CHAPTER 2
When Beth came to, she was on the bed in what had been the room she shared with Rayna
growing up. The light was low and her sister Chris was bathing her face with a cool cloth.
"Hey … " her sister said when she saw her eyes flutter open. "Just lie still Lea… " Chris
encouraged when Beth tried to sit up.
"Where's Adam? … and Cassie?" Beth asked, ignoring what her sister was saying and sitting up.
"Cassie is over there … sleeping." Chris nodded toward the crib that had been brought into the
room. Beth couldn't help smiling. "And she is so beautiful." Her sister continued. "Of course it's
all that gorgeous auburn hair of hers." Chris laughed, tossing her own flaming locks.
"I thought about you the minute I saw her … and Mama." Beth replied, moving to embrace her
sister. "I've missed you all so much." The two young women held one another and cried
bittersweet tears.
"I wish I could have been there for you Lea." Chris admitted. "But how? I mean … I thought you
couldn't …"
"The baby is Craig's." Beth replied, mentally making a note of not mentioning when she'd had the
procedure. "I wanted this baby so much … not just for me, but for him too. So I had the egg
implanted … and she was born on the 6th."
"Well that explains why you fainted at the church. Don't you know you shouldn't have been
travelling so soon after giving birth?" Chris chided her lightly before hugging her sister again,
completely overcome with emotion because she had missed her so terribly.
"I don't understand something Leandra. When you introduced us to Adam, you made us believe
he was the father." Chris said finally when they were both drying their eyes.
"He is." Beth replied firmly. "I love Adam … you have no idea how wonderful he is, what he's
done for me … He loves Cassie and he will be the one there for her while she is growing up. I
don't want her to be confused … and I know Craig would feel the same way. So outside of the
family, as far as anyone else is concerned. Cassie is Adam's daughter."
Chris wasn't really comfortable about this. What did they know about this Adam person? She
saw the ring on her sister's hand, but there was no band.
Beth looked to where her sister's eyes had fallen and guessed the next question. "He brought me
home because we wanted to be married on New Year's Eve … here."
Chris smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Why didn't you call us after Devan was killed in
prison? With him gone, surely it was safe enough to call?"
Beth knew again to be careful about what she said. "Devan didn't die in prison … I don't really
know how he did it, but he had someone on the inside to help. And I'm sure you read that his
body was missing from the morgue."
Chris nodded and seemed satisfied.
"It was a setup to escape. And he had people watching me. They relocated me to a city in
Washington called Seacouver, and he still found me there." Beth explained. "That is where I met
Adam, and his friends … our friends. And they protected me."
"So Devan is alive?" Chris gasped.
"No … not for almost a month. Adam made sure he could never hurt us again." She confided as
she looked over at Cassie's sleeping form. "We're finally safe."
"He killed him?" Chris was astonished. "Is that why you are marrying him?"
"Of course not." Beth protested. "I'm marrying him because I love him. We're already a family.
Marrying him is only a formality."
"This is so not like you." Chris replied, pacing the room. "I mean you made Craig wait two years
after college to get married, when you KNEW since you were like 5 years old he was the one.
But this Adam rides into your life when you are under a tremendous stress, and you think he is
your white knight? I don't get it Leandra."
"I know what I'm doing … and really Chris, I am not up to arguing with you about this tonight, not
when what I really want to know is … what happened to Mama?"
Chris bit her lip, berating herself for not thinking before she spoke. She'd had almost a month to
grieve their mother's death, but Beth had only just heard.
"We had a good Thanksgiving. Of course it wasn't the same without you." Chris told her, clasping
her hand. "Mama didn't tell us about the problems she'd been having. We knew she didn't sleep
much, but had no idea that her heart was weak. She died three days later … in her sleep."
The tears flowed down Beth's cheeks as she walked to stand beside her daughter's crib. She
realized that was around the same time Devan had been killed. Damn him. He had robbed her
of the precious little time she would have had with her mother. And if it hadn't been for the stress
and worry about where she was, maybe her mother would still be alive. "I'm sorry Chris. I wish I
could have been here … or told her something to give her peace."
"You are here now." Chris put her arm around her sister's shoulder. "And you brought this little
piece of heaven with you." She smiled down at her niece, and then to show her support she
added "And you are in love."
"I really am." Beth told her. Her thoughts immediately turned to Adam. She knew he would be
worried, but that he was probably letting her sister tend to her to make it less awkward for the
family.
"Where is Adam?" Beth asked starting for the door.
"After he brought you in here, Dad, Kyle and Justin insisted on having a 'little chat' " She replied
as Beth left the room. She didn't have a chance to tell Beth that her husband Gary, Rayna and
the sister-in-laws had stayed at the church with the children. They hadn't wanted them to miss
the rest of the Christmas Eve service, and thought it would help make the holiday a little more
normal for them. It would be at least another half hour before they arrived home.
