Free Her Christmas Hero by Linda Warren

stressful. Through it all he was haunted by Britt’s sad, dark eyes.
    Â 
    B RITT MET WITH M ONA AFTER lunch. Her firm was located in an old house off Congress Avenue that had beenconverted into offices. It was pleasant, with lots of green plants and homey touches like candles and fluffy pillows.
    Britt sat in a comfy chair gripping a pillow printed with bright red flowers.
    â€œAre you sure you want to quit your job?” Mona was seated at her white French provincial desk.
    â€œI’ve been dissatisfied for months with being away from Dillon. I should have quit long ago, and today might not have happened.”
    Mona pushed back her blond hair with a weary hand. “I don’t think so. I got the feeling Mr. Wallis and Mr. Ross had all sorts of ammunition to fire at us. The judge had already made up her mind, though, which is a little suspicious to me.” She touched legal papers on her desk. “I’m drafting an appeal and thinking about filing a complaint against Judge Norcutt. A woman’s job shouldn’t matter. Her mothering capabilities should. The judge didn’t want to hear anything I had to say.”
    Mona was a fighter and Britt liked that about her. “How long will an appeal take?”
    â€œToo long, so I suppose quitting your job is the best solution. But it bugs the crap out of me that we have to cave in to the judge’s antiquated ideas.”
    â€œI just want my baby.” Britt stood. “I’m flying to New York in the morning to do the necessary paperwork. I’ll start job hunting when I get back. You have my cell number if you need to contact me.”
    â€œHang in there, Britt.”
    â€œI’m trying.”
    As Britt was leaving the office, her mother called.
    â€œI finally found Mama,” Carin said.
    â€œWhere was she?” Britt walked out the door to her car.
    â€œAt Enzo’s. Evidently, he called early this morning andsaid he was sick. Strange I didn’t hear the phone. Anyway, she took him chicken soup and said she might stay the night.”
    â€œWhy didn’t she tell you?”
    â€œShe insisted she left a note, but I can’t find it.”
    â€œMom, this sounds strange.” Britt slid into her car.
    â€œI know. I promised Vera I’d sit with her mother today so she could have a day off, but I plan to pick up Mama later. She can’t spend the night. It’s not allowed.”
    Britt’s mom was always there for everyone. Vera was a neighbor whose mother had had a stroke, and Carin helped out when she could. When Britt was growing up, Carin had been a stay-at-home mom and a homemaker, and she still was. Her husband’s death had shaken them all, and Britt thought getting a job might help Carin. Instead, she continued to help others. And she didn’t need to work. Ten years ago her husband’s car had been hit by an eighteen wheeler whose brakes had malfunctioned. The company made a large financial settlement, enabling Britt to go to college and Carin to take care of Onnie and anyone else who needed it. Her mother was very frugal, making the money last. How Britt wished she had been more like her mom—being there for her child. She pushed the thought away, resolving to be there from now on.
    Backing out of the parking lot, she asked, “Do you want me to check on them?”
    â€œNo, you have enough to deal with.”
    â€œI have an early flight so I’ll talk to you when I get back.”
    â€œOkay, baby, and try not to worry.”
    That was almost impossible, Britt decided as she drove home. Inside the apartment she picked up a few of Dillon’s toys, holding them to her chest for a moment before puttingthem away. Her heart ached and tears weren’t far off. And it was only the first day. How was she going to survive four months without her baby?
    Â 
    A FTER LOSING A LOT OF THE morning dealing with the Rutherford case, Quinn was working late. Deidre wanted to