Baby on Board (12 page)

nurses’ station where Marie waited. They were both silent for a few

moments until Marie broke the silence.

She slapped her hand down on the counter. “That was so intense. I

mean, the only thing that could have made it better is if I’d had popcorn.”

“Marie.” Ivy said the name like a warning and then sighed. “I’m going

to go do the rounds. Macy wants me to sit in with her art therapy class

later today.”

“You’re just trying to avoid seeing them again,” Marie said

knowingly.

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“That too,” Ivy called over her shoulder as she strode away. “Your

rounds will start in thirty minutes. Get on your hustle, woman.”

“Slave driver,” Marie called back.

Ivy just wanted to get through the rest of the day and go home. It got

progressively worse, especially when a soldier with PTSD decided to

punch a hole in the wall of the art room and then run through the hospital.

They had to put the entire building on lockdown and Walter Reed was a

massive facility. It took hours to find him and calm him down enough so

the doctors could get him back to his room and sedate him. It was well

after eight when she got home. After letting herself in, she made a beeline

for her fridge to grab a bottle of wine. After pouring out a glass, she drank

half before she sighed and rested her head on the cool counter. The

doorbell rang while she was in that position.

“What now?” she moaned and moved wearily to the door.

Rafe stood on the other side holding Bonnie and both of them wore

sunglasses. Bonnie’s were pink and star shaped while Rafe’s were red and

shaped like cars. They both looked so cute and were such a surprise to

see, that she couldn’t help but laugh.

“What’s all this?” Ivy asked.

“We come bearing an invitation to dinner. We saw you pull up. The

steaks are ready to go on the grill with homemade rosemary potatoes and

mac and cheese with fresh bacon bits and chives too. Don’t say no. Let us

feed our hardworking nurse.”

“Is Donna or any of her crew going to jump me from a bush?” Ivy

teased.

Even with the ridiculous glasses on his face, Ivy could see that Rafe

didn’t find it funny.

“Don’t bring her up,” Rafe said quietly. “This is about you and me,

Ivy. If you don’t want to spend time with me say so, but don’t use anyone

else as an excuse.”

Damn, he’s not playing around
, Ivy thought. “Well, since you guys

came over here looking so cool, I’ll say yes to dinner. Shall I bring my

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wine?”

“Finish the glass. I’ve got a bottle already opened on the kitchen

counter,” Rafe said with a grin. “Just so you know, we weren’t going to

take no for an answer.”

“Really? Well, let me get a shower and I’ll come on by,” she said.

“Don’t fall asleep. You won’t want to miss my cooking,” Rafe teased.

“I’ll be there in ten.” Ivy tickled Bonnie’s chin and the baby giggled.

“You’re such a sweetie. I missed seeing your face.”

“We’ll see you soon. Let yourself in when you’re ready,” Rafe said

and strode down the street holding Bonnie high. The baby’s laughter filled

the night and Ivy couldn’t help but smile. She already felt tons better after

such a horrible day. Ivy would give in to the whim―she would let Rafe

in. There was no use fighting it. They were drawn to each other. She could

throw Reese up as a roadblock, but Rafe would always find a way to get

around it. Tonight she wouldn’t think or try to evaluate it. Marie was

right; why settle when something amazing could be brewing with Rafe?

Ivy went upstairs to shower and wash away the day’s events. By the time

she headed outside, she felt fresh and happy.
Time to let the reigns go and

let fate do its work.

She opened the door to Rafe’s house and stepped inside. The aroma of

grilled meat and a home cooked meal filled the air. Ivy loved to cook, but

usually eating alone didn’t warrant putting together a big meal. Half the

time she made a dish and would be eating it all week until she didn’t want

to see it anymore. Having a man do the cooking was a nice change. She

walked straight through his living room and kitchen to the back sliding

doors. The first thing she saw was black and blue tile bordering an L-

shaped pool. Rafe was standing in front of a large stainless steel grill.

Rafe had taken the role of being a father to a new high. Bonnie was in a

bouncy seat that had every colorful little toy you could imagine to capture

her eye. The seat was on a mat that was made up of colorful foam puzzle

pieces and there was even an umbrella to keep the sun off her. It was still

open even thought it was late evening and the sun was setting.

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“You’re going to have to get a gate installed around the pool when she

starts walking,” Ivy commented as she walked up behind him.

Rafe turned and snapped the stainless steel tongs he was holding.

“They come next Friday for that.”

Ivy chuckled. “That’s great, but you don’t have to do it right away.

Suppose you have another party or whatever. Your guests won’t be able to

jump in the pool.”

He turned back and flipped a steak. “The only parties I’ll be having

anymore are Bonnie’s birthday parties. I also got her signed up for

daycare when I go back to work. Did you grab a glass of wine?”

“No, I’ll get it when we go inside. Do you want me to do anything?”

Ivy asked.

He pointed to where Bonnie sat. “Nope. Sit, have a conversation with

Bonnie. I’m doing it all tonight.”

Ivy shrugged playfully. “Hey, I can go for that. How was your day on

the job, Bonnie?” She sat down on the foam puzzle pieces and Bonnie

jiggled in her bouncy seat and babbled a long stream of incoherent words.

“Wow. It seems like you had a rough day too.”

Rafe chuckled. “She should have no complaints. She gets to hang out

with Grandma who buys her frilly dresses and fills her room with Build-

A-Bears. She can poop in her pants and have other people take care of it

and always has an ample supply of teething cookies.”

