Page 26 of Reunion at Mistletoe Lodge
“You can ask what you want to ask,” Barb said a little snappishly. She didn’t like the way he was looking at her as if trying to figure out who fathered her baby. “Wait. Let me save you the bother. Yes, she’s Zac’s baby, and before you think I was trying to hide her from him… I called twice a week for the first four months of my pregnancy, and then I gave up until the day she was born when I let Zac know he had a daughter.”
“Barb, I…” Liam’s eyes filled with emotion. “I wasn’t thinking that at all and had no doubt who her father is.” He smiled. “She looks justlike my sister.”
“I didn’t even know you had a sister,” Barb said, swallowing down the lump that had just lodged in her throat for no reason.
“She’s twenty-five, an astrophysicist, and doing a postdoctoral at W. M. Keck Observatory, Hawaii,” Liam told her. “I also have another brother who is twenty-eight, and he has all these ranching and animal degrees. He helps my father with our family ranch in Montana.”
Barb nodded, and she felt her heart drop. She realized just how much Zac had failed to tell her in the two years they had been together: She was married to a stranger. As a stranger, Barb was sure he was pretending to be his older twin brother, Liam.
“Zac didn’t speak much about his family,” Barb told Liam, unable to keep the bitterness from her voice. “I’ve been realizing that he really never opened up to me at all.” She felt the sting of tears at the back of her eyes. “I was married to a stranger who ghosted me and our children.” She held Liam's eyes, hoping he couldn’t see the heartache coursing through her. “I hope your brother contacting me won’t break our deal of you getting him to sign the divorce papers.”
She saw his eyes darken with emotion for a few seconds before he gave her a tight smile and nodded. “I won’t go back on my word. I realize it wasn’t you who approached my brother.”
“Thank you,” Barb said.
“But, Barb, while I will take the divorce papers, you must know that I can’t in good conscience get them signed.” Liam’s eyes hardened, and he glanced at Charlotte. “Especially as you have two kids now.”
“What?” Barb gasped at him, and Charlotte started screaming again. “Oh, baby, we’re almost there, sweetie.” She cooed and started rocking her daughter, trying to concentrate on her baby and not Liam’s warning. “Shhhh.” Her eyes narrowed on him. “I’ll remind you thatZacabandonedus!” she said through gritted teeth.
“Yes, but these aren’tnormalcircumstances,” Liam pointed out. His eyes drifted back to the very unhappy Charlotte. “It’s not my brother’s fault whathappened to him.”
“No, but hisfamilyshould’ve called me,” Barb reminded him. “And you can’t say none of you knew about us.” Her eyes narrowed. “Because you obviously did, as I have a witness to that fact.”
The car pulled up to the door of the small hospital’s emergency room. Patrick moved so quickly that before Barb could open the door herself, he was out of the car and helping her out. Barb reached for the bags, but Liam’s hand closed over hers, making her heart jolt. But she ignored the feeling that zapped through her and yanked her hand away as if he’d burned her. Her angry eyes met his.
“I can take it from here, thank you,” Barb said frostily. “I’ll call Emily to get us a ride home. Thank you for the lift.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Liam informed her, climbing out of the car behind her.
Before Barb could object, Charlotte started to scream louder, and everything else was forgotten as she turned and rushed inside. The next few hours seemedto tick by in slow motion as the doctor saw Charlotte immediately and ran tests on her.
Barb sat beside the crib in the private room Liam organized for them—even after she’d argued about it. She was quite happy to be in a shared room. Barb stared at her little girl, who had quietened and had finally fallen asleep after the pediatrician had given her something.
Liam sat in the corner of the room in the recliner for parents of children who had to stay over. Barb ignored him. She had more important things to concentrate on right now than what she felt was Liam’s betrayal.
“She’s going to be okay,” Liam’s voice was soft and full of compassion.
Barb ignored him and kept her eyes on Charlotte, wondering how long they needed to get the test results. As far as Barb could see, the hospital wasn’t that busy. She bit her thumbnail nervously as she bounced her one foot on the floor.
“Barb,” Liam’s voice drifted to her. “You’re going to have totalk to me.”
Her head shot around to glare at him. “I have nothing left to say to you.” She kept her emotions in check. “And right now, I have more pressing worries. While I appreciate the lift, you helping with all the documentation, and getting us a private room…” She glanced pointedly at the door. “I’m sure you have much more pressing things to get back home to. I’ve already messaged Emily, who will come and fetch us when we’re ready to go.”
“Barb!” Liam sighed and shook his head. “I’m here already, so there’s no need to worry Emily. She should stay with Oscar and if Charlotte has picked up a bug, it’s best to try and limit the contact with it.”
She hated that he was making sense and was right! Barb didn’t need another sick child, and she didn’t want Rose to get a bug if Charlotte was infectious. Luckily, Barb was saved from answering Liam when the doctor finally arrived with the results.
“Miss Gardener?” The doctor stopped in front of her. He was tall and extremely good-looking with brown eyes, sandy blond hair, and a chiseled chin.
“Yes.” Barb stood up, suddenly conscious of her disheveled state.
“I’m Doctor Daven Reece,” he introduced himself. “I’m the pediatrician that has been called in to consult.” He smiled.
“Oh!” Barb said, nodding. “What’s wrong with Charlotte?”
“Would you mind if I just check her over for myself?” Doctor Reece asked.
“Of course,” Barb said, stepping aside. “Please.”
