Interesting.
“Hell,” he said, “I’m going shopping for Hannah’s Christmas present.”
And this time, damn it, he was going to find the perfect gift for his beautiful Ms. Doodle.
And he did.
Ted stopped so abruptly in the crowded antique store that three people bumped into him. He maneuvered his way to the counter and waited impatiently for a clerk to assist him. A matronly woman finally arrived.
“May I help you, sir?”
“There,” he said, pointing at the glass case. “That’s what I want.”
“It’s an excellent choice. Would you like it gift wrapped?”
“Yes, please. Make it really pretty. The gift, paper, bow, everything has to be absolutely perfect.”
“All right,” the woman said, smiling. “You must love her very much.”
“Yes,” he said quietly. “Yes, ma’am, I love her very, very much.”
Chapter Thirteen
On Christmas Eve, Hannah shared a hymnal with Deedee as the congregation sang “Oh, Come All Ye Faithful.” The entire pew was filled with MacAl-listers, and the church was aglow with candles.
The junior members of the family were in the nursery in the lower level. A large crowd was attending the early-evening service, and the building rang with joyous voices.
Ted and Ryan were the only ones not present, as they were on duty until midnight.
The organist finished the song with a flourish, then everyone sat down, eager to hear the reciting of the traditional Christmas story.
Hannah eased herself onto the hard, wooden pew, stifling a moan as her aching back sent the message to her brain that a soft pillow would be a welcome addition.
“Are you all right?” Deedee whispered to Hannah.
Hannah nodded. “I’ll live. I think.” “
“We can scoot out of here if you want,” Deedee said quietly. “These pews aren’t very comfortable under the best of circumstances, let alone your condition. Trust me, I understand. You ache from head to toe.”
Hannah crossed her eyes to emphasize her total agreement with Deedee’s evaluation, causing Deedee to smother a burst of laughter.
“Shh,” Forrest said.
Deedee poked him in the ribs with her elbow.
Hannah directed her attention to the minister who was reading the Christmas story with a deep, rich voice that held everyone spellbound.
Just listen, she told herself. She would not dwell on her aching back, nor the fact that she had to go to the bathroom. She’d ignore the continual kicks and pokes as the baby did a gymnastics routine.
“Oh,” she gasped as a pain shot across her stomach.
“Hannah?” Deedee said, her voice hushed.
Hannah shook her head and patted Deedee’s leg to assure her that all was well.
Oh, please, Hannah silently begged the minister, talk faster. There was a very large, extremely pregnant and uncomfortable woman here who wanted to go home and sink onto her marshmallow sofa.
As another sharp pain radiated through her abdomen, Hannah shifted on the pew, settled, then wiggled again. She took a deep breath, exhaled and told herself to relax. Her eyes widened as the baby delivered a swift kick, then another.
“You’re out of here, Hannah,” Deedee whispered. She leaned toward Forrest. “Hannah is miserable sitting on these pews, and I’m taking her home. Pass the word.”
Forrest nodded and turned to whisper in Jillian’s ear. The message was sent along the pew, Mac-Allisters nodding in understanding one by one.
Deedee reached under the pew to retrieve their purses, then flapped her hands at Hannah. Attempting to rise, Hannah failed, then gripped the back of the pew in front of her and leveled herself to her feet.
In Deedee’s car, Hannah sighed.
“Thank you, Deedee,” she said. “I’m sorry you’re missing the Christmas Eve service, but I appreciate this so much. I shouldn’t have come, but I really wanted to, and—”
“Don’t apologize,” Deedee said. “You gave it your best shot.” She maneuvered expertly through the surging traffic. “I’ll stay with you until Ted gets off duty. When I don’t show up back at the church, someone from the family will take Teddy home and wait for Ryan to get there.”
“No, please don’t even think of staying with me. I just want to get into a caftan and stretch out on the bed. I’ll be fine, Deedee.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m positive. The pew was just too uncomfortable. I should have known better. Oh, my goodness, I’ll be so glad when this baby is tucked in her crib, instead of in me.“
Deedee laughed. “I know the feeling. The last few weeks are beauts. Since Forrest always wins The Baby Bet, you can at least count down the hours until New Year’s Day.”
