Temporary Bride (15 page)

Karen was sitting hunched over on the side of the bed when
Taffy came in bearing a tray with a coffeepot and two cups. She beamed
a greeting as she said, "Good morning, sleepyhead. Your husband sent me
up to have a cup of coffee with you and to tell you he had to go in to
Carmel for a while but will be back for lunch."

She set the tray on the round table and turned to look at
Karen. What she saw made her frown. "Honey, are you sick?"

Karen shook her head. "Not really; I think I'll just go
back to sleep for a while."

Karen tossed restlessly, neither asleep or awake, and her
dreams were disjointed and frightening. Something—a noise,
perhaps-made her jump and open her eyes. The heavy drapes were still
pulled across the French doors and the room was dim. There was another
noise, which she identified as a footstep, and the door opened. Shane
walked in, his mouth set in a thin line. He walked to the bed and stood
looking down at her as he said, "Taffy said you were still in bed.
What's the matter? Don't you feel well?"

She was caught and she hadn't had a chance to plan a way
to break her news to him easily. She looked up at him through thick
dark lashes and stammered, "I—I'm all
right—my—my stomach hurts."

He sat down on the side of the bed and put his hand to her
forehead. "Did you eat something that didn't agree with you? You don't
seem to be running a temperature."

She shook her head. "No, Shane, I'm trying to tell you I'm
not pregnant. In spite of all our lovemaking I'm not going to give you
a child."

The tears she'd been fighting to hold back spilled over
and ran down her cheeks as with a
muttered
oath Shane took her in his arms and held her close.

"Karen, is that what's upsetting you so? Didn't you ever
have sex education in school? It sometimes takes months to get
pregnant—even years—and you're so very young. Don't
be in such a hurry; think of all the fun we can have trying."

She couldn't believe what she was hearing. He sounded
almost glad she wasn't pregnant! But that wasn't possible—he
was anxious for an heir! She hiccupped on a sob and said, "But you said
you expected a baby within a year! You know I should be pregnant by
now!"

He swore quietly and stroked her tousled hair. "Let's just
forget it, okay?"

Her green eyes sought and held his brown ones as she
asked, "Are you sure?"

He kissed her then, tenderly, almost lovingly. "Of course
I'm sure. Now, do you want me to have Mrs. Whitney serve lunch up here?"

She smiled mistily. "No, I feel better. I'll dress and go
downstairs."

Karen and Shane spent some of their time in San Francisco,
where they became part of the social scene and Shane could catch up on
what work he couldn't have transferred to his home on the Monterey
Peninsula. His sophisticated friends were intrigued by his child bride
and Shane seemed to enjoy showing her off, although he was possessive
and let everyone know it. It was in San Francisco that they also came
in contact with Audrey again.

Shane came back to the condominium one afternoon with the
news that Audrey had re-turned from her round-the-world tour and that
they were invited to a welcome home party for her the following night.
That was one party Karen did not want to attend, but she smilingly
agreed and asked, "Does Audrey know we're married?"

He nodded. "Oh, yes, news travels fast. She said to give
you her best wishes."

A little shock ran through Karen as she said, "You've
talked to her?"

"Mm-hm—she stopped by the office this morning to
offer her congratulations."

Karen felt a sharp twinge of jealousy. What had Shane and
Audrey's relationship been? She was almost sure they'd been lovers;
Audrey's attitude toward him left little doubt on that score. How had
she taken the news of his marriage to Karen? Karen was sure that Audrey
wasn't the type to accept defeat gracefully.

Karen was right. Audrey was the center of attention at the
party given by one of the state's most powerful political figures at
his mansion atop Nob Hill. Audrey looked stunning in a classically cut
gown in a creamy jersey that draped around her slender height and
accentuated the russet highlights in her soft mahogany hair.

She must have been watching for Shane because as soon as
he and Karen were ushered into the room she practically threw herself
into his arms and kissed him full on the mouth. Shane broke away and
laughed as he said, "Behave yourself, Audrey."

