by Judy Duarte
To be honest, even if she didn’t have a single thing on her to-do list, she planned to make herself scarce today. She had to escape the intensity in his gaze, which reached deep inside of her, making her question every word she’d ever said, anything she’d ever done and each emotion she’d ever felt. So she would stay away from the ranch until late that evening.
But first she had a very important stop to make.
Ian had suggested it last night on the way home from the Stagecoach Inn, but she’d refused to even consider it then. He was the last person she wanted with her when she purchased a home pregnancy test. But now that she was on her own, she could hardly wait to buy one and see what it had to say.
Fifteen minutes later, she pulled into the parking lot of the largest drugstore in Wexler. Then she slipped on a pair of sunglasses, hoping to avoid being recognized by anyone who might possibly know her, and headed for the entrance.
She’d be darned if she was going to get into the checkout lane with only one item in her hand, particularly a pregnancy test, so she grabbed a small red basket, hung the handle over her arm, and walked up and down the aisles until she’d filled it with stuff she really didn’t need.
Along the way, she picked up a box of chocolates, peach-scented lotion and a get-well card for Braden’s grandpa. She added deodorant, toothpaste and tampons, which she thought was a clever way to throw off suspicion. Then she headed for the shelves that held her primary reason for the shopping venture and snatched the first box she spotted, not taking the time to read the claims or directions on the box.
As nonchalantly as she could, she made her way to the checkout lanes.
If the clerk at the register thought anything strange about her purchase, she didn’t blink an eye. Instead, she tallied the total and waited for Carly to count out the cash.
Moments later, Carly was out the door and pondering her next step. She could wait until she was at home tonight and in the privacy of her own room to take the test, but she’d probably die of anticipation in the meantime.
But where should she go?
As she climbed into her truck, she noticed a fast food restaurant to the right—Billy Bob’s Burgers. They’d have a public restroom inside, which made the ordeal feel pretty clandestine. But that seemed like the best option since she didn’t want to wait another minute.
She parked near the entrance, went inside and placed an order for a breakfast burrito and an orange juice. Then she headed for the ladies’ room and chose a stall.
Her fingers trembled as she took the box from her purse, tore into it and read the instructions. After following the directions, she placed the small, plastic apparatus on top of a folded paper towel, then set it on the shelf where she’d left her purse and waited. Apparently, it was supposed to take several minutes for a positive line to show up, but the answer formed almost immediately.
She blinked twice, hoping to get a better read, but there was no doubting the results.
Pregnant.
As the line brightened like a neon sign, her heart raced. That couldn’t be right. Could it? Dr. Connor had told her it wasn’t likely that she’d ever conceive. But the plastic apparatus on the shelf argued otherwise.
The doctor had been wrong.
Or was it the test? Maybe it was a false positive.
The door to the restroom opened and closed, indicating someone else had come in. Carly needed to get out of here, but she couldn’t seem to make her feet work.
She was...pregnant? She wasn’t sure if she should laugh or cry. She supposed she’d get used to the idea with time. But if she was actually going to have a baby, what in the world would she tell Ian?
* * *
Somehow Carly stumbled through the morning. She’d managed to drink her juice, but she’d yet to remove her breakfast burrito from the bag. Apparently, the results of the pregnancy test had stolen her appetite.
She was still determined to avoid going home so she didn’t have to face Ian, who deserved to know the truth. But until she was able to wrap her own mind around the news and figure out some sort of game plan, she wasn’t ready to tell him anything.
For that reason, she’d gone window shopping on Wexler Boulevard. She was studying a bright red dress on a blonde mannequin in the window of the new women’s shop that opened recently when her cell phone rang. She pulled the iPhone from her purse and glanced at the display.
She didn’t feel like talking to anyone, but her mother didn’t call often, so she probably ought to take it. If Carly had a normal mom, she might be tempted to share her news—or rather, her confusion. But Carly and Raelynn had never had that kind of relationship.
“Hey, there,” Carly said. “How’s it going, Raelynn?”
The country singer turned oilman’s wife paused for a beat. “You know, darlin’, it’s okay now for you to call me Mom or Mama.”
Maybe so, but old habits were hard to break.
And relationships were what they were.
“How’s David?” Carly asked. Her mother had fallen hard for her second husband, hard enough to give up her singing career. Or maybe she just yearned for another spotlight these days—the wife of a bigwig senator.
“He’s doing fine—and gearing up for reelection. So we’ve had a slew of dinner parties and fundraisers to attend. Thankfully, we’re flying to London later on this month, which will be a nice break. But I called to check on you.”
That was nice—yet a little unexpected.
“I was in San Antonio last night with some friends,” Raelynn added, “and we tried to attend your show.”
That was an even bigger surprise. Raelynn usually hadn’t found the time to attend any of Carly’s performances before—even when she’d been a child in school.
“The director told me you’d gotten sick and quit,” Raelynn added. “What happened? And where are you?”