“I said I didn’t want to have a baby on Christmas, but the way I’m feeling now, I just might start hoping that Ted wins The Baby Bet.”
“Ted certainly was adamant about Patricia Elizabeth being born on Christmas Day.” Deedee stopped at a red light and looked over at Hannah. “Tell me to shut up if you want to, but I can’t for the life of me understand why Ted hasn’t asked you to marry him.”
Join the club, Hannah thought dryly. It was a question that hammered at her peace of mind relentlessly. She was trying so hard to accept things as they were, but it was difficult, so very, very difficult.
“Ted obviously is in love with you,” Deedee went on, accelerating as the light turned green. “Everyone in the family is aware of how he feels about you, and you love him in return. And the baby? Gracious, Ted Sharpe is ten times worse than Ryan was as far as fussing over you, hovering around like a frantic father-to-be.”
“Ted has been wonderful,” Hannah said quietly, “and, yes, I love him more than I can even begin to tell you.”
“Then why, why, why aren’t you two married?”
“That’s not…not what Ted wants, I guess.”
“You guess?” Deedee said. “Haven’t you sat down and discussed it?”
Hannah shook her head. “There’s no point in doing that. Ted knows how I feel about him. He loves me, too, Deedee, and he loves Patty. It’s all in place, just as it should be.”
“But?”
“But Ted obviously doesn’t want any part of being a husband and father, a married man. The structure of our relationship as it now stands is apparently what he prefers for the future, as well.”
“He’s a dolt. I could wring his neck. Darn it, Hannah, I just don’t understand him.”
“I don’t, either. All I can do is accept things the way they are.”
“Well, drat. I swear, when men got their supply of muscles, they were shortchanged on brains.”
Deedee saw Hannah safely into the apartment, hugged her while wishing her a Merry Christmas, and parted with the reminder that everyone was due at the senior MacAllisters at two o’clock the next afternoon for Christmas dinner and the exchanging of gifts.
Hannah took a quick shower, hoping the warm water would ease some of her aches and pains. It didn’t. She put on her favorite faded blue terry-cloth robe and looped the sash loosely over her stomach.
With a weary sigh, she plugged in the Christmas tree, then fed Daisy. Deciding a mug of hot chocolate sounded appealing, she headed to the kitchen, only to stop halfway there as another hot pain radiated across her lower abdomen. Catching her breath, she continued on her way.
As she waited for the chocolate drink to warm in the microwave, she pressed her fists against her lower back.
“Oh, my back, my back,” she said aloud, then looked at Daisy who was polishing off her dinner. “I have a roaring toothache in my back, Daisy.”
The kitten looked at her with what Hannah labeled a bored expression, then began to wash her paws.
“Thanks for the sympathy,” Hannah muttered, patting her stomach. “How are things in there, kiddo? It’s nap time, so knock off the rock and roll. Please, Patty?”
A few minutes later, Hannah was
settled in the straight chair which she’d turned to face the tree, taking small sips of the hot drink she’d poured into a festive ceramic Christmas mug.
“Oh-h-h,” she moaned as another pain hit.
She rolled her eyes heavenward.
At this rate, she knew, she’d never be able to sleep, and she was thoroughly exhausted. She’d drag through Christmas Day in a fog, probably only half-aware of what was going on. Grim. Very grim.
She wasn’t concerned about the pains she was having, as it had been explained in her childbirth classes that this sort of thing was very common in the last stages of pregnancy. Unless the pains were coming in steady intervals with increasing intensity, they were to be ignored.
“Easy for them to say,” Hannah said, frowning. “Ignored? Oh, right.” She paused. “Ow! There’s another one. Ignored? Ha! No way. Hannah, shut up and quit feeling sorry for yourself.”
She wiggled further into the chair to give her aching back as much support as possible, and gazed at the pretty tree while she drank the hot chocolate.
