Page 45 of Holiday Haven

“Danielle! I'm so happy for you.” And she truly was thrilled for her sister. Danielle deserved to find love.

“Thanks, Krista. The wedding isn't going to be until next summer, and I was really hoping you'd stand up as my maid of honor.”

“Of course I'll stand up for you,” she agreed without hesitation. Summer was months away. If she finagled her finances, she might be able to swing it. Especially if Mario helped. She could always work more extra shifts. And who knew how long it would take for her to get assigned a foster baby? “I wouldn’t miss your wedding for anything, Danielle. Count me in.”

“Wonderful. I'll let you know a date as soon as we've picked one.” Danielle laughed. “I am so happy, Krista. This move was the best thing that's ever happened to me.”

“I'm glad.” She was truly thrilled for Danielle.

“What about you? How are things going?” Her sister sounded interested.

“They're great.” She didn't want to dampen Danielle’s enthusiasm by bringing up the problems of her love life, yet she needed to at least let Danielle know about Adam. “I love my job at Children's Memorial.”

“Children's Memorial?” Danielle sounded surprised. “Have you run into Adam?”

That was one way to put it. “Yes, I have. I’ve taken care of a few of his patients.”

“How is he?” Danielle asked. “I hope he's found happiness the way I have.”

He hadn't but she refrained from saying anything more. “He seems fine. He's a great doctor.”

“I'm sure he's a good doctor and a wonderful guy,” Danielle agreed. “If you see him, let him know I wish him well. He and I weren't good together, he was far too intense for me. And we didn't really see eye to eye on a lot of things. But I don't hold any hard feelings against him.”

Intense? Odd that Danielle saw him as intense when she'd only glimpsed his aloofness. Had losing his son changed him that much?

“I will.” She had no plan to talk to Adam anytime soon. Except when it came to caring for his patients. “Take care of yourself, Danielle. Give Mario a hug for me and send me some pictures if you have them.”

“I have pictures. I'll text them to you now. Bye, Krista. Merry Christmas!”

“Merry Christmas, Danielle.” She disconnected from the call, considering her sister’s comments.

She had to admit the Adam she'd known a year ago was different from the man she knew now. He had changed after losing his son. How could he not? For years she'd thought of him as the perfect man, kind, considerate, always there when she needed him.

No one was perfect. She knew that. Yet she’d still gotten upset with him because he’d emotionally withdrawn after losing his son.

A loss she could barely comprehend.

Maybe she was being unfair. Yet he was the one who had kept the miscarriage a secret from her. A quick glance at the clock confirmed she needed to get moving, if she wanted to spend time with Joy. Would she see Adam? If so she'd better figure out what she was going to say after running off on him yesterday.

Some of her anger and resentment had faded. She was disappointed and hurt at the way he'd consistently pulled away from her, but it was difficult to remain angry. He'd kept his secrets not just from her, but from his family.

Why? Out of some sort of misplaced guilt?

At Children's Memorial, the staff parking lot was nearly empty. Only the hospital staff who had to work the holiday showed up on Christmas Eve.

She parked and then lifted the huge bag of gifts from the back seat of her car. On the sixth floor, she stopped in the staff locker room to hang up her coat and lock up her purse. She dropped the bag of gifts in the nurses’ station, then headed straight to Joy's room.

She halted in the doorway when she saw a strange woman sitting in a rocking chair, holding Joy.

The woman's gaze was riveted on the baby, staring down at her with an expression of utter rapture. Oddly, she hadn't glanced up when Krista entered the room.

She must be Joy’s mother.

CHAPTERFOURTEEN

Krista wasn't sure what to do—staying seemed an invasion of privacy but she couldn't simply leave, not without at least talking to Joy's mother. As if her feet had a will of their own, they carried her further into the room.

The woman cradled Joy in her arms and the love shining from her eyes eased the concern tightening her stomach. Before she could introduce herself, Adam came into the room.

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