Read Online Maternal Harbor by Marie F. Martin - Free Book Online Page A

Teagan did not feel right about leaving Erica to stare at her son.  No one should do that.  She motioned at the nurse’s aide and explained Charlie would stay with her and was sure Doretta wanted the same.  The aide agreed to bring him as soon as she could.
    Teagan pressed her palm against the glass separating her from Charlie for a moment, and then left Erica gazing at the babies.
    Twice, she glanced back.
     
     
    Erica listened for Teagan’s shuffle to fade.  “They’re superb,” she whispered to her son.  “An African-American, an Asian, and an Irishman, all chosen to be your perfect friends.”
    She caught a final glimpse of Teagan, disappearing into a room.  The bitch wasn’t much.  Nothing stood out as remarkable except she was sharper than expected and with more backbone.  That was good.  Charlie needed a clever, stubborn mother, not a wishy-washy beauty.  She was probably attractive to men with all that red hair and high-placed breasts.
    Go figure, Erica thought.  Well, Miss Teagan O’Riley would not ruin anything.
    The longer she stared at Teagan’s door, the more anxious she became.  Her goals for Derek would not be changed.  Granted, many years stretched ahead to make even better plans, but it’d be hard enough adjusting to infant care without worrying about meeting other mothers.  Selection of proper companions must become second nature.  She would learn for Derek, and he would learn the art from her.  He needed skills to detect officers who were shirking their duty.  Oh, they were good at covering up their lazy backsides and clever at cutting corners.
    Erica breathed deeply, holding back, not charging up the hallway.
    Doretta shuffled through her door in an impossibly loud wrap, crossed the hall and disappeared into Teagan’s room!
    They’re going to talk about me, she thought.  Livid, she managed to hesitate until she calmed, and then stole up the hallway, stopped next to the doorway, and leaned casually against the wall.
    Teagan’s voice carried outside.  “I don’t want to hurt Erica either.  But when I found her staring at the babies, I felt like I was in an ocean fog – hard to catch your breath, yet the air is pure.”
    “That’s as clear as mud.”  Doretta’s sarcasm also carried.
    Teagan now sounded impatient.  “You know.  Like something is there, but isn’t.”
    Well, I’m here.  Erica moved inside the room. 
    Doretta sat in a chair.  She uncrossed her legs.
    Teagan rose instantly from the bed and faced Erica. 
    Surprised, Erica hadn’t realized how tall Teagan was.  Or did she stand straighter now that she was a mother?  She seemed stronger, too.  Forearms corded and hands used to hard work.  The silk robe slipped from one square shoulder, showing the pale skin under a smattering of freckles.  She didn’t move, but exuded instant defense.
    Erica let the silence stand between them as they searched each other’s eyes, then said, “I understand why you don’t have time to bring Charlie over, but he could come with Doretta.  That would even help you out, wouldn’t it, Doretta?”
    Teagan spoke before Doretta had a chance to answer, “When I saw you watching the babies, I felt afraid.  I don’t know why.  Maybe it is new mother jitters, but Charlie will only be with me.”
    Before any more damage was done, Erica said calmly, “Fear is a harsh way to describe someone who cares about your son, but I understand that you are over protective now.  We’ll discuss it again in a few weeks.  I would give you a hug, but I’m not the hugging type.”  She nodded to Doretta and left as quickly as she entered.
    Those boys would be Derek’s.  He’d have something besides wet, dead kittens.  Erica shied from the thought as her fingers again felt the tiny bones.  But, oh, what perfect kittens they had been, as perfect as their mother, my beautiful Iska.  What’s the matter with me?  She pressed her cold fingertips against her temples and walked