she had before he made up his mind about what he wanted to do.
Sometimes being honest really stank!
Grabbing her slender briefcase from the front seat, she went around to the back of the truck and lifted the hatchback. Her suitcase, baby paraphernalia and a crib filled the back of the SUV. Tucked to one side was a shoe box from a discount store that had long since gone out of business. She took that and a small quilt, carrying them inside.
She found him gazing at the babies but couldn’t quite read his expression. It was softer than when he looked at her, more relaxed with at least a trace of awe.
Please don’t take my babies away from me.
He looked up at her.
“This is the box with the snapshots and Amy’s birth certificate. You’ll note the similarity of your mother’s name and hers.”
Eric held the box in his lap unopened for longer than necessary while Laura busied herself by spreading the quilt on the floor and laying the twins down one at a time. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know what was in the box. For the most part, he’d put his childhood behind him. He’d grown up. Whatever faults his mother had had, he didn’t dwell on them now.
He didn’t want to reopen wounds he’d spent most of his life trying to heal.
One of the babies made a singsong sound, and he realized he had to see whatever Pandora had in mind for him.
The snapshots didn’t appear to be in any particular order. A young blond girl in a ponytail standing in front of a pickup truck. The twins’ mother, his half sister? A younger version of her on a tricycle. He felt no recognition, no connection.
He picked up the birth certificate and examined it. Amy Maria Thorne, mother listed as Millicent Karen Thorne.
Eric swallowed the tightness in his throat. His mother must have finally found some guy to marry her. She’d been listed Millicent Karen Johnson on his birth certificate. Unmarried.
And then she’d abused and neglected her daughter—just as she had neglected and allowed a hamfisted man to abuse him.
He caught his breath at the next snapshot, he and his mother standing in front of a roller-coaster ride. He’d been maybe seven or eight at the time.
“I remember this.” His voice sounded rusty, his throat was dry. “We’d gone to a county fair. It was the first time I’d ever ridden a roller coaster and some guy with a camera…”
His throat shut down entirely. He couldn’t speak, and it felt like someone had tightened a band around his chest, screwing it down hard.
He stood. He had to get away from Laura. Couldn’t let her see how upset he was.
With a vague wave of his hand, he fled the room.
Why had his mother abandoned him? What had he done that was so wrong?
Sitting back on her haunches, Laura watched him leave. His obvious pain had brought an ache to her own chest. From what she’d just seen and what Amy had told her, Eric’s wounds were fully as deep as his sister’s had been.
Smiling down at the twins, who were now chewing on each other’s fingers, she silently vowed she wouldn’t leave them with Eric until she made sure whatever damage his mother had done to him emotionally hadn’t left him so severely scarred that he was incapable of giving the twins the love they deserved.
If she decided to leave them here at all.
When he returned, his strong, masculine features were tightly under control, and he held himself erect.
“You’ve convinced me,” he said. “Amanda and Rebecca are my nieces. We’re blood kin, and I’ll give them the best home I know how.”
Fear and adrenaline drove Laura to her feet. “It’s not that easy. I’m not going to simply hand the girls over to you.”
“Why not? That’s why you tracked me down, isn’t it? It’s what my sister wanted, right?”
“Not exactly. First, I have to—”
The doorbell chimed, but before either of them had a chance to react, the door opened.
“Hey, Eric, are you home?” a female voice asked.
Laura’s heart sank. If Eric had a woman in his life who could be a good mother to the twins—
A young woman with reddish hair swept into the room followed by an equally attractive blonde.
“Oh, look at those sweet little babies,” the first one crooned, kneeling beside the quilt on the floor. “Look at their tiny pug noses. They’re adorable.”
Laura bristled, her protective instincts rising.
Frowning, Eric muttered, “What are you two doing here? And since when do you use the front door?”
“Since we knew you had company and we came to see the babies, of course,” the blonde responded. “And to meet the woman you’ve been seeing on the sly.” With a welcoming smile, she extended her hand to Laura. “Hi, I’m Lizzie Oakes, Eric’s sister-in-law. And that’s Kristi fawning all over your babies, Eric’s other sister-in-law. We’re both upset he’s been keeping you a secret from the family.”
Laura gaped at the woman before finally taking Lizzie’s hand. “I think there’s been some misunderstanding. Eric and I haven’t been—”
“You don’t have to pretend with us,” Kristi said, playing peek-a-boo with Amanda. “We’re certainly not ones to cast stones.”
“Neither of us,” Lizzie agreed. “We just want to make sure Eric is prepared to do the right thing. A woman shouldn’t have to—”
“Ladies!” Eric barked, causing both babies to twist their heads around searching for the source of that unpleasant sound. “This is Laura Cavendish, who I just met today. And those two babies, who you think are so cute, are my nieces, which is no doubt why you think they’re cute. Family resemblance.”
Jaws agape, both young women stared at Eric.
“What sister?” they said in unison.
“Half sister,” he admitted. “Laura, who knew her when she was growing up, brought the twins here so I could meet them. I’m very grateful for that.” He acknowledged her with a nod. “And it is my intention, based on my sister’s wishes, to adopt the twins and be the best darn father I know how to be.”
“Oh, my…” Kristi murmured.
“Well, then,” Lizzie said. “Congratulations. You’ll be a terrific dad.”
“Excuse me, but it’s not that simple,” Laura told them. She’d been aware via the adoption records the detective had uncovered that Eric had two brothers. She hadn’t expected to be assailed right off by two sisters-in-law, however.
“You’re right,” Kristi agreed, placing a kiss on Rebecca’s forehead before she stood. “Among other things, I don’t think Eric has a lot of experience with babies. I know he’ll be grateful if you could stay here with him for a few days to help him get the hang of things. Unless you have a husband to get home to.”
“No, I don’t—”
“That’s a terrific idea.” Lizzie shot a conspiratorial look in Kristi’s direction.
Eric stepped forward. “Now wait a minute—”
“You’ve got that extra bedroom where Laura can stay,” Lizzie said. “And the room on the south side will make a wonderful nursery. Sunny and warm in the winter. The babies will love it.”
“Trust me, you’ll need a lot of extra help at first,” Kristi added. “Why, I remember when…”
Laura’s head spun as the two women pointed out the importance of having someone on hand who