The Manning Sisters
Page 35
Cody was having trouble following this conversation. “What’s that got to do with anything?”
“Nothing,” he said with an enigmatic smile.
“Listen, Russ, if you know something I don’t, spit it out, would you? I’m in no mood for games. Is something going on with Christy that I don’t know?”
“Did she tell you about the wedding shower?”
Cody scowled. “No. When was this?”
“Last week. The girls in the office held it for her, threw it as a surprise.”
“That was nice.”
“It wasn’t for you and Christy,” Russ barked. “What’s with you, man? The shower was for Christy and James.”
Cody rubbed his face. She hadn’t said a word, not a single word about any wedding shower. And now that he knew, Cody thought that, maybe, just maybe, Christy did sound a little less cheerful than usual. He was fast losing his perspective.
“I bet she hasn’t told you something else, either.”
Cody resented having his brother-in-law tell him things Christy hadn’t even mentioned. “You mean there’s more?” he asked darkly. “Did her mother take her shopping and spring for a five-thousand-dollar wedding dress?”
“Nothing quite so drastic,” Russ said with a hint of a smile. “I overheard Taylor on the phone last night. She was talking to Christy.”
“What did Christy say?”
“I don’t know. I only heard half the conversation.”
Cody had talked to Christy, too. He’d hung up with a restless feeling he couldn’t identify, but he’d attributed it to the fact that she was still in Seattle when he wanted her in Montana.
“And?”
“And when I asked Taylor, she seemed reluctant to say much. But I heard her discuss symptoms.”
“Symptoms?”
“I tried to tell you earlier,” Russ informed him with a look that questioned Cody’s intelligence, “but you got so damn defensive, I shut up.” Russ shook his head. “Taylor got pregnant in Reno. Think about it, Cody. Taylor and Christy are two of five children. Doesn’t it seem obvious to you that the Manning women are a fertile lot?”
“Christy’s not pregnant,” Cody said with a confidence he wasn’t feeling. He felt his head start to spin.
“You’re sure of that?”
“She’d say something if she even suspected. I’d bet on it.”
“Of course. She tells you everything.”
“I’d like to think she’d confide in me,” Cody said, growing more uncertain.
“If she didn’t tell you about the wedding shower, you can damn well wager she wouldn’t mention that she’s hanging her head over a toilet every morning.”
Cody felt as if he’d been kicked in the stomach. Christy was pregnant and too concerned about protecting her parents and James to risk telling him.
Hell, she couldn’t tell him. He hadn’t made it easy for her, had he? Missing her the way he did, Cody was irritable and impatient while Christy carried the brunt of the load.
Hastily he slid out of the booth and put on his hat. He’d been looking for an excuse to put an end to this nonsense, and now he had one.
“Where you going?” Russ demanded, reaching across the table for Cody’s untouched breakfast plate. He leaned forward and retrieved the salt and pepper shakers.
“Seattle.”
Chuckling, Russ nodded. “That’s what I thought.”
“Enjoy your breakfast,” Cody muttered sarcastically.
“Thanks,” he responded between bites, “I will.”
Christy had been feeling blue all day. Cody wasn’t home when she’d tried to call, and that depressed her even more. Nothing made sense. Nothing. She felt weepy and excited. Confused and elated. Engaged to one man. Married to another. She might be pregnant. It might be the beginning of an ulcer. She didn’t know which.
She couldn’t sleep, although she desperately needed to.
Her appetite was nil. After going through the bother of fixing herself spaghetti and a salad for dinner, her meal sat uneaten on her kitchen table.
Feeling wretched, she sank down in front of the television and turned on the movie channel, silently chastising herself for not writing thank-you notes to her friends from the office. Sending notes of appreciation for gifts she intended to return seemed a ridiculous thing to do.
A 1940s war movie with an incredibly young John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara was on, and she was soon caught up in the fast-paced action. How minor her troubles seemed compared to those on the screen.
Damp tissues crowded her end table. She was sniffling ingloriously when her doorbell chimed.
Whoever was on the other side was certainly impatient. The doorbell rang a second time before she was halfway across the carpet. “Hold your horses,” she said peevishly. She wasn’t interested in company.
Christy quickly changed her mind.
“Cody,” she whispered when she saw her husband. “Oh, Cody.” Without another word she broke into tears and flew into his arms.
Seconds later, his mouth was on hers in that urgent, hungry way that was so familiar between them. Cody directed her into the living room, then closed the door with his foot, all the while kissing her.
Christy’s hands roamed his face when he released her. She giggled and locked her arms around his neck, holding on to him for everything she was worth.
“Oh…Christy, I missed you,” he breathed. His hands caressed her face. Then he was kissing her again and again as if he’d never get enough of the taste of her.
“I’ve been so miserable without you,” Christy admitted, feeling weepy and jubilant at the same time.
“Me, too, love.” He looked at her for a long moment, frowning, then smiling, then frowning again.
“What is it?” Christy asked, reacting to his confusion but not understanding it. She sensed a wonder in him, too, as if he couldn’t quite believe they were married.
