Max - Three Silverback Bears and a Baby Book One Read online

  Josephine hesitated, not wanting to appear too eager as she opened the door and came face to face with one of the most fearsome women she’d ever get the chance to meet. According to Fiona’s reputation at least. “Fiona?” The warm smile on the social services person’s face knocked Josephine off balance. It was too warm. Too friendly—to be Fiona.

  Had Marjory Pierson, the social worker Josephine had spoken to about fostering baby Milly, and who described Fiona as a fire-breathing old dragon, been making fun? Or trouble?

  “Yes.” Fiona thrust a hand out toward Josephine, while cradling the small baby in the other. “Good to meet you. I’ve heard good things about you, Josephine.”

  Josephine’s cheeks colored with pleasure. “Thank you.” Even now, any praise was difficult to take. Surely once you’ve crossed the forty years of age barrier a woman should have learned not to blush like a young gauche child. And yet deep inside she was that selfsame child.

  Josephine slid her hand into Fiona’s and felt an instant connection as a warm sensation swept over her. The blush spread across her cheeks and down her neck as she smiled widely. She must look like a loon with a stupid grin on her face.

  Then her eyes fixed on baby Milly’s and her complexion returned to normal as her need to protect and nurture the baby kicked in. “She is beautiful.”

  “She is. And in need of a diaper change.” Fiona wrinkled her nose as Josephine welcomed them into her house.

  “Here, I can take care of that.” Josephine held her arms out for the baby and Fiona handed her over.

  “I have no idea what she had for her breakfast this morning, but something explosive has occurred in her diaper.” Fiona followed Josephine into the kitchen where she deposited the diaper bag on a chair.

  “Help yourself to coffee. I’ll back down as soon as I’ve cleaned this little one up.” She stroked Milly’s face with the back of her hand and smiled as the baby gurgled and kicked her legs. “You are kicking up a stink.” Milly kicked her legs harder and wriggled in Josephine’s arms. “I’ve got you.”

  Josephine tightened her arms around Milly and headed for the stairs. She’d fostered a handful of babies over the last ten years and was an expert at changing diapers. Josephine had never had a child of her own, but she loved each and every one of the children who passed through her care.

  “We are going to lay you down on the changing mat and whip off this dirty diaper. We’ll have you all cleaned up in no time.” Josephine lay Milly down and avoided two kicking legs as she tugged her little tights off her chubby legs. “Oh, that smells even worse. Yes. It. Does.”

  Josephine nodded her head and grinned at Milly as she undid the disposable diaper and put it to one side while holding the baby still. Or as still as you could hold a wriggling baby who was trying to impersonate a slippery eel.

  “Wow, that is some diaper rash.” Josephine sighed. She’d been warned that Milly had come from a troubled background. She’d also been warned that she was a little undernourished and had a bad case of diaper rash. Although, sadly, she’d seen worse. “Let’s put some magic ointment on your rash. It’ll be gone in a couple of days.”

  Josephine worked quickly, and soon Milly was cradled in her arms as she went back downstairs to Fiona. She grabbed the highchair she’d unpacked and cleaned as soon as she knew she was getting a new foster baby and sat Milly in it. The little girl tapped her hands on the plastic tray while Josephine went to the fridge to fetch her a chilled teething ring. With a squeal of delight, Milly soon got to work gumming it.

  “Perfect.” Fiona watched Josephine closely, although Josephine tried not to notice as she poured herself a cup of coffee and sat down at the kitchen table.

  “She’s a good baby,” Josephine observed as Milly continued to amuse herself with the teething ring.

  “She’s a good baby who has not had a great start. But all that is going to change.” Fiona tickled Milly’s foot causing an outbreak of giggles.

  “Did you speak to her relatives?” Josephine made a face at Milly. It was heartwarming to see her reaction. No matter what kind of start she’d had, this baby was determined to find happiness.

  “I did.” Fiona nodded absently. “Do you have any cookies?”

  “For you or the baby?” Josephine risked a joke. Fiona seemed to have a good heart and Milly’s welfare was paramount. Other people might think she was an old dragon, but Josephine liked her.

