Chapter 55

"If he wanted the baby dead, why would he have gotten me pregnant in the first place?" Jordan questioned.

"Good point," Woody stated. "Unless the reason is to deny you the baby, it he can't share him with you."

"I doubt a person, no matter how bad, would want to kill their own child. I have a feeling that he wants the baby for himself and if he is as evil as you two say, then that would have the double benefit of hurting Jordan too," Evelyn suggested.

"I see what you are saying, Evelyn, but what in the world would a spy and an assassin want or do with an infant in their life? Unless he is just out to hurt me by taking Riley? I can't see him wanting to raise a baby by himself."

"We might never know his reasons Jordie, but one thing is certain we won't let anything happen to Riley."

"Thank you! Both of you! You have been so supportive and wonderful when you didn't have to be. I…"

Evelyn reached out her hand and put it over Jordan's, knowing where she was going with what she was saying and told her, "That is what family does for each other dear, and never forget that is what you and Riley are, Jordan, family!"

A week went by with nothing else from Palmer. While Woody went to work as usual the other three stayed close to home with only Evelyn leaving to get groceries when needed. The gang from the morgue stopped by a few at a time to visit and keep Jordan up on the news at the office. A few of Woody's co-workers stopped by to offer well wishes. Max, LaVon, and Tuyen were frequent visitors, but other than that, it was very quiet. Both during their visits to the apartment, and the hospital before Jordan and Riley came home, Max had commented on how much Riley looked like Jordan had as a baby. Since she and Palmer both had dark hair and eyes no one had wanted to say anything along those lines until Max' statement for fear of sounding placating. However, once Max had said that the baby looked like his mother it was easy for everyone else to jump on board and agree.

As the second and third week went by with nothing happening, everyone wondered if it was all over. Evelyn decided that Jordan was secure enough to manage on her own and returned to Wisconsin. She assured them she would be marking off the days until they arrived in Wisconsin too.

The night before her dad's wedding Woody went to the airport to pick up Admiral AJ Chegwidden. He had made such an impression on the Cavanaugh family when he had come to meet them. At the time he had been engaged to Max' sister Meredith, but when they were sure that she would not be able to be at the wedding, he had been invited. AJ was going to spend the night at Woody and Jordan's at their insistence rather than go to a hotel.

Jordan had made a dinner that Evelyn had taught her, it also happened to be one of Woody's favorites. Pot roast, potatoes, carrots, and gravy. Jordan even had a cherry cobbler in the oven for desert.

When the two men entered the apartment she greeted them both with a hug and then asked Woody to take care of Riley, who had just started to cry, while she checked on things in the kitchen. AJ followed Woody into the nursery and was glad to see how naturally Woody treated the child that was not his by blood.

"You do that like a pro," AJ stated as Woody changed Riley's diaper.

"I feel like one and it hasn't even been a month yet. Who knew that a baby could go through so many diapers in a day?!"

"I remember thinking the same thing when my daughter was born."

Jordan's call for them to come to the table stopped any further talk on the subject. Woody placed Riley on a blanket on the floor in clear view of the table so the adults could eat while still keeping an eye on the baby. Over dinner they all caught up on the news in their lives. AJ was not seeing anyone new since his break up with Meredith. They were still at a dead end in the case Mac had come to Boston to investigate. Jordan had and easy labor and delivery. Woody was up for a promotion at work and then as Jordan was serving the cherry cobbler, they told AJ about Palmer's reappearance in their lives.

To be continued…