The Doctor's Baby (8 page)

David cocked his head. “What about kissing?”

“I love the way babies kiss,” July improvised.

Travis lifted a brow.

“You know,” July said, “with their mouths open.”

Travis laughed. “I like to kiss like that, too.” He jammed an elbow into David’s side. “How about you?”

David’s eyes locked on July and heat shot like wildfire through her body. How could anyone forget that night in the hotel room? The open-mouthed kisses he’d planted along her inner thigh. Higher and higher until…

“July, are you feeling okay?” Mary Karen’s concerned voice was like a splash of cold water. “Your cheeks are bright red.”

July slanted a quick sideways glance just in time to see the dimple in David’s left cheek flash.

“I’m fine.” Though July knew she was playing with fire she dipped her finger into the cup of pudding in front of her. With deliberate slowness she placed the finger in her mouth and let her tongue swirl around it. “Just a little hot.”

The fire in David’s eyes confirmed he recalled every detail of that night too. She’d told herself many times since that given the chance to do it all again, she’d never have gone up to his room. But she realized now she’d only been lying to herself.

Because right here, right now, with the incredible energy surging between them, July knew if she had it to do all over again, she wouldn’t hesitate. The way Dr. David Wahl made her feel defied logic.

That’s exactly why staying away from him was simply not an option.

A
t six-thirty the doorbell rang. Mary Karen dropped her piece of pizza and hurried to the front door.

July sat back in her chair. She carefully wiped her lips with a paper napkin, feeling full and very content.

“Don’t tell me you’re only going to eat one piece,” David teased. “We have another whole pizza that hasn’t been touched.”

“I don’t know what to tell you other than pizza for breakfast can be quite tasty.” July wondered if it was wrong to feel so relaxed. Though earlier in the week she’d had concerns about spending more time with David, dinner had been fun.

Travis had regaled them with high school pranks he and David had pulled. Mary Karen had chimed in with
some memories of her own. July had been content to simply listen.

Voices sounded in the foyer. July had barely turned in her seat when Kayla and her husband John, with baby Emma in his arms, strolled into the room.

“I’m sorry,” Kayla said with an apologetic smile. “I told John tonight is a woman’s event.”

“I’m not staying,” John said. “But I saw David and Trav’s vehicles out front and thought I’d say hello.”

“Stay and have pizza,” David urged. “We’ve got plenty.”

John hesitated but Mary Karen was already pushing him toward a chair. “Sit down.”

Mary Karen had barely brought out extra plates when Lexi arrived with Addie in tow. She, too, was easily persuaded to enjoy some pizza.

July sipped her cola and marveled at how different this was from the parties her mother used to throw. Those events had always had an abundance of alcohol and drugs and kinky sex. When she knew about them ahead of time, she’d crash at a friend’s house. For the impromptu parties, she locked and barricaded her bedroom door.

There had never been parties like this…unless she counted the time she’d spent with the Kozac family. The older couple—at the time they must have been in their early fifties—hosted card parties the first Saturday of the month. The atmosphere at those events had been much like this—warm and inviting.

July resisted the urge to sigh. What would it have
been like to grow up in such surroundings? To have that security? To be embraced by family and friends?

After downing a third piece of pizza, John glanced at his watch. “Looks like it’s time for Emma and me to hit the road.”

The patter of rain, which had began shortly after Lexi’s arrival, now beat against the roof.

“We should go, too,” David said, making no move to get up.

July didn’t blame him for being in no hurry. But she also knew Mary Karen wouldn’t allow a mere cloudburst to impact the first meeting of her book club.

“You guys can stay if you want,” Mary Karen said. “I thought we’d meet in the kitchen, which means you can have the living room. We’ve got lots of DVDs. Perhaps Addie, since she’s the oldest, could choose the movie.”

Addie’s pretty hazel eyes lit up. “Could I, Mommy?”

Lexi hesitated. “I know you guys didn’t plan on watching my daughter—”

“What’s one more?” David smiled. “In fact, we can take Adam, too. That way you ladies can talk uninterrupted.”

July was about to politely turn down the offer when she saw Lexi’s face. If she refused to let David watch Adam, Lexi wouldn’t allow him to watch Addie, either.

“Sure.” July rose and handed her son over to David. “Uh, thank you.”

David shot her a wink. “Uh, you’re welcome.”

“We’ll clean up in here.” Travis put a hand on Mary Karen’s arm. “You get ready for your book club.”

July glanced at David, rounding up the children, Adam asleep against his chest.