"Well, really, darling"—she
pouted—"we're not going to stop being friends just because
you're married to little Karen are we?" Her turquoise eyes were chips
of ice as they raked over Karen. "Hello, Karen, you're looking sweet
tonight. Like the kitten that just caught the canary. You should be
careful pet, some things are quite indigestible."

Karen shivered as Shane put his arm around her waist and
frowned, but Audrey was gone as quickly as she had appeared. She was
charming for the rest of the evening but Karen was uneasy. Audrey was a
threat and one Karen had no defense against.

They returned to Carmel the following day and left the
shadow of Audrey behind—or almost. Karen's love for Shane was
all-encompassing. It radiated from her arms when she held him, her lips
when she kissed him, and her body when it was entwined with his in
lovemaking, but she was uneasily aware that it was not the same with
him. He was passionate, and tender, and more than a little possessive.
He gave her anything she wanted and spoiled her outrageously, but
sometimes, early in the morning, before daylight, she would wake to
find him standing at the window or just sitting in the leather armchair
staring ahead at nothing, a sad, brooding look on his unguarded face.

The first time it happened she was alarmed and sat up in
bed, sleepy and disoriented, as she said, "Shane, is something wrong?
Why are you up so early?"

She could have sworn that for just a second the look he
turned on her was one of annoyance, but then he smiled and held out his
arms and she crawled out of bed and onto his lap and he cuddled her as
he said, "Nothing's wrong; I'm sorry I disturbed you with my
restlessness."

He stroked her and kissed her and very shortly carried her
back to bed, but the next time it happened, and the next, and the next,
she pretended to sleep so she could watch him. Sometimes he sat or
stood quietly, other times he paced silently around the room, and once
he dressed quickly and left, returning more than an hour later.

During these times Karen lay shivering between the warm
sheets, apprehensive and afraid. Was Shane tiring of her already? Was
he longing for Audrey with her more experienced and exotic lovemaking?
Karen knew what a novice she was in the art of love. Maybe Shane was
bored with her innocence. Was he already regretting the desire that had
trapped him into this marriage with a girl who was little more than a
child?

Her fears were forgotten each time he returned to bed and
reached for her, but they returned at unexpected moments and left her
troubled and uneasy.

Then nature finally cooperated and one day Karen realized,
as a little thrill ran through her, that she was going to have Shane's
child. Shane's son. Was it really possible? Shane was driving to San
Francisco for the day later in the week. She'd ride up with him and see
Dr. Karl Laird, one of the city's leading obstetricians and a longtime
friend of Shane's. She said nothing about her appointment to Shane,
however. She wanted to wait until she was sure.

Karl Laird was about Shane's age. She'd met him before and
liked him. He teased her about not wasting any time, then examined her
and took blood for tests. He told her to go shopping for a couple of
hours and then come back. She nervously left and when she returned the
nurse ushered her right into the doctor's office. He was sitting behind
his desk grinning and Karen sank down in the chair opposite, her knees
suddenly weak.

Karl said, "Congratulate your husband for me, Karen; he'll
be a father by next July."

The beginnings of a smile played around Karen's mouth as
she said, "Really? Are you sure?"

Karl leaned back in his chair. "It's a little early to be
positive but I'd bet my reputation on it."

The smile broke into full radiance. "Oh, Karl, thank you!"

He laughed. "Don't thank me, honey, I had nothing to do
with it." She blushed and he was suddenly serious. "I've never thought
of Shane as the father type. Is he going to be surprised about this?"

"Oh, no," Karen beamed, "we planned this baby. It's very
much wanted."

Karl relaxed and smiled. "Great! You're in excellent
health and shouldn't have any problems. Come back in a month and bring
Shane if he wants to come. I know he'll have questions."

Karen was bursting with excitement as she sat beside Shane
on the ride to Carmel but she didn't want to tell him her secret yet.
It was special news and should be told in a special setting. She'd wait
until they were in bed, after they'd made love, when they were warm and
relaxed and loving. Then she'd tell him that she'd finally done
something right—that she'd conceived the child that meant so
much to him, the child he'd married her to get. She pushed the
unpleasant thought aside and shivered with anticipation. Shane glanced
at her and put his hand on her knee as he asked, "Are you cold, honey?"

