Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
JASON
“Is everything set up?” I asked Thomas.
While Cora was inside packing Elias’s things, my friend and I stood on the front porch. What the foster parents didn’t know was that I’d instructed Thomas to make sure there was security surrounding their home. I didn’t want to take the chance that Colter might try something.
He nodded. “Yeah, and I went ahead and increased security at the house too. A few more guys won’t hurt. No one even gets onto the driveway to the house without an ID check now.” He tipped his head toward the SUV. “The car seat is ready, too.”
“Good. Her mind was on the court hearing. I didn’t want to get one until she won.
I didn’t want her returning home in an SUV with an empty car seat.
” I don’t know who it would have hurt more.
Her, faced with the loss of her nephew, or me, knowing there was nothing I could do to bring her smile back.
Thomas smiled. “How do you think Cora’s going to react when she sees the room?”
“I don’t care. He needed things that she didn’t have, and so I got them.”
“I want to be there when she sees it.”
“The only reason you want to be there is so you can witness her chew me out.”
He laughed. “Well, yeah. That’ll be the best part.”
I shook my head. “Shut up and go do something useful.”
The screen door opened, and Cora beamed as she held Elias. “Sorry. It took a little longer than I thought. Pam was going over his schedule. There’s already been a lot of changes and I want to minimize any more.”
I waved her off. “Cora, it takes as long as it takes.” I lifted the diaper bag from her shoulder. “You ready?”
Pam stopped at the door. “If you need anything at all, you’ve got my number.” She smiled.
“Thank you.”
We were halfway to the car when she came to an abrupt halt. “Car seat. I don’t have a car seat.”
“Sure, you do,” I said as I continued walking.
“What?”
I glanced over my shoulder. “I got the best one in the market that was in stock at that baby boutique we passed yesterday.”
Her jaw slowly lowered. “Really?”
When I reached the car, I pulled the door open and waved my hand. “Ta-da. Car seat.” I quickly stored the diaper bag in the floorboard.
Thomas reached the car and stood at the edge of the open door.
She crossed the rest of the distance and stopped in front of me. “I keep racking up I.O.U.’s.”
“Did you ask for it?”
“Well, no.”
I lowered my gaze to Elias and smiled, taking his tiny hand in mine. “Your momma needs to learn about gifts.”
She gasped, and I looked up to find tears in her eyes. “Momma.”
“It’s only what?” I checked my phone. “Six months until your first Mother’s Day. May as well get used to the name.”
Her cheeks bloomed pink. “It might take a second.”
She was glowing. “Motherhood looks good on you.” And I intended to make sure she remained Elias’s mother.
“Thank you, Jason. For everything.” She lifted on her toes and kissed my cheek. “I’m sorry I’ve been—”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about.” The hair on the back of my neck lifted. I released Elias’s hand and scanned the area, but saw nothing. “Let’s get him to the house.”
Thomas tensed. Now he was turning in circles.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah. I’ve been paranoid lately.” I had, but someone was watching us. I could feel it.
So could Thomas.
Once Elias was secured in his car seat which was in the middle of the backseat, we got in and headed to the house.
The drive back was quiet except for Cora’s soft humming to Elias. I kept checking the mirrors, but didn’t see anything suspicious. Still, the feeling of being watched lingered.
“He’s so good,” Cora said softly while gently stroking Elias’s cheek. “Pam said he barely fusses unless he’s hungry or needs changing.”
“Sounds like he takes after his aunt,” I said, glancing at her. She was completely absorbed in watching him, and the contentment on her face created a warmth in my chest.
“I can’t believe he’s really mine,” she whispered, then looked up and caught me watching her. “For now. Until this is all sorted out.”
The possessiveness in her voice when she said “mine” told me everything I needed to know. She wasn’t giving up this baby without a fight.
The SUV came to a stop in the driveway. Cora was already reaching for the car seat handle, eager to get Elias inside.
“Let’s get him settled,” I said, though I found myself becoming a little anxious about her surprise.
I handed Thomas the diaper bag and helped Cora with the car seat. The baby was still sleeping peacefully, completely unaware that his entire world had just changed.
“I should probably put him down somewhere safe while I figure out where everything goes,” Cora said as we approached the front door. “Maybe the couch with pillows around him?”
I unlocked the door and stepped aside to let her enter first. “Actually, I have a better idea.”
She looked at me curiously as we walked through the living room. “What do you mean?”
