Adopted Son by Linda Warren Read Free Book Online Page A

formula and work up to solids, taking it slowly.”
    “Does anyone know how long he was without food?”
    “We’re guessing about three to four days. The neighbor saw Nicole with Brady about four days ago, but she hasn’t seen Brady since. Nicole has been in and out, but no Brady. We think Davis cut off her drug supply and she was out looking for another fix. She found the guy who was dead in the bed in a bar. Davis came home at the wrong time, or maybe for Brady it was the right time. Just so sad.” Opal shook her head.
    “Yeah. But Brady’s going to be okay, that’s the main thing.”
    Opal nodded. “I got your message about the grandparents. Sad, but I see it all the time. Some can’t do enough. Others just walk away, but that’s okay. We’ll find Brady a really good home.”
    “I’m thinking about adopting him.” Tuck thought this was as good a time as any to tell her.
    Those tired blue eyes opened wide. “You talked your wife into taking him. That’s wonderful.”
    “I’m not married.”
    Opal frowned. “What?”
    He knew what that frown was about. “Is there a law that says a single male can’t adopt?”
    “Heaven forbid, are you from another planet?”
    He tensed. “I take offense to that.”
    “Take all the offense you want. I’m just being honest. I know you care for Brady and you’ve formed a connection to him. But I’ve been in this business long enough to know that a judge rarely grants custody to a single person, especially male.”
    “But it’s not unheard of?”
    Opal pushed her glasses up her nose. “I wish you would have told me this yesterday. I’ve already let people know we have a fourteen-month-old up for possible adoption. We’ll get responses—” she looked directly at him “—from couples. And a judge will go for a family structure first.”
    “I know,” Tuck admitted. “But I have to try.”
    Opal shook her head again. “You’re a rare specimen, Ranger Tucker.”
    Tuck had heard that before.
    Brady moaned and they turned their attention to him. He rolled over, winced as his bottom touched the bed, but he didn’t cry. He sat up and stared at Tuck and Opal.
    “Why isn’t he crying?” Tuck asked under his breath.
    “I have no idea,” Opal whispered back. “He should be screaming his head off.”
    Brady grabbed his stuffed dog and held it close to his chest, his dark eyes watching them.
    Tuck removed his hat and placed it on the nightstand. “Hi there, buddy,” he said. “Feeling better?”
    Brady didn’t make a move or a sound.
    Tuck held out his hands over the railing. “Want to get out of there for a minute?”
    Brady leaned over and bit his fingers.
    “Ouch, buddy. That’s not nice.”
    “Oh, this is going to be a tough one,” Opal said. “I can see that now. Usually babies who’ve been left alone will go to anyone, but Brady’s doing just the opposite. He’s fighting back at everyone.”
    A nurse came in with a sippy cup of milk and Tuck and Opal backed away to let her take care of him. She didn’t have much better luck. Brady hit and bit her, but he took the milk.
    Watching Brady, Tuck could almost feel his anger and he knew Brady’s full recovery was going to take time. He’d have to learn to trust again. Tuck was patient and could help Brady—if only the court would let him.
     
     
    G RACE WAS HAVING A BAD DAY —her second in a row now. It was Jeremiah’s fault. Ever since he’d touched her she’d been having all these feminine feelings distracting her from her work.
    Today she went shoe shopping, her passion, on her lunch break and stopped in the lingerie department at Neiman Marcus. She looked at skimpy, silk peignoirs like the ones Caroline used to wear. She’d even bought one. When she planned to wear it, she had no idea. She just enjoyed looking at it and imagining herself wearing it.
    If she was really honest with herself, she’d go so far as to admit that she imagined the look in Jeremiah’s eyes when he saw her in it.