His Hired Baby

by Jacqueline Diamond

  “I keep trying to figure out where I went wrong with Esther,” Tony admitted. “I always believed marriages should last, if you’re both reasonable people. I know my friends blame her for everything, and she is the one who left, but I can’t be totally innocent, either.”

  She didn’t rush to defend him. But then, he shouldn’t have expected that. “Well, we each pick the person we marry. Chemistry’s part of it, but there has to be more. Quinn was a daredevil. Looking back, I guess I craved vicarious excitement because I’m such a homebody. Then after we had a child, I expected him to turn into a family man.”

  “Did he?” Although Tony wasn’t sure why, he cared about the answer more than he should have.

  “He was getting there. What about Esther? What drew you to her?”

  He visualized her at the alumni gathering where they’d run into each other again after law school. Tall, intense and magnetic, she’d turned heads as she moved from group to group. He’d felt pleased when she recognized him and her face lit up with welcome.

  “She was exciting and dynamic,” Tony conceded. “We shared a lot of interests and tastes. She’s more outgoing than I am, too. I get along with people but I don’t tend to form close friendships.”

  “Who’s your best friend?”

  He’d never thought about it. “Mark, I suppose.”

  “Dr. Rayburn?” Kate sounded dubious. “You hang out together?”

  “We play golf occasionally.”

  “Who do you talk to when you have a problem?” she asked.

  You. The instinctive response surprised him. “I solve my own problems.” Except he wasn’t sure how he would solve the one that had just presented itself.

  Sure, he’d drawn the line about raising Tara, Tony mused. The trouble was, when he drew it, he’d left his friend Kate on the other side. Who was he going to open up to once she disappeared from his life?

  Brady pelted up. “I’m hungry!”

  “Hot dogs, as promised.” Catching Kate’s hand, Tony gave her a boost, and kept a light grip as they set out across the park. With so many kids racing about, he wasn’t willing to risk her being jostled.

  To everyone else, they must look like a happy couple with a delightful son and another child on the way. And, for a moment, they almost were.

  Chapter Eleven

  “She’s too strict. I don’t mind feeding the hamsters, and she does clean their cages, but she watches everything I eat. I missed my vitamins one morning and she was all over my case.” Eve paced around the clinic’s front room.

  A used desk and an almost-new couch had replaced the folding chairs. Cash donations generated by the television publicity had gone into a fund to hire professional staff. But as of this Thursday, Kate remained the only counselor and Eve the only client.

  “She’s treating you like a child,” Kate summarized.

  “Yeah! She forgets I’m not fourteen anymore.” Now that her bruise had healed, and with her hair fluffed attractively, Eve appeared less like a victim and more like a confident young woman.

  “You’re still working part-time?”

  “That’s another thing. Hilda says it’s bad for me to be on my feet waiting on customers, but my boss is talking about giving me more hours. Maybe even putting me on full-time. Then I’d have benefits.”

  Tony had had the right idea when he suggested the pair put their rules into writing. Still, this conflict went beyond mere regulations. “Want my advice?”

  Eve paused by the window, soft morning light playing over her fair skin. “That’s why I’m here. No more storming out in a snit, I promise.”

  “Hilda’s used to being a mother hen to her little chicks. In order for her to change, you’ve got to inspire her to see you differently.” To head off objections, Kate hurried on. “Start acting like an equal.”

  “That’s what I keep telling her!”

  “Don’t tell her. Mother her.”

  That gave the young woman pause. “What do you mean?”

  “Spend some of your money on things for the household, for both of you. Also, she has arthritis, correct?” Receiving a nod, Kate continued, “Take the burden off her without being asked. Do chores. Fix her tea. Scold her—nicely—when she pushes herself too hard.”

  “She needs to see a doctor about the arthritis instead of toughing it out,” Eve said. “I’ll nag till she makes an appointment. How’s that?”

  “Excellent start.”

  “She’s down in the dumps about the holidays, too. When her husband and daughter were around, Thanksgiving used to be her favorite holiday. I don’t suppose I’ll be much of a substitute.”

