“Sure.” Anxious, Pixie led the way. Brogan got the portfolio and dug out several packets of paper, which he set on the coffee table.
“That’s a lot of documents.”
He picked up one. “This is the guardianship paperwork. Or rather a copy of it. I left all the original paperwork with Connie’s friend Erin. It’s at her law office, under lock and key.”
“Because you knew Ruthie would be a problem?”
“I didn’t have a doubt.” He gave Pixie time to scan the document before exchanging it with another. “That’s the life insurance policy.”
She whistled. “That’s a lot of money.”
“Connie wanted to make sure Shayna would have the care she needed. It’s why Ruth is dogging me. She wants Shayna, but not because she loves her as a grandmother should. It’s because the guardian gets a payout.”
Anger rushed through her bloodstream. “It’s made out to the baby’s guardian. And that’s you.”
He nodded. “And if not me, Erin was next in line. Nowhereis Ruth listed. Connie makes it clear in her instructions that Ruth and Brian should have nothing.”
“But convincing Ruthie of that won’t be easy.”
He held on to a stack of typed notes. “She and Brian moved into Connie’s house shortly after Connie died. They claimed it was to keep from uprooting Shayna, but an infant so young wouldn’t have noticed. Missing her mother, missing love and attention—that was the big issue.”
The reminder sent her gaze back to the baby. Andy was looming over her, dimples in his cheeks as he grinned down at her. “Andy, be very gentle.”
“My baby.”
She tried to smile, but her heart hurt. “Yes, she can be your baby.”
He sat back with a laugh when Shayna flailed her arms.
“It crushes me,” Pixie whispered, losing the battle to keep her emotions in check. “I think of that baby crying all alone …” Her lips trembled. “I don’t know how you can bear it.”
“Sometimes I can’t.” Suddenly, Brogan hugged her, up against him.
Glad of the comfort, Pixie tucked her face to his chest, warm and firm beneath his cotton T-shirt. She breathed in his scent, but ignored the stirring it caused. “It’s not my place, really. But I’m so grateful for you. Too many children don’t get the care they need, but I know Shayna will—because of you.”
Held so close to Brogan, she couldn’t see his face, but she felt the brief kiss he brushed over her temple. Honestly, she never wanted to move.
“Unfortunately,” he murmured, “I have more to tell you.”
“That’s right. I’m supposed to be po’d, right?”
“Po’d,” he repeated with a grin. “Is that your reminder that I shouldn’t curse?”
“Well, you shouldn’t.”
“I’ll try my best to curb the tendency.” His smile dimmed as he released her and sat back. “Now the hard part.”
It seemed to Pixie that all of it had been hard, Brogan’s entire life, from being an unwanted child, to becoming a Navy SEAL, and now the role of single parent that he’d taken on while having to battle his stepmother. “I’ve yet to see the easy part.”
“Loving Shayna. That’s been easy.”
See? He always had the right answer. How could she be indifferent to him? She couldn’t, and she should probably admit that to herself, because every moment with him made her think of moments that hadn’t yet happened. Tomorrows that weren’t guaranteed. Weeks and months that she wanted.
“I’m sure it has.” Again, Pixie looked at the kids. Andy was trying to sit a stuffed lamb on Shayna’s belly, but it kept falling off, and each time he’d say, “Oh, oh, oh.” And try again. Shayna gurgled a laugh, followed by a coo, and that kept Andy trying. Out of the blue, he leaned down and kissed her.
This time, Andy spoke quietly, saying, “My baby,” in a near whisper.
A giant swell of emotion threatened to consume her. Desperately needing a diversion, she turned to Brogan and confirmed that he’d seen it, too.
