Once Upon a Pregnancy

by Judy Duarte

  “I told you that I do. And more than I should.”

  “Our lovemaking was off the charts,” he added. “We couldn’t be any more sexually compatible.”

  “I agree. But great sex isn’t enough of a basis for marriage. Neither is parenthood.”

  What was up with her attitude about the baby?

  Their baby.

  She could have been blindsided by the news, he supposed. And didn’t pregnant women’s hormones play havoc with them? “All I’m saying is that we need to give ourselves some time to sort through this.”

  She pushed her plate aside, then dropped her used napkin on top. “Time isn’t going to change anything. You’re looking for Mrs. Right, and I’m clearly not that woman.”

  He tried to tell himself to go easy on her at a time like this. She’d told him about growing up with a mother who hadn’t shown her any love. And on top of that, she had to be struggling with a multitude of changes in her body.

  Maybe she was also considering all the obvious adjustments a baby—and a husband, if Mike had his way—would require her to make when it came to the life she’d created for herself.

  But the news of her pregnancy, along with her thoughts of adoption, had unbalanced him.

  “You know,” she said, “I’m really tired and probably ought to turn in for the night.”

  Was she? Or was she just trying to get rid of him?

  “Okay,” he said. “I’ll take off. I’m on duty tomorrow, too. But maybe we can talk more about this the next day.”

  “There’s not much to say.”

  “Oh, I think there is.” Yet something twisted in his gut, something that made him want to shove his plate aside, too.

  Damn. Why was her first thought to give up their baby?

  If she insisted, there was no way in hell that Mike would stand for it. And she had to have his agreement, didn’t she?

  All his carefully laid plans had begun to unravel at the edges.

  Ever since the night of Dr. Wilder’s party, he’d been telling her that he’d give her the time she needed. That she’d soon realize the two of them were made for each other. But if she didn’t give him something to go on soon, he was going to back off. Hell, his ego, as strong and cocky as it sometimes was, couldn’t take the constant brush-off.

  She walked him to the door, and while he thought about kissing her senseless, he brushed his lips across her brow instead.

  “Sleep tight,” he said.

  “You, too.”

  Yeah, right. He had a lot to think about, a lot to keep him awake.

  He tried to remind himself how good sex had been. How hot their kisses were.

  But Mike was only human.

  And the truth was, his heart could only take so much.

  The next morning, at the station, Mike watched a gin game that had grown pretty intense, but his mind was on the bombshell—actually two of them—he’d received the night before.

  Simone was having his baby.

  And she wanted to give it up.

  At least, she hadn’t decided upon an abortion, which made him feel better.

  He understood that she might have wished her mother would have given her to parents who would have loved and appreciated her. But this was different.

  Mike wanted the baby. And deep in his heart, he believed Simone wanted it, too.

  Preferring to stew in his own thoughts and suffer alone, he got to his feet and walked out of the station.

  When footsteps sounded behind him, he turned to see his partner, Leif Johnson, a stocky redhead with blue eyes and a quick wit.

  Leif knew how Mike felt about Simone, but then again, a lot of people probably did. Mike never did try to hide his feelings.

  Of course, that didn’t mean he was the kind of man who kissed and told.

  “Hey,” Leif said. “You look like you’re a million miles away.”

  “I guess I am.”

  “Would getting it off your chest help?”

  Leif had known that Mike had taken Simone home after Dr. Wilder’s party, but that’s all he knew. Mike hadn’t leveled with anyone about what he and Simone had shared that night. But now that Simone had him second-guessing himself and his feelings, he wasn’t sure about anything anymore.

  Mike leaned against the outside wall of the building and crossed his arms. “Do you remember when they christened the hospital library in honor of James Wilder? And the cocktail party Peter Wilder invited us to?”

  “Yeah.”

  Normally, paramedics didn’t get included in those kinds of hospital social events. But Mike and Leif had been on duty the night James Wilder suffered the fatal heart attack. And they’d tried valiantly—but unsuccessfully—to save his life. As a result, the two had been added to the guest list.

  “I gave Simone a ride home that night,” Mike said.

  “Yeah, I remember.” Leif smiled. “She looked like maybe she’d had a little too much to drink.”

  “Well, one thing led to another and…” Mike blew out a loaded sigh.

  “No kidding?” Leif grinned, knowing how much Mike cared for Simone and immediately making the appropriate jump. “Are you two still seeing each other?”

  “Not like that. She says she just wants to be friends.”

  “Hey, that’s life. I’ve had my share of women tell me the same thing. That is, until Linda and I hooked up.”

  Leif was dating a kindergarten teacher he’d met when her class had come to the fire station for a field trip. Leif didn’t kiss and tell, either, but Mike knew that they’d been sleeping together.

  One morning about a month ago, Leif hadn’t come home the night before. He’d apparently left his headlamps on and couldn’t get his car to start. So he’d had to call Mike and ask for a ride to work.

  Linda seemed like a nice woman, and Mike hoped they’d be happy.

  “So what’s the problem?” Leif asked. “Just cut bait and run.”

