The Manning Brides (12 page)

He lowered himself into his favorite chair, raised his feet onto the ottoman and leaned his head against the back, closing his eyes. He needed to clear his thoughts, erase any trace of pride and negative emotion. Deal with the issues facing him.

What
were
the issues?

Jamie was pregnant. Apparently she was as thrilled at the prospect as he was himself, but for different reasons. He was a means to the end, and now that he’d accomplished what she wanted, he was of no use to her.

He felt a painful tightening in his chest. Over the years he’d met a lot of women. Women who used him, wanted him, manipulated him. He would never have believed Jamie was one of them. It was more than obvious that she was trying to push him out of her life. There wasn’t much Rich could do.

He couldn’t force her to love him.

Rich must have fallen asleep because the next thing he knew the phone was ringing. His eyes shot open, and he stood abruptly, awkwardly, and walked across the room. He prayed with everything in him it would be Jamie, but it wasn’t his headstrong wife.

“Rich?”

This questioning, bewildered tone was one he’d rarely heard in his mother’s voice. “Hello, Mom.”

“I just had the most…suprising phone call from Doris Warren.”

Rich groaned inwardly. “Oh?”

“She’s Jamie Warren’s mother.”

“I know who she is.”

“She told me about you and Jamie being married?” She made the statement into a question, as if she expected Rich to immediately deny everything.

“She told you that?” Circumstances being what they were, Rich chose to answer his mother’s question with one of his own.

“She also said Jamie’s pregnant?”

“Really?”

“Is it true?” Like Jamie, his mother had plenty of experience dealing with his stall tactics. When he didn’t immediately respond, she raised her voice and asked him again. “Is it?”

Rich wearily rubbed his face, hoping that would help clear his mind. “Part of it.”

“Which part?” His mother’s voice was quickly advancing toward hysteria. Rich knew his father wasn’t there, otherwise Eric Manning would’ve made the call. His mother had a tendency to get excited over the smallest details. For that matter, so did his father.

When his parents learned Taylor had married Russ Palmer in Reno, all hell had broken loose. They hadn’t been thrilled to learn Christy had married Cody Franklin on the sly, either. Rich could only guess what their reaction would be when they learned he was married to Jamie. Like his two sisters, he’d married without a family wedding.

“Rather than explain everything over the phone, I suggest Jamie and I drop in tomorrow evening,” Rich said. “We can discuss everything then.”

“Tomorrow?”

“I should be able to get away from the office around six. I’ll check with Jamie to make sure that time is convenient for her, as well.”

“Just answer one question. Are you and Jamie Warren married or not?”

Rich hesitated. “Yes and no,” he finally said.

“That doesn’t tell me a thing,” Elizabeth cried.

“I know.” Rich couldn’t argue with his mother about that. But he couldn’t tell her what he didn’t know himself.

When he’d finished the conversation, Rich stared down at the phone for a moment. He didn’t have any choice; he had to call her. Swallowing his pride left a bitter taste in his mouth, but there was no avoiding it. He reached for the receiver and punched out her number.

Jamie answered on the second ring. Rich didn’t bother with any greetings. “I just got a call from my mother. She apparently talked to yours.”

Jamie released a slow, frustrated sigh. “I was afraid that would happen. What did you tell her?”

“As little as I could. Naturally she didn’t understand, so I told her we’d come by after work tomorrow, around six, and explain.” Rich tried to keep the inflection in his voice to a minimum, tried not to let any of his emotions rise to the surface.

“Tomorrow,” Jamie repeated.

“If it’s inconvenient, then I’ll let
you
call and tell her that.”

“No…I’ll be there.”

“I’ll see you then.” He knew he sounded stiff and formal, but Rich couldn’t help it. A man’s pride could take only so much abuse.

When he’d hung up, Rich sauntered into his kitchen. He hadn’t eaten since early afternoon, but he wasn’t hungry. Scanning the contents of his refrigerator, he reached for a cold pop.

On his way out of the kitchen, he paused in front of the phone. Before he could question his actions, he dialed Jason’s number and waited two long rings before his older brother answered.