  “Me. I get a little cranky if I don’t get a regular sugar fix.” Fiona’s deadpan expression caught Josephine off guard and the color flooded to her cheeks once more. Fiona’s eyes narrowed as she studied Josephine, reminding her of a child who hadn’t learned that staring might be considered rude. “If I go more than a couple of hours without coffee, smoke comes out of my ears.”

  The corners of Josephine’s mouth tugged up as she relaxed and smiled. “You do a tough job. It must be hard dealing with kids who enter the foster care system. So many sad stories.”

  “And happy ever afters.” Fiona smiled wistfully. “That’s my goal, to get all the children in the system their own happy ever after.”

  “Well, this little lady has a good chance.” Josephine looked directly at Fiona. “So the relatives?”

  “Three brothers who had no idea their cousin had a child and are in shock at her death.” Fiona helped herself to a cookie from the plate Josephine set down on the table. “These are good. Homemade?”

  “Yes, I bake when I’m nervous and moving to Bear Creek was such a big step for me, it made me very nervous,” Josephine confessed. “So having this little one stay for a few days is just what I need.”

  “Good to hear. I gave the brothers your contact details as we agreed. And I’ve written their address and telephone number for you here.” Fiona slid a piece of paper toward Josephine. “I’m certain that once they get over the shock, they’ll come around to the idea of adopting Milly. But it would be great if they spent time with Milly seeing her routine and exactly what being a parent entails before they decide.” Fiona bit into another cookie. “These are divine.”

  “I have nothing else planned aside from finishing unpacking. They’re welcome to come over and visit, or I could go over there. It makes sense for Milly to get used to them in their own environment, it might make things easier.” Josephine grinned. “People tend to be more relaxed in their own homes.”

  “If you are sure, that sounds fabulous. If I’m honest I think Jake might take a while to come around to the idea. But if he sees Milly in his own house, he might be more accepting.” Fiona sighed. “It’s a big step. But I’m positive it’s the right thing. Those three brothers have never married. They deserve to know what it’s like to be a parent.”

  “Do you know them well?” Josephine asked. Having recently moved to Bear Creek, she was slowly getting to know the townsfolk, but there were only so many people she was likely to meet. With so many farmsteads and cabins in the mountains, there were plenty of people she might never set eyes on even if she lived here for the rest of her life. So she liked to gather as much knowledge about the local inhabitants of Bear Creek as possible.

  “I’ve known them forever. Max is a local mountain ranger. He’s helped me with one or two lost children over the years. Tad works with his hands, he’s a sculptor. He’s a hard-working man who has an eye for details.” Fiona’s mouth stopped chewing as she considered the final brother.

  “And Jake?” Josephine asked, taking a cookie and crunching it noisily.

  “Jake is a very successful businessman. He’s put all his time and effort into building a solid business.” Fiona brushed the crumbs off her sweater and stood up. “You’ll like them. All good men in their own ways.”

  “I can’t wait to meet them.” She blushed down to the roots of her hair. “Not because they are men. But because they are potential parents.” She stumbled over her words.

  Fiona gave a crooked smile. “It would be good for you to meet them. Even better if you were a mate to one of them.” F
iona looked Josephine up and down. “You do know about shifters, don’t you?”

  Josephine nodded. “Yes. My best friend in high school was a lion shifter. Until she told me about shifters, I had no idea. She told me because she was scared of her first shift and wanted me to be there with her.” Josephine’s eyes lit up. “It was the most incredible thing.”

  “It is incredible.” Fiona took a sheaf of papers out of her briefcase which she’d slotted into the diaper bag. “Let’s deal with the paperwork and I can get going and leave you two to get acquainted.”

  “Okay. What do I need to know?” Josephine looked over the papers Fiona passed to her. It all seemed straightforward. “Mother deceased. And the father?”

