A Baby on the Way

by Salonen, Debra

  Casey had never questioned Nathan’s ability to step into the role of fatherhood. As older brother to Christine and Kirby, he’d had much more experience to draw upon than she had, but he’d seemed genuinely relieved when the specialists suggested they take a break.

  Was that because of the move and his career advancement or had he ever really wanted a child? Maybe he’d only been humoring her. The man didn’t even want a dog. What did that say about him?

  A familiar jingle started to play. Her cell phone. Nathan’s call tone. She dashed downstairs, bobbing and weaving to avoid the young men carrying furniture. She missed the call, but hit redial.

  He picked up on the second ring. “Hi. Sorry. I was upstairs, purse was downstairs.”

  “No problem. I’m on my way to court to evaluate one of our junior legal eagles in action.”

  “Hmm.”

  “I had lunch with Mom today. She said to say hi.”

  “Oh. How is she? Mad that I haven’t been up to see her? I feel terrible.”

  “No. She understands about your dad. Said to tell you how sorry she was to hear about Red and to let her know if she can help.”

  “That’s sweet, but he’s back to his ornery old self now that the antibiotics are working. He won’t be able to start the chemo until the infection is cleared up, though.”

  “How’s the move going?”

  “Very well, but I’m ready to drop. You’d think I was the one carrying all those heavy pieces of furniture. Sarah and I were going to town, but I think I’ll cancel.”

  “They call that burning the candle at both ends. I’m not sure having two places—” He stopped what was certain to provoke an argument and asked, “Are you free a week from Friday?”

  She glanced at the calendar she’d hung up on the wall beside the phone. “Um…yes. Looks clear. We have a strategy session on Sunday night. Our last before T-day.”

  “What time?”

  “They’re usually at seven. Why?”

  “We’re going on a date. Forty-eight hours. No cell phones. No e-mail. Can you live with that?”

  Could she? She swallowed. “Okay.”

  “Are you coming back to the city this weekend?”

  “Dad’s supposed to be taking it easy, and he won’t if I don’t nag him constantly. Could you come here, instead?”

  The pause seemed filled with stuff she didn’t want to think about. “I’ll see if I can arrange it, but I can’t promise.”

  She understood. All too well.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  “THIS ISN’T HOW I pictured us spending the day, you know,” Nathan said the afternoon of their scheduled trip.

  So much for his great plan. He’d managed to keep their destination a secret, and he could tell Casey was both intrigued and pleased by his efforts. They’d spent a companionable evening together in their apartment, retiring early so they’d be in good shape for their romantic escapade.

  Roz had called at six-thirty.

  “Nathan. I’m so sorry to call so early, but it’s Eric. He woke me up an hour ago complaining of a stomach-ache. I thought it was bad yellowfin tuna, but none of the OTC things I gave him helped. Then his hand went numb. I called an ambulance. It—it’s his h-heart.”

  Nathan had jumped out of bed and started throwing on clothes. “What do you need us to do?”

  Casey, only half awake, had grumbled something about Gwyneth’s plumbing—until Nathan had mouthed, “Eric. Heart attack.”

  Apparently Eric’s sister, who lived in Oakland had rushed over to meet Roz at the hospital and take the girls, but she was a real estate agent and had an open house scheduled for that afternoon. “I really hate to ask. I know you and Casey had plans—Eric told me about the lighthouse, but if you could stay with the girls, I’d really, really appreciate it.”

  So, Casey—by then fully awake and primed to help—had carried their already packed bags to the car while Nathan canceled their trip to the island. That had been nine hours earlier.

  Casey looked up from the jigsaw puzzle she and Mariah had been putting together. Mariah was the younger of the girls and seemed really shaken by what was happening. She’d barely let go of Casey since Nathan and Casey had arrived. Even now, she’d just excused herself to go to the bathroom, but had promised to be right back. Bethany, on the other hand, had been Little Miss Hostess, filling in for her mother who was, no doubt, tearfully pacing at the hospital. Bethany was in her room writing in her journal. Nathan had been amazed by how together the young girl acted.