Christy believed it. Their love was the only thing that had gotten her through the trauma of the past week.
“Are you pregnant?” he asked without preamble, running his splayed fingers through her hair. His hold on her tightened, but Christy doubted he was aware of it.
Involuntarily her eyes widened at his question. “I…I don’t know yet.”
“You’ve been ill?”
“Yes…How’d you know that?” Usually she’d been sick in the mornings, but often in the afternoons, too. If she was looking for a pattern, there wasn’t one. She was confused and anxious, and not knowing where to turn, she’d called her sister. “Taylor?” Christy had never dreamed that her older sister would say anything to Cody. She’d counted on Taylor to be discreet.
“No,” Cody admitted, scowling. “I had breakfast with Russ this morning. Rather Russ ate my breakfast while he cheerfully pointed out that Taylor got pregnant while they were still in Reno and—”
Christy interrupted him. “You came because of that?”
“No.” Cody dropped his hands and stepped away. “Well, not completely. I did come in part because I was afraid…no, afraid’s the wrong word. I was concerned for you. I came for another reason, too.”
He was so sincere, so forthright. “Yes?”
His eyes darkened. “You didn’t tell me about the wedding shower.”
Christy’s gaze fell. “I couldn’t.”
“I realize that now, and I realize a whole lot more. This has to be the end of it, Christy.” His eyes burned into hers. “As your husband—the man that loves you—I can’t let you continue this charade any longer.”
Spontaneous tears filled her eyes as she nodded. “I don’t think I can pull it off another day. I…thought I was doing what was best for everyone involved, but I see now that I was only prolonging the agony—mostly my own. You were right, so right. There’ll never be a good time to tell Mom and Dad. I did us both a terrible disservice by refusing to acknowledge that.”
Cody’s lips brushed her forehead. “Don’t be so hard on yourself.”
“But they don’t have the right to pick your husband for you.”
“I know.” She exhaled softly. “I would’ve liked to have spared James this, but he has to know. I…I did him a disservice by not telling him the afternoon I came home. James isn’t as emotionally fragile as I’ve made him out to be.”
Cody’s eyes flared briefly before he spoke. “How soon can we get you in to see a doctor?”
“A doctor?” she asked. “Why?” Sure, she’d been overprotective of James and reluctant about telling her parents the truth, but that didn’t mean she needed medical help.
“If you’re pregnant—”
“Oh, that,” she said, relieved. “Taylor recommended I buy one of those home pregnancy test kits, which I did this afternoon. Only I decided I could deal with not knowing better than I could handle knowing. Does that sound crazy?”
Cody chuckled. “No. But do you mind satisfying my curiosity? I, for one, am anxious to find out if I’m going to become a father.”
“You definitely are,” she said, loving the way Cody’s face brightened at her words. “The only question is whether or not it’s going to be nine months from now.”
Cody’s arms were around her, his eyes filled with a tenderness that made her knees grow weak. “The test takes about twenty minutes,” she said, sliding her hands up the front of his shirt.
“Twenty minutes,” Cody repeated.
She moistened her lips, thrilled when her husband’s narrowed gaze followed the seductive movement of her tongue.
“Are you suggesting what I think you’re suggesting?” he whispered.
Christy nodded.
“But if you’re pregnant, will it hurt the baby?” His voice was hoarse, and a dark flame seemed to leap to life in his eyes.
“Not according to Taylor.”
“You’re sure?”
“Positive. Besides, it’ll do this baby’s mother a whole lot of good.”
Christy lay contentedly in his arms, her long, sleek body nestled intimately with his. If they spent the next ten years exactly like this, Cody wouldn’t have a single complaint. He loved this woman. He loved everything about her.
“Are you disappointed?” she asked softly, rolling over so she could look at him when he answered.
He kissed her, his mouth clinging to hers, his hands caressing her. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
They’d been on fire for each other from the moment he’d arrived. Their hands had trembled as they’d hurriedly undressed each other, their mouths eager, filled with promises and pleas.
Raising herself on one elbow, Christy smiled dreamily down on him and lovingly traced her fingers over the hard angles of his face as though memorizing every feature. To Cody’s way of thinking, that was unnecessary. He never planned to leave her again.
“I wasn’t talking about the lovemaking,” she said. “I was referring to the pregnancy test.”
His arm curved around her trim waist. “No. When the time’s right, we’ll start our family and not because we were in too much of a hurry to—”
“May I remind you how much of a hurry we were in a few minutes ago?”
“No, you may not.” He clasped her around the waist and they both dissolved into laughter.
A woman he could love and laugh with—how did he get so lucky?
“It might be a good idea if I went over to my parents’ house alone,” Christy said. She looked up at him beseechingly. “Please, Cody?”
“I won’t hear of it, Christy,” he answered in a voice that brooked no dissent. “We’re in this together.”
“But…”
“You phoned James?”
“You know I did. He’ll arrive at my parents’ within the hour.” James had sounded surprised to hear from her, and even more perplexed when she explained she needed to speak with him urgently. He’d offered to come to her apartment, but when she’d suggested they meet at her family home in an hour, he’d agreed.