She hugged his arm and shook her head. "No, I'm just
happy."

His fingers tightened around her knee and his face
softened and he leaned over and kissed the top of her head. "You're the
easiest woman to please that I ever met. What's made you so happy now?"

Embarrassed, and afraid that he would read her secret in
her eyes, she turned away.

Henri had dinner ready when they got home and afterward
they curled up together in the big leather chair in the den, watching
television until Shane carried her upstairs to bed.

Later, as they lay warm and tousled and a little
breathless, Karen knew the time had come to share her secret. She
started hesitantly as she snuggled in his arms.

"Shane, are you happy?"

His hand rested across her midriff as he murmured
sleepily, "Mmmm, I'm ecstatic. Nothing in the world could make me
happier than I am at this minute."

"Nothing?"

"Nothing!"

She was going to have to be a bit more specific. "Don't
you remember why you married me?"

His teeth worried her ear lobe. "Of course I do. I married
you because I couldn't keep my hands off you."

She giggled and reached over to turn on the bedside lamp.
She wanted to see his face when she told him. She tried again.

"You're not being serious and I have something very
important to tell you."

He grinned and kissed her nose. "All right, Karen, what is
it? Are you overdrawn at the bank? Or did you charge something wildly
expensive to my account? Either way I promise not to beat you."

"I'm pregnant!" she blurted, unable to hold it in any
longer.

His reaction was totally different from what she had
expected. He stiffened and stared at her as the blood drained from his
face. Finally he said, "Are you sure?"

She smiled tentatively and nodded. "I saw Dr. Laird this
morning and he did a blood test. He says it's almost certain."

"Almost?" Shane watched her closely. "Then he could be
mistaken?"

Karen felt cold with shock. What was the matter with him?
She'd thought he'd be wild with joy and he acted almost disappointed!
Maybe he was just being cautious, afraid it might be a mistake after
all. She shook her head.

"Darling, it's highly unlikely that the test is wrong.
They're very accurate and it isn't as if we hadn't been trying to have
a baby." She grinned impishly. "I don't see how I could
not
be pregnant."

He swung back the covers and sat on the edge of the bed.
He sounded angry as he muttered.

"Why did you have to be so damned eager? Are you anxious
to have this baby so you can leave me?"

"Shane!" Karen sat up too and reached for her yellow robe.
"I don't understand! I thought you'd be so happy!"

She slipped on the robe and sat with brimming eyes and
trembling lips, attempting not to shiver as she tried again to
understand. "You're the one who wanted a baby—why are you so
angry?"

Shane looked at her with a little groan and took her in
his arms, rocking her back and forth. "I'm not angry, sweetheart, I'm
just shocked. I—I thought it would take longer. I'm sorry. Of
course I'm happy, but I'm worried, too. Are you all right? What did
Karl Laird say?"

Karen held back the tears and relaxed a little. Maybe he
hadn't
expected her to get pregnant quite so soon. Maybe he
was
worried about her. But when they lay down again he kissed her lightly
and turned away from her, and for the first time since their marriage
had really begun they didn't sleep in each other's arms.

For the next two weeks Shane made love to her only
occasionally, and almost reluctantly, as though he would rather not but
couldn't help himself. Karen was puzzled and upset and when she
questioned him he explained that he didn't want to overture her or
endanger the child. She tried to tell him that Dr. Laird had said it
was perfectly all right to make love, but then one morning she leaped
out of bed and ran to the bathroom, where she was violently sick. Shane
immediately moved her back into the lavender bedroom, where she once
again slept alone. He was patient and loving and told her she would
sleep better if she had her own room, but she felt bewildered and
deserted and remembered, too late, that he hadn't wanted a
wife—only a woman who would give him a son! The days of Karen's marriage were drawing to a close. Once Shane's son
was born he would have no further need of her—he'd made that
very clear. By July she would be a free woman again. Free. She
considered the word. How ironic that she would never be free again, but
that, in fact, the divorce would leave her more Shane's prisoner than
ever.