Her Pregnancy Surprise (28 page)

They had been absolutely honest with each other about so many things since they had got together again six weeks ago, and even more so since their marriage, but this was one topic that they had both somehow
avoided.
Caroline knew the reasons why. Past pain had made the subject brittle as glass, and they were still treading carefully around it to avoid being cut. But now they had a God-given opportunity to address it.

‘Is it at all possible, do you think?’

Watching her seemingly tussle with the question, Jack tried not to get his hopes up. Now that he was married to Caroline, he couldn’t deny his growing desire to be a father, for her to have his baby. But he also knew that she had suffered deep trauma over having been made to have the abortion, and that that trauma had been made worse when Jack had gone away. He could hardly blame her if the idea of becoming pregnant again engendered strong feelings of trepidation and even
fear
inside her.

‘I think it’s
more
than possible, given the fact that we’ve been rather lax with birth control,’ Caroline replied grinning.

Relieved that she didn’t seem too upset about the idea, Jack let his tense shoulders relax.

‘So you
like
the idea?’

His arms encircled her waist in her long red wool coat as her bewitching smile grew even wider. ‘I
want
us to have a baby, Jack. And this time nobody’s going to stop us! In fact…I have a sneaking suspicion that I could be pregnant already. My period’s late. I was going to tell you.’

‘My God…’ His gaze an intensely hopeful gleam, Jack felt something quicken inside him.

‘Well, Jack…you’ve been keeping me pretty busy for the past few weeks. It was
bound
to happen sooner or later, don’t you think?’

Examining her shining brown eyes, and seeing the joy that was all but pouring out of them, Jack was suddenly
more
than certain that his wife was carrying their baby inside her.

For a long moment he couldn’t speak, he was so moved by the idea that they were to become parents. Then he scooped her up into his arms and swung her round and round right there on the sand, for the world to witness his exultation. It didn’t matter that right then there was only an elderly man walking by with his dog. The man smiled at them both indulgently, lifted his cap and walked on, whistling for his dog to follow.

‘We’ll need a new place to live,’ Jack declared when Caroline had laughingly begged him to stop swinging her round because she was getting dizzy.

They had talked about where they would live, of course, but had arrived at no firm decision as yet. Right now Jack was staying at Caroline’s place, and work was still in progress on his house.
But they’d agreed they would reside in neither of those places.
They would start afresh somewhere else…somewhere they would both be free from the wounds of the past.

Tomorrow—when the temporary staff that Caroline had hired to look after her shop started work—they were flying out to the Caribbean for their honeymoon. And after that they would fly on to New York, where Jack wanted to introduce his new wife to his friends. He knew already that they would be absolutely captivated by her.

‘Could you bear to live by the sea again?’ Caroline asked him, her teeth worrying at her soft lower lip.

‘I know how much you love the ocean.’ Stroking his knuckles gently down the side of her cold windblown cheek, Jack smiled. ‘I have a house in California. It’s right by the sea. It’s rather beautiful, in fact. You would probably fall in love with it, come to think of it. We could always live there.’

Suddenly it didn’t matter to Caroline if they lived by the sea or not.
As long as she could visit the ocean from time to time, she would be well content.

That settled, she momentarily rested her head against her husband’s chest. ‘I’m easy,’ she said, and smiled.

‘Hey,’ Jack said jokingly, ‘that’s not something you should say in front of your husband,
Mrs
Fitzgerald.’

‘I love you, Jack.’

‘I love you
more
, Caroline.’

‘You can’t possibly.’

‘I’m sorry, but I beg to differ. The love I feel for you can’t be measured.’

‘Is it deeper than the ocean?’ Her lips dimpled teasingly.

‘Fathoms deeper.’

‘Brighter than the brightest star?’

‘More dazzling than Venus herself.’

‘That’s a whole lot of love, Jack.’

‘Isn’t that the name of a song?’

He laughed and kissed the top of her head.

‘I’ll love you for ever, Caroline…that’s a promise.’