“How did Rich find out we’re telling your parents?” Cody asked, frowning.
Her scoundrel of a brother had been visiting their parents when Christy called and in fact had answered the phone. There must have been something in her voice that conveyed her intent, because Rich had made it clear he planned to stay around for the fireworks display. That comment reminded Christy that the coming scene was bound to evoke plenty of emotion. Christy wished Cody would wait for the worst to pass before he presented himself as their latest son-in-law.
“Don’t even think of arguing with me,” he said. “We’re doing this together.”
“All right,” she murmured, holding in a sigh. “The way I figure it, we’ll have forty-five minutes to explain everything to my parents before James arrives.”
“Good.” Cody nodded.
“Are you ready?” she asked, and her voice trembled despite every effort to maintain an optimistic facade. Her heart felt frozen with fear. Although she’d wanted to handle this on her own, she was grateful Cody had chosen to go with her.
They spoke infrequently on the drive to her parents’ home. When they did, it was to murmur words of encouragement, or reinforce how much they loved each other.
As they pulled in to the driveway, another car came in after them. “Oh, no,” Christy breathed.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s James.” Christy climbed out of the car, not waiting for Cody. She turned to face her fiancé. “You’re early,” she said, struggling to keep the annoyance out of her voice.
“I called your parents, and they suggested I come now.” James’s gaze narrowed as Cody came to stand behind her and rested his hand on her shoulder.
It was clear that James took offense at the familiar way Cody touched her. His eyes went cold as he demanded, “Who is this?”
Fourteen
Christy felt Cody’s hand tighten involuntarily. The two men glared at each other like hostile dogs who’d inadvertently strayed into each other’s territory. She supposed it wasn’t a complimentary analogy, but it seemed fitting.
“James, this is Cody Franklin,” she said, hating the unexpected way her voice squeaked.
“So the gang’s all here,” Rich shouted, coming out the front door, ready to greet the two men. “I suppose you’re wondering why I’ve called this meeting.” He laughed, obviously in a playful mood.
Christy glared at him, wondering what he was doing.
“Do you mind waiting a few minutes?” Rich asked. “Jason and Paul are on their way.”
“As a matter of fact, I do mind,” Christy snapped. She gripped Rich hard by the elbow and forced him back into the house. “Please introduce Cody to Mom and Dad,” she said.
Rich’s mouth fell open. “Me? No way, little sister. I happen to value my neck.”
“I’ll take care of everything,” Cody said, slapping Rich on the back. “You have nothing to fear but fear itself.”
“James,” Christy said reproachfully, turning to face the attorney, “it would have helped matters if you’d come when I suggested, but since you’re here now, we’ll settle this in the kitchen.”
She walked into the house and passed her mother, who was watching her curiously.
“We’ll talk in the kitchen,” Christy reminded James when he hesitated in front of Elizabeth Manning and shrugged.
“Christy?” her father called. “What’s going on here?”
“I’ll explain everything in a few minutes, but first I have to clear something up with James.”
“Actually, I’ll be more than happy to explain,” Cody said, stepping forward. He offered Eric Manning his hand, and they exchanged a brief handshake as Cody introduced himself.
“Exactly what’s going on?” James wanted to know as they entered the kitchen.
Christy stopped at the huge round oak table. She pulled out a chair an
d sat down, then gestured for James to do the same.
He complied, but with some hesitation. “You never answered my question. Who is that man?”
“Cody Franklin.”
“That doesn’t explain much.”
“No, it doesn’t,” she agreed readily. With a sigh, she wondered where she should even begin. “He’s from Montana.”
“Ah, that accounts for the cowboy hat.”
“We met when I went to spend time with Taylor. Cody’s the new sheriff of Custer County.”
James nodded, urging her to go on. She’d explained the easy part; everything else was hard.
Unable to stay seated, Christy surged to her feet and frowned as she organized her thoughts. “Sometimes, not often I think, but sometimes when two strangers meet something happens…something special.” She paused and looked at James, hoping, praying she’d see a glimmer of understanding. She didn’t.
“You’re talking about fairy tales,” he said, and laughed as though she’d made a poor joke. “Are you going to break into song next?”
Christy ignored the question. “A special magic, a chemistry that flows between the two of them,” she went on. “There was magic when Taylor met Russ. At first they both resisted it and—”
“Yes, yes,” James interrupted, “but what have your sister and her husband got to do with anything?”
“Cody and I experienced that same…chemistry,” she announced, astonished this genius attorney could be so obtuse. “Neither of us was expecting to fall in love.”
“You didn’t,” James said flatly, dismissing her claim.
“But I did.”
“You can’t be in love with Franklin. It isn’t possible when you’re in love with me.”
“James, please, let me explain—”
He interrupted with an upraised hand. “Christy, darling, what you experienced for this man is a simple case of homesickness. It’s perfectly understandable, and forgivable. We were only engaged a day or two, and after working so hard for all those weeks, it only makes sense that you’d look to another man for companionship.”