Yesterday or even earlier today, she’d have found the scene troubling, but tonight, for whatever reason, it felt…right.

David turned back for a second and their eyes locked.

“I’ll take good care of him,” he mouthed.

July smiled. Of that she had no doubt.

“That went quicker than I thought,” Mary Karen said as the last man left the kitchen and the four women took their places at the table.

“This arrangement works out great for me,” Kayla said. “Because of Emma’s cardiac problems, I know John will feel more comfortable with me in the next room.”

“How are the tube feedings going?” Lexi asked.

“Good,” Kayla said. “It looks like we’ll have to keep the tube in until she’s big and strong enough for her heart surgery. Right now she doesn’t have the energy to swallow.”

They talked for a couple minutes about Emma’s medical issues before Lexi spoke up.

“I like this arrangement, too,” she said. “I’d brought some stuff along for Addie to play with, but I’m sure she’s having more fun watching the movie and playing with the boys.”

July took a sip of the iced tea Mary Karen had set out and just smiled.

“I’m not sure how this club is supposed to work,”
Kayla said. “But I enjoyed the one you picked, Mary Karen. The chapter that dealt with adoption really hit home for me.”

The book had been on July’s “to-do” list but the time just hadn’t been there. But from the back cover blurb and the inside of the dust jacket, the book appeared focused on successful parenting. It seemed odd that adoption would even be mentioned.

“I’m curious,” July said. “Why did you find the topic so relevant? Were you adopted?”

“No,” Kayla said. “But John and I struggled with infertility for years. We had our names in at a number of adoption agencies. Unfortunately there aren’t enough babies.”

Lexi nodded. “Too many mothers keep them for all the wrong reasons.”

July shifted uncomfortably in her seat and told herself
she
was keeping Adam for all the right reasons.

“What you’re saying is they don’t look at what’s best for the child,” Mary Karen said. “They keep the baby because they can’t imagine their life without it or because of the welfare money.”

“I can so relate,” Kayla confessed. She leaned forward and rested her forearms on the table. “My mother was a single parent with no marketable job skills. She struggled to put food on the table and a roof over our heads.”

“That had to have been hard,” Mary Karen said.

“It was,” Kayla agreed. “And while I applaud her efforts, I grew up with this cloud of uncertainty over my head. One summer, we lived out of our car.”

“That uncertainty is hard on a child.” Normally July didn’t share specific details about her childhood, but she remembered Dr. Allman’s homework assignment. “I can relate to your story, Kayla. I spent a lot of my childhood in and out of foster care. All I wanted was a home. A real home. Not an apartment we had to leave every time my mom got behind on the rent. There was one family who wanted to adopt me. They could have given me that home.”

“Why didn’t they?” Mary Karen asked, her face soft with sympathy.

“My mother refused to relinquish me.”

“There are ways to terminate parental rights,” Lexi said, sounding very much like a social worker.

“I know there are.” July thought back to that time. “But the couple didn’t want me bad enough to fight the system. Eventually, I ended up back with my mother.”

“I’m sorry that happened to you,” Mary Karen said, covering July’s hand with her own. Her gaze then shifted to encompass the other two women at the table. “We’ve all had our trials. But we’re here to support each other, to learn from each other and hopefully to be the best parent we can be.”

Even as July nodded and the talk returned to the book, she found herself thinking of Adam and his future. There was no doubt in her mind that life was going to be tough when they returned to Chicago.

If she was still working at the
Sun Times
with set hours, a regular paycheck and great benefits, she wouldn’t have to worry. Instead she was a freelancer
with an unsteady job and no family for backup if she stumbled. What kind of life could she offer the little boy she loved so much? Was she being selfish to want to take him with her when he could have a wonderful life in Jackson with his dad? The kind of life she’d dreamed of as a child?

Adam deserved to have a house with a yard and a swing set out back. He deserved to grow up surrounded by aunts and cousins and grandparents. He deserved the kind of life she’d never be able to give him.

But dear God, how could she ever leave him?

David couldn’t hide his surprise when Mary Karen strolled into the living room at ten past nine and announced the first meeting of the book club had ended.

Though he and Travis had planned to take Mary Karen’s boys to the movies, he’d enjoyed this evening even more. The boys had been disappointed about the movie, until he’d convinced them they could have their own party in the living room
and
watch a DVD, to boot.

He settled his gaze on the petite redhead standing in the doorway saying good-bye to Lexi and Addie. She’d been okay earlier in the evening but something was definitely troubling her now. Her eyes didn’t have that familiar mischievous glint. Not to mention she hadn’t asked for Adam back.