“Tomorrow night at six,” Rich announced without preamble. He wasn’t in the mood to exchange pleasantries.

“What’s happening tomorrow?” Jason demanded, clearly confused.

“I’m telling Mom and Dad I’m married.”

Jason’s hesitation was only slight. “What brought this on?”

“Jamie’s pregnant.”

“But I thought she canceled the appointment with—”

“She did.” Rich realized he sounded abrupt and disagreeable. Hey, he
was
abrupt and disagreeable. But Jason had asked to be present when Rich told their parents about his marriage.

“If Jamie canceled the doctor’s appointment, then how…”

“This baby was conceived in the traditional way.”

Jason was silent for a moment. “You don’t sound happy about it.”

“I
am
happy,” Rich snapped. “Real happy.”

But it didn’t seem a fair exchange. He wanted the baby, but nothing was happening the way he would’ve liked. According Rich’s plan, he and Jamie would’ve been in bed together right this minute. They would’ve been in each other’s arms, her face nestled on his shoulder. When they kissed, it would’ve been a leisurely exploration of their need and appreciation for each other. His restless hands would be roaming at will over her body, and he’d spread his palm over her flat stomach, communicating his feelings to his unborn child. When they made love, it would’ve been a celebration of her pregnancy.

But Jamie didn’t need him any longer.

Rich had served his purpose.

Rich had trouble keeping his mind on his work the following afternoon. Every ten minutes or so, he found himself looking at his watch. Each time, he mentally calculated how long it would be before he’d be confronting his parents with the truth.

A few minutes after five, he was sitting at his desk, reviewing some figures, when there was a polite knock at his door. He grumbled a reply, and the door slowly creaked open.

Jamie stood before him, dressed in a pretty pink suit. “Is this a bad time?”

The last person Rich expected to see waltzing through his office door was his pregnant wife.

“No,” he said, rolling back his chair, “you’re not disturbing a thing.” Maybe his equilibrium…and his heart. But precious little else. “Sit down.” He gestured toward the chair on the other side of his desk.

Jamie sat down, and he saw that her gaze fell to her clenched hands.

“What brings you here?”

“I—I thought we should discuss what we’re going to tell your parents.”

“What do you suggest?” He hoped to give the impression that whatever they decided didn’t matter one way or the other to him. He leaned against the back of the chair and locked his fingers behind his head.

“Do they know I’m pregnant?”

“Yes. Your mother told mine.”

“I thought she must have,” Jamie said, with a sigh. “I feel like such a fool.”

“Why?”

She shrugged, still avoiding eye contact. “For telling her. I’ve complicated the whole situation.”

Rich didn’t agree or disagree. It seemed that every time he opened his mouth, he said the wrong thing.

“How much do you think we have to explain?” Jamie asked, risking a glance in his direction.

Rich hadn’t decided. “Everything,” he said without giving it any thought.

“A-all of it?”

“I can’t see any reason to hold any of it back.” Some of the disappointment and lingering animosity from their argument from the day before seeped into his words.

“I thought we might want them to assume the baby—”

“No,” Rich said forcefully.

Jamie’s startled gaze connected with his. “You didn’t even let me finish.”

“I already knew what you were going to say. You want my parents to assume this baby was conceived artificially. I won’t be a party to that.”

“That
isn’t
what I meant.”

Rich’s phone rang just then. He reached for it, although he would’ve preferred to ignore it.

“Engineering,” he responded automatically. “Rich Manning.”

“It’s Paul,” his eldest brother said. “I just got done talking to Mom. What’s going on with you and Jamie Warren?”

“Nothing.” So Mom was calling in the big guns. Paul was the responsible one in the family, or at least that was his reputation and his role. When it came to family problems, his parents tended to lean on Paul for support.

“That’s not what I heard,” Paul said. “I got a call from Mom no more than ten minutes ago with some crazy rumor about you being married.”

“It’s no rumor.”

“Jamie Warren?”

“Jamie Warren Manning,” Rich answered without thinking. He had to stop saying that. She’d never be a Manning. Rich could feel her stare, but he avoided glancing in her direction, refusing to give her the power to disconcert him.