When Beth reached the main room of the house she could hear the voices in the kitchen. There
around the table sat her Father and both her brothers. They all turned when she entered, and it
was then she saw Adam leaning with his back against the counter, his arms crossed over his
chest. His eyes showed relief to see her up, but still concern.
"You should be resting." Adam insisted gently as she passed the others to slip under his
protective arm.
"I'm fine. It was just such a shock … and we had a long flight" she explained to him before
turning to her family and repeating. "I'm fine, really." Adam saw that her face had regained its
color and her eyes were bright. He answered by simply planting a light kiss to her hairline before
turning his attention back to her very protective family.
"I was a little worried when you weren't there when I woke up." Beth admitted, giving her father
and brothers a direct glare. "I'll have to admit I wondered for a minute if maybe you hadn't
received the kind of warm welcome this family is known for …"
Adam had to resist the grin that threatened to cross his face. She'd only been home for a few
minutes and already it was obvious that she felt comfortable enough to assert her opinion.
"We were just trying to get to know him better." Kyle began, but his father wasn't going to sugar
coat it.
"We wanted to know what his intentions were with you … after all you had his child. I didn't see a
ring on his hand and noticed that yours didn't have a band." Peter Harris said directly. "I did
exactly what you would expect of me."
Beth shook her head and walked over to her father, bending to put her arms around his neck and
kiss his cheek. "It's good to know you haven't changed Dad. But you don't have to worry … you
raised me remember? I know a good man when I see one and Adam …" she paused and
glanced over her shoulder. "Adam is as good as they come."
"Don't think you can get around me now Leandra. I thank God you are home with us again and
you look like you are well, but I'm still your father and I am going to get some answers." He said,
trying to be gruff but the façade was fading. "So far he hasn't said much. And there's something
I don't like about him. He has secrets."
Adam had to admire the man's instincts. He wouldn't be easily won over. But Adam wasn't going
to let Beth fight this battle for him. Her family was obviously concerned and now that Cassie was
a part of his life, he understood what Beth's father needed to know, and as long as the subject
stayed away from what they couldn't share, he was fine with it.
"I didn't feel it appropriate to discuss my relationship with Beth … Leandra …" he corrected
"before she had a chance to speak with you herself."
"Well she is here now and seems to be feeling better, so if you don't mind … I'd like some
answers." Peter Harris stated, nodding toward the two chairs across the table and waiting until
Beth and Adam had taken a seat.
"What would you like to know sir." Adam replied, showing the respect that he knew would help
Beth's family understand. Beth couldn't help but think about how ironic it was for Adam to be in
this position, she wondered if he also found humor in being perceived as the younger and more
inexperienced man. He certainly played it well.
"I want to know who you are and how you came to be so close to my daughter, and I want to
know why if you love her so much and have a child by her … why haven't you married her?"
Beth's eyes met Adam's and he knew she wanted to start by telling them the truth about the
baby. Once they understood about that, maybe the rest would be taken more easily. And this
was her secret to tell. She reached for his hand under the table, lacing her fingers through his as
had become their natural way of connection before explaining.
"There's something about the baby that you should know, but it's for the family only. What I tell
you does not go further than this room." Beth looked from her brothers to her father and then
took a quick glance at Adam before telling them that the child was biologically Craig's as a result
of the implant they had originally planned when they made their fateful trip to Atlanta.
Her father's eyes widened. "The baby is Craig's? Then why did you make us think it was his?"
"Because I love Adam and I'm going to spend the rest of my life with him. And he loves Cassie.
He's going to be her father in every way that is important." She looked up at Adam briefly before
turning back to her family. "And I know you'll understand one day that this is the right thing for me
… and the baby." She paused to let it sink in.
"We honored Craig by giving the baby his mother's name as a part of her own. We named her
Cassandra Irene … Pierson." She continued. Her brothers eyed Adam carefully, but he didn't
show any sign of concern or uncertainty. He met their stares with a confident gaze.
"This is a lot to take in at one time Leandra. Maybe after we've had a chance to get to know him
… but if you think we're just going to accept this quietly, that isn't going to happen. You've been
away and I think we all need some time to just be together before deciding something this
important." her father began.
Adam didn't like the way that sounded and he could see how her father's words were upsetting
Beth. "Is there a place we could talk privately … sir?" he asked, surprising Beth as well as
everyone else at the table.
Peter Harris stared at him for a few seconds before standing up from the table and getting his
coat from the peg beside the door. Adam grabbed his coat from the other room and followed the
man outside.
