Baby by Surprise

by Karen Rose Smith

  “I suppose so. It’s just that we’re so very different. You know what I came from. He’s satisfied to be back in Sagebrush and doesn’t want to live anywhere else. I’ve always wanted to see more of the world. Just because I have a child doesn’t mean I can’t do that.” She paused, then added, “Tessa, I just…I don’t trust him. I can’t.”

  “You don’t trust men in the generic sense. Grady is one man. One awfully rugged, handsome Texan, don’t you think?”

  Francesca groaned and dropped her face into her hands, with her elbows on the counter. “I don’t believe in fairy tales, remember? So don’t start weaving one.”

  “I think Vince and I, and Emily and Jared, have found our happily-ever-afters. Why don’t you think you can?”

  “Because there are too many obstacles to overcome, too many memories I’d have to wipe away, too many doubts that are always with me. No man would want to take them on. And Grady? I think he has walls of his own. Even with that terrific family of his.”

  “Do you know anything about his life before he settled in Sagebrush again?”

  “Not much. Just that he was an investment banker in Chicago. His sister told me he was all set for a promotion and then something happened.”

  Francesca raised her gaze to Tessa’s again. “He gave up that life and now he could really focus on raising a child. Maybe he’s being nice to me just because of the baby. I have to be careful about that.”

  “You don’t think he’d try and take physical custody away from you?”

  Francesca’s heart practically stopped at the thought and a chill crept up her spine. “You never know. I don’t want to give him grounds. But I also want to live my life in a way that’s best for me and the baby. I don’t want to have to worry about his approval or disapproval.”

  Tessa crossed to her and put her arm around her. “You don’t have to make all the heavy decisions tonight.”

  Francesca glanced sideways at her.

  They both smiled. “No, I guess I don’t,” she said.

  But she knew she was going to have to make major decisions…very soon.

  Chapter Seven

  Francesca sat across from Darren in the café at the Family Tree Health Center the following afternoon, comparing him to Grady in spite of herself.

  Both were good-looking men, both had an air of confidence about them. But after that the comparisons ended. Darren’s hair was cut short and neat. His curious gaze now even held some interest. She didn’t want that interest.

  They’d talked about one of his cases for a good fifteen minutes, but now he pushed the folder aside. She realized the conversation was going to shift to the personal when he said, “You’re looking good.”

  “I’m feeling good. And if we’re finished talking about your case, I really have to be going.”

  “Important date in the middle of the afternoon?”

  He’d tried to keep the question light, but there was an edge behind it. She’d learned how to read that edge. It took root in the fact that he wasn’t in control and he didn’t like it.

  “If by a date you mean an appointment, yes, I’m going to look at day-care facilities.”

  “With the baby’s father?”

  She could shoot back that that information was none of his business, but she kept her tone neutral. “No, with a friend.” She pushed back her chair.

  “Tessa Rossi?”

  As she stood, she felt defensive and she replied bluntly, “Darren, it’s really not your concern.”

  He acted nonchalant. “Just trying to make friendly conversation.”

  She thought about all the friendly conversations they’d indulged in at the beginning of their relationship…even the first month she’d moved in with him. But then friendly had transformed into these questions with the edge underneath. He’d been suspicious of where she’d gone, what she’d done and with whom she’d done it. Their comingling lives had become about his schedule, his cases, his upward climb at the hospital, his likes and dislikes from movies to restaurants. She’d found she was losing herself. Finally when he’d laid his hands on her in anger, the scared little girl inside her had pushed out of her closet and run for dear life.

  Suddenly Darren seemed to realize he’d reverted to an old pattern. “I just want to know how you are, Francesca. When I heard you were in an accident, I was worried. Just because we split up doesn’t mean I stopped caring.”

  When Darren was his charming self, he always wanted something. She didn’t know what he wanted now, but she wasn’t going to wait around to find out.

  “Thank you for your concern, but I’m fine, really. And I have to be going.”

  With another forced smile, she rose and headed past the ledge lined with pothos ivy and a bird-of-paradise potted plant…out of the café. She was escaping again. She knew that. But wasn’t that the best route to take?

  At the doorway she turned left and practically ran headlong into Gina Rigoletti. “Gina, I’m sorry. I was distracted.”

  “You look distracted. Actually, I was searching you out. Somebody told me you’d come down here. I wanted to make sure Emily was still picking you up and you didn’t need a ride home.”

  “She’s still picking me up.”

  Gina studied her. “Are you okay? You look a little pale.”

  Everybody was asking her if she was okay. She appreciated their concern and their kindness, but all of it was becoming a little unsettling. So she told the truth. “I just had a consultation with Darren Whitcomb about a patient. But he and I were involved once and it was a little unnerving.”

  The two women had started walking along the sunny yellow walls. Gina stopped in a small alcove with two leather chairs that looked out a plate-glass window over the grounds. “Even the thought of exes can be unnerving,” she said solemnly.

  Francesca gave her a questioning glance. She knew Gina had moved back to Sagebrush not so long ago, and she was staying with her parents.

  “Do you have a few minutes?” Gina asked.

  “I have about fifteen unless I’m paged.”

