Jacqueline Diamond - A Baby for the Doctor

“Amber knew about your plans?” Rod sighed. “They’ll squeeze the truth out of her. They could have me arrested if we don’t report right away that you’re here.”

“We love you guys,” Jack put in. “But nobody’s above the law.”

“If they stick me in boarding school, I’ll run away from there, too.” Fire flashed in Tiffany’s eyes. Anya shuddered at the prospect of the girl wandering alone in some foreign city, an easy target for a predator.

“Please don’t put yourself in danger,” Rod said.

“If I can’t live here, they ought to at least let me visit,” Tiffany responded. “I’m going to tell them that when I get home.”

“Oh, dear.” Helen’s shoulders slumped. “I heard Vince say to your mother...”

“What?” Tiffany demanded.

“That I’m a bad influence because I indulge you girls. And once Vince’s mind is made up, he’s a bulldozer. I’m afraid he’ll cut me off completely.”

Vince was clearly a control freak. He couldn’t stand sharing the girls with anyone.

“My opinion of that man isn’t fit for polite company,” Rod growled.

“I did talk to a lawyer in town,” Helen said. “I could file with the court for visitation rights. But they’d fight it, and you know how much money Vince has. He’d bankrupt me before he’d give in.”

Unless they found a solution, Tiffany faced a difficult and possibly disastrous adolescence, Anya thought. Although it wasn’t her place to interfere, she did have an idea. “May I make a suggestion?”

Mixed expressions greeted this remark. Rod spoke first. “I appreciate your concern, Anya, but you’re not familiar with any of the people involved.”

“She was a teenage girl herself not long ago. Let’s hear what she has to say.” Jack’s encouragement finally drew a nod from his uncle.

Anya addressed the girl. “They won’t let you visit your dad, but your grandmother isn’t getting any younger. You and your sister are old enough to spend a week or two with her during vacations. And then you can discreetly visit your dad.”

“Vince won’t let us do anything that isn’t his idea,” Tiffany replied bitterly.

“Surely your mom has some influence. Play the guilt card,” Anya persisted. “Grandmothers are precious, and I’m sure she could use two helpers for spring cleaning. It would give your parents a break, too, during vacation.”

“They already get a break. They stick us in camps, like music camp and swim camp and soccer camp.” Despite the objection, a note of hope brightened the girl’s voice.

“I would love to have them here. They’re growing up so fast.” Helen gazed fondly at her granddaughter. “And it would be wonderful to do some spring cleaning together.”

“I’d like that. Amber would, too,” Tiffany replied. “Could we visit Daddy and Uncle Jack while we’re here?”

“Not officially,” Rod told her. “If your parents get wind that I’m involved, they’ll forbid you to come. They might even file a restraining order against me.”

Jack leaned forward. “I’ll bet we could arrange something if we’re careful, though.”

That was exactly what Anya had had in mind. She wondered if she should speak again or let the others carry the ball from here.

Helen clasped her hands in her lap. “But if Portia and that husband of hers found out I let you spend time with the girls, they’ll cut off all contact with me.”

“I suppose that’s a risk,” Jack conceded.

Anya cleared her throat. Everyone turned to her, with varying degrees of curiosity and skepticism.

“As I said, you have to be discreet,” she ventured. “But, Helen, surely you have friends who could take the girls on outings. It wouldn’t be your fault if they happen to run into their dad.”

“You’re a sneaky little thing,” Rod said appreciatively.

“I grew up in a family that tried to run my life even after I was grown,” she explained. “I learned the less I told them, the better.”

“Some of the hospital staff have school-age children,” Jack remarked. “There are lots of possibilities for playdates at a park or the beach.”

Rod grinned. “If I ran into them, naturally I’d offer to spring for lunch.”

“Thanks for the idea,” Helen told Anya. “I don’t suppose you have children, do you? You’d be a splendid parent.”

“Not yet.” With a twist of pain, she remembered the news she’d received this evening. I will have a child for about five minutes—until her forever mom claims her.

A dozen years from now, how would her child feel about being adopted? Anya supposed different kids had different responses. Tiffany had been torn up about Rod’s supposed abandonment, but that was because they’d formed a bond. A birth mother who relinquished her baby wasn’t rejecting her. Exactly the opposite. You had to do what was best for the child.

“I have another idea! Amber and I could go to the movies with Anya and Jack. Like a double date.” Tiffany clearly assumed they were a couple, despite their denials. “And he could cook dinner for us. Do you still cook, Uncle Jack?”

“Rumor has it,” he replied cheerfully.

More soberly, Rod said, “None of this is guaranteed. But you should make your case, Tiff. The fact that you ran away might show them they can’t keep you under lock and key. Let’s hope Amber hasn’t mentioned that you planned to contact me.”

“I swore her to secrecy.” The girl toyed with the end of her braid. “She knows Vince would go ballistic.”

“When you talk to them, don’t forget to lay on the guilt,” Anya reminded her. “Emphasize how unfair they’re being to your grandmother.”

“Their poor aging grandmother,” Helen said lightly. “Who can’t do a proper spring cleaning anymore.”

“Not that anyone could tell.” Anya wasn’t about to mention the spiderwebs on the front windows. Even if the detail reinforced Tiffany’s case, it would only embarrass her grandmother.

The girl bounced with excitement. “I’ll act totally pathetic. This is great! Thank you, Anya. I can’t wait till you’re my aunt.”

Heat rushed to her cheeks. “Jack and I aren’t dating, sweetie. We just work together.”

Rod studied her. Anya hoped he hadn’t changed his mind about her so drastically that he might play matchmaker. She hadn’t meant to be that helpful.

“Now that we have a plan, I’ll go call your mother,” Helen said.

Taking that as her cue, Anya stood. “It’s been great meeting you and Tiffany.”

“Do you have to leave already?” the girl asked. “I like you.”

“I like you, too.” And truthfully, Anya hoped she’d see Rod’s daughter again. “But I have to hit the hay. Surgical nurses start work at 7:00 a.m. That means rolling out of bed by 5:30 a.m.”

“Does Uncle Jack roll out of bed by 5:30 a.m., too?” his niece asked mischievously.

Anya blushed. “I wouldn’t know.”

“You’re grown-ups. That means you can sleep together, right?” Tiffany teased.

“Where’d you pick up that idea?” Rod demanded. “I thought your parents monitored your media access.”

“Everybody knows about that stuff.” Tiffany patted his arm. “Don’t worry, Daddy. I don’t have a boyfriend yet.”

“That’s one thing I approve of,” he said with mock gruffness.

Anya said her goodbyes. “Back in a sec,” Jack told the others, then followed her outside.

“We have something to discuss,” she began as they walked toward her car.

“Maybe tomorrow.”

She’d prefer to get this over with. “It’s important.”

He didn’t seem to hear her, though. “What was my aunt thinking, shutting Rod out of the girls’ lives? Rod’s their father in every sense that counts. You can’t sever a bond like that, no matter how many lawyers you hire.”