When Beth came to, she was on the bed in what had been the room she shared with Rayna
growing up. The light was low and her sister Chris was bathing her face with a cool cloth.
"Hey … " her sister said when she saw her eyes flutter open. "Just lie still Lea… " Chris
encouraged when Beth tried to sit up.
"Where's Adam? … and Cassie?" Beth asked, ignoring what her sister was saying and sitting up.
"Cassie is over there … sleeping." Chris nodded toward the crib that had been brought into the
room. Beth couldn't help smiling. "And she is so beautiful." Her sister continued. "Of course it's
all that gorgeous auburn hair of hers." Chris laughed, tossing her own flaming locks.
"I thought about you the minute I saw her … and Mama." Beth replied, moving to embrace her
sister. "I've missed you all so much." The two young women held one another and cried
bittersweet tears.
"I wish I could have been there for you Lea." Chris admitted. "But how? I mean … I thought you
couldn't …"
"The baby is Craig's." Beth replied, mentally making a note of not mentioning when she'd had the
procedure. "I wanted this baby so much … not just for me, but for him too. So I had the egg
implanted … and she was born on the 6th."
"Well that explains why you fainted at the church. Don't you know you shouldn't have been
travelling so soon after giving birth?" Chris chided her lightly before hugging her sister again,
completely overcome with emotion because she had missed her so terribly.
"I don't understand something Leandra. When you introduced us to Adam, you made us believe
he was the father." Chris said finally when they were both drying their eyes.
"He is." Beth replied firmly. "I love Adam … you have no idea how wonderful he is, what he's
done for me … He loves Cassie and he will be the one there for her while she is growing up. I
don't want her to be confused … and I know Craig would feel the same way. So outside of the
family, as far as anyone else is concerned. Cassie is Adam's daughter."
Chris wasn't really comfortable about this. What did they know about this Adam person? She
saw the ring on her sister's hand, but there was no band.
Beth looked to where her sister's eyes had fallen and guessed the next question. "He brought me
home because we wanted to be married on New Year's Eve … here."
Chris smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Why didn't you call us after Devan was killed in
prison? With him gone, surely it was safe enough to call?"
Beth knew again to be careful about what she said. "Devan didn't die in prison … I don't really
know how he did it, but he had someone on the inside to help. And I'm sure you read that his
body was missing from the morgue."
Chris nodded and seemed satisfied.
"It was a setup to escape. And he had people watching me. They relocated me to a city in
Washington called Seacouver, and he still found me there." Beth explained. "That is where I met
Adam, and his friends … our friends. And they protected me."
"So Devan is alive?" Chris gasped.
"No … not for almost a month. Adam made sure he could never hurt us again." She confided as
she looked over at Cassie's sleeping form. "We're finally safe."
"He killed him?" Chris was astonished. "Is that why you are marrying him?"
"Of course not." Beth protested. "I'm marrying him because I love him. We're already a family.
Marrying him is only a formality."
"This is so not like you." Chris replied, pacing the room. "I mean you made Craig wait two years
after college to get married, when you KNEW since you were like 5 years old he was the one.
But this Adam rides into your life when you are under a tremendous stress, and you think he is
your white knight? I don't get it Leandra."
"I know what I'm doing … and really Chris, I am not up to arguing with you about this tonight, not
when what I really want to know is … what happened to Mama?"
Chris bit her lip, berating herself for not thinking before she spoke. She'd had almost a month to
grieve their mother's death, but Beth had only just heard.
"We had a good Thanksgiving. Of course it wasn't the same without you." Chris told her, clasping
her hand. "Mama didn't tell us about the problems she'd been having. We knew she didn't sleep
much, but had no idea that her heart was weak. She died three days later … in her sleep."
The tears flowed down Beth's cheeks as she walked to stand beside her daughter's crib. She
realized that was around the same time Devan had been killed. Damn him. He had robbed her
of the precious little time she would have had with her mother. And if it hadn't been for the stress
and worry about where she was, maybe her mother would still be alive. "I'm sorry Chris. I wish I
could have been here … or told her something to give her peace."
"You are here now." Chris put her arm around her sister's shoulder. "And you brought this little
piece of heaven with you." She smiled down at her niece, and then to show her support she
added "And you are in love."
"I really am." Beth told her. Her thoughts immediately turned to Adam. She knew he would be
worried, but that he was probably letting her sister tend to her to make it less awkward for the
family.
"Where is Adam?" Beth asked starting for the door.
"After he brought you in here, Dad, Kyle and Justin insisted on having a 'little chat' " She replied
as Beth left the room. She didn't have a chance to tell Beth that her husband Gary, Rayna and
the sister-in-laws had stayed at the church with the children. They hadn't wanted them to miss
the rest of the Christmas Eve service, and thought it would help make the holiday a little more
normal for them. It would be at least another half hour before they arrived home.
