Heidi McCahan - Their Baby Blessing

Skye’s phone buzzed on the table between them, interrupting his explanation. Her gaze toggled between him and the phone.

“Do you want to get that?” he asked.

“It’s just a text. I’ll read it later.”

Six more notifications chimed in quick succession. He felt his mouth twitch but suppressed his smile. “Are you sure?”

“I’d better look. My babysitter is the only one who sends blasts of texts like that.”

He waited while she studied the screen.

“Oh no.” The appealing shade of pink on her cheeks faded to a pale white. “I can’t believe this.”

“Everything okay?”

She set the phone down. “Connor’s babysitter just gave her notice. Her husband is being transferred to Phoenix, and she leaves on Saturday to look for a house there.”

“I thought you said Connor was in day care at a church?”

Her hand trembled as she massaged her brow with well-manicured fingertips. “He is, but just two mornings a week because he’s having issues.”

“What kind of issues?”

“Biting.” Skye heaved a sigh. “It’s happened twice. Once more and they’ll ask him to leave. That’s why I hired a sitter for the other three days, hoping that if he wasn’t around other kids quite so much, he’d get the one-on-one attention he seems to need.”

“What will you do without a regular babysitter?”

“I—I don’t know.” She stared out the window.

A possible solution formed in his head. He hesitated. Given her earlier reaction, how would she respond if he mentioned he had a flexible afternoon schedule since most of his training could be completed in the mornings?

“I’m already on thin ice with the church’s child care director. She thinks I shouldn’t be Connor’s guardian, that he’d be better off in a two-parent home. Anyway, if he bites another child again, I’m worried she’ll use it as an excuse to call social services.”

Not on his watch. Gage’s heart fisted. “No.” He wouldn’t let that happen.

Skye flinched.

The single word came out more forceful than he’d intended. “I—I’m sorry.” He held up both palms in surrender. “Please, don’t let it come to that.”

Skye’s voice lowered to a whisper. “People talk. Look at how you found out about me from someone in Limon. Word will get out that I’m not able to care for him well enough and—”

“Skye.” Gage’s hand shot out and blanketed hers. “Let me help you. Please.”

Her eyes widened, and she stiffened at his touch. Startled by the warmth that zinged up his arm, he scrambled to form a coherent thought. “I have afternoons free. Maybe some mornings, too. I can watch Connor as much or as little as you need.”

The words tumbled out before he could stop them.

She stared at him. An awkward silence filled the space between them, and he suddenly regretted his bold offer. What if he scared her off?

Finally, the rumble of the espresso machine broke through the quiet, and she tugged her hand free. “I can’t ask you to do that.”

“You didn’t ask. I offered.”

She frowned. “Do you have any experience with babies?”

“I can learn.” It was a weak argument. She’d probably say no for sure now. He held his breath. Please say yes. Please say yes.

“I—I don’t know. I can’t afford to risk Connor’s safety with someone who lacks experience.”

His gut cinched tighter and he leaned forward, fighting to keep his tone even. “And I can’t go back on my word to my best friend. Give me two hours with Connor and let me prove to you that I can handle taking care of him.”

She sighed and shrugged into her coat. “Come over for dinner tomorrow. I’ll introduce you to my mother and Connor. We’ll see how it goes.”

Seriously? Relief washed over him. “What time?”

“Five thirty. I’ll message you our address.” She stood and reached for her purse. “See you then.”

“Yeah. Great.” His shock limited him to monosyllabic responses. “See you then,” he called over his shoulder as her boots click-click-clicked across the hardwood floor behind him.

He’d done it. Somehow he’d convinced Skye to let him meet Connor. A smile tugged at his mouth and he pumped the air with his fist.

Through the window, he watched Skye jog toward her car as thick wet snowflakes fell from a gray sky. She was intense. And beautiful. He purged the observation from his thoughts. Nope. Not going there. He had one mission right now, and it didn’t include flirting with a pretty brunette. Besides, he wasn’t “relationship material.” The last woman he’d dated in Florida had solidified that when she’d called him emotionally unavailable.

Gage gritted his teeth. He had his binge-drinking mother and absentee father to thank for that. And he knew firsthand how tough some foster homes could be. Maybe that was why he found Skye’s loyalty to her own family both intriguing and intimidating.

He reached for his phone to check McKenna’s social media for an update.

Still nothing. Gage sighed and revisited her older posts, landing on an image of McKenna holding Connor on her lap.

Man, Ryan would be so proud of his son. He hated that Ryan never had a chance to meet the baby before the accident.

“I’m going to look out for him. I won’t let you down. I promise,” Gage whispered, swallowing against the tightness in his throat. He didn’t know yet how he would fulfill that promise specifically—looking out for an almost one-year-old—but it didn’t lessen his resolve. He knew all too well the heartache of growing up without a dad, and he couldn’t rest until he was certain Connor was safe. Loved. Being a part of Connor’s life was about so much more than keeping a promise to Ryan. When Gage was a child, other adults had enabled his mother’s reckless behavior. He never wanted Connor to experience the pain and hopelessness of that kind of betrayal from the very people who were supposed to protect him. And he’d do whatever it took to make that happen.

She shouldn’t have invited Gage over.

A dull ache throbbed at Skye’s temples, and she’d snapped at Mom more than once this afternoon. The thought of allowing a man they’d just met into their home—into Connor’s life—sent a shiver down her spine. She hurried to fix dinner in Mom’s kitchen, while Connor sat at her feet, babbling as he pulled every single plastic container out of the bottom cabinet drawer.

Caught off guard by Gage’s bold offer at the coffee shop yesterday, and still reeling from her babysitter’s sudden resignation, she’d relented too easily. Her healthy suspicion of strangers had inconveniently vanished, and now, in less than ten minutes, he’d be at the door and she’d have to come up with a compelling reason why she didn’t need his help. His desire to keep his promise to his friend was honorable and all, but she had to consider Connor’s safety, too. What did she really know about Gage?

“There has to be another option,” she muttered, sidestepping Connor to fish the salad-serving tongs out of the drawer.

“Honey, are you all right?” Mom sat at the oval table in the breakfast nook, slicing tomatoes for the garden salad. “You’ve been talking to yourself all afternoon.”

“Yep. Fine. I’ve just got a lot to think about.” Skye skirted the L-shaped counter and set the tongs beside the salad bowl in front of Mom, then quickly pivoted away. She felt her mother’s concerned gaze following her as she turned off the Crock-Pot. Gage and her child care issues paled in comparison to the furniture store’s financial issues she’d stumbled across today. Dad had left a much more convoluted mess than Skye had originally thought. How in the world would she ever bring that up? Mom had endured so much already.