Read Online Substitute Daddy by Dahlia Rose - Free Book Online Page A

her raw enough. Going through another bout with him was something she wasn’t ready for. The ride to the hospital was made in silence, and when the building came into view she breathed a sigh of relief. He dropped her off at the front and went to go find a place to park. She was glad for the reprieve and hoped by the time he came up to the neonatal unit he was over whatever it was that was bothering him.
    The unit worked in a system, and areas were designated depending on how sick the premature baby was. Even though Lilah was never in critical care and her case was not as dire as some others, Grace always made sure to look in the critical care unit and say hello to the parents there and offer them a smile and maybe a hug or lend an ear if they needed someone to talk to. Lilah was now off her feeding tube, and when she came off the oxygen she never needed to go back on. But there were some parents whose children couldn’t even be held. They had to reach their hands through holes in the incubator to stroke their tender skin and let their son or daughter know mommy and daddy was there. She realized she was lucky, and she prayed for every child in there.
    After she went through the sterilization process she walked over to Lilah’s incubator that was in the area of the room designated for healthier children. Lilah lay there kicking tiny hands and legs that were filling out as she gained weight. Grace swore her baby knew exactly when she got there because of the small angry cry that escaped. It was her “feed me” cry. Grace was allowed to breast feed her now, and she looked forward to it. She was glad she kept pumping her milk to keep the production going. She loved the bond it formed with her daughter. It was two days before Christmas and the decorations and Christmas stencils on the intensive care ward walls gave it some cheer. Still, like every parent there, she wished her baby was home with her when Christmas morning came.
    “Hey, honey pie,” Grace crooned. “Mommy’s here, and your presents will stay under the tree till you come home. The tree and every decoration will also stay up so you’ll have your first Christmas.”
    “She’s doing so well,” the nurse said as Grace got settled in the rocking chair and was handed the baby.
    “I bet she is,” Grace said as she took her. “I brought you a blanket, baby. Mommy made it just for you.”
    “She’s hungry so I’ll let you feed her. Oh, and Dr. Malone wants to talk to you,” the nurse said.
    Grace’s heart started to beat faster. “Is everything okay?”
    “Everything is great. He just told me to let him know when you came in,” the nurse said.
    Grace sat back and got Lilah onto her nipple for her to begin nursing. She smiled as the baby sucked hungrily and placed her tiny hand on the globe of her breast while looking up at her. She didn’t know how a heart could feel so much love and not burst. Looking down at her daughter, Grace felt all her worries fall away. Her mother, Matthew’s attitude, none of that mattered because Lilah was happy and healthy.
    She saw Matthew come in and she met his gaze. His eyes traveled from her face to where Lilah suckled, and his nose flared before he quickly looked away. Something flickered in her belly, more intense than she had ever felt before. Did he find her attractive? Grace covered her breast quickly with the soft burp cloth as he strode over.
    “How is she today?” he asked. Grace noticed that he tried to look everywhere but directly at her.
    “The nurse said she was doing wonderfully, but Dr. Malone wants to talk to me, and I’m worried,” Grace answered.
    “Should I leave?” Matthew asked.
    She looked at him quickly and with surprise. “Why would you? You’ve been here every day with me.”
    “You said the doctor wanted to talk to you, so maybe I wasn’t included. I didn’t want to presume,” he replied.
    “What’s going on with you?” Grace asked. “Do you need to go back to the ranch and