Page 35 of Edge of Danger

“What a grip!” Clinton gasped in mock surprise, which made Walker giggle again.

They were sweet people, but then she’d figured that out already. The sort of people with room in their hearts for children in need of love. Watching them take to Walker the way they did was a beautiful thing.

Though pretending she didn’t ache to hold him wasn’t exactly easy.

Clinton turned to Brax. “While I have you here, can you help me move some boxes in the garage?”

“Sure.” Brax glanced at Tessa like he was wary of leaving her alone with his mom. She did her best not to look too nervous.

It helped that Walker seemed so happy. Sheila bounced him on her hip with a grin that almost touched her ears. “He’s such a sweetheart.”

“He is,” Tessa agreed. She folded her arms across her chest to keep from reaching for him. It was torture not being able to hold him after everything she’d gone through in the past twenty-four hours.

“I’m about to get dinner started.” Sheila appeared to study Tessa, arching an eyebrow. “Can you hold him for me while I cook?”

“Yes, of course.” It was nothing less than a gift. She held out her arms and gratefully accepted her baby, hugging him tight and kissing his forehead. “Hey, buddy. I missed you.”

“It’s nice to have a baby around.” Sheila got to work chopping vegetables. “So, tell me about yourself. Brax says you’ve been a miracle. I guess you can understand how unprepared he was.”

She sensed Walker’s honorary grandmother was giving her the third degree, but at least Sheila was kind and gentle about it.

“There isn’t much to tell,” Tessa admitted. “My parents died in a car accident two years ago. I’ve been on my own since then.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” It wasn’t mere lip service. Sincerity poured from her.

“It sort of derailed my plans,” she continued. “You know, college and all that. I had to focus on supporting myself.”

“Naturally.” Sheila glanced up from the cutting board. “So, you’re a nanny now?”

“Right. I love it. I love being around kids.” One in particular, whose head she kissed again.

“I know the feeling. It’s part of the reason my husband and I decided to adopt. That, and we shared a desire to provide what children were missing. Like Brax, for example.”

Tessa listened harder. She couldn’t help it.

“He’s a charmer, my son,” Sheila chuckled before blowing a whistle between pursed lips. “He could charm the birds from the trees, that one. Always quick with a smile or a joke. Very clever too. Many’s the time I wished he wasn’t half so clever.”

Tessa grinned. “I bet.”

“But it could’ve turned out much differently.” Sheila wasn’t joking anymore. Her brows drew together. “He was alone for most of his childhood. Neglected. Very poor. It seems to me he remembers that experience and the memories are what make him determined to help others. He’s protective of people in similar situations. All alone, fending for themselves.”

“I see.”

“I would hate to see anybody take advantage of that.”

They exchanged a look that spoke volumes, said more than words ever could. “I would hate that too,” Tessa murmured.

“I thought you would.” Sheila wiped her hands on her apron before going to the fridge. “He was a tough nut to crack, even though it might be hard to imagine now. It took a while to get through to him. He held a lot of secrets he wasn’t ready to share. That’s a heavy burden for anyone to carry.”

The woman’s back was to her, half-bent while looking through the fridge, so Tessa couldn’t see her face. How much did she know? Why was she conveniently talking about secrets?

What had Brax told her?

It couldn’t have been anything too bad, since Sheila was smiling when she turned back toward Tessa and Walker. “It’s important to trust people, I think. Good people. Brax is a good man—all of my sons are. They’ve helped so many. It seems they have a limitless capacity for compassion and service.”

“And they have you to thank for that.”

“I can’t take all the credit. My husband had a hand in it too.”

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