“Mom says Jamie’s pregnant.”

“She is.” Rich had no intention of hiding it. In a few months, Jamie’s condition would become obvious, and while she might want to hide the truth, he had no interest in colluding with her.

“Why didn’t you tell anyone?” Paul asked.

“That’s a long story.”

“Well, I hope you tell it tonight.” Paul’s disapproval was all too evident.

Rich rubbed his eyes. Thanks to Jamie, he hadn’t slept well the night before. His dreams had been troubling, and he’d tossed restlessly until morning.

“Jamie and I’ll be there at six. We’ll explain everything then.”

“Good. I’ll be there, too.”

Rich closed his eyes to the mounting frustration. This meeting with his parents was becoming a real spectacle, with Paul and Jason sitting on the sidelines. Rich wouldn’t be surprised if his parents brought in Taylor and Christy, too.

His whole family was about to discover that Rich was the biggest fool who’d ever walked the earth.

B
oth of Rich’s brothers were there waiting for him when he arrived at his parents’ home with Jamie at five minutes to six. Paul and Jason were perched on bar stools, holding pop cans, eager to view the latest family performance. The scene reminded Rich of one that had played out months earlier between his parents and his sister Christy when she’d announced her marriage to Cody Franklin. Rich remembered being amused by the circumstances then. Following in his youngest sister’s footsteps, however, was proving to be far less entertaining.

His mother was on the phone, and from the way she was shaking her head and muttering under her breath, Rich realized she was probably talking to one of his sisters in Montana.

He walked into the living room with Jamie beside him. He noticed how close she stood to him, which surprised him. At his office, they’d taken several minutes to review exactly what they planned to say.

To him, the entire matter was cut-and-dried. He was in his thirties, certainly old enough to do as he pleased without his parents’ approval. Who and why Rich married was his own business, and that was how he intended to keep it. He’d convinced Jamie that, if necessary, he’d reveal the details of their arrangement, but he doubted it would come to that.

After Rich and Jamie were seated, Eric Manning stalked into the living room. His father was tall and in excellent physical condition; his thick hair was nearly gray, and his hairline had barely begun to recede. He was in robust health and looked it.

Rich’s two sisters claimed all the men in the Manning family were black-belt chauvinists. Rich hadn’t given it much thought, but he had definite ideas about a man’s responsibilities—to his wife and his family.

“Rich,” his father said, nodding once. Eric’s face was grave, and the glance he shot Rich would have quelled Attila the Hun.

“Dad.” Rich nodded, too. He chose to sit on the sofa, Jamie still at his side. He didn’t know whose hand reached out first, but their fingers entwined automatically, as though they gained strength from each other. Jamie appeared far more nervous than Rich, which, he supposed, was natural.

“Your mother’s talking to Taylor,” his father said. “She’ll be finished in a few minutes.”

So Rich had guessed correctly. His mother had managed to involve his oldest sister in this.

“Would you care for something to drink?” Eric asked Jamie. “There’s cold pop, coffee or tea.”

“Nothing, thanks,” she answered with a smile.

Rich noticed that Jamie rested her free hand against her stomach, then drew in a deep, calming breath.

“Are you feeling all right?” She’d mentioned not being well in the mornings, but he’d been so caught up in his own concerns that it had slipped his mind.

“I’m fine.”

“You’re looking pale.”

“It’s nerves,” she whispered.

“What about mornings?”

Rich wasn’t especially thrilled to have his two brothers and his father monitoring his conversation, but he was worried about Jamie’s health and their baby’s.

“My stomach’s still a little queasy, but I heard it’ll get better in a few months.”

“The book I read says morning sickness should gradually disappear, starting at about the third month.” Rich had devoured the paperback on pregnancy and childbirth in one sitting, eager to read everything he could about the changes taking place in Jamie’s body. Eager to learn the most minute details about how his child was forming.

Jamie’s eyes brightened. “You’re reading a book?”

“It might surprise you to learn I read quite a bit,” he chided.

“I know,” she whispered, and her gaze met his, faltering slightly. “I guess I’m surprised you’re reading one about pregnancy and childbirth.”