  Since Kate was hosting her family’s celebration this year, why not invite them? “That gives me an idea. Why don’t you and Hilda—”

  A tap at the open doorway cut her off. For a confused instant, she wondered why Tony was wearing a uniform, and then she registered that this was his brother. “Leo. Hello! What brings you here?”

  “Somebody isn’t picking up her phone messages.” The officer indicated Eve. “Took a little digging, but I tracked her down, thanks to her new landlady.”

  Eve scowled. “I haven’t done anything wrong.”

  He folded his arms. “I wanted to give you the news. We arrested your friend Duane last night for holding up a gas station.”

  “Sounds like him, the jerk!”

  “Was anybody hurt?” Kate asked.

  “No, but he had a gun, and he’s got a couple of priors,” Leo said. “The judge won’t set bail this time.”

  Eve appeared torn between relief and dismay. “I’m glad he can’t bother me again, but I hoped he’d straighten out and help support us.”

  “I suspect the state of California will be supporting him for a few years,” Leo remarked.

  “It was kind of you to bring Eve the news in person,” Kate put in.

  “No big deal. I was coming to the hospital to visit a friend anyway.”

  “Yeah, thanks.” Eve seemed to realize she’d been ungracious.

  “Will she have to testify against him?” Kate hated to see Eve put through that stress.

  “It’s up to the district attorney. But maybe not. We’ve got plenty of evidence to nail him for the armed robbery.”

  “That’s good,” Eve conceded. “Sorry about not picking up my messages.”

  “Is this friend you’re visiting a fellow officer?” Kate put in. “I hadn’t heard of anyone being hurt on duty. You guys do such a great job of protecting us.” Safe Harbor’s force had an excellent reputation.

  “No. She’s a dispatcher. Just had a baby.” He indicated Kate’s bulge. “How’s my niece?”

  “Healthy and kicking. Emphasis on the kicking.” How strange to think that, in the future, this man would have a closer connection to Tara than Kate would. She refused to dwell on how much that prospect hurt.

  “Glad to hear it.”

  Impulsively, she said, “I was about to invite Eve and Hilda to Thanksgiving dinner at my house. We’d be delighted for you to join us if you aren’t working.” After all, Leo had gone out of his way to be helpful today, and he was Tara’s uncle.

  “I’ll be on night shift,” he said. “So I’m free earlier. But…”

  “You’re inviting us?” Eve put in. “I’d love it. I won’t let Hilda say no.”

  “The more the merrier.”

  “That’s kind of you.” Leo hesitated. “Not sure I should, though.”

  “Sausage-and-raisin stuffing,” Kate murmured. “Pumpkin pie, although I’ll probably cheat and buy those.”

  “Baked yams?” he asked.

  “Absolutely. Your favorite?”

  A nod. “Once we got older, our parents had the meal catered. Never seemed right to me. Not that I object to your buying the pies. In fact, I’d like to bring those. How about a pumpkin, a pecan and an apple?”

  “That would be fabulous. I’m not sure how many people are coming.” Kate conducted a quick mental count. “Nine or ten, maybe a
dozen.” Her mom might want to include a friend or two from the senior center.

  “Maybe I should make it four pies, then,” he deadpanned.

  “Did somebody mention pie?”

  As Tony joined them, Kate gave herself a mental poke. Why hadn’t she considered that he would find out about his brother coming to her place for Thanksgiving? Still, he’d already turned down her invitation to join her family for the holiday. And that might be for the best.

  The closer they got, the harder it would be to untangle their lives after the birth. Last night in class, when they’d practiced relaxation exercises, his soothing words had instructed Kate to tense and then release each group of muscles. Instead of relaxing her, though, his low voice had produced shivers of excitement. As if that weren’t bad enough, Tina had encouraged the partners to stroke the part of the woman’s body that was supposed to relax. Her arm. Her shoulder. Her stomach. Afraid her reaction might become apparent, Kate had pleaded a full bladder and fled.

  She realized Tony was studying her expectantly. “Thanksgiving,” she explained. “You turned me down, remember?”

