The Baby Battle by Laura Marie Altom Read Free Book Online Page A

swiftly falling and though it was still early, a few hardy crickets were chirping.
    Opening the back door, she unbuckled the safety latch on Flynn’s car seat, then scooped him into her arms. He snuggled against her, rooting his face into the curve of her neck. Heart melting, she swallowed the knot in her throat. She wasn’t going to give in to tears. Not now, when her escape plan had been perfectly executed.
    At first she’d just climbed into her car and driven. She hadn’t a clue where she’d been headed other than as far from Tag O’Malley as possible. Around Harrison, she’d remembered this place and called for a reservation.
    She held Flynn with one arm while she reached over the front seat for her purse. Car door closed, she walked twenty feet to mount the single step to the oversize cabinserving as a restaurant, registration desk, game room, conference center and Laundromat.
    Crossing a front porch lined with potted pansies and willow sapling rockers, she pulled open the building’s front door.
    When a bell jingled, Flynn roused, sleepily tracking the sound’s source.
    “Like that?” Olivia cooed.
    On her tiptoes she just managed to reach high enough to give the bell a second jangle. Her reward was a drowsy grin.
    “Little fellow’s got a sweet smile.” The resort’s proprietor, Eleanor Holden, stepped out from the small office that was behind a pine reception counter. The surface glowed with a decades-old patina. Matching antler lamps with leather shades lit either end. In between were pamphlets on canoeing trips and country music shows. Cave and historic home tours. Casting off welcoming aromas were a bowl of red and green apples and a vanilla-scented candle. “I’m assuming you’re Olivia?”
    “Yes, ma’am,” Olivia said, placing her purse on the floor so that she could shake the woman’s outstretched hand.
    “The husband and I are flattered that you thought well enough of us to drop by for a repeat stay.”
    “You have a relaxing place,” Olivia said, admiring the high-beamed pine ceiling. “Something about it just makes me feel good.” Safe .
    “We aim to please,” the salt-and-pepper-haired womansaid with a wink. She wore jeans and a red sweater that brought out the merry blue in her eyes. “So, per your needs, I’ve got you in Cabin Five. It’s our most private, features a full kitchen, living room and a master bedroom large enough for a hot tub and a portable crib.”
    “Sounds perfect,” Olivia said with her first genuine smile of the day.
    “How long will you be staying?”
    “Let’s start with a week.” Hopefully, that would be enough time for her to figure out her next move. She had a cousin in California. Maybe she could relocate somewhere near Shaun and her family? “But would it be a problem if I wanted to extend my stay?”
    “Not this time of year. Give it another couple months, though, and I’d have to give you the boot.”
    “Fair enough.” Olivia signed all the necessary paperwork and reached for her credit card to swipe, but then realized how traceable that would be and instead handed over cash.
    “We require a credit card for damages.”
    Thinking fast, Olivia said, “I’m, um, really trying to break the credit card habit. Would you mind if I just gave you extra cash?”
    Chewing on that for a moment, Eleanor said, “It’s not our usual way, but I s’pose that’d be fine.”
    Whew. A few minutes more and the check-in process was complete.
    Armed with meal times and an entertainment schedule, Olivia set off for her new home. “You’re going tolike it here,” she said to her baby boy. “The food isn’t gourmet, but it’s simple and filling and makes Mommy happy.”
    Flynn yawned, making Olivia laugh.
    Their cabin had a small front porch with the same type of willow seating found at the main lodge. There were also cheerful pots of pansies—pink and purple. Easing the key into the lock, Olivia had a tough time working the mechanism, but it