And, gazing up into her husband’s enraptured and loving face, Caroline saw that his impassioned vow was written on his very
soul
…

By

“G
OODBYE
. Be happy,” Sara Simpson called after the festively decorated car as it drove down the curving driveway from the high-rise hotel, tin cans clanking behind it. One of their friends had written Just Married with foam on all the windows. Another had painted hearts and cupids. Another had tied ribbons from the door handles and antenna, all gaily fluttering in the wind.

She watched until the vehicle was out of sight, feeling a sudden pang. It had happened too fast. Jimmy had come home on temporary duty after a year and a half assignment at a base in Europe. He and Amber had told her only last week they were going to get married. Now the deed was done. Her baby was married and off to start her new life with a husband who only had another month at most in the States before returning to Europe.

The wedding had been small, only family and a few close, longtime friends of the bride and groom. The young men and women who had gathered to celebrate the event cheered as the newlyweds drove off. Now they were leaving. One of Amber’s friends came to give Sara a hug.

“Super wedding, wasn’t it?” she said.

Sara nodded, wishing it had been so different.

“Seems like they’re still kids to me,” Virginia Woodworth said coming to stand beside Sara. The two women watched the other young people drift
away. The mother of the groom didn’t look any happier about things than Sara felt.

“They are still kids. Amber is only nineteen,” Sara said, trying not to feel defensive. Amber was a year older than Sara had been when she married. Of course, look where that had gone.

She shivered a little in the cold air. The sun shone from a cloudless sky, but the February temperatures at Lake Tahoe were still below freezing. Snow blanketed the surrounding mountains—a skier’s paradise. And a favorite location for weddings.

“Jimmy’s twenty-one, and two years already into his enlistment. After he gets out, he’ll have the G.I. bill to help with college,” Virginia said. She had put her coat on and stood looking a bit lost.

If he would apply himself. Sara knew better than to suggest any criticism of Virginia’s only child. He was the apple of her eye. Sara had known the Woodworths for years, ever since Amber and Jimmy had begun dating while in high school. They’d had their spats over the years, but remained loyal to each other over everything. Jimmy, however, had never struck Sara as particularly ambitious.

Amber had bemoaned the fact Jimmy was a year ahead of her in school, wanting to graduate at the same time. She had not liked the fact he’d joined the U.S. Army upon graduation, but she remained loyal and steadfast, even when he’d been posted overseas.

Now this. Sara wasn’t sure they were making a mistake. There were many couples who married young and subsequently celebrated fifty years of happy married life.

But she wished they had waited. Amber was in her second year of college, while Jimmy was posted overseas.
She hoped Amber wouldn’t throw away her chance at finishing college to go live on base in Germany with him. She knew they’d discussed it. The last she heard, Amber planned to finish the school year. They wanted to see where Jimmy would be posted next before making further plans.

She wished they had waited that extra year instead of rushing things along. But they were grown, and none of her comments had them even reconsidering their impetuous decision.

Sara’s own experiences colored everything, she knew. She had married young, like Amber. She and her husband had been childhood sweethearts, like Amber and Jimmy. Yet Bill had deserted her and Amber when Amber had been three months old. There had been no college for Sara at age nineteen. No husband with a good job. Not even a support network to help.

Her parents had turned their backs when she’d married against their wishes. Bill’s parents had been equally unavailable. Alone, and with a baby to support, Sara had grown up fast. Those first few years had been so hard.

But worth every moment because of Amber. Her daughter was the apple of
her
eye.

She smiled at Virginia. “I wish they were still little kids who listened to us without question, but they are both adults now, and now embarking on life’s journey together. Once they have a college education, the world will be at their feet.” She crossed her arms over her chest, hugging what warmth she could. She had to get inside or freeze to death.

“They could have waited,” Virginia whined.

“I agree, but they didn’t. They’re young, in love,
and have been dating exclusively for years,” Sara said. She could say she blamed Jimmy for rushing the wedding through, but she refrained. No sense starting off with bad feelings with her new in-laws.