  He regarded her uncertainly. “You’re inviting all these people to your sister’s?”

  “I’m cooking this year.”

  “It’s at your house, Kate? I rescind my no vote.”

  She couldn’t very well object. “That’s great.”

  “We’ll bring stuff, too,” Eve insisted. “Like, a couple of Hilda’s favorite recipes. Okay if I let you know the details next week?”

  “That’ll be fine.” Silently, she noted how much more adult Eve sounded already.

  They spent a few more minutes discussing the merits of baked versus deep-fried turkeys—a fire hazard, in Leo’s opinion—and whole-berry versus regular cranberry sauce, then Eve and Leo departed. Alone with Tony, Kate stared down at her hands, suddenly unsure what to say.

  “I’m taking a lot for granted, aren’t I?” Tony asked.

  “I did invite you.”

  “Circumstances have changed since then,” he conceded. “I won’t come if you’d rather I didn’t.”

  His controlled tone failed to hide a note of pain. Looking up, she saw the sadness in his eyes. “I’d love to have you there. It’s just…well, I was afraid you’d feel uncomfortable.”

  “Because I’ll never see any of those people again? Except Leo,” he added. “That doesn’t mean I have to avoid them now.”

  “I thought we were trying to keep our lives separate.”

  His arm encircled her. “That was a couple of conversations ago. I thought the latest was that we’re staying friends until the baby’s born.” His lips traced her temple.

  She rested her cheek against his shoulder, relishing the smooth weave of his jacket, the fragrance of his aftershave lotion. If he kissed her, she might melt. Or cry. Or grab him by the tie and do utterly inappropriate things, considering that she was eight months pregnant and he was still married.

  The room echoed with their rapid breathing. Kate wished someone would barge in. Samantha, or Dr. Rayburn, perhaps.

  No one did.

  “How many people?” Tony asked.

  How many people what? Oh. “Eight. Ten. The number keeps growing.”

  “Let’s have it at my place.”

  That woke her up. Kate took a step back. “You’re kidding.”

  “Why not?” he demanded. “It’s bigger, and our—my—kitchen’s a work of art. I’ve got wedding gifts we never used, in spite of the fact that we bought the house with entertaining in mind.”

  “But those are Esther’s gifts,” she protested.

  “She told me to keep the kitchen stuff, except for a few essentials. Cooking isn’t her thing.”

  Too many logistical problems. “Cooking for Thanksgiving isn’t a matter of a few hours. I have to start shopping days in advance. Fix some of the dishes ahead. Set up the table and get out the china.”

  “All the more reason to put me to work.” Tony cupped his hands around hers. “Kate, I need to learn this stuff. How to plan and organize and cook. How to be part of a family. By the way, I’m paying for the food.”

  She stiffened. “This is my dinner.”

  “It’s everyone’s. They’re all bringing food, right? Best of all, I can have my cleaning service polish off the mess the next day.” He kept her hands cradled between his. “You get to take as many leftovers as you want, I promise.”

  No squeezing around a too-small table, eating off paper plates. No worries about whether she could afford all that food. She was weakening. But how could she justify having the event at Tony’s, especially to her sister? Grasping at straws, Kate blurted, “Isn’t Lori and Jared’s wedding reception just a week or so later? They’ll probably want to start setting up in advance.”

  “You didn’t hear?”

  “Hear what?”

  “They’ve postponed the wedding indefinitely.”

  That stunned her. Lori had seemed so happy. “Why on earth? This isn’t because her matron of honor ran out on her, is it?”

  “No, that’s one thing Esther didn’t manage to wreck.” He shook his head. “Jared’s discovered he’s hungry to be a father. And Lori’s dead set on never changing another diaper.”

  Even though Kate couldn’t imagine not wanting children, her heart went out to the bride-not-to-be. “She thought they were perfect for each other.”

  “So did he. At least they discovered their incompatibility before the wedding.” Tony’s thumb traced each of Kate’s fingers in turn, massaging them lightly. “The other day, I never finished answering your question about why I married Esther. We dovetailed in so many ways that I took it for granted we’d adapt naturally as our lives progressed.”