“Why?”

She shrugged. “It just does.”

That didn’t say much for her view of him. Rich would have questioned her further, but his mother chose to enter the room just then. Elizabeth Manning smiled warmly in Jamie’s direction, but her eyes hardened as they slid toward Rich. He didn’t know what he’d done that was so terrible. His father had looked at him in much the same way, as though he should be taken out to the woodpile to have his backside tanned.

“How’s Taylor?” Rich inquired conversationally, ignoring the censorious looks from both his parents. He kept his voice cool and even. He was actually proud of his composure.

“Taylor’s fine. So are Russ and little Eric.”

“That’s great.” Rich crossed his long legs and leaned against the couch. This wasn’t going to be nearly as bad as he’d suspected, as long as he kept a cool head.

“Taylor’s decided to do some substitute teaching for the school district. Russ isn’t completely in favor of the idea, but he’s coming around.”

Rich knew from experience that his oldest sister’s will was powerful enough to launch a rocket. Russ would do well to recognize that and act accordingly.

“She was shocked to hear about you and Jamie getting married,” his mother continued, after drawing in a deep breath. “Which, I might add, came as a significant shock to your father and me, as well.”

“Not me.” Jason spoke for the first time. “I knew about it from the beginning. In fact, I was Rich’s best man.”

Everyone’s attention swung to Jason.

“You knew?” their mother echoed, accusation in her voice.

Jason nodded. “Trust me. I tried to talk him out of it, but you know how stubborn Rich can be. He refused to listen to the advice of his betters.”

“You asked Jason to the ceremony and not your own
mother?
” Elizabeth Manning cried. She pulled a tissue from her pocket and dabbed at her eyes.

“It was a civil ceremony at the King County courthouse,” Rich started to explain. He didn’t get very far. Once again he was interrupted by his mother.

“You didn’t even marry Jamie in a
church?
” Elizabeth sounded as if this was the worst misdeed of all.

“Don’t be upset, Mrs. Manning, I preferred it that way,” Jamie answered quietly.

“But…why get married in a courthouse when you both belong to a church?”

Jamie turned nervously to Rich. Now was the time to announce the reason for their impromptu wedding.

Rich had it all worked out in his mind. The assurances, the brief but concise explanation of what had led to their unusual agreement. Yet when the moment arrived, Rich discovered he couldn’t make himself say it.

“We did it that way for our own reasons,” was all the explanation he was willing to give. From the corner of his eye, Rich caught sight of Jason arching his brows.

“According to Jamie’s mother, Jamie was already pregnant at the time of the wedding,” Eric bellowed. His hands clenched at his sides, he paced the length of the living room, then paused in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, his back to Rich and Jamie. “A couple doesn’t need any more reason to marry quickly than that.”

“I hate to disillusion you,” Rich reported calmly, “but as a matter of fact, Jamie wasn’t pregnant when we got married.”

Elizabeth glared at him, her expression implying it was all a lie. Rich had no intention of arguing with either of his parents; they could believe what they wished.

“Then why did Doris make a point of telling us the two of you had married because of the baby?” his mother asked.

Rich groaned inwardly. “Because we’d decided Jamie should get pregnant as soon as possible.”

Jamie exchanged a look with Rich, and added, “We’re married because we both want to become parents.”

“I tried to tell Rich a wedding wasn’t necessary,” Jason inserted, “but he wouldn’t listen to me. He felt that if they were going to have a baby, he should marry her first. Go figure.”

His mother gave Jason a horrified look. “I should certainly hope so.”

Eric turned around to face them, frowning. “Trust me, parenthood’s not all it’s cracked up to be.”

“Come on, Dad,” Paul teased. “It hasn’t been so bad, now, has it?”

“When it comes to weddings,” Eric argued, “it’s been a nightmare. It was bad enough that your sisters had to get married on the sly—but I never suspected one of you boys would pull that stunt. I want to know when there’s going to be a
real
wedding in this family.”

“Diane and I had a real wedding,” Paul reminded his father.

“But no one from the Manning family was there.” Eric’s voice boomed. “The boy goes into the army, ships out to Alaska and returns home a married man.”