  “I would, but I can’t help believing that Simone and I are meant for each other. But she’s so…” Mike didn’t want to go into too much personal detail. “So damn set in her ways.”

  Leif placed a hand on Mike’s back. “I know it hurts, man. But you can’t chase after a woman who clearly isn’t interested. There are stalking laws and all that.”

  Mike clucked his tongue. “I’m not a stalker. And I know when a woman isn’t interested. If I truly believed it, I’d back way off.”

  “So she’s given you reason to believe there’s hope?”

  “Yeah.” She’d admitted that she cared for him. And he couldn’t help believing her, especially when he remembered the way she’d looked at him when they’d made love—talk about someone wearing their heart on their sleeve.

  At three in the morning, she’d lost that tipsy glow, and it had been replaced by something else. Something laden with an emotion a man couldn’t mistake for friendship or simple desire.

  But maybe he’d read her wrong.

  Maybe she didn’t have the right kind of feelings for him, and he’d been pushing her too hard.

  “Chasing after her just isn’t cool,” Leif added. “It makes you look needy.”

  His partner had a point. Mike had made himself too available. It might be best if he backed off.

  “Linda has a couple of friends. They’re both single and hot. Without a doubt, either of them would drop everything to go out on a date with you.”

  The trouble was, Mike didn’t want to go out with anyone other than Simone. And he sure as hell didn’t want to go out with anyone when Simone was having his baby.

  Damn.

  His baby.

  Their baby.

  “What you need is a diversion,” Leif said. “And have I got the woman for you. Her name is Christy, and she’s about five-two. She’s a school librarian, but don’t think that means she’s prim and proper. She’s bright, well read and funny.”

  Mike needed to get his mind off Simone, all right. But not by dating another woman. “I may back off wi
th Simone. But I’m not ready to go out with anyone else.”

  “Why not?”

  “It’s complicated.”

  “Suit yourself,” Leif said. “But promise me you’ll stop pining for a woman who doesn’t want you.”

  While Mike could see the value in that advice, he couldn’t completely give up on Simone.

  Not just yet.

  But how could a woman be so stubborn?

  Mike still hoped to change her mind, but he was beginning to have his doubts. He suspected that was why the seed of a plan B began to form. A plan that he’d implement if backed into a corner.

  A move that could end any dream Mike had of him and Simone creating a family together.

  Chapter Ten

  After Mike left Simone’s house, she’d cleaned up the dinner mess. It had been quick and easy; she’d just packed up the leftovers in plastic ware before refrigerating them, then thrown away the take-out bags and cartons.

  But she suspected she’d made a mess out of her friendship with Mike. And if she chose to do something about that, it wouldn’t be as easy to straighten up.

  She’d shut him out by suggesting he go home, which she was prone to do whenever things got emotionally involved. But for once in her life, she hadn’t been especially happy about being left alone.

  After feeding the dogs and getting them situated in the kitchen for the night, she’d showered and put on her favorite pink flannel gown, then climbed into bed. The sheets had been laundered earlier that day, which, under normal conditions, meant she could expect a good night’s sleep.

  Instead, her mind refused to shut down and continued to go over their dinnertime conversation again and again. She’d kept trying to figure out a better way she could have handled it, but hadn’t been able to.

  Mike had a different spin on the pregnancy situation than she had. And he had a different solution, too.

  Unfortunately, she’d had to work the next day, and as a result, had arrived at the hospital a bit distracted by lack of sleep and thoughts of Mike and the baby. Of course, she’d tried to shake them off the best that she could.

  Now she sat behind the desk at the nurses’ station in the E.R., reading the orders one of the residents had written on a patient’s chart.

  There’d been a traffic accident on the interstate about an hour earlier, and a seventeen-year-old passenger in one of the cars had been sent to X-ray with a possible broken arm and collarbone.

  “Is that the Stephens chart?” Ella asked.

  “Yes, it is.” Simone handed her the paperwork, pleased Ella had been the orthopedic surgeon who’d been called in to treat the teen’s injury.

  Ella looked the chart over, then asked, “When is he due back from radiology?”

  “It shouldn’t be much longer.”

  Ella nodded. When she finished perusing the chart, she glanced across the desk at Simone. “Did you hear that the state attorney general’s office is sending an investigator to do a preliminary investigation about possible insurance fraud?”

  “When?”

  “Within the next few days, I’ve heard.” Ella set the chart aside.

  “I don’t like the sound of that.”

  “Neither do I.”

  “It’s so unfair,” Simone added. “Walnut River General might keep its patients longer than most hospitals, but it’s not an attempt to defraud insurance companies. It’s because we don’t believe in sending patients home early just to keep the costs down.”

  “They won’t uncover anything fraudulent. But from what I understand, the investigator is going to interview anyone who might have information about the alleged fraud. That means doctors, nurses and the administrative staff.”

  “That will cast suspicion on everyone, which won’t be good for morale. Besides, I’m not looking forward to having a stranger snooping around here. Not that I expect them to uncover anything.” Simone chuffed. “You know, we have enough to worry about these days. Since the board rejected NHC’s last offer, the takeover attempts could become hostile.”

  “I’m glad my father isn’t alive to see what’s going on. He loved this hospital.”