My heart was beating faster than it should have been. I’d negotiated black market arms deals worth millions of dollars with less anxiety than this moment was causing me.
“Jason?” Cora’s voice held a note of concern. “What did you do?”
Thomas snorted behind us. “This is going to be good.”
I shot him a look over my shoulder before leading Cora up the stairs. “I may have… taken some liberties.”
“What kind of liberties?” She was walking more slowly now, the car seat handle gripped tighter in her hands.
I stopped in front of the third bedroom door and turned to face her. “Before you say anything, just remember that Elias needed these things. You didn’t have them, and I had the means to get them.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Jason, what did you do?”
I reached behind me and turned the doorknob, then stepped aside.
Cora’s sharp intake of breath was audible in the quiet hallway. She stood frozen in the doorway, staring into what had been an empty guest room earlier today.
She stepped into the room slowly, gently set the car seat on the plush area rug, and then turned in a slow circle, taking in every detail.
Elias grunted as I stooped to take him out. I divided my attention between holding him and watching Cora take it all in.
The crib was positioned against the far wall, made of solid cherry wood with a mobile of soft woodland creatures hanging above it.
A matching changing table sat nearby, already stocked with diapers, wipes, and everything else a baby could need.
A comfortable glider chair occupied the corner by the window, perfect for late-night feedings.
The walls had been painted a soft, calming sage green, and blackout curtains hung at the windows.
“How did you do this?” Her voice was barely audible.
I watched her face carefully, trying to read her expression. “The crib converts to a toddler bed later. The mattress is organic, hypoallergenic.”
“When did you… how did you…?”
“Thomas coordinated everything while we were in court today. The team had it all set up by the time we left the courthouse.” I leaned against the doorframe, trying to appear casual while my pulse hammered in my ears.
“If there’s something that doesn’t work for you or anything needs to be changed, just let me know. ”
I walked to the crib and laid Elias down, covering him with the blanket and faced her.
“There’s a humidifier, sound machine, night light,” I continued, the words tumbling out faster than I intended. “The monitor connects to your phone. I got the one with the breathing sensor pad under the mattress. Extra batteries for everything are in the—”
“Jason.” Her voice stopped my rambling. When I looked at her, tears were streaming down her face.
My stomach dropped. “I’m sorry, I know—”
She lunged at me, throwing her arms around my neck. “You’re the most wonderful man I’ve ever known.” She leaned back. “I will pay you back though.”
The relief that flooded through me was almost overwhelming. “You’re sure? Because Thomas said you’d probably want to pick everything out yourself, and I told him you didn’t have time for that, but if you’d rather—”
She covered my mouth with her hand. “Stop talking.”
I closed my mouth.
“This is the most thoughtful thing anyone has ever done for me.” Her voice was thick with emotion. “You thought of things I never would have… a humidifier?”
“I wanted him to have a proper room. A safe place. Even if it is temporary until you have permanent custody.” I looked over at the crib where Elias was starting to stir. “Every kid deserves that.”
She reached up and cupped my face with her palm. “You’re amazing.”
Before I could respond, she rose on her toes and pressed her lips to my cheek.
But instead of the quick kiss from earlier, she lingered there, her breath warm against my skin, her lips soft and still.
For a moment that stretched longer than it should have, she stayed close enough that I could feel the flutter of her eyelashes, could smell the faint scent of her shampoo.
When she finally pulled back, it felt like the air was sucked from the room.
“Thank you,” she whispered against my lips.
From the doorway, Thomas cleared his throat loudly. “Should I come back later, or are you two done having a moment over baby furniture?”
Cora laughed and stepped back, color flooding her cheeks. “We should get him settled. He’ll be hungry soon.”
I was still processing the kiss. The possessiveness I’d felt earlier was nothing compared to the surge of protectiveness that hit me now, watching her move to the crib and lean over to adjust his blanket.
“I’ll let you two get comfortable,” I said, my voice rougher than I intended.
“Okay. I’ll be down in a little while.”
I nodded, not trusting my voice. As I turned to leave, I caught Thomas’s knowing smirk.
“What?” I muttered as we walked back down the hallway.
“Nothing,” he said, but he was still grinning. “Just nice to see you happy for once.”
I wasn’t sure “happy” was the right word for what I was feeling. It was more complex than that, a mixture of satisfaction, protectiveness, and something dangerously close to what I imagined normal people called love.