Several hours later, Ted and Ryan got into the patrol car and closed the doors.
“You’re a soft touch,” Ted said, chuckling. “The guy was speeding, MacAllister, and you let him off with a warning.”
“Yeah, well, I looked at my watch and saw that it was two minutes after midnight. I can’t ticket a guy on Christmas, for Pete’s sake.”
“Soft touch,” Ted said decisively. “Let’s head on in. Our shift is over.”
“Yup,” Ryan said, turning the key in the ignition.
He waited for an opening in the traffic, then eased onto the road. Cars traveling in both directions immediately reduced their speed at the sight of the patrol car.
“Well, hell,” Ryan said, “it’s Christmas.”
Ted looked over at him. “What’s your problem, Mr. Scrooge? You like Christmas as much as a kid does.”
“Yeah, I know. It’s a great day, very special, which is why I can’t go through it with a guilty conscience. I have a confession to make.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah. Ted, remember when you told me you were going to leave Hannah because you can’t have kids?”
“Of course I remember. What did you do? Break your word and tell Deedee that I’m sterile?”
“No, no, I haven’t said a word to her about that conversation. She has no idea why you haven’t asked Hannah to marry you. I think she’s coming to the conclusion that you’re certifiably insane.”
“Then what’s the big confession about?”
“I said I agreed with you, that you were absolutely right about leaving Hannah, and you should hit the road after the baby was born.”
“MacAllister, I really don’t feel like going over this territory again. Things are tough enough for me without-”
“I was lying through my teeth,” Ryan interrupted. “Blowing smoke.”
“What?”
“Oh, hell, I was trying reverse psychology on you. It’s worked before. I’ve done it to you, you’ve done it to me. I was hoping you’d get really ticked at me for saying what I did, think about it, argue it in your mind and come to the conclusion that you were wrong and I was full of bull for agreeing with you.”
“You’re a great buddy,” Ted said with a snort of disgust. “Thanks a lot.”
“Damn it, Ted, you wouldn’t listen to reason, and I knew it. I tried another approach, that’s all. But now it’s officially Christmas and I have to clear the air.
“Sharpe, you’re a fool if you walk away from Hannah without giving her a chance to hear the truth and make her own decision regarding it.”
“Look, MacAllister—”
“No, you look. Look at what you have with a sensational woman who loves you. How many times do you think love like that comes into a person’s life? I almost lost Deedee because I wouldn’t listen, and was a stubborn jerk.
“Well, you’re the jerk on this trip, Ted. You’re going to destroy something beautiful, rare, special. And Hannah won’t even understand why you did it. It stinks, it really does. Damn it, you owe it to her to tell her the truth. You have no right to make her decisions for her.”
“Are you finished yet?” Ted said, narrowing his eyes. “You’re really pushing me.”
“Somebody has to. You can deck me when we get to the station if you want to, but all that will do is give you a busted hand. You’re running, Ted, like a coward. A coward. It’ll take guts to go to Hannah and tell her the truth. You, apparently, are fresh out of courage.”
Ted opened his mouth to deliver an angry retort, then snapped it closed again in the next instant. He drew a shuddering breath, then dragged both hands down his face.
“You’re right,” he said, his voice gritty with emotion. “Oh, damn, you’re right. I should have done it weeks ago. Then I copped out by convincing myself it would be best to wait until after the baby was born, because Hannah has enough on her plate now. That was pure selfishness, because I want to see, to hold Patty so very much.
“But what you said about having a guilty conscience on Christmas really hits home. I don’t want Hannah to remember this holiday as the one she spent with Ted Sharpe while he was living a lie.
“I have to tell Hannah why I’m leaving her. I’ll do it before we go to your folks for Christmas dinner. We may not show up there once I’ve told Hannah that I’m walking out of her life in a few weeks.”
“Ted,” Ryan said quietly, “you just may not be going anywhere in the next few weeks except to buy a marriage license. Women, bless their weird minds, have earned a reputation for coming through in the crunch.”
