Free Adopted Son by Linda Warren Page B

it.”
    Eli stood, grinning. “Think I’ll go help Jesse nurse.”
    In a little while, the Coltranes loaded up and headed back to their house—all lovey-dovey, the way Tuck wanted them to be.
    Tuck stared at the phone and thought about calling Grace to apologize. But he knew he needed to do that in person.
     
     
    G RACE DIDN ’ T SLEEP MUCH , and by dawn she knew what she had to do. She showered and dressed, slipping into a black pantsuit and green silk blouse. She brushed her hair and let the waves hang loose around her shoulders. It was a start in breaking the restraints she’d placed upon herself.
    It was a start in finding the person within.
    She slid her feet into a pair of Prada sling-backs. Shoes weren’t her passion. They were her weakness. And until she found something to replace them, she was allowing herself that indulgence.
    By eight she was in her office ready for a meeting with Byron, and then she met with Aaron and soothed his wounded ego. Both men kept staring at her and she ignored their obvious glances at her change of hairstyle.
    She checked on the progress of the day care and met with the Licensed Vocational Nurse who was going to run it. At one she was back in her office for a meeting with Lisa and Keith.
    Lisa was bubbling over with excitement. “Brady is so beautiful,” she gushed. “He has these big brown eyes. I wished they were blue, but that doesn’t matter. We sat with him for about an hour in the playroom. I helped him put a puzzle together and it was fun just watching him run around the room. He hit me once when I tried to put the puzzle away. The therapist said he does that a lot. Brady has so much to overcome, but we’re willing to help him, aren’t we, honey?”
    “Yes, honey, we are.” Keith gripped his wife’s hand.
    “I’m glad things went so well,” Grace said. “The hearing will be set as soon as they have all the results from Brady’s tests.”
    “The caseworker told us that a Texas Ranger has also filed for custody.” Keith looked concerned.
    “Yes.” She clenched her fingers tightly. “I wanted to talk to you about that. He’s Jeremiah Tucker and he’s Caroline’s brother-in-law.”
    “You mean…”
    “Yes. He’s a part of our family and I now have a conflict of interest.”
    “Oh.”
    “I’ve assigned Ann Demott to your case. She’ll do a very good job.”
    Lisa wrinkled her nose. “I’d feel so much better with you.”
    “I want you to have the best representation possible and since I know both parties that wouldn’t be fair to you.”
    “I understand.” Lisa stood. “But I don’t have to be happy about it.”
    Grace stood, also. “I’ll walk you to Ann’s office. She’s waiting for you.”
    Afterward Grace felt an enormous relief. She would not personally be involved in the proceedings. If Jeremiah lost, she wouldn’t be the bad person. Something about the road less traveled came to mind. That was certainly a road she didn’t want to travel.
     
     
    G RACE WORKED LATE , as always. Driving home, she kept thinking about the little boy whom Jeremiah wanted to adopt. On impulse, she turned and drove to the hospital. She hadn’t planned to, but she suddenly wanted to meet Brady Harper.
    The nurse on duty wasn’t too friendly. “I’m sorry, visiting hours are over.”
    “I’m Grace Whitten and my firm is representing the Templetons, who have filed for custody of Brady Harper.”
    The girl gave her a so-what look.
    “If it’s not too much trouble, I would like to meet the little boy.”
    “Ranger Tucker put him down about thirty minutes ago. I’m sure he’s asleep.”
    “May I just take a peep at him then?” Grace wasn’t sure why this was so important, but something she couldn’t define was spurring her on.
    The girl seemed to consider it, and then walked around the station to Grace’s side. “This way, but please be quiet. There are other children in the ward, too.”
    “I will.” She followed the girl across the hall