When Beth reached the main room of the house she could hear the voices in the kitchen. There
around the table sat her Father and both her brothers. They all turned when she entered, and it
was then she saw Adam leaning with his back against the counter, his arms crossed over his
chest. His eyes showed relief to see her up, but still concern.
"You should be resting." Adam insisted gently as she passed the others to slip under his
protective arm.
"I'm fine. It was just such a shock … and we had a long flight" she explained to him before
turning to her family and repeating. "I'm fine, really." Adam saw that her face had regained its
color and her eyes were bright. He answered by simply planting a light kiss to her hairline before
turning his attention back to her very protective family.
"I was a little worried when you weren't there when I woke up." Beth admitted, giving her father
and brothers a direct glare. "I'll have to admit I wondered for a minute if maybe you hadn't
received the kind of warm welcome this family is known for …"
Adam had to resist the grin that threatened to cross his face. She'd only been home for a few
minutes and already it was obvious that she felt comfortable enough to assert her opinion.
"We were just trying to get to know him better." Kyle began, but his father wasn't going to sugar
coat it.
"We wanted to know what his intentions were with you … after all you had his child. I didn't see a
ring on his hand and noticed that yours didn't have a band." Peter Harris said directly. "I did
exactly what you would expect of me."
Beth shook her head and walked over to her father, bending to put her arms around his neck and
kiss his cheek. "It's good to know you haven't changed Dad. But you don't have to worry … you
raised me remember? I know a good man when I see one and Adam …" she paused and
glanced over her shoulder. "Adam is as good as they come."
"Don't think you can get around me now Leandra. I thank God you are home with us again and
you look like you are well, but I'm still your father and I am going to get some answers." He said,
trying to be gruff but the façade was fading. "So far he hasn't said much. And there's something
I don't like about him. He has secrets."
Adam had to admire the man's instincts. He wouldn't be easily won over. But Adam wasn't going
to let Beth fight this battle for him. Her family was obviously concerned and now that Cassie was
a part of his life, he understood what Beth's father needed to know, and as long as the subject
stayed away from what they couldn't share, he was fine with it.
"I didn't feel it appropriate to discuss my relationship with Beth … Leandra …" he corrected
"before she had a chance to speak with you herself."
"Well she is here now and seems to be feeling better, so if you don't mind … I'd like some
answers." Peter Harris stated, nodding toward the two chairs across the table and waiting until
Beth and Adam had taken a seat.
"What would you like to know sir." Adam replied, showing the respect that he knew would help
Beth's family understand. Beth couldn't help but think about how ironic it was for Adam to be in
this position, she wondered if he also found humor in being perceived as the younger and more
inexperienced man. He certainly played it well.
"I want to know who you are and how you came to be so close to my daughter, and I want to
know why if you love her so much and have a child by her … why haven't you married her?"
Beth's eyes met Adam's and he knew she wanted to start by telling them the truth about the
baby. Once they understood about that, maybe the rest would be taken more easily. And this
was her secret to tell. She reached for his hand under the table, lacing her fingers through his as
had become their natural way of connection before explaining.
"There's something about the baby that you should know, but it's for the family only. What I tell
you does not go further than this room." Beth looked from her brothers to her father and then
took a quick glance at Adam before telling them that the child was biologically Craig's as a result
of the implant they had originally planned when they made their fateful trip to Atlanta.
Her father's eyes widened. "The baby is Craig's? Then why did you make us think it was his?"
"Because I love Adam and I'm going to spend the rest of my life with him. And he loves Cassie.
He's going to be her father in every way that is important." She looked up at Adam briefly before
turning back to her family. "And I know you'll understand one day that this is the right thing for me
… and the baby." She paused to let it sink in.
"We honored Craig by giving the baby his mother's name as a part of her own. We named her
Cassandra Irene … Pierson." She continued. Her brothers eyed Adam carefully, but he didn't
show any sign of concern or uncertainty. He met their stares with a confident gaze.
"This is a lot to take in at one time Leandra. Maybe after we've had a chance to get to know him
… but if you think we're just going to accept this quietly, that isn't going to happen. You've been
away and I think we all need some time to just be together before deciding something this
important." her father began.
Adam didn't like the way that sounded and he could see how her father's words were upsetting
Beth. "Is there a place we could talk privately … sir?" he asked, surprising Beth as well as
everyone else at the table.
Peter Harris stared at him for a few seconds before standing up from the table and getting his
coat from the peg beside the door. Adam grabbed his coat from the other room and followed the
man outside.