Ted shook his head, then stared out the side window.
“You’ll tell her?” Ryan said.
“Yeah.”
“Good. Merry Christmas, buddy.”
“Mmm.”
Several minutes passed in total silence, then Ted suddenly stiffened.
“’Yankee Doodle,’” he said.
“What?”
“Have you ever had a song pop into your head and bug the hell out of you?”
“Sure.”
“I’m hearing ‘Yankee Doodle over and over.”
Ryan shrugged. “So sing ‘Jingle Bells’ or something, and block out ‘Yankee Doodle.’”
“No, you don’t understand. It’s a message from Hannah.”
“It’s a what?”
“It’s a signal from Hannah, I know it is. Step on it, Ryan. Hannah’s in trouble. She needs me.”
“You’ve got it,” Ryan said, pressing harder on the gas pedal. “‘Yankee Doodle’?”
“‘Yankee Doodle,’” Ted said, nodding. “Hit the siren and take me to the apartment complex. I have to get to my Hannah. Now. Right now.”
Chapter Fourteen
A sob of fear escaped Hannah’s throat as she pulled a caftan over her head with trembling hands. The terry-cloth robe she’d been wearing was in a sodden heap on the bathroom floor.
Dear God, she thought frantically, her water had broken and the excruciating pains were coming in rolling waves, one after the next.
She needed help.
She needed Ted.
Ted, she mentally begged. Please. Hurry. Ibd, hear me, hear “Yankee Doodle.” It’s our secret message, remember? “Yankee Doodle.” “Yankee Doodle.”
She looked at the clock, knowing Ted was off duty and should be on his way home. But there was always the chance that he’d been delayed out in the field. She couldn’t wait any longer. She’d have to deal with this herself, alone. Alone.
Dial 911, she thought. Yes, that was what she must do. No, first she’d unlock the door for the paramedics while she could still get that far, then make the call. Okay, good plan. Move, Hannah.
With her arms hugging her stomach, she stumbled from the bedroom, down the hall, and into the living room. Halfway to the door, another pain sliced through her, causing her to grip the edge of a chair, then sink to her knees, tears of panic streaming down her face.
<
br /> “Ted,” she whispered. “Please
When Ryan slammed on the brakes in the parking lot of the apartment complex, Ted bolted from the patrol car.
“Do you want me to radio for an ambulance?” Ryan yelled after him.
Ted stopped. “No. It may not be that serious. You go on into the station. No sense in both of us getting into trouble.”
“Are you sure?” Ryan asked.
“Yes! Go! And I’ll talk to you later,” Ted yelled as he rushed across the parking lot toward the stairs.
Ted barrelled from the stairway, raced to Hannah’s apartment and pounded on the door.
“Hannah! It’s Ted. Open up. Hannah? I’m here. I heard ‘Yankee Doodle’ and I’m here. Hannah!”
Ted, Hannah’s mind whispered. Oh, thank God, he’d come. He’d heard her, heard “Yankee Doodle.” She had to get to the door and unlock it, so that Ted could help her.
“Ted,” she yelled. “I’m coming. Wait for me. I need you, Ted. Wait…for…me.”
Every muscle in Ted’s body tensed as he heard Hannah’s plea. He curled his hands into tight fists at his sides, ordering himself not to kick in the door.
Wait for me.
Ah, Hannah. He’d waited a lifetime to find her. He was going to tell her the truth about himself, lay it all on the line and pray. It was time, long overdue.
But now? Right now? Dear heaven, Hannah, open the door!
He heard the clink of the chain, then the snap of the lock and grabbed the doorknob.
“Move back out of the way,” he shouted. “I’m coming in, Hannah.”
He opened the door just enough to slide through the opening and slammed it closed behind him. In the next instant, Hannah moaned and once again began to sink to the floor.
“Oh, Lord,” he said, his heart racing.
He scooped her into his arms and hurried down the hall to place her on the bed. Bracing his hands on the pillow on either side of her head, he leaned over her.
The Father of Her Child (The Baby Bet #3) Page 16