Page 142 of Big Bad Wolfe
Zane’s heart did another cartwheel in his chest. As long as he lived, he would never take that honored title for granted.
He glanced at Jillian. If it was bad news, he wanted time to collect himself, so he could be strong for her. “I need to take this in private.”
“Hurry back.” She kissed him, her loving gaze following him out the door.
Stomach churning, Zane jogged outside to the darkened yard. His fingers trembled as he released the hold. He took a deep breath. “Mia, no waffling, no softening the blow. Let me have it straight between the eyes.”
“Okay. Mrs. Stevens raved about you in her report. Said you were a natural. She said you’re intelligent, loving, considerate, responsible, and the kids respected you. And in spite of the chaos, the children were well-cared for and happy. She also said it was obvious you and Jillian loved one another and the marriage was stable.”
His legs went weak and he staggered. “Damned insightful woman.”
Mia giggled. “Incredibly so, since you were still buried under a mountain of denial at the time. She gave you and Jillian her highest recommendation. As opposed to Richard and Brooke, whom she did not like at all. Again showing keen insight. And Zane … the judge has awarded you and Jillian full, permanent custody.”
Closing his eyes, Zane dropped to his knees in the grass.
“There’s more.” Mia’s voice sounded very far away.
“M-more?”
“Tala has retained me to help her find a couple to adopt her baby girl when she’s born. I’m pretty sure if she thought you and Jillian would be interested, she’d be thrilled. She likes and respects you both.Wouldyou be interested?”
He was having trouble breathing.
“Zane?”
“I …” Ababy girl?“Uh— Oh. Oh my God.” Those parenting classes were gonna come in handy. “Yeah.Hellyeah! I’d say we’re interested.”
Mia laughed. “Wonderful.”
“Thank you, Mia.”
“You’re so welcome. I’m glad you’re finally happy, Zane. You deserve it.”
Zane disconnected the phone. He knelt there, listening to the ocean’s muted hum and crickets chirping in the bushes. Breathed in the sea’s tangy scent overlapped by the heady fragrance of roses. He looked up at the stars winking at him from the black velvet sky. “And thank You.”
His gaze snagged on the lighted upstairs window, where he saw Jillian sitting on the bed beside Casey. He stood, staring up at the people he loved. The two of them were giggling about something, and Jillian ruffled Casey’s hair.
Once more, the poignant memory slammed into Zane of himself as a frightened, weary child trudging alone in the dark, longingly watching happy families out of reach behind lighted windows.
Then he turned his back on his past, forever.
Because tonight, it was different. Behind that window was his own personal miracle. His wife. His son.
Hisfamily.
He broke into a run, sprinting up the driveway and through the front door. Heart bursting with elation, he bounded upstairs. Toward the light. Toward the warmth.
Toward his future.
“Jillian, Casey,” he shouted. “I’mhome!”
