by Cindy Kirk
“Not at all.” Tim forced an easy smile, but during the short conversation with his partner, his mind kept returning to the text.
Perhaps Cassidy contacting him wasn’t so odd, but the meeting location was definitely strange.
The Elk Refuge sat on the edge of the city of Jackson. There were walking paths, popular with both locals and tourists, but at five the place would likely be deserted. Which seemed to indicate Cassidy wanted privacy.
Try as he might, Tim couldn’t figure out what this was all about. Well, there was only one way to find out.
Once Travis left, Tim pulled out his phone.
It’s a date, he keyed in and pressed Send.
Chapter Ten
Tim saw Cassidy the second he pulled into the lot. Dressed in jeans, a silver shirt that shimmered in the sunlight and bright red boots, she stood at the entrance to the refuge. He wondered if it was the jet-black hair or the glare of the sun that made her look so pale.
He parked next to her car in the empty lot. As he strode across the gravel, stones crunched beneath his leather loafers, imparting a fine sheen of dust. He felt overdressed in his dark gray dress pants and pin-striped button down, but he’d come straight from the clinic.
“Hey, stranger. It’s good to see you,” he said, keeping it light when he drew close, resisting the urge to pull her into his arms and kiss her.
The truth was he’d missed her. A lot. Keeping his distance had proved more difficult than he’d imagined. But it had been necessary. He wasn’t looking to fall in love again or to marry, and Cassidy deserved all that and more.
While the cheeky smile she shot him was familiar, there were dark circles beneath her eyes that even makeup couldn’t disguise. Her eyes, normally bright and filled with sass, looked red rimmed and haunted.
“I realize it was short notice and a hassle, especially with the girls...” She stopped, pressing her bright red lips together as if realizing she was babbling.
“No worries.” He kept his tone conversational, his smile reassuring despite the concern bubbling up inside him.
Something was wrong. At work? With her...family? Tim vowed he would find out and do whatever he could to help. He was thankful she felt comfortable coming to him for assistance.
“Well, I appreciate your willingness to meet me.” She blinked rapidly as if trying to dislodge a speck of dust from her eyes.
The next he knew she’d spun on the heels of her boots. She started down the path that wound through the refuge at such a fast clip it took Tim several long strides to catch up to her.
Even when he reached her, she kept her gaze focused on a herd of buffalo in the far distance. Lines of tension bracketed her mouth and eyes. Whatever was troubling her was obviously serious.
They strode down the dusty path surrounded by rangeland in silence.
Finally, Tim could no longer stand the suspense. Until he knew the problem, he couldn’t help, couldn’t reassure her that all would be well. He reached over, took her arm, slowing her pace until she stopped.
“Tell me what’s wrong,” he ordered in a tone that brooked no argument.
“As if you care.”
The scorn-filled words appeared to startle her as much as him.
“I’m sorry.” She raked a shaky hand through the shiny black hair. “It’s not fair to take this out on you.”
“I care about you. That’s why I’m here. I want to help. Tell me how.” He placed his hands on her arms and searched those large, expressive eyes. The depth of fear and uncertainty reflected there surprised him. “Are you in some sort of trouble, Cass?”
“You could say that.” She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. “I’m pregnant.”
His hands dropped to his sides and, without realizing what he was doing, he took a step back.
“It’s your kid.” She lifted her chin in a defiant tilt. “I know we used condoms but I haven’t been with anyone else in...in years.”
Tim’s brilliant mind, the one that had propelled him to the top of his medical school class, dissolved into a pile of mush. He tried to form a coherent thought, but only one circled in his brain. Pregnant. Cassidy was pregnant. With his child.
“Are...are you sure?” he finally managed to sputter.
“I took a pregnancy test.” She gave a little laugh, then her voice hitched. “Actually, I’ve taken three. All were positive.”
Tim rubbed the bridge of his nose and fought for a voice that did not shake. “Have you seen a doctor?”
She shook her head and her gaze returned to the buffalo. “I prefer no one know.”
“They’ll find out eventually.”
“Perhaps.”
A cold knot formed in the pit of his stomach.
A step at a time, he reminded himself. “We can’t discuss options, ah, future plans, until we confirm the pregnancy.”
She nodded. “I’ve thought about seeing a doctor in Idaho Falls.”
That was one solution. However, it would likely take several weeks to get an appointment. Tim wanted answers now.
Though it wasn’t ideal, he had a more immediate solution. “We could go back to my office.”
Before she could respond, Tim pulled his phone from his pocket and checked the time. “Everyone should have left by now. I could do a quick check. We’d know for sure tonight.”
It had been an impulsive offer. Tim half expected her to protest. Instead her lips quirked upward.
“Kind of kinky, Duggan.”
“Not kinky.” Tim spoke quickly. “I’m a professional and—”
“Yeah, yeah.” A devilish gleam had replaced the fear in Cassidy’s blue eyes. “Do the check. I mean, it isn’t like you haven’t seen me naked.”