Her mother’s concern touched her, yet she wasn’t about to go into detail. “I got a persistent case of the stomach flu and had to leave the show. I’ve been staying at the Leaning R.”
“Are you feeling better now?”
“Yes, I am. Thanks.” But the revelation of another diagnosis was on the horizon, one Carly doubted her mother could possibly be prepared for. She’d just given Carly permission to call her Mom, but how would she feel about someone calling her Grandma?
“You know,” Raelynn said, her voice lacking the Southern twang that had been her trademark on the stage. “You’re always welcome to come to Houston and stay with David and me. We have plenty of room. You can even housesit while we’re gone.”
While she appreciated the offer, that was out of the question. It wasn’t that Carly didn’t like Senator David Crowder. He was as charming as her father had been—maybe even more so. Nor had she held on to a childish wish that her parents had stayed together. They really hadn’t been suited.
But Carly had never been comfortable staying at her stepfather’s house. Not that she’d felt truly at home in Raelynn’s elegant townhouse prior to their marriage, either.
“Thanks for the offer,” Carly said, “but I’m helping Jason inventory Granny’s belongings.” That was true, of course. And the best reason to give her mother. She might not have ever been especially close to Raelynn, but there was no reason to hurt her feelings.
“How is your brother?” Raelynn asked. “I’ll bet he’s been busy since Charles died. He’s in charge of the estate, isn’t he?”
“Yes, and he’s fine. He married Juliana Bailey, an old friend of mine, last weekend. They’re on their honeymoon.”
“I don’t remember her.”
Why would she? Raelynn had been on tour so often that she’d scarcely remembered she even had a daughter.
“Juliana grew up on a ranch here in Brighton Valley,” Carly said. “She and I used to ride horses togethe
r whenever I stayed with Granny at the Leaning R.”
“So where did Jason take his new bride?” Raelynn asked.
“To Mexico.” Carly wasn’t going to tell her mother about the family mystery or how Braden had learned their father had been looking for a woman named Camilla Cruz when he’d died down in that car accident six months ago.
When Braden learned this his grandfather was ill, he had to return home, but not before finding out Camilla had died and that her two young children had been placed in an orphanage. So Jason and his new bride had continued the search for the kids.
“You’d think Jason could be more imaginative and take his wife to Tahiti or to Paris—somewhere romantic. But then again, when it really mattered, your father wasn’t very romantic, either.”
Carly let the comment go unchallenged and tried to come up with another topic.
Raelynn gave a little snort. “I always feared that boy would grow up just like Charles. Now he’s dragged his new wife on a business trip and he’s masking it as a honeymoon.”
That wasn’t true. Jason told Carly he planned to take Juliana on a real honeymoon once they located Camilla’s children. But there was no need to defend him at this point. The truth would come out one of these days.
Raelynn had falsely assumed that Charles had been in Mexico, working on some big business venture, when he’d had that accident. And it was just as well that she did. She had a tendency to repeat tales, but not before adding a little to them.
Besides, Raelynn had always had hard feelings toward Charles after their split. In fact, their divorce had taken several years to settle. Too bad their courtship hadn’t lasted long enough for them to realize just how ill-suited they were and saved each other the trouble.
Carly had only been eight at the time, but she didn’t remember being too affected by their breakup. She hadn’t seen much of either parent when they’d been together. As a result, she’d grown up in their shadows. Was it any wonder she wanted to break free and do something on her own?
“Well, I suppose I’d better let you go,” Raelynn said. “I have a hair appointment at eleven, then a lunch date with Claire, Senator Dobson’s wife.”
“Have fun.”
“How about you?” Raelynn asked. “Do you have any special plans today?”
“No. Nothing out of the ordinary.”
In fact, the only thing she had going on in the near future was figuring out a way to break the news to Ian that he was going to be a father.
And making an appointment on Monday with the woman who’d been Carly’s gynecologist before opening a family medical practice. The doctor who’d told her it wasn’t likely that she’d ever get pregnant.
* * *
Bright and early Monday morning, at least as far as Carly was concerned, she called Dr. Selena Connor’s office. After she told the receptionist about the positive pregnancy test and her fainting spell, the woman asked when she’d had her last period.
“I’ll have to check my calendar, since I’ve had a couple of light ones lately, but if you’re trying to figure out how far along I am, I can’t possibly be less than four months.”
“Have you had any prenatal care?” the woman asked.
“I only learned that I was pregnant yesterday,” Carly said. “Unless those home tests aren’t accurate.”
“You’d be more apt to get a false negative,” the receptionist said. “Let’s get you in here as soon as possible.” After a slight pause, she added, “Dr. Connor is going on a short vacation, starting tomorrow, but we can squeeze you in at two o’clock this afternoon. Will that work?”
So soon? Everything seemed to be happening at record speed. And instead of waiting nine months for a baby, she’d only have to wait five.
“That’ll be fine. I’ll see you then.”
With that call out of the way, Carly made a cup of herbal tea. She’d just buttered a toasted English muffin when Ian knocked at the back door.
“Come on in,” she called to him.
