Page 22 of Texas Tycoon's Christmas Fiancée
The petite nurse standing nearby gave her a friendly smile. “He’s been looking forward to this for quite a while.”
As she greeted both of them, Grace crossed the room on a thick Oriental rug. “Here’s Michael, Mr. Rafford,” she said.
He looked at the baby and she saw his eyes narrow. “He is you,” Eli said, glancing at Nick and then back to the baby. Eli sat in the chair. “That’s an uncanny resemblance. He looks like your son, Nick. May I hold him, Miss Wayland?”
“Yes, of course. Please call me Grace.”
“He does look like you, Nick,” Megan said as she spread a baby blanket over Eli’s lap and Grace walked forward to give Michael to his grandfather.
“My grandson,” Eli Rafford said, and there was no mistaking the awe in his voice. “This is my grandson.”
Grace noted that Eli seemed to have a firm grip on Michael, and Megan stood close at hand. Michael played with the buttons on Eli’s sweater while he babbled.
“He’s happy,” Megan said.
“He’s a wonderful baby,” Grace added.
“Have a seat, Grace,” Nick said. “Let’s have something to drink. Want pop or a cup of hot tea or coffee?”
“I’ll have hot tea,” Grace replied, sitting in a chair near Eli. She handed Michael one of his toys, which he promptly began to chew.
“He’s adorable,” Megan said. “The resemblance to you is amazing, Nick. He could pass for your son. I’ll see about your drinks,” she said, crossing the room to an intercom.
“I’m trying to get used to the resemblance,” Nick said, sitting across from her.
“I’m so pleased,” Eli said, smiling broadly. “I don’t know that much about babies. I’ll let you have him back, but what a thrill this is. Would you allow me to have a photographer take a picture of Michael with Nick and me?”
“Of course,” Grace replied, guessing that was probably the beginning of a lot of requests.
“I would treasure it. I can’t tell you what pleasure you have given me by allowing me to get to know Michael. Nick, I can’t believe this child doesn’t belong to you.”
“It gave me a shock to see him, too,” Nick said.
As both men looked at Michael, Grace’s worries deepened. Eli’s expression was the same as he might convey to a beloved relative even though he had never seen Michael before today. The wonder in Nick’s eyes equally upset her. There would be no turning back now. Michael would be drawn into this family in spite of her efforts to avoid any contact. She had contemplated taking Michael and moving away, but her business was growing with repeat clientele. And from Alicia’s dealings with the hostile Raffords, she had never thought they would be a problem. Now worries grew with each encounter.
“As I understand from Nick, you are in the catering business and your aunt takes care of Michael a lot of the time.”
“Yes. I’ve been fortunate and Aunt Clara adores Michael. She has no grandchildren and she considers Michael a grandchild,” Grace said, hoping to convey how much a part of her life and her aunt’s Michael was.
“Nick wanted me to promise to keep this conversation simple and not intrude on your care of Michael, but I would like to offer to set up a small account that you can use for whatever you need for him.”
“Dad, we agreed to avoid this today,” Nick reminded his father.
“That’s fine, Nick,” she said quickly. “I appreciate your offer, Mr. Rafford,” she said to avoid an argument. She had no intention of using Rafford money to care for Michael.
“Excellent! And you must call me Eli. I can’t physically do much with a baby. I never did as much as I should have with my own sons, but there are other ways to play a part in his life. Also, I had my secretary get Michael some toys.” Eli reached behind his chair to pull out a sack and hand to her. “You can give him what is appropriate now and let him have the others when the time is right.”
“Thank you,” she said politely, taking the sack from him to glance at each toy, finding both elaborate, expensive toys as well as simple ones. “Your secretary either knows babies or asked an expert because these are all suitable. Since Michael chews on everything, I’ll wash them before I give them to him. Thank you. I’m certain he’ll have fun.” For a moment she thought of Alicia with a forlorn sense of loss for what her friend would miss, causing her to think again of Bart Rafford and the grief his selfishness had caused.
A staff member brought drinks and a plate of cookies that no one touched while Eli Rafford asked nonintrusive questions about Michael and her business and told her a little about his boys when they were young. Michael stretched out on the blanket with his toys and in a short time was asleep.
“Our conversation doesn’t prevent his napping,” Eli observed.
“He can sleep through most anything,” Grace said, aware of Nick’s gaze on her as they talked. Megan had left and Grace assumed she had been present to make certain her patient didn’t receive too big a shock over Michael.
Grace could see the tall clock standing across the room behind Nick. It was almost two hours later when Michael began to stir. “I think it’s time to take Michael home now,” she said, knowing the baby would be hungry and need to be changed.
“Grace, I can’t tell you what this meeting has meant to me,” Eli said. “I’m so grateful. I know you have a busy schedule, but I hope you will come again and bring Michael with you.”
