by Pamela Bauer
“No.” There was a knock on the door, startling her. She pushed his hand away and got up to see who it was.
“Can I come in?” he heard Maddie’s voice say. “I’d like to talk to you and Garret.”
Krystal let her in and as soon as the door was opened they went into each other’s arms. “I’m sorry. I tried to help, but I’m afraid I only made things worse,” Maddie said.
As soon as she’d finished hugging Krystal, she turned to Garret and wrapped her arms around him, too. “This can’t be easy for you, either.”
“We could have handled it differently,” Garret admitted.
“He’s right,” Krystal seconded. “I should have told everyone a long time ago.”
“None of that matters,” Maddie said with her familiar smile of understanding. She reached out to touch Krystal’s arm. “Hey—everything will work out. I only wish I could be here to help you. I hate the thought of you going through this alone.”
“She’s not alone. She has me.” Garret said. He could see the unasked question in his sister-in-law’s eyes. “Why don’t I let Krystal tell you what her plans are. I should probably go downstairs.” He looked at Krystal and asked, “Are you going to be okay?”
“Yeah, thanks.”
“Call me if you need anything,” he told her.
Maddie reached for his arm to give him another hug. “You’re a good man, Garret. If that husband of mine gives you any trouble, let me know.”
“Dylan’s the least of my worries,” he said, then reluctantly went back downstairs to the kitchen. As he expected, his mother sat at the table with his brothers. The way the three of them stared at him when he entered the room, he knew they’d been discussing only one thing.
“All right, get it off your chests. I can see you’re dying to ask me how it happened,” he said, plopping himself down on a chair.
“How did it happen? You’re a doctor for crying out loud,” his mother said, obviously still upset with the news.
“I didn’t realize that doctors were exempt from unplanned pregnancies,” he answered.
“I think she means you should have known better,” Dylan said in an aside that his mother heard.
“You should have known better,” she repeated. “And what about Samantha?”
“What about her?” he countered.
“Were you just using her as a smoke screen to hide your affair with Krystal?” his mother wanted to know.
“There is no affair with Krystal,” he stated emphatically. “And you ought to know me well enough to know that I don’t use people.”
“Yes, I do know you, which is why I’m having trouble understanding how something like this could have happened,” his mother went on.
“It just did, so can we drop the fact that it did and move on to what’s going to happen next?”
“I think that would be smart,” Dylan stated.
“How far along is she in her pregnancy?” Leonie asked.
“The baby’s due in February,” he replied.
Again his mother’s mouth dropped open. “How long have you known she was pregnant?”
“About a week.”
“So she kept it from you, too?”
He ignored that question. “Mom, I know this isn’t what you expected from me, but it’s happened and I can’t change it. Now you can either choose to be happy that you’re having another grandchild or you can spend your time finding fault with me and Krystal. I mean, I am going to be a dad. Wouldn’t you rather spend your time giving me advice on that subject?”
She smiled then and reached across to cover his hand. “You’re going to make a wonderful father…just like your brothers.”
“I’m going to try, Mom, and Krystal will be a good mother. You ought to know that.”
She sighed. “Yes, I do know that,” she admitted quietly. “Have you discussed how you’re going to raise this child?”
“Yeah, we have, but nothing’s settled yet, except we both know that we want to do the right thing.”
“The right thing…what do you consider the right thing?” she asked cautiously.
“I’m a Donovan, Mom.”
“Then you mean marriage.”
“I want my child to have the kind of home I had,” he admitted.
“Then you need to marry for love, not convenience,” she advised him.
“Mom, you said you’d never wear your romance coach hat with us boys,” Shane reminded her.
“I’m not trying to give him advice. I just want him to think very carefully before he makes a decision as important as marriage. It’s a commitment that should be based on love, not convenience.”
“That sounds like advice, Mom,” Dylan rebuked her gently.
She gave Garret an apologetic smile. “I just want what’s best for you.”
“I know you do, Mom, but you have to trust me to do the right thing,” Garret told her. “I created the problem and I’ll find a solution to it.”
“He’s always been the brains in the family,” Dylan said with affection.
“I can handle this, Mom. You don’t have to worry about me.”
Her face remained skeptical.
Later that evening, after goodbyes had been said, Garret walked with Shane out to their cars. He was surprised when his brother said, “You know, as much as I hate to admit it, Mom has a point. You don’t have to get married to do the right thing by Krystal.”
“Whose side are you on anyway?”
“Yours. Always yours, but what if the marriage doesn’t work out?”
“I’ll make it work.”
“Yeah, that’s what I said, too.”
Garret frowned. “What are you talking about? You and Jennifer announced last week that you’re thinking about having another baby.”
“It turns out that I was a bit premature with that idea. She doesn’t really want another child. I found that out this evening before I came over here. She’s been taking the pill and I didn’t even know it.”
“What’s going on?”
He shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe we’re just going through a rough spell.” He leaned up against his truck. “All marriages do.”
