Read Online The Baby Surprise by Brenda Harlen - Free Book Online Page B

Paige.
    â€œPawk?” she said hopefully.
    It was her new favorite word and her favorite place. There was a small park at the end of the block where they lived in Syracuse and a bigger park even closer to the house on Chetwood Street, and Paige had gotten in the habit of taking Emma there after her nap. The little girl had been most displeased to be going in the car instead of to the park when she woke up today and clearly hadn’t forgotten.
    â€œYou’re going to go home with Zach,” Paige told her.
    Emma stole a cautious glance in his direction, then shook her head. “Pawk,” she said again.
    â€œI can’t today,” Paige said.
    â€œBut I can,” Zach said.
    Emma stole another glance at him, but continued to cling to Paige.
    â€œWhat’s your favorite thing at the park?” he asked. “The swings or the slide?”
    Emma seemed to get what he was saying and her love of the park apparently outweighed her lingering uncertainty about this new man who had suddenly appeared in her life, because she looked right at him this time and said, “Pawk?”
    He nodded.
    Emma released her hold on Paige and held out her arms to Zach.

Chapter Five
    W hen Paige returned to the maternity-wing waiting room, she found that Gage’s brother, Craig, and his wife, Tess, had joined the party. There were also two other, older couples, who she figured were the prospective grandparents of some other baby.
    She slid into the vacant chair next to the sofa where Ashley sat close to her husband. Her head was on his shoulder, and his hand was on the curve of her belly. The baby must have kicked because Cam’s hand snapped back and Ashley laughed.
    â€œYou’d think I’d be used to that by now,” he murmured.
    â€œYou’d think,” Ashley agreed.
    Paige felt an unexpected pang of envy as she watched them interact. She couldn’t be happier for both of her cousins, even if she’d never thought she wanted what they had. For certain, she’d been shocked and panicked when she’d learned that she had been named Emma’s legal guardian. And in that moment,she’d been certain that she did not want the responsibility of an infant.
    Of course, her feelings had soon changed. Now she couldn’t imagine her life without Emma and she refused to worry what Zach’s presence could mean for the status quo she’d established with Olivia’s baby, or what it could mean to the idea that had only recently begun to take root in her mind and her heart of someday having a baby of her own—a brother or a sister for Emma.
    Ashley looked over at her. “Where’s Emma?”
    â€œShe went home with Zach.” She glanced at her cousin for reassurance. “Please tell me I haven’t made a very big mistake.”
    â€œYou haven’t made a very big mistake,” Ashley said obligingly.
    The words did little to alleviate her concerns. She chewed on the edge of a thumbnail, as she sometimes did when she was worried, but she didn’t realize she was doing it until Ashley gently tugged her hand away from her mouth.
    â€œHe hasn’t been alone with her before,” she said, trying to explain the origin of her concern.
    â€œThen it’s probably time he was.”
    â€œShe’s going to be wanting dinner soon,” she suddenly realized. “And I didn’t tell him what to feed her.”
    â€œI’m sure he’ll manage,” Cam told her.
    But Paige wasn’t nearly as certain.
    â€œDo you remember the first time you babysat Emma?” Ashley asked her.
    She nodded. “I didn’t have a clue.”
    â€œAnd Emma couldn’t say a word to tell you if she was hungry or thirsty or tired.”
    â€œShe doesn’t say much now,” Paige noted.
    â€œWell, Zach looks to me like a man who’s capable of figuring things out. But if you’re really not comfortable with the situation, why