Ivy gave him a look. “You tasted the cookies, haven’t you?”

He made a face. “Those things are awful. Do the people who make

this stuff know how bad their product tastes? She is going to love Oreos

when she can have them.”

“Her little palate is sensitive. She can’t have overly spiced foods yet,”

Ivy crooned and took her from the bouncy seat. Bonnie was heavier and

she looked healthy and definitely happy. He was a perfect father and she

was a lucky little girl. Ivy nuzzled the baby and felt her own biological

clock ticking. She hoped and prayed that when the time came she could

have a child of her own and find a man who wanted to work with her

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toward that goal. Not every woman was born with fertile soil to plant a

seed; some had to work at it. She thought of her ex and how he had looked

at her after she told him it would be hard for her to conceive. It made her

sad and she pushed the thought out of her head. Tonight was for relaxing.

She would eat, enjoy herself, and play with Bonnie.

“You look pensive,” Rafe said, coming over with a platter in his

hands. “Ready to go inside and eat?”

Ivy smiled. “Yup. I’m excited to taste your culinary skills.”

“I’ve got many other skills I would be happy to show you,” he said

under his breath, but Ivy heard him loud and clear.

“I’m sure you would.” She winked as she passed by him holding

Bonnie. It was a brazen move to let him know she had heard his words.

Inside was cool compared to the warmth of the evening. It was already

in the eighties and it was just a few weeks into June. It was going to be a

long, hot summer. She put Bonnie in her high chair next to the table while

Rafe spooned some different colored baby foods onto her pink princess

plate.

He used a haughty French accent while he worked. “For the little

madam, we have green goop, a.k.a. peas, orange goop, a.k.a. sweet

potatoes, and some yellowish beige gunk for dessert—”

“Let me guess, apple sauce?” Ivy laughed.

Rafe inclined his head. “Quite true, madam. And for you, a glass of

sparkling white wine and a plate of delicious fare.”

She shook her head and smiled. “You’re a nut.”

He sat down across from her. “I just know how to enjoy life.”

“Is there any word on her mother?” Ivy asked and then frowned. “I’m

sorry if you feel it’s not my place to ask…”

Rafe stopped her by covering her hand with his own. “I made it your

business when I showed up at your house asking for help. My lawyer has

filed the petitions with the court. I’ve got temporary custody and he’s

hired a detective to find her. Then she can sign the papers giving over her

parental rights to Bonnie. That’s the easy way. The hard way would be if

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she decides to fight, which my lawyer assures me would go my way since

she abandoned her on my doorstep. The final court case is in a month,

either way. I don’t intend Bonnie to ever go back to a situation where she

can’t be safe.”

“She was well cared for,” Ivy interjected. “I don’t know her mother’s

issues but sometimes things get tough for a single mother. I don’t think

she could manage being a single mother anymore.”

“That gives her no right to just leave my daughter on the doorstep. She

found where I live. She could have waited with her,” Rafe pointed out.

“Would you have done it, Ivy? Left your child without knowing she was

safe?”

“Of course not,” Ivy said quickly. She looked down at the meal in

front of her, thinking how blessed she would be to even be a mother.

“Do you want kids, Ivy?” Rafe asked suddenly as if sensing her

thoughts.

She looked at the little angel to her right as Rafe spooned some of the

peas into her mouth. Her hair was dark like her father’s and had already

begun to curl at the edges. Her light blue-green eyes seemed to sparkle

when she smiled and showed those two perfect little teeth. Oh, yes, she

ached to be a mom.

“I want them very much,” Ivy said quietly, feeling emotion clog her

throat so she cleared it gently. “Wanting and having are two different

things, though.”

He looked at her curiously before giving Bonnie another spoonful of

orange goop this time. “Care to explain or none of my business?”

Ivy sighed and picked at her potatoes. “Remember, I told you I have

endometriosis, which makes actually having a child more difficult.”

“But not impossible,” Rafe said.

She smiled sadly. “No, not impossible, but to my ex it was a deal

breaker. He left soon after he found out.”

“I remember you telling me that and I still say he was a fool. A child

conceived after both parents support each other through a difficult time

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would be a treasure.”

“It’s more than likely I have so much scar tissue…” Ivy shook her

head. “Never mind. It’s not something we should be discussing anyway.”

“Why not?” Rafe demanded. He used a damp washcloth and wiped

Bonnie’s face. “I want to be with you. I’m not hiding that fact. And if I’m

lucky enough to be able to hold you and keep you, you can be sure as hell

I won’t run because we might have difficulty having a child.”

Ivy stared at him with her mouth agape. She certainly wasn’t

expecting that announcement. “You’ve been thinking about a future

with…um…me?”

Rafe grinned. “Tied your tongue, have I? I don’t sound like the

playboy you think I am if I’m craving to spend forever with you, do I?

Don’t worry about that now. Eat your dinner before it gets cold. Maybe if

you’re good, I’ll let you watch cartoons with Bonnie before her bedtime.”

“Well, then, I’ll be a good girl and eat.” Ivy dug her fork into her mac

and cheese and took a bite. “Delicious.”

Rafe gave her a wink and used his haughty French voice. “I told you,

madam, I’m a culinary genius.”

Ivy ate and contemplated what Rafe said—more than Reese ever said.

More than she got after five years with her ex even. Still, she couldn’t be

naïve. Sweet words were one of the many tools men used when they