Tim laughed. As they strolled back to their vehicles, he took her hand, reassured when she didn’t pull away.
Yet, as he drove to his office with Cassidy’s car in his rearview mirror, Tim had the sinking feeling life as he knew it was about to change.
* * *
After the baby check was over, Cassidy suggested a walk, her thoughts racing like a sports car at full throttle. She needed to move, had to move.
She had no idea what Tim was thinking. He’d been totally professional, taking her menstrual history, doing the exam with great care and sensitivity.
When he’d finished, the bleak look in his eyes told her all she needed to know. The three positive tests hadn’t lied. She was indeed pregnant.
A baby.
Cassidy didn’t know the first thing about babies. She liked kids, sure. But to care for one, to be the one responsible for raising that child, well, that scared the heck out of her.
They entered the residential area just south of his office building, an area of green lawns and leafy trees. An area teeming with kids.
Kids on bikes.
Kids shooting baskets in the driveway.
Kids playing on porches.
Cassidy closed her eyes momentarily and shuddered.
“What are you thinking?” Tim’s tone was soft, inviting conversation.
“I’m thinking this sucks. Big-time.”
Tim nodded. A muscle jumped in his jaw. “I’ll second that assessment.”
“We used protection.” Her voice rose and anger flashed in her blue eyes. “Even in the shower.”
“We did.” Tim also recalled that, when he’d been tempted to skip the condom in the shower, Cassidy had insisted.
“No method of birth control, save abstinence, is one hundred percent effective,” he said woodenly. The response he’d given a thousand times was now all too relevant.
Cassidy gave a humorless laugh. “I can’t hit the lottery but this long shot comes in to bite me in the ass.”
“To bite us in the ass
,” Tim clarified. “We’re in this together, Cass.”
While Tim understood he had little say in her decision about how to handle this pregnancy, she needed to understand he wouldn’t abandon her.
She studied him, her expression blank, giving nothing away. “It’s my body.”
Though his heart slammed against his rib cage, Tim managed a nonchalant tone. “What does that mean?”
“It means that now that I know this is really happening, I have a lot to consider. I need to—”
Before she could say more, he held up a hand. “I meant it when I said we’re in this together. For now, and for the long haul. You can count on me. I’ll be there for you and our child.” He swallowed hard. “It might be a good idea for us to get married.”
He’d taken her by surprise, he could see that by the way her eyes flew open wide, in the moment of stunned silence.
“Marriage?” Her hand fluttered in the air. “You don’t love me.”
Love? Who said anything about love? But something in her eyes, in the vulnerable look on her face had Tim choosing his words carefully. “I like you, Cassidy. I like you a lot. And we’re going to have a baby.”
“Maybe.”
The words, spoken so casually, stole his breath. “What are you saying?”
For a second she looked puzzled. Then her eyes softened. “I simply meant that lots of women have miscarriages during the first part of their pregnancy. Right?”
Tim exhaled a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. “That sometimes happens.”
“I don’t think we need to rush into any kind of decisions,” she said. “What’s the break point?”
“Break point?”
She smiled at his obviously baffled expression. Her first genuine smile since the bomb had dropped. “When is there less of a chance of miscarriage?”
“After the first trimester the risk drops significantly.”
Cassidy nodded. “Then we’ll keep this pregnancy our little secret for now.”
He shoved his hands into his pockets, kept his tone casual. “You plan to continue it, the pregnancy, I mean.”
“I’ll continue. But I don’t know if I’ll keep it. The kid, I mean.”
Tim froze. While adoption was certainly a viable alternative, all Tim could think was this was his baby she was considering giving up.
A step at a time, he reminded himself. “You need to start prenatal care.”
Cassidy paused then gazed up at him through lowered lashes. “I realize this might be asking a lot, but will you be my doctor?”
* * *
The next few weeks Cassidy barely had time to think. She’d made it clear when they’d confirmed the pregnancy she needed time to process and she’d contact Tim when she was ready to talk further. She’d warned him that might not be until the next month when it was time for her first after-hours appointment.
Summer was crazy busy with weddings booked most weekends. She didn’t have time to be pregnant. Or to think about all the ways this might impact her life.
Every day, Cassidy tried not to think of the baby growing inside her. That had proven more difficult than she’d anticipated. Especially at first, when her breasts ached and she was exhausted all the time.
Thankfully, while fried foods tended to make her stomach churn, she hadn’t experienced much nausea. In fact, if it wasn’t for the fatigue, she’d never have felt better.
After banishing all junk food—including Oreos—from her apartment, Cassidy had given the rest of the beer in her fridge to a client. She’d taken up drinking water. Never missed a vitamin. Faithfully exercised.
Cassidy couldn’t recall ever being so healthy. This baby might have been a surprise and might not even take but she was doing her best to keep him—or her—healthy and safe.
Initially, Tim respected her request to keep his distance. Then, several weeks ago, he’d begun texting her. Every day. Little notes about what he was doing and how his day had gone. Sometimes he shared funny anecdotes about the girls.