  That morning Gina had seemed distracted on their drive to Family Tree, but Francesca hadn’t asked questions. They’d had several conversations and were becoming friends, but she didn’t want to poke into private areas.

  Francesca took a good look at Gina now. She was a beautiful young woman with black curly hair. Head of the baby development center, she was an expert in her field and mostly spent her time working with children who were developing more slowly than they should be.

  Gina looked hesitant now. “I wondered—are you looking for a housemate? I just love your Victorian house. I know you had housemates who moved out.”

  “I didn’t think anyone would want to live with a new mother and an infant!”

  “I work with infants and toddlers. I love them. I wouldn’t mind that at all.”

  “Even the interrupted sleep?”

  Gina laughed. “Well, let’s just say my dad snores and my mom has insomnia. My sleep has been interrupted since I returned to Sagebrush.”

  Francesca liked Gina. She also missed Tessa and Emily.

  “I’d understand if you need to think about it—” Gina ventured.

  Instinct made the decision. “I don’t need to think about it. When would you like to move in?”

  A grin broke across Gina’s face. “I brought up the subject with Mom last week about finding my own place. She and Dad would really like me to stay through the holidays. So why don’t we say the first week in January?”

  “That sounds great.” Francesca checked her watch. “I think my fifteen minutes are up. We can talk about this more tomorrow.”

  The unexpected happened more often than not. As she and Gina went their separate ways, the possibility of finding a new friend in Gina made her smile. She’d have to introduce her to Tessa and Emily.

  On Friday afternoon, Francesca waved to Tessa as she drove away from Laurie’s duplex. Grady’s sister had phoned her and asked if she’d b
e interested in baby furniture her kids no longer needed. Francesca had told her she’d stop by after a doctor’s appointment with the endocrinologist Tessa had driven her to. Laurie had offered to drive her home.

  Francesca hated depending on others. But that concern was miniscule compared with what the diabetes specialist had reminded her of. Gestational diabetes could lead to premature delivery or an overly large baby. She had to take care of herself down to the letter. More exercise for one thing. She was going shopping for a treadmill tonight even if she had to do it online!

  To her surprise, before she could even ring the doorbell, a truck pulled up to the curb. It was Grady’s!

  She waited to push the bell. As he approached, she asked, “What are you doing here?”

  “Laurie called me. She thought you might need someone to lift and carry.”

  Was his sister playing matchmaker? Had Grady told Laurie that Francesca might push him out of her life?

  Instead of ringing the bell or opening the door, he commented, “I heard you were visiting day-care centers.”

  “You heard? How?”

  “Sagebrush is a small town. One of my customers saw you going into Wee Care Day Care.”

  “And he or she ran back and told you? How did they even know you were the father?”

  “I’m not keeping it a secret. Are you?”

  “No, but I’ve always kept my private life private. I don’t put it onstage for the whole world to see.”

  And they both knew why that was. She’d learned the lesson well from her mother.

  “Frannie, my customers have been my customers for years. Many of them are friends.”

  Whenever he used her name like that she felt all warm and melty inside. Then she thought about her conversation with Darren on Monday and how their relationship had ended so differently than it had begun. Why would she think Grady would be any different? Wasn’t he demanding some sort of control now?

  “Did anyone also tell you I went to Little People’s Day Care and Rainbow Day Care in Lubbock, too?”

  He frowned. “No. Why so many? Why any at all? If we had talked about this I could have told you—” He stopped when he saw her expression. “What?”

  “I scouted out facilities because I knew they might have waiting lists, and they did. Do you expect me to discuss my every step with you?” She knew she sounded defensive. She knew she might even be picking a fight. But she didn’t want to feel trapped, or watched over and especially not controlled.

  Grady gently took her by the shoulders and looked into her eyes. “Whoa. I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I suspect it isn’t good. If you had told me, I could have mentioned that Laurie knows the woman who runs Rainbow Day Care in Lubbock. She has great credentials. But she doesn’t take on babies until they’re at least six months old.”

  “I know. That’s why I’m also looking at other options. Vince and Tessa’s housekeeper/nanny, Mrs. Zappa, is wonderful. Vince found her through a service. I was thinking of maybe going that route.” The heat from Grady’s hands warmed her through and through. Maybe he didn’t want control. Maybe he just needed to be involved.

  “I have another suggestion.” His face wasn’t very far from hers. “My mother said she’d consider minding our baby if you went back to work.”

  Francesca didn’t know what to say to that. Grady’s intense blue eyes staring into hers stirred up deep emotions, and she still didn’t know why.

  “Taking care of a baby would tie her down,” she murmured.

  “I don’t think she’d care—she offered. But you can talk to her yourself about it if you’re interested.”

  Was she interested? Did she want to become even more entangled with Grady’s family?

  “I know what you’re thinking. You don’t know if you want me or my family in your life.”

  She’d never thought she was so obvious. But with Grady—He saw behind the walls and the excuses.

  “We can’t act as if we’re a couple, because we’re not,” she protested, leaning away.

  He released her shoulders and stepped back. “No, we’re not. And I can see your point. But if you want to go back to work, you have to find someone you can trust.”

