Daddy's Double Duty Read Online Free PDF Page B

she was receiving a heavy load to carry. Especially without a man to help her.
    He didn’t know anything about Vanessa’s marriage or divorce. In fact, he’d only known she was divorced because she’d stated it on her résumé. Of course he could have questioned Maura about her friend and most likely his sister would have given him an honest account of what had occurred. But Conall had never been one to pry into another person’s private life, unless he believed there was a good reason to. He liked his privacy and tried his best to respect everyone else’s. And even ifshe was his employee, he didn’t consider Vanessa an exception to that rule. Except there were times, he had to admit to himself, that he was curious about her.
    He gave her a wry smile. “To be honest, I’m looking forward to seeing them, too.”
    At the end of the corridor, the kindly nun ushered them into a sunny nursery filled with rows of cradles and cribs, all of them occupied with babies ranging from infancy to twelve months old. Three more nuns were moving quietly around the room, tending to the needy children, some of whom were crying boisterously.
    â€œThe twins are over here in the corner,” the Sister said, motioning for the two of them to follow.
    When she finally stopped near a pair of wooden cradles made of dark wood, she gestured toward the sleeping babies. Since the newborns were yet to be named, the two were differentiated with blue and pink blankets, while paper tags were attached to the end of each cradle, one reading Boy Valdez and the other Girl Valdez.
    â€œHere they are,” she announced. “Take as much time with them as you’d like. And if you need anything, please let me know. I’ll be just down the hall in Mother Superior’s office.”
    Conall and Vanessa both thanked the woman as she left and then they turned their entire attention to the sleeping twins.
    Both babies had red-gold hair with the boy’s being a slightly darker shade than his sister’s. To Conall, they appeared extremely tiny, even though the Sister had told them earlier that each baby weighed over five pounds, a fair amount for newborn twins.
    â€œOh. Oh, my. How…incredible,” Vanessa whispered in awe as she stared down at the babies. “How perfectly beautiful!”
    She bent over the cradles for a closer look and Conall watched as she touched a finger to the top of each velvety head. And then suddenly without warning, she covered her face with one hand and he could see her shoulders began to shake with silent sobs.
    Quickly, he moved forward and wrapped an arm around her waist. “Vanessa.” He said her name softly, just to remind her that she wasn’t alone.
    She glanced up at him, her brown eyes full of tears. “I’m sorry, Conall. I thought I could do this without breaking down. But…I—” Her gaze swung back to the babies. “I can’t believe that I’ve been blessed with two beautiful babies. And yet I look at them and…can’t help thinking of Hope.”
    His hand slipped to her slender shoulder and squeezed. “Your friend had the perfect name. Through you, she’s given her children hope for the future. Remember that and smile.”
    She let out a ragged sigh. “You’re right, Conall. I have to put my tears for Hope behind me and smile for the babies.” Glancing up at him, she gave him a wobbly smile. “I’ve chosen names for them. Rose Marie and Richard Madison. What do you think?”
    â€œVery nice. I’ll call them Rose and Rick, if that’s all right with you.”
    Her smile grew stronger. “That’s my plan, too. Shall we pick them up?”
    He stared at her, amazed that she wanted to include him. “We? You go ahead. I’m just an onlooker.”
    She looked a bit disappointed and Conall realized he felt a tad deflated himself. But whether that was because he