She saw no harm in responding. The texts they exchanged quickly became something she looked forward to each day. Then, several days ago, he’d invited her to a barbecue at his parents’ home.
Thx. Sorry. Can’t.
Cassidy’s finger had been poised above the send button when she’d hesitated.
Would it be so wrong to accept? She wanted to see Tim. Texting just wasn’t the same. Last week, when they sat in that room listening to their baby’s heartbeat and he’d taken her hand, her heart had melted.
He’d made it clear how much he’d like it if she could get to know his daughters better. After all, the baby would be the twins’ half sibling. Neither of them brought up the fact she hadn’t made any decisions about their child.
But a family barbecue. At of all places, his parents’ home.
Cassidy had run across Tim’s mother recently at a fund-raiser for the library. The woman had been surprisingly cordial.
There was, of course, a simple explanation for Suzanne Duggan’s sunny mood. In the past month, there had been zero sightings of Cassidy with her son.
Her lips curved in a smile. Cassidy deleted the message she’d been about to send and keyed in a different reply.
The sound of the whoosh told her the acceptance was on its way. Cassidy only wished she could be a fly on the wall when Tim told his mother who he was bringing to dinner.
* * *
Tim was furious. Not simply angry. Not a little upset.
Furious.
He clenched his hands into fists at his sides and glared at his mother. Because of the proximity to the unexpected guests in his parents’ backyard, Tim spoke in a terse whisper. “You told me this was a family dinner.”
“It is.” Though her expression had turned wary, her tone was light and breezy. “Your father is here. Lindsey and Zach are manning the grill. And you and the girls are here.”
“As are the Connorses.” Tim fought to control the anger rising inside him. He’d finally gotten Cassidy to accept one of his invitations and now his mother pulled this stunt? “When did they become family?”
“I don’t understand why you’re upset. Cassidy Kaye isn’t part of this family, yet you invited her.” His mother turned accusing eyes in his direction. “You didn’t even ask me. Just announced she was coming.”
“With me,” Tim emphasized, holding on to his temper with both hands. “I told you she was coming as my guest.”
“Well, the Connorses are here as my guests.” Suzanne’s tight smile was unapologetic. “Besides, I think having Jayne here will be a good thing.”
“How do you figure that?”
“You’ll see Jayne and Cassidy together.” His mother’s tone was blissfully confident. “Jayne will shine by comparison.”
“Don’t be so certain.”
His mother’s perfectly arched brows pulled together in a frown. “I thought whatever was between you and that woman was done. You haven’t spoken of her in weeks, haven’t so much as mentioned her name.”
“We’ve both had difficulty finding free time.” It wasn’t entirely the truth. Yes, Cass had been busy. But the fact was, she hadn’t wanted to see him. A surprising kick to the gut. “The task force and the salon have been keeping her busy.”
Suzanne set the bowl of potato salad on the table with precise movement, her jaw set in a hard angle. “You’re telling me it’s not over between the two of you.”
“Not by a long shot.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Tim saw Cassidy step through the open gate leading to his parents’ backyard. He smiled. She reminded him of a brilliant Amazon parrot trying to go incognito as a brown wren.
Her hair hung to her shoulders in loose curls, the strands a pretty golden blond. Not a single streak of bl
ue or pink anywhere. Her clothes were also startlingly demure. Instead of the bright, flashy styles she normally wore, she had on jeans and a blue shirt. Granted, the shirt was a bright royal blue but it was still a simple cotton tee.
He found her magnificent.
“Behave yourself,” Tim warned his mother and hurried across the yard, eager to greet his guest.
Chapter Eleven
Though her smile never wavered, Cassidy froze when she saw Jayne Connors standing beside Suzanne Duggan. When Tim had said this was a family backyard barbecue, she’d expected, well, she’d assumed only family would be here.
Cassidy had spent much of her childhood feeling as if she was on the outside looking in, so this unease was nothing new. But the disappointment that surged strong and fast took her by surprise.
She hadn’t planned to come at all. While she had to admit it was nice seeing Tim, just because she was pregnant with his baby didn’t mean they had to hang out. Other than, of course, when necessary.
Like last week when she’d slipped into Tim’s office late one night for a brief encounter of the medical kind. When the strong, fast heartbeat of the baby—their child—had filled the room, she hadn’t been able to keep the goofy grin from her lips. She might have been embarrassed if the same grin hadn’t lifted Tim’s mouth, as well...
“I’m glad you came. For a second I thought you might have changed your mind.”
Cassidy shifted and saw a hint of uncertainty in the familiar hazel eyes. Instead of taking a step forward—which was a completely ridiculous impulse—she simply smiled.
“Thanks for the invite.” Pulling her gaze from Tim, Cassidy glanced around the large fenced backyard.
Her eyes were immediately drawn to the gorgeous patio. Edged with flowers that were either fake or on steroids, she noted the plants were placed strategically for maximum visual impact. Despite all the weddings Cassidy had attended, she had no idea what kind of flowers they were or which one of the colorful varieties was emitting such an enticing fragrance.