  “I know. Bethany told me all about it while you were unloading our things. You were taking me to ‘the rock.’ Not Alcatraz. The other one. The romantic one.” Her smile eased his disappointment. “Mariah said her mother went on and on about what a great guy you were and how much you loved me.”

  Nathan felt his face heat up. “How’d she hear about it? I barely mentioned it to Eric.”

  Casey grinned. “Women have romance radar. We can smell a potentially blissful escape the way guys know which bar has Samuel Adams beer on tap.”

  A phone rang somewhere in the house.

  “I’ll get it,” Bethany called, her high, thin voice echoing down the hall.

  Mariah scurried back into the room and leaped into Casey’s lap, nearly knocking her backward. Nathan got up from the sofa and walked to where the two were sitting. He held out his arms. Mariah was small for her age and seemed younger than ten, in his somewhat limited opinion.

  Mariah gave a small sob. “I’m so scared for my daddy.”

  Casey stood up, too, and rubbed her back, supportively. “I know, sweetheart, but he’s in good hands.”

  They turned at the sound of Bethany charging down the hall. “Dad made it through surgery. Mom says he’s going to be fine.” Tears were streaming down her cheeks and she broke down weeping the moment Casey put her arms around her shoulders. Nathan managed to take the phone from Beth’s shaking hand and put it to his ear, despite holding a sobbing Mariah.

  “Roz? Are you there? Good news?”

  “Oh, Nathan, the best. I thought I’d have a heart attack myself before they came out to tell me, but he’s doing great. I’m not sure I got it right. One bypass and two valve-jobs or one valve and two bypasses. Don’t quote me.”

  Her joy was clear, her relief shared. “Have you seen him yet?”

  “Another hour or so, I think. I honestly didn’t hear much after the part that he was going to be okay.”

  “You stay put until you feel comfortable leaving him. Casey and I brought our overnight bags, so we’re here for as long as you need us.”

  “Oh, you’re both wonderful. I, for one, am so glad you took over at the firm. The last guy they had running the place would have sent flowers. Maybe. You and Casey have your values straight. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

  She hung up ten minutes later after talking to Casey and both of her daughters. Nathan walked to the sliding glass door of the Concord home and stared at the small, nicely landscaped backyard. Pool, cabana, flowering plants. A comfortable life that had almost been changed forever.

  You and Casey have your values straight.

  Did they?

  Casey maybe. She’d managed to get past her hurt feelings where her father was concerned and help Red deal with his health issues and the threat to his livelihood. Nathan, on the other hand, had barely scratched the surface of connecting with his family, and instead of supporting his wife in her cause, he was sitting on potentially helpful information that could derail Gwyneth’s case.

  Guilt was the true strange bedfellow. Maybe that explained why the past few times they’d made love, Nathan had felt emotionally absent.

  Casey joined him. “Want to sit outside? The girls are calling their friends to tell them the good news.”

  He nodded and opened the door for her. They chose two glossy teak folding chairs that matched an oval picnic table. The sun was warm, but there was enough of a breeze to keep the temperature pleasant. Nathan had had a f
riend in college whose parents lived in Concord and he’d always liked the area.

  “This is nice.”

  “Yes. Not a lighthouse in the Bay, but very cozy and comfortable. Roz says they bought before the huge land boom, but they still paid more than they could afford. Which is why she works at a job she hates.”

  “Like you.”

  She blinked. “Beg your pardon?”

  “Oh, come on, Casey, you’ve never really liked being a lawyer. You were happy with the conservation group because they didn’t require you to do a lot of lawyerly things, but if this land use battle with your dad goes all the way to court, you’re going to be miserable.”

