Undercover Heat (28 page)

“You have no idea how great it feels to hold you like this and not give a rat’s ass who sees it.”

“I can imagine it.”

“Let’s go back to the hotel,” he whispered.

“Why?”

“Because there are some things that aren’t meant for anyone else’s eyes.”

“Hey you two!” Manny jumped up on to the sound stage. “Break it up, because I have big news. Lizzie is in labor as we speak. You’re expected at the North
Country Medical Center.”

Carrie clapped her hands. “Oh my God? Is Russ there? And what about my
d
ad?”

“I don’t k
now. But I have a limo waiting-
”

“You can take the limo, Manny
,
” Ty said. “I’ll take Carrie myself in the Hummer.” He grabbed her by the hand and maneuvered around the camera stand. “Let’s go have a baby,” he mumbled and kissed her on the cheek.

Chapter Nineteen

Carrie leaned out the window of the idling Hummer and stared at the parking lot grid lock in front of her. “Gosh, did every pregnant woman in upstate New York go into labor today? This place is packed.”

“Can you get back in the car, please? You hanging out the wind
ow like that makes me nervous.”

“You know, if this car wasn’t so huge we could drive up on the sidewalk and sneak around to
the parking garage.”

“Even if I was driving a golf cart, it wouldn’t make a difference.” Ty growled, and checked his watch. “It’s going to take me longer to dump the car, than it did to get here in the first place.”

“Wel
l in that case, let me off here.
” Carrie pointed to a snow-dusted “Labor and Delivery” sign in front of them. “I’ll jump over the snow bank to the door.”

“Are you crazy? No way. Not in your condition.”

“How much coordination does it require to put one foot in front of the other over a little pile of snow?”

“I’d rather not have you in a position to find out.”

“I’ll be careful.” She shoved the door open with her foot, and slid down to the wet pavement. With a few careful steps, and one or two curses, she made her way through the snow and into the delivery ward entrance.

“Carrie Ann! We’re down here!”

Russ stood at the other end of the hall. He met her half way and scooped her up in a hug. “Oh man, Carrie we’re so glad you made it!” He giggled like a child, as he swung her around in a circle. “You have to see her!”

“Lizzie?”

“No. The baby.”

Carrie planted her hands on his shoulders and looked him in his eyes. “Wait a minute. Her? You mean it’s a girl?”

“And she’s beautiful,” he said. “It was incredible. I can’t believe I’m a father.”

“And I can’t believe I
missed it. When did it happen?”

“About a half-hour ago.”

Carrie spied the closed door at the end of the hall and broke into a jog. She slowed to a walk, when she was close enough to read the sign on the door. Written in pink calligraphy were the words “Baby Girl Haines.” It also listed her size and time of her birth. Carrie ran her hand over it and swallowed. “Oh my God. I have a niece.”

“You sure do.” Russ gushed.

“
I have to go in and seen them.”

“Carrie, wait a minute.” He gestured for her to take a step back. “I just want to warn you. Your father is lurking somewhere around here. I know you guys had an awful night last night.” Russ stared at his feet and shrugged. “I think he’s in trouble with the Archbishop.”

“There you guys are!” Ty called, from behind her. “I dumped the car about a mile from here. Did I miss the main event?”

Carrie cringed. “Actually, it looks like we both did.”

He slipped one hand over her shoulder and extended the other to a scowling Russ. “So I guess congratulations are in order.”

“I suppose I should say the same to you.”

“She had a little girl, Ty
,
” Carrie said quickly. “Isn’t that wonderful?”

“It is wonderful. I just wish we
could have gotten here sooner.”

“Yeah, I’m sure you were keeping my sister in law very busy.”

Ty bristled against her, as she stood between the two men. It would be easy to rely on old habits and let Ty do the fast talking for the both of them, but she wasn’t interested in that anymore. “Listen you two, I know you guys have had run-ins in the past, but can we cut the male posturing and get over it?”

“You got her fighting your battles now, huh Hollister?”

