Read Online I Know Who Holds Tomorrow by Francis Ray - Free Book Online

wasn’t there a relative or two hovering over the child? Wes’s family was small, but she’d come from a big family, a close family. Even now, her parents and sister were probably on the phone spreading the word about Wes’s accident. She’d tried to convince them not to come, but she’d be surprised if they didn’t show up tomorrow.
    And when they did they’d find Wes had gotten better. Determined to remain positive, Madison said softly, “Hello, Manda.”
    The thumb of one hand jammed firmly in her mouth, the infant rubbed her eye with the other. Zachary’s large hand continued to sweep up and down the infant’s back, much as he had done to Madison.
    â€œHow old is she?” Madison asked.
    â€œNine months according to the information her mother had in her waillet, and as healthy as they come,” the nurse announced.
    â€œAnd not liking it at all that you’re by yourself,” Madison crooned to the baby. “I don’t blame you. But your family should be here soon, sweetie.”
    The burgeoning smile on the nurse’s face died. She crossed her arms. “As far as we’ve been able to find out, the mother was a single parent. There’s no information on Manda’s father. The only relative they’ve found is an elderly aunt of the mother who is in a nursing home in Amarillo. Manda has to have competent care and apparently the great-aunt can’t give it. If they can’t find someone else or if the father can’t or won’t come forward, Child Protective Services will have to be contacted and she’ll probably end up in foster care.”
    â€œNo!” Zachary snapped, pulling the child closer.
    The baby’s curly head came up at the brusque sound, her lower lip quivering. Instinctively Madison made a soothing sound. “It’s all right, Manda.” She turned to the nurse. “Zachary’s right. She’s lost enough. Surely there has to be some other way. There are some very good foster homes, but we’ve all heard of stories where that isn’t the case. Manda would be helpless to defend or speak for herself if she were placed in a unfit home.”

    The nurse held up both hands, palms out. “Hey, don’t kill the messenger. I wish things were different too.”
    His expression deeply troubled, Zachary said, “Sorry. It’s not your fault.”
    â€œDon’t sweat it. You’re supposed to stay objective, but sometimes the children work their way into your heart. You can tell when they’ve been loved and hugged like Manda here. It sucks to have all that ripped from her.” She smoothed the blanket on the bottom of the crib. “Stay as long as you like. If you have time, could you give her a juice bottle? She hasn’t taken enough fluids.”
    â€œWe have time,” Madison said without a moment’s hesitation.
    â€œThanks. I’ll be back in a jiffy.”
    Taking the baby’s tiny hand, Madison crouched down to eye level with the infant. “You hav—” Everything inside her froze. Straightening, she turned away from the little girl.
    â€œWhat is it?” Zachary asked, careful to keep his voice hushed.
    When Madison shook her head, he walked around in front of her. Now he was the one leaning down to eye level. “What is it?” he repeated.
    Madison brushed the tears away with the back of her fingers. “She has hazel eyes just like Wes.”
    Zachary stiffened, then said, “She made you think of the child you lost?”
    Madison’s head lifted. Although it was no secret that she had miscarried, few if any of her close friends at the time ever spoke of it. She had soon realized they were trying to spare her further hurt, but by not talking about the baby she lost, it almost made it seem as if it hadn’t mattered. Zachary knew because he’d had to take out the nursery and alter the original floor plans of their