“It was just one of those things,” Paul said, grinning.

“Getting back to Rich and Jamie,” their mother said pointedly.

“By all means,” Jason agreed, gesturing toward the sofa. “Let’s get back to Rich and Jamie. Do you realize, Mom and Dad, that they’re married and aren’t even living together?”

Rich sent his brother a look hot enough to sizzle bacon.

“Rich?” His mother turned to him expectantly.

“Not living together? Why not? You’re married, aren’t you?” His father fired rapid questions at them. “What about—”

“We’re married,” Rich broke in.

“But you’re not living together?”

“Not…yet.” It was the best evasion Rich could come up with on such short notice. This was a subject he’d hoped to avoid, along with several others.

“They plan to move in together soon, isn’t that right, Rich?” his mother asked.

“Of course.” It was Jamie who responded, and Rich stared at her. He couldn’t help wondering if she was sincere or if her sudden reassurances were all part of an act to appease his parents. Not that Rich had any objection to moving in with Jamie.

“Are there problems with your lease?” his mother asked next.

“Uh, I’m working on it,” Rich muttered noncommittally.

“I hope you’ll move in with her soon,” Eric asserted, burying his hands in his pants pockets. “A pregnant woman needs her husband.”

“You’re absolutely positive you’re pregnant, Jamie, dear?” Elizabeth Manning’s voice was filled with gentle concern.

“Absolutely positive,” Jamie said with a firm nod. “The kit I bought at the drugstore is very reliable, but I was at the doctor’s this afternoon and he confirmed it.”

“You went to the doctor?” Rich asked before he could stop himself. They’d spent half an hour at his office discussing this meeting and she hadn’t said a word about seeing Dr. Fullerton!

“It was a short visit.”

“Did he give you a due date?”

Jamie smiled shyly and nodded.

“When?” Rich was calculating dates. His best guess placed her delivery date sometime close to Christmas. A child would be the best gift of his life.

“The last week of December,” Jamie announced.

“I always did love the winter months,” Rich said, having difficulty keeping the pride and elation from his voice. Then, damning caution, he brought her knuckles to his mouth and brushed his lips over her hand.

Elizabeth sighed softly. “Are you experiencing morning sickness, my dear?”

“Some.”

“A husband should be with his wife,” Eric reminded Rich for the second time.

“We’ve been talking about Rich moving in with me,” Jamie said. This was news to Rich, who couldn’t recall a single word of such a conversation. After Doris Warren had unexpectedly dropped by Jamie’s apartment, they’d barely been able to resume their conversation.

“I’ve got a truck,” Jason said, again motioning toward them with his pop can. “Anytime you need anything hauled, little brother, just say the word.”

“I will,” Rich muttered. He didn’t know what Jamie was up to, but he wasn’t complaining. If she wanted his family to assume this was a love match, he’d play along. From his perspective it was, so this was an unexpected turn for the better.

“It’s settled, then,” Eric said forcefully. “Rich is moving in with Jamie.”

“Shouldn’t we hold a reception in their honor?” Rich’s mother asked his father. Her eyes were sparkling with excitement. Rich remembered how his mother had thrown all her efforts into the engagement party for Christy and what a disaster that had been.

“We should leave that up to these young folks, don’t you think?”

Rich wasn’t keen on a reception, especially in light of the fact that Jamie planned to divorce him as soon as their baby was born. Thank heaven no one had inquired too closely.

Rich made a point of glancing at his watch. “If you’ll both excuse us, Jamie told her mother we’d be stopping by her house, as well.” She’d delivered that tidbit of information when she’d arrived at his office earlier.

The prospect of facing Doris Warren twice in as many days didn’t thrill Rich. One set of parents at a time was about all he could handle.

Jamie didn’t know why she’d lied to Rich’s family. Normally she stuck to the truth, believing with all her being that a lie was always wrong. Yet when Rich’s father had started questioning them about their living arrangements, Jamie found herself uttering a falsehood.

Rich had looked flabbergasted when she’d said they were moving in together. Stunned. To his credit, he recovered quickly and went along with her as though they’d actually reached that decision.