Their Forever Family: Her Family for Keeps / A Father for Poppy / His Little Christmas Miracle. Abigail Gordon

for heaven’s sake.” She dug into her purse as Duncan and Rebel moved closer. “Someone breaks into my car, and I’m the one who has to show ID?” She shook her head in obvious disgust. “I was only at work for half an hour and someone broke into my damned car.”

      “We broke into your car,” Duncan said, his voice soft, and Rebel shivered with anticipation as to what his next words would be.

      That confession got the officer’s attention, and he looked between Duncan and Rebel, keen eyes putting together the scenario.

      “You broke into my car?” The woman looked him up and down, then at Rebel, completely baffled. “Why?”

      “Because your son was in there.” Even though his voice was as soft as silk, the words were hard to hear.

      Rebel took a deep breath and gritted her teeth, certain she’d have knots in her shoulders later. Duncan held her gaze and gave her a nod and she moved a little closer to him. The close proximity brought her some comfort and feeling some of his strength made her realize she was going to get through this difficult situation. With the power this man exuded, she thought she might just be able to get through anything.

       CHAPTER TWO

      “WHAT DO YOU MEAN, my son? Eric’s at daycare.” She swallowed, her blue eyes wide with fear and uncertainty. She looked between Rebel and Dr. McFee trying to figure out if they were telling the truth or if this was some sort of sick joke.

      “No, ma’am. Your son was discovered in the backseat of this vehicle.” The officer took her ID from her limp fingers.

      “N-no, he wasn’t. He’s at daycare.” She looked at Rebel and Duncan, and then at the car as she put the pieces together and completed the horrifying puzzle.

      The back door hung open.

      The car seat was empty.

      The diaper bag lay upside down on the floor.

      She focused on Rebel. “Isn’t he?”

      “Did you forget to stop on your way here?” Duncan asked as gently as possible.

      “Did I forget…? Of course I didn’t forget.” Anger flared in her face, then was quickly replaced by fear. She began to hyperventilate and her grip on Rebel’s arms loosened.

      “Then you left him in the car on purpose?” the officer asked.

      “No! I would never…” Her eyelids fluttered.

      “She’s going out.” Rebel held on to the woman’s arms as the purse and wallet thudded to the pavement.

      “Go get us a gurney,” Duncan instructed the security guard, who ran into the building, and took some of the woman’s body weight from Rebel.

      “As soon as she wakes up she’s under arrest,” the officer said, and shoved his shades back on.

      “As soon as she wakes up she needs to see her child, so back off.” Dark anger flashed in Duncan’s eyes, and Rebel held her breath.

      “She put her kid in mortal danger. He may die.”

      “I understand. She’s not going anywhere, so you can arrest her later.”

      For the second time in less than an hour Rebel and Duncan entered the ER with an unexpected patient.

      “Can you start an IV?” Duncan asked. “The others are working on a new trauma.”

      “Yes,” Rebel said, ready to be helpful and hide the fear surfacing in her veins. Facing her fears was what had led her to ER nursing, but some days the fear nearly did her in.

      Duncan pointed to the counter behind her. “Supplies are there. Get some saline going.”

      In seconds Rebel had everything prepared and inserted an IV into the back of the woman’s hand.

      Duncan rummaged in a cabinet beside her. “Aha.” He moved closer to the patient. “Make sure that’s taped down well.”

      “Why?”

      He held up the small mesh-covered capsule. “Old-fashioned smelling salts.”

      “Haven’t seen those used in years.” Thinking outside the box was what kept ER nursing interesting. “Let ‘er rip.”

      The instant Duncan popped the capsule with his fingers, the noxious scent invaded the room. He waved it beneath the woman’s nose, and she jerked away.

      “Wake up for me,” Duncan said, and patted her cheeks.

      “Her name is Amanda Walker.” The police officer arrived from outside with her belongings.

      “Amanda? Amanda. Wake up now.” Duncan spoke to her.

      Rebel leaned close to Amanda’s ear. “Eric needs you.”

      Amanda’s eyelids fluttered, and she jerked away from Duncan’s hands. “Yuck, what is that?” She struggled to wake from unconsciousness and coughed.

      “Amanda, I’m Dr. McFee, and you’re in the ER. Do you remember what happened?” Amanda kept her eyes closed and frowned.

      “Eric? What about Eric?” She opened eyes that appeared to have no memory of the recent events in the parking lot. Not unusual. The brain provided wonderful coping mechanisms to assist in dealing with emotionally painful situations. None of them were going to help her now.

      “You were on the way to work and what happened?”

      “What do you mean? I parked and came into work like I always do.” She focused more on Duncan and glared. “Why are you asking about Eric? Did the daycare call?”

      “No, ma’am…” Duncan interrupted the officer with a glare. He clenched his jaw, not wanting to verbally castigate the officer when he had a patient on his hands. “No. Daycare didn’t call.”

      “I was…No. Is Eric okay? What’s happened?” She tried to sit up. “What’s going on?”

      Rebel stepped forward and glanced with hesitation at Duncan. He didn’t know her, had never worked with her before, so he had no reason to trust her or her abilities as a nurse. Then again, he had no reason not to trust her. He nodded.

      Rebel placed her hand over Amanda’s with a gentle touch. Compassionate energy pooled around Rebel in such waves that Duncan felt them. This woman was made of tough stuff. So far turning out to be a damned good ER nurse. Gorgeous and smart. Hard combination to find.

      “I’m Rebel, one of the nurses. I…discovered Eric…in the back of your car.”

      “No, you didn’t.” Amanda shook her head in denial and jerked her hand away from Rebel. “He’s at daycare.” Amanda placed a trembling hand over her mouth and tears spilled from her eyes as trickles of the truth emerged from her subconscious. “You’re scaring me now.” Amanda looked around the room, at the glaring overhead lights, at the medical equipment, at the IV in her arm. Then she took a deep breath.

      The wail that followed emerged straight from her soul.

      The hair on Duncan’s neck twitched in reaction to the agonizing cry no amount of comfort could touch. He looked at his newest coworker.

      Tears overflowed Rebel’s eyes as she stood with hands clenched in front of her. Even the cop turned away.

      “N-o-o-o. No. No. No.” She hopped off the gurney, her eyes wild. “You people are crazy! His dad always drops him off.” Her breathing came hard and fast.

      “Amanda. Think back to this morning. Was there a change in your routine? Did you deviate…?” Rebel asked questions designed to trigger her memory.

      “No!” She pointed a finger