  Ella didn’t mention it, but Simone wondered how James Wilder would have felt about his adopted daughter, Anna, working for the conglomerate that wanted to take over Walnut River General.

  Not pleased, Simone decided.

  “Are you going to attend the retirement party for Henry Weisfield on Sunday afternoon?” Ella asked.

  Simone wasn’t up for another party/dress-up affair. But she’d have to at least make an appearance. “I may stop by for a few minutes.”

  “Long enough to have a glass of champagne?” Ella asked. “J.D. and I are having a private celebration.” She grinned. “It’s now official. He’ll be taking over Henry’s position.”

  “That’s great news, but I’m afraid I’ve given up drinking champagne. It doesn’t sit well with my resolve to remain unattached.”

  “Maybe you ought to drink more of it,” Ella said with a smile. “You had a lovely glow that night we rechristened the hospital library.”

  Yep. Wrapped in Mike’s arms, Simone had smoldered until dawn that night. And now she had a pregnancy glow to look forward to.

  “By the way,” Ella said, “I saw Mike walking Woofer and the puppy the other day. It looks like you two have figured out a shared-custody arrangement.”

  Simone’s heart sank to the pit of her stomach, causing a wave of nausea to render her speechless.

  “What’s the matter?” Ella asked. “Is that a touchy subject?”

  “It’s just that…” Simone blew out a wobbly breath. Normally, she’d keep news like her pregnancy a secret. But it was going to be common knowledge as soon as she started showing.

  Besides, she and Ella had become closer in the past few months.

  Simone hadn’t been sure how or when it had happened. She’d always respected Ella, but lately she’d come to enjoy her company, too.

  So, she scanned the immediate area, checking to see who might be listening in. When she was convinced their conversation was private, she cleared her throat. “Well, there’s the dog thing, yes. But when you mentioned shared custody, I…well, it hit a little too close to home.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’m pregnant.”

  Ella sat back in her chair, the springs creaking in protest. “Oh, Simone… Does Mike know?”

  “Yes.” Simone blew out a sigh. “And to make matters worse, Mike and I have opposing beliefs on what would be best for everyone involved.”

  “He wants to…?” Ella merely looked at Simone, prompting an answer she might have normally kept to herself.

  “He wants to get married and live happily ever after.”

  “And you don’t?”

  “I can’t, Ella.”

  Footsteps sounded, and both women grew silent. Simone was glad to refocus her thoughts on work.

  If her mind would only cooperate.

  Simone had just arrived home from the market and was unloading her car when Mike drove up in his Jeep. She watched as he got out of the vehicle and approached.

  He was wearing a pair of faded jeans, a white polo shirt and an unreadable expression. Sheepish? Pensive? Intense?

  “If I help you put away your groceries,” he said, “will you take a ride with me?”

  “Where?”

  “It’s a surprise.”

  A part of her was glad to know he hadn’t shut her out of his life completely, and since it was rare that anyone had a surprise for her, she was also curious.

  “All right,” she said.

  Minutes later, after they’d placed the frozen food in the freezer and the eggs and dairy products in the fridge, they stacked the pasta, rice and canned goods in the pantry.

  “Okay,” Mike said. “Let’s go.”

  Simone glanced down at the clothes she was wearing—a pair of black slacks, which had a little more room in the waistband and just seemed to feel better than he
r jeans these days. She also had on a lime-green, scoop-necked top with an empire waist. The shirt was stylish, yet she realized it looked a bit like a maternity blouse without all the extra material. Not that she needed a new wardrobe yet.

  “Should I change my clothes?” she asked.

  “No, you look great.” The warmth in his grin convinced her of his sincerity.

  So she grabbed her purse and, after locking the house, followed him to his Jeep. Before climbing into the passenger side, she again asked, “Where are we going?”

  “Just for a drive. I want to show you something.” He opened the door and waited for her to get in.

  He always behaved like a gentleman around her, and she decided there was a lot about Mike to admire. A lot to love.

  A wistful ache settled in her chest, and she wished she could let go of her fears and accept his optimism. He made it all sound so simple, when she was a realist and knew that having a relationship with him—at least, the kind he wanted and deserved—would be anything but easy for her.

  After she slid into her seat, he closed the door, circled the vehicle and climbed into the driver’s side.

  Minutes later, they were driving through the tree-shaded streets of Riverdale.

  She suspected he wanted to show her the Dennison place, or rather the home he’d just placed an offer on. And if truth be told, she’d like to see it, too.

  After he turned onto Maple and passed the first curve in the road, she realized that’s exactly what he had in mind.

  He pulled along the curb in front of a three-story, pale yellow Victorian-style home with white gingerbread trim and shut off the ignition.

  The house needed paint and some fix-it work done, but the place had enormous potential.

  “The owners agreed to rent it to me before the close of escrow,” he said. “So I moved in early this morning. Come on. I want to show you the inside, as well as the yard.”

  As he led her to the house, she realized that the lawn had been freshly mowed, trimmed and watered. She also saw that the sidewalk and porch had been swept clean and washed down. She suspected Mike had been eager to get to work on his new place.