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“I’m fine, thank you.” Laurel gave them a cordial nod as she made a quick mental search for their names. Oh, right. Anne and Bob Hulsizer. And the child’s name was… “How is Gregory?” she asked, nodding toward the little boy.
Both parents beamed. “He’s wonderful,” Anne said, lightly patting the sleeping boy’s back. “Worn out at the moment, but he’
s usually running a mile a minute. It keeps us young chasing after him.”
“He’s the greatest kid in the world,” Bob boasted without a hint of self-consciousness. “Anne and I will never be able to thank you enough for helping us adopt him, Laurel. We just can’t tell you how much he has enriched our lives.”
“I’m sure Gregory feels very fortunate to have you as his parents,” Laurel replied. Then, because she didn’t want to seem rude, she quickly introduced Anne and Bob to her husband and in-laws.
Anne looked at Laurel’s companions as she explained eagerly, “Several adoption agencies turned us down because of our age, but Laurel really went to bat for us when we signed up with Children’s Connection two years ago. She knew how desperately we wanted a child and she knew we would be good parents, so she was willing to fight for us. Fortunately, Gregory was available, and since he was a special child with visual impairments, there weren’t a lot of people willing to take him.”
“Their loss,” Bob added. “He’s smart and funny and loving, all of which more than make up for his poor eyesight. Thanks to Laurel, we’re the lucky ones who’ll get to watch him grow up and develop his full potential.”
Laurel was beginning to be a bit embarrassed by the Hulsizers’ gushing, though she was glad they were so happy with their special child. “I’m glad everything is working out for you all.”
Bob grinned. “Even better than expected. We’ve just left his doctor’s office. Gregory is scheduled for an operation that should prevent him from losing any more of his sight and may even restore some of his peripheral vision. It’s a new procedure that’s been showing extremely positive results.”
“That’s very good news,” Jackson said. “Congratulations.”
Laurel saw no need to mention Tyler’s ordeal at the moment, and apparently Jackson didn’t, either. The couple moved on, leaving silence at the table behind them.
“You should eat a little more, honey.” Carl placed his hand over Donna’s. She hadn’t spoken at all to the Hulsizers, which, Laurel thought, was yet another indication that Donna wasn’t herself. Usually she would have been the first to ask a dozen questions about Gregory and to congratulate them on their positive medical news.
Donna gave Carl a wan smile. “I’m just not hungry.”
“Tyler’s okay, Mom. You’ll get to see for yourself in a little while,” Jackson promised.
“I’ll feel much better then,” she said.
Laurel wasn’t so sure. She was certain that there was more to Donna’s behavior than worry about Tyler’s condition.
As though she sensed that her uncharacteristic preoccupation was drawing attention, Donna made an effort to contribute to the conversation. “I know Beverly’s looking forward to seeing Tyler, too. She made me promise to call her as soon as he’s allowed visitors outside the family.”
Laurel had always been uncomfortable with the way Donna had bonded with Tyler’s nanny. Donna often stopped by their house to see Tyler while Laurel was working, and apparently she and Beverly spent those visits drinking coffee and chatting.
Laurel had tried not to be so paranoid as to think that those chats ever revolved around her fitness as a mother. She honestly doubted that the nanny would be so unprofessional or her mother-in-law so disloyal. But it still bugged her sometimes.
“I’ll call her myself, once we’ve seen Tyler and have an update on his condition,” she murmured.
“Oh, I’ll take care of that for you. You know what good friends Bev and I have become.”
Donna’s artless comment made Laurel’s frown deepen. Surely Donna hadn’t intentionally implied that she had developed no such friendship with her daughter-in-law.
“Laurel has a good relationship with Beverly, as well,” Jackson murmured, perhaps picking up on his wife’s sensitivity.
“Oh, yes, Beverly gets along well with everyone. But of course, she and I have spent more time together since poor Laurel works so hard. I can’t tell you how much I admire your choice of a nanny, Laurel. Since you have to spend so much time away from Tyler, it was wise of you to choose someone so capable to watch over him, even though I know Beverly’s services are rather expensive. And her nursing experience will certainly come in handy during his post-surgery care, after you return to work.”
Maybe Donna wasn’t being so innocently offensive, after all, Laurel thought as her fingers tightened in her lap beneath the table. She found it a bit hard to believe that some of those digs hadn’t been deliberate. “I won’t return to work until Tyler has fully recovered. I told Morgan that I was taking an indefinite leave of absence to take care of my son.”
“Tyler’s needs come first with Laurel, Mom. You know that.” Jackson’s tone sounded rather chiding, which was a rarity from him when it came to his mother.
“I know that,” she muttered, though Laurel wondered how anyone could possibly believe her tone was sincere.
Carl spoke quickly. “Can I get you any more tea, Donna? How about you, Laurel? Is there anything else you would like?”
“No.” She pushed her chair back from the table and rose. “Thank you, but I’d like to get back upstairs now.”
Jackson followed suit. “Yeah. Me, too.”