“Leave it alone, Virginia,” James Woodworth said joining them. “The boy knows what he’s doing.” He looked at Sara. “You heading back to the city now?” He was a heavy-set man who ruled his family with no questions asked. Sara had never been completely comfortable around him, though he’d always been friendly enough. She hoped Jimmy didn’t try to rule his family so totally. She had a feeling Amber wouldn’t put up with it.

Sara relished her own independence and it seemed to her as if Virginia was always bowing her wishes to her husband’s.

“I’m staying on for a couple of days. I took a week off.” Since she’d come up two days ago to help with the final touches of the wedding, she still had several days remaining of her vacation. And she wanted to maximize every second. It was already the first of February, tax season had begun. By the time April rolled around, she’d be putting in long hours to get taxes completed for many of the company’s clients. The busiest time of year for accountants was about to begin. She had best enjoy the lull before the onslaught.

Sara bid the Woodworth’s goodbye and looked around. The rest of Amber’s friends had left. She was alone.

“Better get used to it,” she said softly. Empty nest syndrome, wasn’t that what they called it? Slowly she began to smile, wanting to do the Snoopy Dance of Joy. Empty nest was exactly what it was called and
she was thrilled. For the first time in nineteen years, she was free. She could go where she pleased and do what she wanted. She could pig out on chocolate without worrying if she was setting a good example. Or sleep late and forget about being responsible and industrious.

She could travel, time permitting. Explore the Yucatan Peninsula and old ruins. Cruise the Alaskan waterways and see an iceberg being calved. Take a trip down the Mississippi or even fly to Paris.

“Yippee for empty nests,” she said softly, turning to enter the large casino which comprised much of the ground floor of the hotel where the wedding had taken place, and where she had a room. Amber and Jimmy had elected to spend their honeymoon on a trip through the gold rush country, but Sara was spending her vacation right here at Lake Tahoe, where Stateline, Nevada, had casinos and extravagant shows and all the amenities of a world-class resort—including gorgeous Lake Tahoe.

Too bad she’d never learned to ski. It seemed as if half the occupants of the hotel were skiers, looking healthy and vibrant as they walked through in their colorful clothes.

Maybe something else she could try. She was thirty-eight years old, and felt as giddy as a schoolgirl. She was going to spread her own wings at last, and she could hardly wait.

But not today. It was early afternoon, she planned to spend the rest of the day at the hotel spa. First a massage, then a facial and a hair cut. She would lap up the luxury before returning to the mundane aspects of her own life.

Hurrying through the casino floor on her way to
the elevators, Sara glanced at the people crowding the expanse. Slot machines sounded to her left. To the right were huge craps tables surrounded by excited players, less crowded tables for blackjack, and discretely tucked in the back a roped off area for the really high rollers.

She watched as one elderly lady pulled the handle on the slot machine with such an avid look of anticipation, Sara could almost feel her excitement. Sara didn’t gamble. She had come by her money too hard to waste it when everyone knew the house always—

She bumped into someone. To her dismay, a bucket of coins flew from his hand and spilled onto the carpet. Nickels rolled everywhere.

“Oh, no, I’m so sorry,” she said, scrambling to pick up as many of the coins as she could. She barely glanced at the man, intent on recovering his money before other people realized what had happened and tried to scoop up some for their own use.

“No problem,” a lazy drawl sounded above her.

He stooped down beside her, and held out the bucket for the coins in her hands. She dumped them in and scooped up some more.

“I’m not usually that clumsy,” she said, dropping in more coins into the plastic container. He also skimmed a handful from the carpet. Several other players stopped to help.

“That looks about right,” he said a moment later and stood. She saw his hand and took it for assistance rising.

Then she looked at him and almost caught her breath. Wow, she thought, glad to know her hormones hadn’t permanently atrophied over the last nineteen years. She could definitely recognize a hunk when she
saw one. And respond. Her heart skipped a beat then settled merrily down into double time. She could feel the flush flash through her and knew she had to take a breath. But holding it seemed easier to do.

“You look like you’re on your way somewhere,” he said, slowly releasing her hand. “All dressed up.”

