Danielle didnt want this baby to ever feel that kind of resentment. Like she had. Before her parents divorce, how many times had she heard her father say that her mother had trapped him into marriage? She wanted better for her child, even if that meant having only one parent.
Callie touched her arm, rubbed lightly. Look, Im your friend, Danielle, but I have to think of Luke first. He has to be the priority here.
I understand. Danielle had already had this argument with herself and knew what she had to do. Now isnt the time to tell Colin Im carrying his baby. Best to wait, until all of this is resolved. And even then she wasnt sure shed go through with it. Maybe it was better if Colin never knew.
Callie nodded. You can do that? You can work with Colin and keep this secret to yourself?
What secret? someone asked.
Danielle was glad that Callie caught on to her or she might have fallen on her face. Because the someone was Colin, and she didnt know how hed gotten so close without Callie or her noticing, but hed managed it. He was only a few feet away.
Close enough to have heard everything.
What secret? he repeated, putting his hands on his hips.
Just girl talk, Callie volunteered.
Colin looked at Callie. Then, at Danielle. He wasnt buying it, and that would make this assignment even more uncomfortable. Colin was like a bulldog with a bone when he thought he was on to something.
Callie excused herself and headed toward one of the vehicles. Danielle sprang into action, too.
Did you calm down Lukes parents? Danielle asked, forcing herself to move. She should return to the van. To the job. She had to be more like Colin now and concentrate only on what
had to be done.
But Colin caught on to her when she tried to walk past him. The eye contact came, and he examined her face with those intense blue eyes. What secret?
Best to try to keep it light. It wouldnt be a secret now if I told you, would it?
He still didnt let go of her, and it seemed as if he changed his mind a dozen times about saying anything. Are you seeing someone else?
God, no. She saw the surprise go through his eyes, and she wanted to smack herself. The denial had come much too adamantly and quickly. She should have let him think that he was right, and he wouldnt have pressed about the secret.
But she didnt want to hurt him.
Or maybe that was wishful thinking on her partthat Colin would be hurt or jealous if she had another man in her life. It wasnt logical, but even though their marriage was over, the thought of him with another woman would hurt her to the core. That was something shed have to work out eventually, because if he hadnt already, Colin would find someone else. Someone not obsessed with having a baby. Someone more sympathetic to the ever-increasing dangerous assignments that he volunteered to do.
She glanced at his left hand.
No wedding ring. Hed already removed it, and he didnt have the same swollen-finger excuse that she did. Colin had removed the ring because for him this divorce was a done deal. No more negotiations. Just the cleanup.
So that there wouldnt be any more questions, Danielle eased out of his grip and headed toward the Vaughns, who were about thirty feet from the van. Griffin, the father, was trying to talk Tom into calling Boyd again so he could speak to him. Which wouldnt be a good idea. It was best to keep Boyd calm, and a conversation with a terrified, angry father definitely wouldnt help.
Boyd has agreed to set up some video games for Luke, Danielle told them. They stared at her and hung on to each word. As I build a rapport with Boyd, Ill try to make the conversations longer with Luke, while Colin works for your sons release.
But I have to talk to Boyd. Ill pay whatever hes asking.
Right now, hes not asking for money.
Then offer it, Griffin insisted. And I want to talk to Luke. I have to hear my son.
Even though her child wasnt born yet, Danielle understood that. Ill see what I can do.
Both Colin and Tom looked at her as if shed lost her mind. And maybe she had. Unless Griffin could totally keep the fear out of his voice, the call might upset Luke. It might make things worse. But Danielle couldnt stop herself from seeing this as a parent. If their situations were reversed, she wouldnt take no for an answer.
She would do anything to talk to her child.
Tom led the couple away, back toward the fence. Danielle climbed into the van. Colin was right behind her and dropped down on the seat next to her. Not by choice. It was the only place for him to sit so hed be right next to the phone.
You shouldnt have given the father that kind of hope, Colin grumbled.
Hope is about all he has right now. And us. Colin, we have to get this little boy back to his parents.
Us? he repeated. Does that mean youre staying?
Im staying. But the real question was, could she get through this without having a total meltdown? She was already a hormonal mess.
Danielle tried to change the subject again. Any word on how Boyd knew I was here?
He stared at her so long she didnt think he would drop the subject. Finally, though, he did. Tom thinks he might have some kind of equipment that allows him to tap into the on-site communications system. Or the van might be in his line of sight after all. Griffin Vaughn insists this is a blind spot, but that doesnt mean Boyd couldnt have found a way around it.