  She frowned. “I’m not you, Nathan. I’m too emotional. I speak before I think—obviously,” she added under her breath. “But there are things about the law that I like. Especially when it comes to helping someone and knowing I’ve made a difference.”

  He snickered softly. “You like the interaction with people—the part of the job I’m really bad at. If we could ever find a way to work together, we’d make a good team.”

  She sat forward, folding her hands on the table. “So, what’s stopping us?”

  Nathan felt his mouth drop open. “You wouldn’t last a day at Silver, Reisbecht and Lane. You’re too…”

  “Wimpy?” she asked, contentiously.

  “Genuine. Honest. Compassionate.”

  He could tell his words had cooled her pique, but her frown didn’t abate. “Thank you. I appreciate that, but what you’re saying is that you’re none of those things. And that’s not true.”

  If you only knew….

  His cell phone, which he’d started wearing attached to his belt again, rang. He recognized the number.

  “Gwyneth. I was just going to call you. Good news. Eric is going to be fine.”

  Casey sat back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. Her body language said exactly what she felt about the woman on the phone.

  “Wonderful. When will he be back at work?”

  “Um…I have no idea. I imagine something like this takes weeks, maybe months to recover from. I don’t know.”

  “Then that must mean I’m first chair on the GroWell case.”

  Was that satisfaction he heard in her voice? No one could deny that Eric’s misfortune was a break for her, career-wise, but Nathan found the statement off-putting.

  “We’ll talk business on Monday. I have to go. Eric’s daughters are still pretty upset.” He hung up without waiting for her reply. He turned off the phone and looked at his wife. “Let’s take the girls out for dinner. Someplace nice.”

  LONG AFTER the girls were in bed and Roz had returned home for a shower, nap and change of clothes, Casey and Nathan hunkered down in a loveseat, not unlike the one they shared at their apartment. She rested her head on his shoulder and gazed unseeing at the so-called reality show on television.

  “That was really nice of you tonight. The girls were distracted and relieved and you made the whole thing feel like a celebration.” He’d treated the two young girls like princesses and she’d never been more proud of him.

  He flicked the channel changer. “We are celebrating. Eric is a great guy. I’m really, really glad to know that he’s going to be okay.”

  She shifted slightly. “He’s not out of the woods yet. And Roz is already thinking ahead. She said she spent a lot time in the waiting room doing the old ‘What if…’ thing. And she decided that slogging it out in the fast lane just so they might someday be able to afford to retire nearly killed the man she loves. She isn’t sure Eric will agree with her, but as soon as he’s well, she’s going to suggest he quit SRL.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  His obvious shock sent a chill through her body. “It’s just a job, Nathan.”

  “An extremely high-paying job. They’d never be able to afford a house like this if he wasn’t working for me.”

  “So they sell the place and move. What good is money if he’s not around to watch his daughters grow up?”

  Nathan pulled himself forward to get the recliner upright. “Money provides the lifestyle and advantages that his family has come to expect. What about college tuition? And retirement? And, now, health care. Good lord, if he quits, he might never qualify for another group plan.”

  Casey got his point, but deep down she knew he was less concerned about Eric’s long-term needs than what message his colleague’s quitting would send. If Eric was brave enough—or foolish enough—to turn his back on everything he’d worked so hard to achieve, what did that mean to Nathan?

  Neither spoke for a few minutes, then Nathan said, “Speaking of life-altering decisions, we haven’t really talked about what getting your reciprocal privileges means. Are you planning to hang out a shingle in the Valley?”

  If he’d asked her that question last night, she would have been able to answer honestly, “I don’t know.” But seeing both the fear and the conviction in Roz’s face this afternoon had been a revelation. Casey knew without a doubt that that could be her in a few years if Nathan continued on his present course.

  To avoid a direct yes or no, she said, “Dad says he’d sell the ranch rather than live next to a turkey farm. So, I guess we have to wait and see how good Gwyneth is…arguing her client’s case, of course.”