“Are you saying your marriage is in trouble?” Garret could hardly believe it could be true.
“We don’t spend enough time together, that’s all. Ever since she went back to school, it’s been that way.”
“So make time for each other.”
He shrugged. “That’s easier said than done.”
“I’ve got next weekend off. You want me to take Mickey so you two can go away for a couple of days?”
He shook his head. “It’s not going to happen. She’s got classes every weekend.”
“What about a nice dinner then?”
“I’ll let you know.” He clapped him on the arm. “Thanks for the offer.”
“Thank you for sticking up for me in there.” He jerked his head toward the house.
“You kind of threw us a curve ball. None of us realized you and Krystal were seeing each other.”
“We’re not.” A car passed through the alley and he realized that the things he wanted to discuss with his brother were better said someplace other than in his mother’s backyard. “Look. How about if we stop at Al’s and I’ll tell you all about it?”
KRYSTAL AWOKE to find Emily at her bedside saying, “I get to go to Sunday school today.”
Krystal propped herself up on one arm as her sister appeared in the doorway. “You’re going to church?”
“Yes. I’m not sure when we’ll go back to Fergus Falls and Emily’s used to going to Sunday school,” Carly answered. “Leonie suggested we go to the one where Shane and Jennifer take Mickey.”
“Is Mickey going to be at Sunday school?” Emily asked.
“She knows Mickey?”
“They’ve played together a couple of times when Shane’s been over visiting his mother,” Carly said, then held out her hand for her daughter. “Come on, Emily. We don’t want to be lat
e.”
“Can Aunt Krystal come?”
“I don’t think she feels well.” Carly looked at Krystal and asked, “Do you?”
Krystal had the distinct impression she didn’t want her going to church with them, which was silly. What difference would it make—unless she thought Krystal would make them late.
“No, I’d better stay here,” she told Emily. “I’m not feeling very good.”
Carly nodded, saying, “We’ll close the door on our way out.”
Emily blew her a kiss. “Hope you feel better.”
Krystal pretended she caught the kiss, then blew one back. “See you later.” She lay back against the pillows, thinking that it had been a long week—a week during which she’d managed to avoid seeing her landlady. Garret had suggested she give Leonie some time to come to terms with what had happened.
Upon reflection, she thought it was a bad idea. For Garret it might work to do a lot of thinking, but all it had done was to create more anxiety in her. The time had come for the two of them to clear the air. If Leonie wasn’t going to come to her, Krystal would go to her.
She climbed out of bed and was about to head for the shower when there was a knock on the door. She called out, “Come in,” and Leonie stepped into her room.
“Is it too early for me to be here?” she asked.
“No, not at all.” She reached for her robe and slipped it on as she climbed out of bed. “Actually, I was just thinking about coming down to see you.”
She didn’t miss the way Leonie’s eyes traveled to her stomach. She knew she’d caught a glimpse of just how pregnant she was before she’d covered up with the robe.
“I bet you miss Maddie and Dylan.” Krystal knew it was a dumb statement, but it was an awkward situation and she felt she had to say something. Anything.
“Yes, I do.” Leonie didn’t move from her spot in front of the door.
“I hope they had a smooth flight back.” She focused her attention on tying her robe, avoiding Leonie’s eyes.
There was an awkward silence and Krystal knew she couldn’t avoid the reason her landlady was in her room. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was pregnant.”
“You’ve always been able to tell me anything.”
“Yes, but this was different.”
“I suppose you’re right,” she said thoughtfully. “Have you made any decisions?”
“You know that Garret thinks we should get married.”
“Oh yes, he told me that. How do you feel about it?”
Krystal could see she was doing her best to remain detached, to act as if she were coaching one of her clients.
“I’m really confused right now…about a lot of things,” she admitted.
“Krystal, you know that I have an agreement with all my tenants. I don’t give unsolicited advice on anyone’s love life.”
But Krystal had a feeling she was going to make an exception and she was right.
“You’re like a daughter to me and I don’t want to see you make a mistake.”
Krystal didn’t doubt for one minute that the advice was given with the best of intentions. She knew Leonie too well to suspect she had any other motive.
“Maybe it wouldn’t be a mistake,” she said quietly.
“Are you in love with Garret?”
“No.”
“Then it would be a mistake.”
She wasn’t saying anything Krystal hadn’t already said to herself. How could she marry Garret when she didn’t love him with her whole heart and soul?
“Babies need two parents,” she stated with conviction.
“And this one will have two wonderful, good people as its parents. Whether or not you’re married to Garret, your child will be a Donovan and he’ll be a part of this family. You both will be part of our family. You know Garret. Can you imagine him having it any other way?”
She couldn’t, but she also knew that eventually Garret would probably marry. If not Samantha, then someone like her. Probably another doctor who Leonie would consider to be another good match like Samantha.
Krystal tried not to feel hurt, but a pain rifled through her. How quickly their relationship had changed. Leonie had treated her like a daughter, yet when it came right down to it, she didn’t want her in the family. Krystal wanted to tell her how much it hurt her to hear those words, but she couldn’t.