David glanced down at the little guy in his arms. There was already a connection between them and every hour he spent with the baby only solidified that
bond. The buzzing of his phone made the child stir. Though David wasn’t on call tonight he retrieved it from his pocket and glanced at the number. Pressing the button to silence the noise, he let it go to voice mail.

“Nothing important?” Travis raised a brow.

“Just Celeste’s old boss,” David said. “I have nothing to say to him.”

“Why is he calling?” Travis downed the last of his soda. “It’s been over two years.”

“He left a couple messages. Says he wants to talk.” David gently stroked the baby’s back until his breathing became regular again. “Gary worked Celeste hard that last year. In fact, I think it was the fear of losing her position with the company that made her balk at taking time off for my parents’ anniversary. She was on her way to the airport for a sales meeting in Miami when she was killed.”

“I remember,” Travis said.

“He was doing his job. I understand that,” David said. “But he’s the reason she was in that car.”

“That’s the past,” Travis said in a low tone. “Over there, in the doorway, is your future.”

David glanced in the direction Travis had indicated. July now stood talking with John and Kayla.

“July?” David scoffed. “Sometimes I’m not sure she even likes me.”

“She likes you all right,” Travis said. “Now it’s time for you to decide what you’re going to do about it.”

July’s cell phone rang at 3:00 a.m. Instead of being fast asleep like everyone else in the house, she’d been
standing at the bedroom window watching the rain fall. She recognized the ringtone and hurriedly slid the phone open.

“A.J.” She kept her voice low and glanced at the crib, grateful to see Adam hadn’t stirred. “What’s up?”

“Does something have to be up for me to call my baby-doll?”

His mock outrage made her smile. The slightly slurred words told her all she needed to know. “Someone has been out partying.”

“You know me too well.” He chuckled. “When I got home I remembered what day it was and I had to call.”

“Of course.” July crossed the room, her mind racing. She slipped out of the bedroom and gently closed the door behind her, trying to figure out the significance of the date.

“Don’t tell me you don’t remember?”

The hurt in his voice sounded surprisingly genuine. Unfortunately the days had run together since she’d arrived in Jackson. All she knew was this was Friday…or rather it had been. She hurried down the hall and into the living room.

“Are you kidding?” July grabbed the newspaper off the sofa and focused on the date. April 11. Since it was after midnight that made today the 12. “It’s our pact day.”

April 12, thirteen years ago, had been a low point in both their lives. The foster home where they’d been staying had been okay—as far as foster homes went—but July had gotten word she was going back to live with her
mother again. Adam was being sent to detention for fighting.

“We vowed we’d show ’em,” July said. “We’d survive.”

“Not just survive,” A.J.’s voice grew loud. “Overcome.”

“Absolutely.” Despite the reason A.J. had given, July knew he wasn’t calling because of their childhood pact. Something was on his mind. “How’s Selina?”

“Missing me,” he said, his voice filled with satisfaction. “She called me earlier. We had some great phone sex.”

More information than she needed to know, but at least it seemed there was no trouble on that score. “How’s the musical? You’re in Kansas City this weekend?”

“Omaha,” he said. “The crowds have been good but I’ve heard some rumblings that we won’t continue touring after this season. I’m not worried.”

The heck you aren’t.

July knew A.J., knew his insecurities. And now she knew why he’d called. “I wouldn’t worry, either. You’re a fabulous actor and dancer. Whenever you stop this tour, you’ll get yourself another, bigger role. You’ve done so well for yourself.”

“We both have,” he said. “Especially for two kids who grew up without a home.”

“We had a home.” July kept her tone light. “A lot of different homes.”

“
Houses,
July, not homes. We had a lot of houses, but never a home.” A.J.’s voice grew loud again and she
heard a guy in the background yell at him to keep it down. “How’s the baby boy doing?”

“He’s fine.” July didn’t even blink at the abrupt change in topics. Growing up with A.J. had taught her to expect the unexpected.

“Take good care of him.” The intensity behind his words puzzled her. “It’s not easy being a kid.”

A.J.’s voice broke and July realized he must be drunker than she’d first thought. It took a lot of beer to get A.J. emotional.

July’s heart rose to her throat, finding his emotion contagious. “I’ll do my best by him.”

“I know you will.” A.J.’s voice lowered. “I gotta go.”

July clicked off and sank into a nearby chair. She meant what she’d said to her old friend. She’d do her best by Adam. If she only knew what that was.