  At the moment, Casey wasn’t optimistic about NOTT’s chance of blocking the application. None of the so-called experts she and Sarah had contacted had been able to give them any tangible evidence to support a claim that the county should require the turkey growers to produce a full EIR. Everyone agreed that a large-scale, high intensity operation like the one planned, would foul the air and create water pollution and traffic problems, but since the parcel was already designated for agricultural use, the planners felt their hands were tied.

  Nathan hunched over. “She’s very focused.”

  And I’m not. Two homes. Two loyalties. One puppy.

  As if he heard her thought, he looked at her and said, “I’m sorry I gave you a hard time about the dog. Is your dad taking care of her this weekend?”

  She shook her head. “Sarah’s got her. The outside dogs pick on her, and she can’t stay inside at Dad’s because Betsy is jealous. I tried explaining that the pup was her granddaughter, but she didn’t seem to care.”

  “What’s her name?”

  “I haven’t decided yet.”

  Neither spoke for a few minutes, then she said, “You know tomorrow is Father’s Day, right? If it’s okay with Roz, maybe we could take the girls to the hospital for a few minutes to see Eric then do something fun, like Great America.”

  “Sounds like a plan. How does your dad feel about not having you around?”

  “I’ll call him in the morning, but he knows I’m not leaving here until late afternoon. Sarah and Jimmy are taking him out to brunch.”

  “How come? Where are their dads?”

  “Jimmy’s lives in Texas but they’re not close. Sarah’s died just before we got married. Since I was away for so long, they sort of adopted Red.” A fact that bothered her more than she thought it should.

  She told herself this was a made-up holiday. She had no reason to feel guilty about the many Father’s Days he’d spent in the company of two other men’s children. She’d never failed to send a gift. Even when she didn’t have a clue about what Red might like or need, she’d dug out her credit card and ordered something…anything.

  But she hadn’t given him the one thing he needed most—her time. And there was only way to make up for that.

  “I bet the girls would have a blast at the ranch. Maybe I could bring them down next weekend,” Nathan said, taking her by surprise.

  She sat up and looked at him. “That’s a wonderful idea. Roz is going to need all the help we can give her. Too bad the turkey hearing is on Wednesday or I could take them with me. Bethany said they’re both out of school for the summer, but I’m going to be busy every minute strategizing our defense.”

  She stu
died her toes. “I…um…I don’t know if I mentioned it, but I had a little run-in with one of the commissioners.”

  Nathan’s brow arched questioningly.

  “The guy was rude. He never made eye contact while I was talking. I shaved my legs that morning. The least he could do was pretend to listen, right?”

  Nathan’s bark of laughter made her relax. She’d been too embarrassed to tell him earlier. Plus, she was certain he’d lecture her.

  “Shaved legs, huh? You’re too much.”

  “What if he votes against us because of me?”

  “If the guy shows flagrant favoritism or bias, you might be able to make a case in appeal that his prejudice influenced the outcome. That might win you an injunction.”

  She hadn’t thought about that.

  She leaned in and kissed him. “I knew I kept you around for a reason—your sharp legal mind.” His tongue went exploring and left her breathless. “And you’re an amazing kisser, too. Let’s go to bed.”

  “Good idea, but we need to check on the girls first.”

  Tears blossomed in her eyes. What a sweet, fatherly thing to say. Another part of her mind thought that was a pretty lame thing to tear up about and wondered if she was premenstrual. Which led to her trying to picture a calendar and recall the last time she’d had her period.

  How long has it been? Was it possible? No. It couldn’t be.

  Or was it?

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  WEDNESDAY ARRIVED all too quickly for Casey. Eric was mending like a champ, and the girls had been a delight at the amusement park. Mariah even kept up with Nathan’s thrill-seeking tendencies while Casey and Bethany watched. Eric’s mother flew in late Sunday afternoon to stay for the week, which dovetailed neatly with Nathan’s plan to bring the girls to the ranch the following weekend.