She bit down on her lip and fought for control of her emotions. “I only want to do what’s best for the baby.”
“I know you do, that’s why I’m here. I wouldn’t be your friend if I didn’t try to help you through this situation.”
Krystal realized their definition of help was not one and the same.
“I’m not trying to tell you what to do, Krystal. I just want you to think carefully about all of your options. Don’t rush to make any hasty decisions. You have some time to think things through.”
Krystal nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
“I want you to know that I will support whatever decision you make.”
Krystal wondered how true those words were. Would she welcome her into the family even if she and Garret went against her advice?
“Thanks, Leonie. That means a lot to me,” she managed to say.
“If there’s anything I can do to help you, I want you to let me know.” She opened her arms and Krystal went into them. “Let’s make today a new beginning, all right?”
“Okay,” Krystal agreed, and gave her a smile as she left.
But as soon as the door had closed behind Leonie, tears fell down Krystal’s cheeks. She didn’t like that their relationship had changed. It was as if Leonie didn’t have a clue as to how terrified she was being a single woman about to have a child. She wanted things to be the way they used to be, where Leonie had been her friend, her confidante, her mother.
Krystal crumpled on to her bed in a heap of self-pity, feeling very much alone. No one understood what she was going through. Not her mother, who thought that above all, getting married should be a priority. Not Leonie, who thought it would be in everyone’s best interest if she didn’t marry Garret. Not Carly, who was so wrapped up in her own marital problems that she couldn’t expend any emotional energy on her sister. And certainly not Garret.
Or did he? Maybe it was time she found out.
CHAPTER TEN
GARRET WAS A LIGHT SLEEPER and woke immediately when the phone rang. “Yes.”
“It’s me—Krystal.”
She wouldn’t have needed to identify herself. He could never forget her voice and on the phone it had an even sexier sound than it did in person. It was one of the things that had attracted him to her the first time they met. He pushed himself up on one elbow.
“Good morning.”
“It’s nearly afternoon,” she told him.
He glanced at the clock. “You’re right. It is.”
“You were sleeping. I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s all right.”
“I shouldn’t have disturbed you. You were probably up half the night with a patient.”
“No, I wasn’t.” It was true. The reason he had trouble sleeping was that he had been unable to stop thinking about her. “I’m glad you called.”
“Really?” She sounded doubtful.
“Yes, really.” He sighed. “If we’re going to have a child together, we need to work at being comfortable together, don’t you agree?”
“We never used to have to work at that,” she reminded him.
“No, we didn’t.”
“I miss the way things were between us. We used to talk…and laugh…” He could hear the sigh in her voice.
“I miss that, too,”
“That’s one of the reasons why I called. I thought that if we spent some time together and we made it a rule that we weren’t going to talk about the baby, then maybe we could become friends again.”
“I’d like that.”
“You would? Good. Maybe we could do something today…if you’re not busy?”
<
br /> She wanted to spend time with him. It was a tantalizing thought. “No…no, I’m not busy,” he answered, relieved that he hadn’t scheduled anything for his day off. “Have you had breakfast…or maybe I should say lunch?”
“I can do either one. Name the restaurant and I’ll meet you there.”
He knew she made the suggestion to avoid another confrontation with his mother. “There’s a café right around the corner from me that’s good. Why don’t you come to my place and we’ll go from here?”
“I can do that, although I must warn you my estrogen levels are high. Are you sure you want to take the risk?”
He chuckled. “I think I can handle it.”
“All right. I think I’ll be okay as long as we stick to the rules.”
“Rules?”
“No baby talk.”
Which he knew meant she didn’t want to talk about his marriage proposal, either. “Okay. Give me about thirty minutes to shower and take care of a couple of things, will you?”
The couple of things involved the state of his apartment. It was its usual disorganized mess and he groaned at the thought he had only thirty minutes to get it in order. He moved as quickly as he could, picking up clothes, straightening tabletops, stuffing glasses and cups into the dishwasher.
She hadn’t been there since the night of the hospital ball when they’d had little time for anything except satisfying their hunger for each other. As usual, his body reacted to the memories and he went straight to the shower for relief.
She arrived forty-five minutes later and apologized for being late. “I had trouble getting my hair to behave. Being pregnant has made it extremely unruly,” she said, pointing to her red tresses, which did look a bit unruly to him. They went in every which direction, but he had a hunch it was an effect she’d created.
She wore a light jacket, which she kept on while giving his place a quick survey. “It looks different from when I was last here.”
“Yes, well, we didn’t spend much time in this room, did we?” If he thought he could get her to blush, he was wrong. To his surprise, she lifted one eyebrow provocatively and smiled.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had my clothes off that fast.” There was a sparkle in her eye telling him that she, too, remembered how oblivious they’d been to everything but each other. Then she spread her arm in a gesture that encompassed the entire room. “This definitely looks like you.”