  “I want to think about it.”

  “That’s fair.” He put his hand on the doorknob.

  Impulsively, she clasped his arm. “Grady…I told you about my background and it wasn’t easy. At some point I’d like you to tell me about yours.”

  He dropped his hand to his side. “You already know how I grew up.”

  “I do. But I don’t know other things. Were you involved in serious relationships? If you want to be a dad, why haven’t you ever married?”

  He tipped down the front brim of his Stetson and she knew what that meant. He was uncomfortable and would rather not talk about it. He hedged. “This isn’t the time or place.”

  “Will there be a time and place?” she asked quietly.

  “We’ll see.”

  Yes, they would see. Because she wouldn’t let it go. She felt transparent with him, as if she’d given a lot more than he had. She needed to know Grady’s romantic history. She needed to know what had kept him from becoming a family man before now.

  “Did you ask her?” Laurie targeted her brother.

  “No, I thought I’d let you do that.”

  Laurie lived in a town house. As soon as Francesca and Grady had walked inside, she’d thrown her question at him.

  Seth, Laurie’s three-year-old, came running toward Grady full-bore and wrapped his arms around Grady’s knees. “Uncle Grady! Uncle Grady! Let’s play horsey.”

  He picked up his nephew and held him high in his arms. “Just a minute, cowboy. I might have to do some talking first.”

  The little boy wrinkled his nose at him, gave him a kiss on the cheek and then squiggled in his arms to be let down.

  Francesca had to smile despite the trepidation. The talking would likely cover his mother babysitting. Maybe both he and Laurie were going to try to convince her.

  “Grady told me your mother offered to babysit,” she said to Laurie, wanting to be up-front.

  “Oh, he did? Well, I guess Mom’s disappointed because I decided to stay home with Mark and Seth until they’re both in school. Jenna did the same with Marly. I think Mom would have liked to have her own family day-care center.”

  Laurie glanced toward Seth, who was occupied in one corner of the living room with LEGOs. “No, this isn’t about babysitting. I have some baby clothes besides the crib, play saucer and swing. The kids were in and out of them before I hardly had a chance to wash them. They grow so fast.”

  Francesca had to start thinking about saving for a college fund, and she still had school loans to repay. Everything would change with this baby, especially if she took time off. She’d saved money wisely over the past few years, but that wouldn’t last forever.

  “Yes, I’m interested. I’d love to see what you have.”

  “The crib, the saucer and the swing are in the shed out back. They should fit in Grady’s truck if you want to take them along.”

  “I’d like to pay you for them.”

  “Absolutely not. When you’re finished with them, maybe you can find someone else who can use them. If not, I’m sure I can. As long as they’re in good condition, we’ll just keep passing them on.”

  “I like that idea.”

  Laurie motioned to her to come sit on the sofa. “Do you have time to look through the clothes and see what you want and what you don’t?”

  Francesca’s eyes met Grady’s. He shrugged. “I have time.”

  Making time for what he felt was important seemed to be easy for him. Would he do that for his son?

  “Those are deep thoughts,” Grady said when she hadn’t spoken for a few moments.

  “Not so deep.” She ducked her head to the box and opened the flaps. But Grady wasn’t going to let her get away with that.

  “We’ll talk later.”

  That was eithe
r a promise or a warning.

  A small smile played on Laurie’s lips as she took in their interchange and opened a second box.

  While Grady let Seth climb on his back to play horsey, Laurie went through the clothes with Francesca. She looked through terry cloth play sets, footed pajamas, even a winter bunting that would be just right for the time when her baby would be born. She held up a little shirt decorated with a helicopter and the blue jeans to go with it.

  “Not only does Mom like to babysit, she likes to buy baby clothes. I thought I’d warn you before the baby’s born, because she’ll have a few gifts,” Laurie said.

  Francesca was absolutely amazed by the generosity of this family. The way they thought about each other and others, the way they worked together, was a stark contrast to her parents and their attitudes and what they’d had and didn’t have. “Your family amazes me.”

  “Because of our sheer numbers?”

  Francesca laughed. “Yes, but…also just by who they are. I didn’t have a lot growing up, and my mother didn’t reach out to others very much. So your generosity just kind of bemuses me.”

  “You’re generous.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You are. Look at the field you’ve gone into—saving newborn lives.”

  Francesca ran her fingers over the embroidered duck on an infant shirt. “There’s something about a baby that makes the rest of the world good again. I have to do whatever I can.”

  “I think Grady’s afraid to believe you are what you seem,” Laurie confided in almost a whisper.

  Francesca kept her voice low under little Seth’s laughter. “Why?”

  “He’ll have to tell you that. He’s a good guy, Francesca. Being a guy, he can be a little arrogant and patronizing and impatient sometimes. But he’s a good guy.”

  He’d been patient with her. But the uncertainty of visitation rights loomed. Were they the reason he was putting his best foot forward?

  That same question continued to nag Francesca an hour later as she stood in the guest room that she’d chosen for the nursery and waited for Grady to bring up the crib.

  When he carried it into the room, he stopped and met her gaze. Her breathing came faster. An electric charge filled the air.