He stood and smiled down at her. “I’m going to get some coffee and that package of cookies I saw on the counter. Meanwhile, you should get yourself a sweater and maybe a blanket. I noticed it’s becoming chillier in the room now that’s it’s started to snow again. Look, you’ve got goosebumps.” He put both hands on her arms and rubbed up and down, the warmth of his touch igniting sensations that made her blush and turn away. His knowing voice followed her. “Rather than worry about the kids, why don’t we get to know more about each other? You can tell me about your life back home, your family and your work.”
And she did. Far into the night they shared their reminiscences. Finally when the cold seeped into their bodies, they moved closer together, still sharing.
When the early morning light shone through the window, they were wrapped in each other’s arms, fast asleep. The ringing of the doorbell woke them, bringing them to their feet, and rushing to open the door.
Chapter Thirteen
Colin didn’t care that his clothes were wrinkled, that his beard darkened his face, or that his sweatshirt looked like he’d slept in it… which he had. All that mattered was the package had arrived. The one he’d been waiting for. Excitement had him swinging open the door, happiness exploding inside.
Except his package was no where in sight. Instead, his lawyer stood there deflated, his strained expression speaking for itself.
Sensing a tragedy, Colin demanded, “What’s wrong?”
“You can’t take the children.”
“Wha? W-why? What in God’s name are you talking about?”
Jaq moved in beside Colin and interrupted. “Come inside, out of the cold. I’ll put on some coffee and warm some muffins. Come.”
Realizing he’d been rude, Colin apologized at once. “I’m sorry. Of course, come inside.” He stepped back and waved the man in. “Cord Ballenger meet my friend Jaqueline Bouchard.”
She shook hands, saying, “It’s storming out there again. You must be frozen. Here, let me take your coat.” Once she hung the coat in the closet, she excused herself to go look after their breakfast. “I want to know everything so wait until we’re sitting before you get into a discussion.”
Colin nodded. “Cord do you have time?”
“Sure. And I’d like that coffee, and a muffin sounds wonderful. I rushed off this morning without getting any breakfast.” He looked at Colin. “Sorry I couldn’t get back to you last night. It was too late to call by the time I’d given up.”
“No worries. Look give me a moment to wash my face and brush my teeth and then I’ll meet you both in the kitchen.”
A few minutes later, having squashed his worries for the time being, Colin rushed into the kitchen to help Jaq. “I can take over.”
Thankfulness showed in her expression. “Thanks. I want to tidy up a bit too. I’ll shower and change later, just a quick brush-up for now. I won’t be a minute. Promise to wait for me before you discuss anything.”
“Of course. Cord, the coffee is ready. And here’s the muffins all nice and warm.” Colin brought out the tray from the microwave and added a dish of butter and jam on the table. Then he set out three steaming, fragrant mugs. “Do you take sugar and cream?”
Wondering how he could be so calm when his insides were burning with questions, Colin let out a puff of relief when true to her word, Jaq all but skidded back into the room to take her seat.
“I’m ready. Tell us the news. When can we pick the kids up?”
The muffin Cord had lifted to bite into dropped back to the plate. His face paled. He cleared his throat and looked first at her and then at Colin. “You can’t. Pick them up I mean.” Before they could react, he held up his hand and added, “Not yet anyway. They won’t go along with your request because you have no family attachment. As far as the court is concerned, you’rea stranger who just met them the day their mother died. They can’t release the kids into your custody without proof that it was her wish that you be their guardian.”
“But that’s exactly what she did want. And it would have happened if she hadn’t passed on before we could get the paperwork in place. I swear to you, she asked me to look after them. Cord, I promised her I would.” Colin stood, unable to stay seated when his body thrummed with agitation. Stalking around the room, he stopped to stare at the man who’d just ripped apart his new reality. “So what happens now? I told Charlie I’d have them with us for Christmas. What are those kids going to think when I break my word?”
Jaq reached out her hand to take his, forcing him to return to the table. Then she gently pulled on him to sit. Turning to the distraught fellow who had brought the terrible news, she asked, “What now? Is there any way we can get around this? Can we apply for fostering them ourselves?”
“I have to ask. Are either of you married?”
“No.”
“Have you been in a relationship with each other for any length of time… live together, or a long-term friendship?”
“No. We actually met the day Gisele went to the hospital.”
“Then, no. You wouldn’t be considered as a foster couple. But possibly one or the other of you could apply on your own.” He turned to Colin. “Do you have a private residence where the children could live with you?”
“Not here in Quebec, but I do own my home in Vancouver.” Colin answered first.
Cord’s expression darkened. “You’d want to take them out of the province? That’s a tough one. What about you, Jaqueline? Do you live in Quebec?”
