do except plan your next cruise. The next day, you get a phone call from a famous artist telling you you’re grandparents.”

Diane fidgeted with her silver pendant. “We’re willing to make any sacrifice so Wren will know she’s being raised by two people who love her.”

They were good people, but Wren didn’t know them, not the way she knew Tess or even himself. He was the one who’d written down Wren’s schedule that morning—how often she ate, how much formula to give her, where her medical records were—everything Tess should have written down but hadn’t. He was surprised how much he’d absorbed without realizing it. But when he’d tried to double-check his notes with Tess, she wasn’t talking.

The Dennings had been nervous about taking a preemie on a plane, so they’d driven down from New Jersey. Ian continued to hold the baby while he and Jeff had a brief discussion about legalities and exchanged contact information for their attorneys. Tess was right about the smell of Wren’s head.

When their discussion ended, Diane and Jeff began carrying Wren’s things out to their Lexus. Jeff returned from his last trip to the car and gazed at the baby. “There’s mischief in those eyes.”

Ian knew Wren well enough to suspect it was more likely gas.

The time had come. Ian carried Wren out to the car. Under the palm of his hand, he felt her release a long, satisfied fart. He’d been right about the gas.

The idiot baby chose that moment to lock eyes with him, and he could swear she had a satisfied look on her face. He couldn’t believe he’d ever thought she looked like a squirrel.

“You have my number,” he said. “Call if you have questions. Anything at all. Night or day.”

“We will.”

Jeff opened the back door of their sedan. Ian leaned down to put Wren in the car seat. A flash of red out of the corner of his eyes distracted him.

Tess erupted from the woods.

Her face was flushed, but she didn’t look wild-eyed or crazed, the way she had in the fire tower. She looked sane and very determined.

“Hold up!” She marched forward, hair streaming in dark, curly swirls, nose red, eyes flint-hard. “We need to talk.”

“Tess?” Diane turned. Her forehead knit with concern. “Oh, dear, I know this is hard for you.”

“You have no idea.” Tess stopped in front of them, slightly out of breath but with her jaw set. “Here’s the deal. Wren is mine. Your son was only a sperm donor. I’ve taken care of her from the day she was born, and I want her.”

It was as if she’d leveled them with a stun gun. Nobody moved. She rushed on. “Look at her. She’s thriving. Can’t you see? I know her in a way nobody else does. I know what her cries mean—whether she’s hungry, or sleepy, or mad at the world. I know how she likes to be held and—”

“Tess,” Ian cut in. “This isn’t fair to Diane and Jeff.”

“I don’t care about Diane and Jeff!”

Jeff’s head came up, and Diane looked wounded.

Tess softened. “I don’t mean that. It’s obvious you’re good people, and Wren couldn’t have better grandparents. But you’re grandparents!” The words poured out, a rush of need, love, and desperation. “She’s mine! You can see her anytime you want, but she’s mine. You can be the grandparents you’ve always wanted to be. I’ll send her to you for holidays. For summer vacations. I’ll sign anything you want to protect your rights. But she belongs with me.”

“Oh, Tess.” Tess’s outburst had brought out Diane’s maternal concern. “We can see how hard this is for you. But Wren is ours.”