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was relieved to learn their father cared enough to make sure they were buckled in before he took custody issues into his own hands. But that little fact was going to be overshadowed by his reckless flight with the kids in the backseat.
    Only after Carter was put into the second squad car and taken away did Wes transfer the kids and their belongings into his car. There was a tearful reunion ahead of them, unfortunately complicated by their father’s desperate actions.
    * * * *
    When Wes got home he tossed his keys onto the end table and pulled the phone out of his pocket, calling Lauren’s number. It rang twice before she picked up.
    “Lauren?”
    “Wes?”
    He smiled, loving how his name sounded when she said it. “Yeah, it’s me. What can I do for you?”
    There was a slight pause. “Like I said, I was kind of hoping you could give me some gift ideas for the baby shower. You have to know more than I do what Sherry could use. What she’d appreciate most.”
    “I know she’s registered at Sears and she has this strange Winnie the Pooh thing going for the nursery, but that’s the extent of what I know. Why don’t I swing by and pick you up? Are you still at the shelter?”
    “No, I got home fifteen minutes ago.”
    “I can pick you up there.”
    She hedged, “I don’t want to be a pain.”
    “Never. I need to get them something anyway. We can help each other out.”
    “You’d really do that?”
    “I’d appreciate the help.”
    Lauren snorted. “Well, I don’t know how much help I’m going to be. I’m not exactly used to shopping for babies either.”
    Wes chuckled. “We’ll manage. How about it?”
    “Sure, I guess. When will you get here?”
    “Ten minutes tops.”
    “Seriously?”
    “Seriously.”
    Lauren could feel her heart racing. “I better get ready.”
    * * * *
    Because neither had eaten yet they caught a quick, unappetizing dinner in the food court before heading to the department stores.
    “Hey, this is the crib, the one Sherry bought a month ago,” Wes said, running his hand along the rail.
    Lauren looked up from the diaper bag she was inspecting and her expression softened as she took in the Pooh bear themed bumper pad and comforter. “Oh my God. That’s really cute.”
    “She has the whole set.”
    “Changing table too?”
    Wes nodded. “I think she even bought the matching dresser.”
    Lauren groaned. “What the heck did she leave for the rest of us?”
    “You’d buy her furniture?”
    Lauren gave him a noncommittal shrug. “Maybe.”
    “You don’t have to get all extravagant, you know.”
    “But I want to.” Her pout did him in.
    “Then how about the rocking chair? She doesn’t have one of those and it goes with the rest.”
    Lauren sat down and tried it out. As far as Wes was concerned there was something very right about a simple rocking chair, and seeing a woman in it merely strengthened that opinion. It gave him a warm feeling inside just looking at Lauren gently rocking. The only thing missing in this otherwise perfect picture was a baby in her arms.
    The idle thought was out before he could stop it and Wes shook it off, mildly concerned by the suggestion. He was disturbed—seriously, alarmingly disturbed.
    “What do you think?” he asked with a curiously gruff voice.
    “I like it, but it’s expensive and it’ll never fit in my little car.”
    He pondered the dilemma. “And I can pretty much guarantee Sherry won’t accept it.” Lauren looked up in dismay, but Wes held up his hand. “Unless we go in on this gift together. She wouldn’t pass this up if it came from me too. Let’s split the cost, and I can bring it over in my car.”
    Lauren smoothed her hands down the arms. “I can see her in this, rocking the baby.” She gave him a deliberate nod. “Let’s do it.”
    Her words weren’t calculated to stir his blood but they did anyway. Wes covered it beautifully with a brusque nod of his own. “Deal.”
    To their relief, an employee took the