  “There is no name on the birth certificate. The local police are conducting inquiries, but they’re not too hopeful. It seems Sally might have resorted to desperate means to feed her drug habit.” Fiona didn’t actually say prostitution, but the meaning was there. “Although she did manage to go to rehab and stay off drugs while she was pregnant.”

  “She tried her best for the baby.” A wave of sadness swept over Josephine. Sally would never get to see the person her daughter would grow up to be. She would never witness her first steps, or her first words or comfort her through her first broken heart. But then Milly might never have her heart broken. She was a shifter, with only one true love. With only one true mate.

  She didn’t have to go through the heartbreak of failed romances. The person she was supposed to be with for the rest of her life was out there waiting.

  “Josephine. Are you all right?” Fiona asked gently.

  “Yes. I was thinking about how sad it is that Sally will never watch her daughter grow up.” Josephine got up from her chair and lifted Milly out of the highchair where she’d been chewing on a teething toy. Holding her close, she kissed the top of her head. “But you are going to have three daddies to take care of you.”

  “If they decide a baby is what they need in their lives.” Fiona slid the paperwork back into her briefcase and then grabbed the diaper bag. “If there is anything else you need, let me know. I’ll call you tomorrow and pop in the day after that.”

  “Okay. We’ll be fine and I’ll arrange to go over and meet the Harrison brothers tomorrow.” She walked Fiona to the door with little Milly in her arms. As she watched Fiona leave, she rocked the baby gently and patted her back soothingly. “We’re gonna be fine. We’re gonna be just fine.”

  When Fiona had gone, she closed the door, but her eyes lingered on the mountain peaks in the distance. Had she made the right move moving to Bear Creek?

  Bile rose in her throat. Was this far enough to run? That was the real question.

  Fear stabbed at her chest and she inhaled deeply, forcing herself to breathe. Perhaps Milly would be better with someone else. Perhaps she would be safer with someone else.

  That’s what she really meant.

  Letting out a long breath, she let go of her fear and guilt. She’d moved three times in the last ten years and changed her name each time. As she left each life behind, she’d shed off the horror of her past like a snake shed its skin. She was safe. She’d been careful. It would be almost impossible for him to find her now that he was free.

  He was her past. And she would not let him ruin her future.

  Chapter Three – Max

  “Sure. Come on over.” Tad listened to the voice on the other end of the line while trying to communicate something to Max. But Max had never learned to decipher Tad’s waggling eyebrows, even after forty-five years as brothers. “See you soon.”

  Tad ended the call and was met with a bemused shrug from Max. “What does that mean?” He wiggled his eyebrows randomly.

  “It means Milly’s foster mom is bringing her over for a visit and you should get your boots off the counter.” Tad pointed at Max’s boots. “Why are they even there?”

  “I was cleaning them.” Max took his boots off the countertop. “And they are sitting on newspaper.”

  “You didn’t answer the question as to why they are on the countertop sitting on newspaper.” Tad went to the sink and ran the water until it was good and hot before adding dish soap. If Tad was in cleaning mode, he must have something on his mind.

  You wouldn’t need to be psychic to know what, Max’s bear commented. He was right, the three Harrison brothers all had the exact same thing on their mind. Should they agree to adopt Milly?

  “I was checking my boots over and the light is better just there.” He pointed to the recessed light hidden under the wall cupboards. “It’s tourist season. Things are about to get crazy on the mountain and I need to ensure my kit is in good condition.”

  “Well, move them,” Tad added coffee mugs and two small plates to the water in the sink before scanning the kitchen for anything else that might need washing. Max quickly plucked his boots off the counter, not trusting Tad to add them to the soapy suds in the sink. “I want to make a good impression.”

  “You and me both. It’s Jake we have to convince.” Max set his boots down by the wooden stable door leading to the back yard. The bottom section was closed, while the top section was open letting in the cool mountain air. Max inhaled deeply, the mountain still called to him, but he’d stayed put, knowing this was a joint decision he had to make with his brothers. “He thinks a baby will make things too complicated.”

  “It will,” Jake called from the hallway. He sauntered into the kitchen dressed in an expensive, well-cut gray suit and blue tie. “We all have full lives. Do you really believe we are the best thing for this baby?”