“Look, I appreciate how you and Lizzie both have looked after me. But the best thing you can do for me now is to call a truce. If I can move past everything that’s happened, you can too.” Her fingers slipped over Russ’s as she stepped back towards the door. “Now, why don’t you two get
a cup of coffee or something?”

Carrie knocked softly on the door, before slipping inside. She was surprised to see her sister out of bed, and hovering over a bassinette.

“You up for a visitor?”

Lizzie smiled. “If it’s any consolation, I tried to h
old her in until you got here.”

Carrie covered her mouth as she approached the bassinette. “Oh, my gosh. She’s so small.”

“She didn’t feel so small when I was pushing her out.”

“I’m sorry I missed this,” Carrie said and hugged her sister. “I know we planned on me being here.”

“I know, but I’m glad Russ was.”

“That’s nice. You all were together as a family.” Carrie looked up at her sister who looked remarkably well for just giving birth. She was still in a hospital night gown, but her hair was brushed and neatly pulled back, and she even had applied a little lip gloss. Carrie reached in the bassinette and touched her fingertip to the baby’s cheek. “I can’t believe I have a niece. I’m so excited
.
”

“I bet. And just think in nine months maybe you’ll return the favor.” Lizzie brushed a hair from Carrie’s face. “I didn’t get to see you after what happened last night. Congratulations”.

“Thanks.”

“How’s Ty handling it?”

“He’s thrilled. But he’s not actually the man I’m worried about.” Carrie glanced behind her, making sure the door was shut. “I don’t suppose Dad has said anything to you?”

Lizzie pulled the hat down over the baby’s ears and sat down on the bed. “He saw the interview, Carrie.”

She bit her lip. “The whole thing?”

“Yeah. We all did. Along with rest of the world. You really spilled your guts.”

“I know. But it was something I needed to do. I can’t help it if Dad is angry.”

Lizzie patted the mattress beside her, and Carrie took the cue to sit. “Look Carrie, you know how much I love you, and I know the struggles you’ve gone through. After last night, Dad was pretty worried about you.”

“It looked to me like he was pretty angry.”

Lizzie shrugged. “Okay, maybe a little of both. I know Dad’s tough. But after the interview today, he seemed different. Softer.”

“Maybe becoming a
grandparent has mellowed him.”

“Maybe. But I speak for all of us when I say that we only want the best for you. Dad loves you.”

The baby whimpered in her bassinette. Little arms and legs freed themselves from the tight wrap. Lizzie moved to go to her, but Carrie beat her to the punch. “No way! Auntie wants a chance to hold her niece.”

“Great. While you’re at it, you can change her diaper.”

“No problem. I could use the practice.”

“Do you think your old Dad could help you, Carrie?” The two girls looked up at the man in the doorway. He held a pink teddy bear and a bouquet of flowers. “I brought a few things. I hope you don’t mind.” Planting a kiss on Lizzie’s cheek, he placed his goodies on the bedside table. “So I see your sister made it. You must have high-tailed it from the city. You were just on television an hour and half ago.”

“I’m sorry I missed the birth. We got here as fast as we could.”

“We
,
”
h
e said like a declaration. “You must mean, Hollister.”

“I think I feel like brushing my teeth
,
” Lizzie said and slid off the bed. “Why don’t you two chat?” The door closed behind Lizzie, and Carrie scooped up the whimpering child, more out of comforting herself than the baby.

Langley
paced across the room and stopped in front of the window. “So, you had a pretty dramatic night last night. And you pulled yourself together today for an interview on national television.” He turned around to face her. “That’s impressive.”

“Thank you.”

“You know your mother used to watch
‘
The Olivia Show
’
all the time. She called her the Hollywood Mother Teresa. I guess she helps a lot of people through charity and what not.”

“She’s big into that.”

“I was thinking that maybe today you might have helped some people. I mean, by telling your story and about your faith, and your capacity
to overcoming personal issues.”

Carrie smiled at the thought. “You think?”

