Page 76 of Need Me
“Good job, buddy,” he said, laying the baby back in his lap. “Way to go,champ.”
A sniffle made him lookup.
Anna was watching him with tears in her eyes. “Oh, Robert, you’re so good with him. I can see what a wonderful father youwere.”
A painful lump formed in Robert’s throat. “I loved being a dad, loved everything about it. Even when I was up all night when Liam had colic, I loved it. I hated being away from him.” He looked down at Andy. “Liam was the greatest gift I ever had and I cherished every moment I had withhim.”
“Robbie, I know how much you loveBrooke.”
Robert’s brow furrowed. “I do. With my whole heart, I loveher.”
“She loves you, too, youknow.”
Robert shook his head. “No. She cares for me, but she doesn’t loveme.”
“Sometimes you don’t realize things until later,” Anna said. “I know for a fact that Brooke is in love withyou.”
Robert’s heart slammed against his chest wall. “How do youknow?”
Anna solemnly said, “She told me soherself.”
Breathing became difficult as Robert absorbed thisinformation.
“Robert, if you really love Brooke as much as you say you do and want to marry her, why wouldn’t you want to create little miracles with her?” Annaasked.
Anger sharpened Robert’s tongue. “Did you get me here to try to change my mind about having kids? Is that what this is allabout?”
Anna’s mounting temper was reflected in her eyes. “How dare you accuse me of using my children to manipulate you that way. I’m just talking to you as one friend to another. It’s just such a shame that you’re throwing away a lifetime of happiness because of fear. What happened with Liam was a terrible tragedy, but you can’t let it ruin yourfuture.”
Remorse turned Robert’s face pink. “I shouldn’t have said that. It was uncalled for. I’m sosorry.”
She sent him a forgiving smile. “Apology accepted. Please just think about it, Robbie.” Her smile widened. “You two catching Kate’s bouquet was the universe’s sign that you and Brooke belongtogether.”
He groaned and a disapproving frown appeared on Andy’s adorable face, making themlaugh.
Sobering, Robert said, “I always hoped to give Liam at least one other sibling, but I never met the rightwoman.”
“Until now, youmean.”
“Anna,” Robert said inwarning.
She arched a haughty eyebrow. “What? It’s the truth and you know it. I’m not saying that you should decide anything right now, but at least leave the door open to the possibility of having children. What can it hurt to just think aboutit?”
Andy kicked his little legs and grunted. Robert chuckled. “Are you agreeing withMommy?”
“If he’s smart he will,” Annaquipped.
The current subject was dropped as Robert put Andy back in his bed, but he was loath to leave. So, he took a turn with Alyssa and even played with Sammi’s (aka Twinkle) teeny hand through one of the holes in the incubatorlid.
Twinkle was holding her own, and defying the odds and improving a little every day. As Robert stroked Twinkle’s downy hair, he came to a startling conclusion. This precious baby was clinging to life with tenacity while he wasn’t living the one he’d been given to the fullest. It was daunting to think that the barely three-pound bundle of joy had more courage than hedid.
Finally, he made sure that Anna didn’t require any further assistance and took his leave. On the way out, he stopped at the nursery window, admiring the adorable infants for a few moments. Then, with purposeful strides, he left theunit.
Stepping outside the hospital, Robert was instantly buffeted by strong gust of wind and driving rain. Undeterred, he ran to his SUV, climbed in and left the parking lot with a single purpose inmind.
* * *
Brooke had movedinside to the living room when the storm had intensified, but she just sat in the dark while brilliant flashes of light flickered in the windows. As she reclined on the couch, a different sort of booming noise mingled with the crashing thunder over the house. Someone was pounding on her frontdoor.