  “You mean is she the best thing for us?” Tad asked. “Listen, none of us have ever found our mates. And I don’t know about you two, but the need to nurture a child and teach them about the world is something I crave.”

  “Jake is right, we do have full lives.” Max turned away from his brothers and walked to the kitchen window. Resting his hands on the edge of the countertop, he stared at the mountains which were his second home. “Do we really have time for a baby?”

  His bear huffed. We should make time. Anyway, there are three of us. We can spread the load.

  “I’ll do the lion’s share of caring for her,” Tad offered. “And we can always hire a nanny.”

  Max dragged his gaze away from the mountain. “A nanny. That’s not exactly us raising her ourselves.”

  Tad shrugged. “I want to do this.”

  “And I don’t.” Jake’s mouth was set firm and his brothers knew that meant he’d already made up his mind.

  “Then I’ll talk to Fiona and see if I can adopt her alone,” Tad replied. “I’ll move out and get a place of my own.”

  “What?” Jake asked, rounding on him.

  “I want to do this.” Tad tapped his chest right above his heart. Out of all three Harrison brothers, Tad was the one who acted on his emotions. Jake and Max always blamed Tad’s artistic nature. Perhaps blame was the wrong word. But as a sculptor, Tad saw things differently and experienced emotions on a deeper level than his two brothers. “More than anything else I’ve ever wanted to do. It feels right.” He met Jake’s eyes and then Max’s, his expression deadly serious. “I can’t explain it. But this feels right. Like it’s something we were meant to do.”

  Jake stared at his younger brother for a long while before he held up his hands and said, “Okay. If you two agree, we’ll do it.”

  “Max?” Tad turned to the mountain ranger. “What do you say? This has to be unanimous.”

  “I’ll pitch in as much as I can, but as I said, this is a busy time on the mountain, and I have responsibilities.” Max nodded. Was he really agreeing to adopt a baby? They didn’t know the first thing about babies.

  “Then it’s settled, we will welcome Milly into our family. Josephine is on her way over. Let’s all be on our best behavior and show her we are three responsible adults.” Tad smiled, his whole face lighting up. “We’re going to be daddies.”

  Jake fell silent as he stared at Ta
d. “Would you really have moved out?”

  Tad looked over his shoulder and answered, “We’ve lived together all of our lives. It would be tough, but yes.”

  “This is our home, Jake,” Max said soothingly. Jake had fought hard to keep them together all of his life. “But if any of us met our mate we might have moved out. I don’t think there are many women out there who would take on three brothers.” Max picked up a cloth and began wiping the surfaces.

  “Why? It’s not as if we’re not housetrained,” Jake retorted before his face cracked into a smile. “That was a joke. I always knew a woman might split up our happy home. I just never expected her to be still wearing diapers.”

  Tad laughed, a deep belly laugh. “You know, Milly might be the reason we never met our mates. Fate thought it would be a good joke. Yeah, those Harrison brothers, they don’t need a female to tear them apart, they need one to keep them together.”

  “Or maybe she will be the reason we do get mates.” Jake grabbed hold of the vacuum cleaner from the utility room and headed toward the living room. “You know women are attracted to babies. They’ll think we’re ideal mating material.”

  “So that’s why you agreed to Milly coming to live with us?” Max asked, happy the tension between his brothers was gone. “You think she’ll act as a babe magnet.”

  Jake paused in the doorway leading to the living room. “It wouldn’t help though, would it? We can attract all the women we want, but if they aren’t the one, it wouldn’t matter.”

  “You’re right. Of course, you are right.” Max looked up as the sound of a car approaching reached him. “I think they are here. Is Fiona coming, too, or is it just Milly and the foster mom?” He couldn’t sense Fiona, but then he was having some trouble sensing anything at all. It was as if someone was jamming his shifter senses.

  “Josephine didn’t mention anything about Fiona coming, too.” Tad’s eyes narrowed as he studied Max for a moment. “Are you okay?”