“Well, you helped me.” He sat down beside her on the bed. “You reminded me the importance of forgiveness, and how a person like me is better off leaving the judging in God’s hands.” He lowered his gaze to the floor. “I didn’t know you knew I told the doctors to deliver the baby. And I never told you because I didn’t want you to blame me.”

”I know Daddy, and I do understand.” Carrie looked at her father. He didn’t seem the rigid, emotionless man she was used to. He was gentler, his voice deeper, and when he looked at her he almost smiled.

“If I’ve been hard on you, it’s because I love you, and I worry about you. And I had good reason to worry. You were very sick for a long time.”

“But I’m better now. And I know you think Ty is to blame for a lot of things.”

“I blamed him because he was convenient. I realize that now. And when I watched that interview, I was prepared to hate him. But God help me, all I could see was love in his eyes.”

“He does love me. And I love him, and I know that me being pregnant and not married embarrasses you.”

“I already talked to the Archdiocese. They’re reviewing the situation, but given my history of service, I think they might work around it. They even mentioned a new project in Mexico. I know its more travel, but we go where God takes us.” He reached
for the baby and brought her against him. “The most important thing to me, though, is that you’re okay. A chance to bring a new life into the world is the big
gest gift the Lord can bestow.”

She watched her father cuddle the child, planting a kiss on her hat-covered head. At that moment she did feel blessed. A second chance at love, at happiness, and motherhood. She ran her hand over her belly and rested her head on her father’s shoulder. “Thank you, Daddy.”

***

“So what are you going to say to him?”

Ty brought the plastic cup of black sludge to his lips. He’d been rehearsing a bunch of monologues in the half hour he’d been sitting outside of Lizzie’s room. None were working for him. “I don’t know,” he said and groaned. “Whatever it takes, I guess.”

“I suppose this is as good time as any to invoke your acting talents.”

“Nothing to act, man. I love the girl.”

Russ patted him o
n the shoulder. “Right answer.”

Ty stood up when the door in front of them opened. Deacon Langley emerged with a smile, but when he saw Ty, it slowly faded. “There you are, Russ,” Langley said. “I was wondering where you went.”

“I thought I’d get a cup of coffee and let you visit with the girls.”

Langley nodded then glanced at Ty. “Well how about you get another one, while Ty and I chat.”

The two men stared at each other under the fluorescent lights. Buzzers and bells sounded in his ears, and his nose stung with the scent of antiseptic. Ty had played this scene before. In a hospital like this, in a hall like this, a half a decade ago. This time, however, he’d play it differently, with different words and different direction. This time it would turn out right. “Look Deacon, I wanted to apologize about last night.
I know that was quite a scene-
”

“Hold it, Hollister
.”
Langley held out his hand. “I have a few things I’d like to say to you, too.”

Langley nodded to the door next to Lizzie’s, and Ty followed him in to the empty room. Dusk had settled, and the place was dark, but neither made a move to turn on a light. Ty took a deep breath. The sweat pooled on the small of his back, and
the hair stood up on his neck.

“I think I owe you a ‘thank you,’” Langley said.

“For what? Getting your daughter pregnant?”

He chuckled and shook his head. “That’s not what I meant, but in a way I guess I’m grateful for that. Being a grandfather is a wonderful thing. As is being a father. You don’t strike me as someone who
would know anything about that.
”

Ty folded his arms against him and raised his chin. If this was the Deacon’s way to urge him to bow out, it wasn’t working. “If you think you can come between Carrie and me again, that’s not going to happen. I’m not leaving her. Not this time.”

“And I don’t want you to.” He took a step toward him, straitening the cuffs on his raincoat. “I saw that interview today, and I realized that maybe I never gave you enough credit.”

“You don’t give your daughter enough credit.”

“Maybe so, but you can’t blame me for trying to protect her. That’s why I’d like to offer you my gratitude. You seem to share the same concern for her as I do, and I appreciate that.”

Ty swallowed, letting the words settle around him before he opened his own mouth. “Jordon, you need to know a few things, too. First of all, I’m not saying that I’m a saint, but there was no woman in my hotel suite the night you came to see me. Those things you found were Carrie’s.”