Page 15 of Spring UnVeiled
But none of those secret plans had developed.He and Genevieve had decided to space their children out.Four years sounded great.Get one out of college before the next one entered.
When the time came to work on having a second baby, he and Genevieve were already arguing constantly over his lack of attention to either of them.His job had become all-consuming of his time and energy.He was too exhausted to deal with a wife and baby when he got home.
He could now admit that Vivi had been right.He hadn’t taken the time back then to appreciate what he had in either his wife or daughter.He could have taught Kylie all those things.He was stateside more than enough to spend time with her, and Vivi.But he’d made his choices back then, albeit bad ones in retrospect.
She had been right.He’d been a selfish, self-centered bastard.Even in his own mind, he’d convinced himself that he was focused on his career, being the best SEAL possible.In truth, that tiny baby girl back home scared the shit out of him.He didn’t know what to do with girls.He’d never been around them as a child, and until middle school, didn’t care about girls.By the time he was in high school, girls were too much bother for anything other than sex.
And when Evan thought about that, he went ballistic.No little prick was ever going to try to smooth-talk his daughter into having his way with her.
But some man had.
The proof had been asleep in the hospital bassinette as he gave his grandson one last, longing look.He practically had to tug Vivi out of the room.
In the hall, he’d pulled her to a stop and into his arms.“I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you when you went through that,” he confessed.“You were right, I was a self-centered bastard.”
She raised her head from his shoulder.“Are you that old that you’ve forgotten, or is it your selective memory again?You were out to sea, deep water training.Even the Red Cross couldn’t get hold of you to let you know I was in labor.”She shrugged one shoulder.“I had my girlfriends there to help me through and admire our little baby girl.”
“But I wasn’t there for you,” he insisted.
She stepped back, out of his arms and miles away.“That was the story of our married life.”
Back in the present, Evan gave the darkened hallway one last sweeping glance before he followed the women to the nursery…to his grandson.
Chapter6
Genevieve’s poundingheartbeat filled her ears as they neared the nursery.She couldn’t wait to hold her grandson again.He has to be okay.He’s the only thing that matters now.
Lieutenant Sanders carded her way into the secure room and held the door open for them.“Your grandson is…” trailing off when her gaze caught a woman in a civilian dress inspecting Ian.“Wait here,” she ordered as she held up both palms.“That woman is from Child Protective Services.”
No.No, no, no.“No, you don’t.”Genevieve steamrolled to her grandson.She’d worked with C.P.S.many times as a schoolteacher but she didn’t recognize this woman.She would not allow her grandson to enter the system…ever.Sure, there were good foster parents and absolutely there were bad ones.Ian would never be subjected to any of them.
“Ian is my grandson and he’s coming home with me.”Genevieve balled her fists and punched her hips.Leaning forward into the C.P.D.representative’s personal space, she added, “And we’ll be filing for immediate custody.”
With the sweetest smile possible, the young woman held out her hand.“You must be Genevieve Hubbard.I’m Shannon O’Leary from Child Protective Services.”She held up a piece of paper.“Did you call this darling little boy Ian?His birth certificate is incomplete.I was told that perhaps he might be up for adoption.There’s quite a long waiting list for infant boys.”
Genevieve stepped closer to the incubator and gazed at her sleeping grandson.He was so precious.“I received a text last night from Kylie telling us,” she gestured to Evan, “that she decided to keep him and had named him Ian.She must have…”
Genevieve rolled her lips between her teeth squinted her eyes closed fighting back the pain.“…just before she…”
A strong hand passed over her shoulder before Evan pulled her in for a half-hug.“We’re unsure of the timeline, but our daughter sent us this.”He handed his phone to Ms.O’Leary.His gaze traveled between the two women.“As far as we know, we are Ian’s only relatives.We’ve decided to raise him together as Kylie wanted.”
Gesturing with the phone in her hand, Ms.O’Leary pointed out, “This shows intent to keep the child, but we still have the birth certificate.”She held up the paper in her other hand.
“What is it exactly that you need?”Evan asked in an even tone.
“Do you know who the father is?”Ms.O’Leary asked.
Genevieve shook her head.“No.She was dating someone last summer, but she never brought the young man home.She never even talked about him.I tried not to pry.She is an adult.”Genevieve burst into tears but managed to say, “Was.”
She turned her face to Evan’s solid chest, and he wrapped his arm around her.
“Father unknown,” Lieutenant Sanders declared.
Still holding Evan’s phone, Ms.O’Leary pointed out, “The text doesn’t designate a middle name.Do you have any idea what she was going to use for a full name?”
“No.We don’t.”Evan said with authority, “But his name is Ian Kyle Hubbard.He will carry part of his mother with him forever and we’ll never let him forget her.”
One glance at Evan’s uncompromising face and Genevieve knew that they were both on the same page.She loved that he’d thought of using a derivation of their daughter’s name as her son’s middle name.She could barely think straight.
