Almost a Family Read Free Page A

down.
    "In German Village." She saw a flicker of surprise in his eyes at the mention of the pricey locale. "How about you? What do you do for a living?" she inquired, lowering her gaze as she lifted her cup for a sip. The deep blue centers of his eyes were so intense against the startling whites, she couldn't look into them for more than a few seconds. Bailey, Jr.'s eyes had been deep blue, but all babies had blue eyes at that age....
    "Still landscaping," he said. "I work for a commercial developer."
    "Designing?"
    "No," he said, picking up his spoon. "Just running a few crews."
    Virginia's heart sank. He'd given up his dream. "That's nice," she said, breaking open a packet of crackers. "Do you still live at Shenoway?" The mere mention of his family's small farm sent stabs of longing through her chest.
    He busied himself stirring the soup. "No. Sis and her husband renovated Mom and Pop's farmhouse, and we sold some of the surrounding land. I live above the saloon."
    She took a bite of the dry cracker and swallowed her disappointment. They'd brought Bailey, Jr., home to the decrepit farmhouse, and Bailey had promised her they'd someday build a new home in the north meadow overlooking the pond. With a big yard for Bailey, Jr., to run and play in as he grows up. Now it seemed probable some other family lived in their meadow. "How is Rita?" she managed to ask.
    At last he cracked a smile. "Sis is great, as always. She's married to a terrific guy, and they have a six-year-old, Jean Ann."
    Virginia smiled her genuine pleasure. "I'd love to see them."
    His hands stilled and she watched his eyes move over her hair and face. "She really misses you."
    "I should have stayed in touch. With Rita, I mean."
    "Well, I guess you'll be seeing more of her now," he said. "I guess you'll be seeing more of me too."
    Virginia kept her face passive to hide the current of emotion coursing through her at the simple truth of his words.
    "You're still wearing the locket I gave you," he said with surprise in his voice, pointing to the necklace she unconsciously fingered.
    She glanced down at the shiny gold pendant, hoping he didn't read anything into the fact that she still wore his wedding gift. Looking up again, she shrugged slightly and smiled. "It always made me feel closer to him somehow."
    He nodded. "Can I see his picture?"
    Leaning forward, she stretched the long chain and extended the case toward him. He gently opened the locket and ran a finger over their son's birth picture—a shock of black hair over a little red face. When he closed the case, he turned over the locket, angling it in the light. "And baby makes three," he read aloud.
    A shiver ran up her spine. Bailey was treading on memories that were too dear. She pulled back and dropped the pendant into hiding beneath her jacket. The locket still radiated with warmth from his fingers as it settled between her breasts.
    He pushed his bowl aside and brought his hand up to scratch the stubble of his beard. Then a grin split his face, and he leaned forward to cover her hand with his. "They found our son, Ginny. Our son. It's pretty incredible, isn't it?"
    As always, his smile was infectious. She smiled too, and nodded. "Unbelievable."
    His eyes shone like two dark sapphires. "What do you think he's like? Which one of us do you think he takes after?"
    She shook her head, her laughter bubbling up at his enthusiasm. "I can't imagine."
    "Do you think he plays baseball or rides horses?"
    She could see his mind clicking with all the father-son activities he had planned—plans he'd laid within seconds of their son drawing his first breath. Virginia fought the panic rolling in her stomach. How was she going to forge a bond with her eight-year-old son? She'd never been very good with children; since the kidnapping the mere sound of a child crying made her hyperventilate.
    What if she wasn't a good mother? What if her own child didn't want her?
    "Are you okay?" he asked, concern crinkling his eyes and