The majority of the people in the casino were wearing ski togs or casual clothes. His own dark cords and white shirt, opened at the throat, looked superbly casual. Of course, Sara thought wildly, everything about him looked superb. Oh where had he been when she’d been available?

“I just came from a wedding,” she said.

He quickly glanced at her left hand, then met her eyes and smiled. “Not your own, I see.”

“No, my daughter’s.”

Surprise flickered in his eyes. “You don’t look old enough to have a marriageable daughter.”

Was he flirting with her? she wondered, struck by the notion. It had been decades since she’d flirted with anyone. Did she remember how?

“I was a child bride,” she said with a teasing smile.

“From Kentucky,” he nodded.

“Kentucky?” Where had that come from?

“Obviously you married at age twelve, and I hear hillbillies do that sometimes,” he said.

She laughed. He was flirting. And it felt wonderful.

“Well, I can’t admit to my age, now, can I? But my daughter is very young to be getting married.”

“I knew it, another twelve year old,” he teased.

“No! She’s nineteen.”

He shifted the bucket of coins, stepped back and
reached for her hand, pulling her out of the center of the aisle where they were blocking the way.

Sara felt the jolt of his touch to her toes. She hadn’t expected that.

His thumb brushed over her ringless fingers and then he slowly let go. “Any other kids?”

“No, just the one.”

“And no husband.” It was a statement. An obvious one given she wore no rings.

“And no husband.”

“Are you free for dinner?”

“What?” He was asking her out? They hadn’t even introduced themselves.

“It’s the least you could do for spilling my winnings.”

She glanced at the bucket, it was about half full—of nickels. “You’re one of the high rollers, aren’t you?” she asked.

“Damn, you caught me out. But I promise, I can spend more than this on dinner.”

She was tempted. Normally she wouldn’t dream of letting herself be picked up. Yet, hadn’t she just promised herself she would celebrate being on her own without the respectability and duties of a mother?

Still, she had some sense of self-preservation.

“I don’t know you,” she said slowly.

“That’ll be the fun of dinner, we can discover who each other is. I don’t know you, either, but I’m willing to take a chance. It’s just dinner. Tell you what, come with me while I turn these in and then try my luck on the dime machines. We’ll talk and by dinner time you’ll know all about me.”

“Sorry, I’m on my way to the spa.” Enticing though his offer was, the lure of the spa held sway.

“Ah, a woman who enjoys sybaritic pleasures. A hot oil massage, right?”

It sounded intimate coming from him.

She nodded. If he suggested he could give her a better one, she’d turn and leave in a heartbeat.

“Relaxing, which is probably what the mother of the bride needs. I’ll meet you here at seven. Don’t be late.”

“I didn’t say I would have dinner with you.”

“Have other plans?”

Sara shook her head before she thought. “But that—”

He placed a finger across her lips, pressing slightly. “No excuses. Meet me here at seven.”

Sara remained in place after he left. Vanished almost. One moment his finger had her frozen in place by the tingling sensations that coursed through her, the next, he’d melted away between the rows of slots heading for the change booth. She watched him for a moment, he was taller that most of the people in the casino. But when he turned a corner formed by the bank of slots machines, he was lost from sight.

Shaking her head as if to clear her brain, she continued to the elevators, watching carefully lest she bump into someone else.

She still didn’t know his name. How could she have dinner with a total stranger?

How could she not, given how he looked and the reaction she felt? For the first time in ages, Sara felt young and full of anticipation. He’d seemed interested in her. Maybe having dinner would be fun. At least it would be daring for her. Live a little.

Matt Tucker walked away without looking back, much as he was tempted. Who was she? Cute as could
be, and bemused by the activity in the casino, unless he missed his guess. She obviously wasn’t used to the gambling scene. Which only spoke well of her to him. He rarely indulged himself. And then only to while away the time. His cohort, Dex, was skiing. Matt had time on his hands, and didn’t mind wasting a few dollars on mindless entertainment. But not at a fast clip—hence the nickel and dime machines.

He handed his bucket to the change woman and waited while the coin machine she dumped them into calculated how many nickels he had.