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didn't   need anyone's sympathy for anything!
    Morgan
sat silently at Alex's side as they drove to the hospital to pick up Courtney,
so nervous her palms felt damp. It was ridiculous to feel so nervous about
seeing a baby for the first time, but she couldn't help it. Babies were
something she had no experience of, especially ones as young as Courtney. She
didn't even know how to hold him—something Rita Hammond had taken great
pains to point out to her.
    Alex
had obviously spoken to his mother by the time Morgan joined them for dinner
the previous evening, for Rita Hammond was at her most haughty as she pointed
out all the reasons Morgan wasn't equipped to take care of a baby. When Morgan
had remained blandly adamant the older woman had resorted to insults. Even her
son's curtly spoken words hadn't deterred her, until finally Alex suggested his
mother retire to her room, where he accompanied her, returning only after his mother
had fallen into a sedated sleep, apologising tersely for her rudeness, but
making no excuses for it.
    Morgan
had slept fitfully, her body completely out of English time, and rose early,
only to find Alex was up before her, having already breakfasted and doing some
work in his study. Morgan had only just managed to contain her anxiety to leave
and collect Courtney, waiting impatiently until Alex suggested it was time to
go.
    And
now they were almost there. She was going to see Glenna's son at last!
    He
was beautiful! There was no other way to describe the tiny peaches and cream
bundle wrapped in the white blanket. Tears filled her eyes as the nurse wheeled
him out to them in his tiny crib, sleeping peacefully after his mid-morning
feed.
    'He's
beautiful,' she breathed softly, her eyes wide with wonder 'Alex . . .! She
looked at him glowingly.
    His
expression softened. 'Why don't you dress him while I have a word with the
doctor?'
    She
swallowed hard. She thought herself a pretty gutsy lady, but this tiny baby
terrified her. 'I'll try.' She moistened her lips nervously, taking the box of
expensive baby clothes that were part of a delivery made to the house early
this morning. It seemed that the Hammond money could even get those sort of
things delivered.
    The
nurse showed her into a private room, and between the two of them—with a
lot of help from the nurse! —they managed to dress Courtney in the
all-in-one btue suit. It still managed to swamp him despite being ey. He was so
incredibly like Glenna, with fiery-red hair and deep blue eyes, that Morgan
felt fresh tears well up in her eves.
    Go
ahead and cry,' the nurse encouraged gently. 'It's always like this when a
mother gets to take a premature baby home.'
    Morgan blinked up at the young girl. 'Oh, but           '
    'He's
so much like you,' the nurse cooed at him gently. 'And I think he has your
husband's jaw even now. He's going to be a strong-minded little boy.'
    Morgan
smiled at this young girl's misconception. Somehow the other girl had the
impression that she and Alex were Courtney's parents. How angry he would be if
he knew!
    'I've
been on holiday for a couple of weeks,' the girl unwittingly explained her
mistake, 'so I missed Courtney's arrival into the world, but I can see he's
done »ery well for a premature baby.' She helped Morgan put on the little
woollen cap over Courtney's red curls. 'He has your colouring, you know,' she
smiled.
    "Probably
a temper to go with it,' Morgan joined in the laughter, feeling a sense of elation
at being in at die start of Courtney's life, seeing no reason to correct the
young nurse's impression of her being his mother, not wanting the complications
and sympathy such an explanation would evoke.
    'Here's
your husband now.' The girl moved to the door, smiling shyly up at Alex as he
stood in the doorway.
    Morgan
looked at him, Courtney held firmly in her arms, wondering what his reaction
was going to be to being thought her husband. The opinion he had of her morals,
he would probably heatedly deny such