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“Have a seat, Noah.” She went around her desk and sat, then folded her arms on the desktop and smiled. “What can I do for you?”
“I’m not sure how to start,” I said as I blew out a breath and ran my fingers through my hair. “It’s a big ask…but I’m desperate.”
Blair’s smile faltered for a moment, and worry flickered in her eyes that looked so much like her daughter’s. “If this is about Samantha—”
“No.” I was quick to answer, but then thought maybe that was too close to a lie. “I mean, yes, a little, but no. Not how you think.”
Her gaze remained a little suspicious, but the tension seeped out of her posture.
“I operated on a four-week-old little girl a few weeks ago.”
I told her the entire story, leaving out bits and pieces, like the fact that I considered both Gracelynn and Samantha mine. And that Samantha would soon be Gracelynn’s mother.
“I don’t know what else to do to protect her. I thought maybe they would approve you as a foster home…and…you could—”
“You also came to me because I’m Samantha’s mother,” Blair surmised. “I’m sure you figured I’d do it for her, if not for any other reason.”
“I won’t insult your intelligence by pretending that's not true,” I said with a shrug. “She loves her as much as I do.”
Blair sighed and smiled softly. “That girl. I worry about her. Sometimes I think she needs to toughen up, and other times, I pray that no one ever dims her sweetness.”
“She’s perfect,” I said before I could stop myself.
Samantha’s mom looked at me quietly, her gaze suddenly shrewd. “I agree. And the right person for her will also recognize it and protect her, make sure she doesn’t need to change.”
“He would,” I replied hesitantly. Was she insinuating what I thought? “The right person would know that she loves yellow and the smell of lemons but hates anything lemon-flavored. He would know that she is brilliant but has no desire to pursue a career—even one in music, despite the fact that she plays the violin like a fucking angel. Although, she’d love to teach little kids to play. He would know that her biggest wish is to be a mom and a wife, to live near her family, to be the center of his universe. He would recognize it when the perfect little girl comes into their life and do everything in his power to make her officially theirs. He would love her more than anyone on this earth, and even though he’ll never be good enough for her, he’ll never let her go.”
Blair and I observed each other in silence for at least two minutes. Then she seemed to make a decision because she leaned back in her chair and picked up her phone. After a few rings, someone picked up.
“Hey, Gina,” Blair greeted the person with congeniality. She listened for a moment, then spoke again. “Can you believe the elections are almost here already? It seems like four years have just flown by.”
Son of a bitch. She was talking to Gina Dixon, the state comptroller.
“I was thinking about the fundraiser Justice and I held for you. Are you planning to run again? I’ve been looking at the potential candidates…you know, just in case.”
I noticed she didn’t clarify if that was just in case Gina didn’t run or just in case she liked someone else better and would vote for them. I had no beef with Gina other than the fact that she clearly gave the city administrator for child services way too much freedom in his position.
“Well, that’s good to know,” Blair said, sounding sweet and helpful again, without the edge that had hovered on her tone when talking about the other candidates.
Damn. This woman is good.
“Oh, while I’ve got you. I have a good friend who fell in love with an orphan baby girl. After he saved her life. Oh, I suppose I should explain. He’s a doctor, a world-renowned heart surgeon. Isn’t that amazing? Can you believe they won’t approve him to be her guardian?” She went on to—somewhat—subtly get the point across to Gina that I was worth billions, and if things went well with the foster and adoption situation, she could talk me into being a donor.
I was in absolute awe. I’d met Blair many times, and she’d always reminded me of her daughter. Sweet, on the quieter side, soft-hearted. Even though I knew a mama bear was lurking because she couldn't have raised nine awesome kids in this city without being one. And I hadn’t missed the steel in her voice or stare when we’d been dancing around what Samantha was to me.
But I never would have guessed that she had such a sneaky side. Her manipulation of Gina was fucking masterful.
“Oh, Gina!” she exclaimed, returning to the sweet, innocent mother and owner of a day care. “You’re an angel! I’ll send you all the information as soon as we’re off the phone. So tell me about this date…”