  “Only you didn’t?”

  The massage shifted to the backs of her hands, which, like her fingers, had become puffy during the pregnancy. “To me, everything appeared to be moving along the right track. When we learned she couldn’t conceive, we found you. That suited me fine, but I think deep inside her, a switch got flipped.”

  “No more mommy hormones, on to the next target?” Kate summed up.

  “Esther’s a bulldog about achieving success in whatever she aims for, and I suspect her subconscious found a new goal.” His jaw worked. “Not that I’m excusing her. Casting us off in her personal pursuit of happiness is a rotten way to treat me, and you, and the baby.”

  More and more, Kate disliked hearing about Esther. She hadn’t deserved a husband like Tony. But that’s none of my business.

  “About Thanksgiving. Before I tell everyone it’s at your place, maybe we should give this more thought.”

  “Why don’t you and Brady meet me at the house on Saturday afternoon?” Tony countered. “You can assess the kitchen, and if the weather’s warm enough, I’ll bet he’ll enjoy a swim. That pool isn’t used nearly enough.”

  It couldn’t hurt to spend one afternoon there, could it? She had to admit, she was curious to dig through Esther’s cabinets and see what fabulous gifts lay there unused. “That’ll be fun. But I’m not promising anything.”

  “No one said you were.”

  She’d yielded more than she meant to. On the other hand, two bathrooms downstairs and an uncounted number upstairs. A game room to keep the kids out from underfoot. A housekeeping crew to clean up.

  This was going to be hard to resist.

  Chapter Twelve

  After a family dinner at Mary Beth’s on Friday, Kate explained the latest developments to her sister and mother. “I haven’t said yes, but Tony has a beautiful house. Far more comfortable than mine.”

  “I’m dying to see it.” Irene’s needles clicked as she knitted a green rectangle.

  The three of them had Mary Beth’s living room to themselves. Ray was working again, while their ten-year-old son, Ray Junior, and eight-year-old, Johnnie, were entertaining Brady with their toys.

  Kate had insisted on bringing dinner—roast chicken, mashed potatoes and salad—rather than im
pose on her sister. Nevertheless, judging by the frown lines on Mary Beth’s forehead, her mood was anything but mellow.

  Sure enough, her next words were, “That man thinks he can buy anything. He can’t buy our family or our holiday.”

  Although taken aback by her sister’s angry response, Kate refused to dismiss Tony’s offer that easily. “His house-cleaning service will handle the cleanup the next day. All we’ll have to do is clear the table and rinse a few things. There’ll be plenty of bathrooms, and we can take leftovers home.”

  “Bathrooms are good.” Irene cast a wary glance at her elder daughter. “Don’t you agree?”

  Mary Beth scowled. “As if the pilgrims worried about things like that!”

  “You aren’t usually like this. What’s the matter?” Kate caught her breath, wondering if she’d stepped into a minefield. Lori and Jared’s postponement of their wedding and Tony’s breakup with Esther reminded her of the fragility of relationships. What if Ray’s absences reflected more than simply a busy schedule? “Nothing.”

  The click of the knitting needles and boyish chatter from down the hall punctuated the silence that followed. Distressed, Kate wondered how to continue without further infuriating her touchy sister.

  The green rectangle grew longer. “What’re you knitting?” she asked absently. “It almost looks like a… Mom, is that a baby blanket? You guys aren’t expecting me to keep Tara, are you?”

  “After you’ve told us endlessly about your precious contract?” Mary Beth snapped. “Certainly not.”

  “Tell her.” With that cryptic remark, Irene gathered her knitting and stood. “I’m going to check on the kids.”

  “They don’t need checking.” Mary Beth broke off as their mother left the room.

  “When did you stop talking to me?” Kate asked. “I love you. What’s wrong?”

  Tears filled her sister’s eyes. “I’m pregnant.”

  What was wrong with that? At thirty-two, Mary Beth remained young enough for another child, and both her previous pregnancies had gone smoothly. Perhaps she’d have the girl she longed for, although she and Ray would be happy with another boy, Kate knew. “That’s wonderful.”