He entered the kitchen through the mudroom, Cheyenne tagging along behind him, panting as her short legs tried to keep up. He stood with his hat in hand, a slight furrow in his brow. “Good morning. How are you feeling?”
She offered him a smile. “I’m fine.” But then again, with the handsome cowboy’s eyes caressing her, taunting her—and yes, questioning the truth of her answer—she was feeling all kinds of things that could make her lightheaded enough to swoon.
“Did you get that doctor’s appointment?” he asked.
“Yes, I did. It’s at two o’clock this afternoon.”
“Would you like me to take you?”
No way. Not when she knew that he’d pressure her to find out what she’d already learned. When she told him, she wanted to be prepared for his reaction—and any questions he might have about the future.
“Thanks,” she said, “but I’ll drive myself.”
When he cocked his head, as if doubting her decision, she added, “I’ll be okay.”
“I’m not so sure about that.”
Really. Couldn’t he just let it go? The last thing she needed was to have him sitting with her in the waiting room. Of course, she might be sorry she’d declined his offer, which actually had been sweet, if Dr. Connor gave her bad news or a startling, unexpected diagnosis.
Ian continued to study her, his gaze picking at loose threads in her heart.
Shaking his inspection, which was sure to unravel her, she asked, “Can I fix you coffee—or maybe an English muffin?”
“No, thanks. I ate a couple of hours ago.”
Of course he had. His days always began at the crack of dawn, and she was a night owl. In fact, when they’d been a couple and sleeping together, he’d always slipped out of bed quietly, not wanting to wake her.
A mental picture of the two of them in bed began to form in her mind. But this time they weren’t sleeping.
Ian had been a considerate lover. An amazingly good one, too. But there was more to life than sex.
Yet as his musk and leather scent taunted her and attraction sparked between them, she wasn’t so sure about that.
Ian, on the other hand, merely slipped on his hat, turned for the door and strode out of the house with a sexy cowboy swagger, the little wannabe cattle dog bounding out behind him.
Okay, she had to admit that in the scheme of things great sex had its perks and should never be underrated. But she couldn’t stew about that now. Not without complicating her life all over again.
For the next hour, Carly went over the inventory list Juliana had left behind. After realizing that it wasn’t just the attic that was untouched, but that no one had even begun to pack the basement yet, she turned on the light and headed downstairs. Then she got busy assessing the various antiques and the boxes the Rayburn family had been storing for a couple of generations.
Only trouble was, she hadn’t been able to focus on anything other than what the doctor might say this afternoon. So, rather than waste her energy, she returned upstairs, took a shower and headed into town early.
Since she had plenty of time to kill, she drove through Hamburger Junction and ordered a grilled chicken sandwich and a drink. Then she went to the office building next to the Brighton Valley Medical Center, parked under the shade of an elm and tried to force herself to eat something even though her tummy was jumbled.
At one thirty, she walked across the parking lot to the redbrick building that housed various doctors’ offices. Once inside the lobby, she took the elevator to the second floor, where Selena Connor practiced family medicine in room 204.
As Carly stepped out the elevator doors, she spotted Shannon Miller, Braden’s mother, standing outside another physician’s office, next to a man wearing a light blue dress shirt and a stylish tie. The white lab coat he wore suggeste
d he was a doctor.
She’d always liked Braden’s mom, who’d gotten pregnant by Carly’s dad right after she’d graduated from high school. The wealthy businessman had charmed the young woman into an affair while he was still married to Jason’s mom.
Of course, Carly hadn’t been born when it happened, but she’d heard the whispers ever since. Apparently it had been quite the town scandal.
When Shannon, whose eyes were red-rimmed, spotted Carly exiting the elevator, she waved her over and introduced her to Dr. Erik Chandler, saying he was an “old friend.”
Carly greeted the doctor, then turned to Shannon. “I was sorry to hear that your father isn’t doing well.”
Shannon tucked a strand of brown hair behind her ear. “It’s been tough. The hospice nurse said she couldn’t be sure, but she thinks he only has a week or two left. But his affairs are in order. So at least that’s one less thing for Braden and me to stress about.”
Dr. Chandler placed a comforting hand on Shannon’s back. “I need to get back to my patients, but I’ll stop by the house this evening.”
She offered the man a smile that made her look younger than her forty-six years. “Thank you, Erik. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
The handsome doctor cupped her cheek. “You’re one of the strongest women I know, Shannon. I’ll see you later.” Then he headed down the hall.
When a door shut behind them, Shannon said, “Erik and I dated for a while in high school, then he left for college. He’s only recently come back to town, but he’s been very supportive and helpful. A real blessing, actually.”
Carly could understand that, even though the doctor had been right—Shannon was strong. She’d raised Braden on her own, in spite of the town-wide rumors calling her a home wrecker.
After Carly’s parents had divorced, Carly had spent summers and holidays at the Leaning R with Granny. She couldn’t remember how many times Shannon would invite her over to hang out with Braden. And at Christmas, she always bought presents for both Carly and Jason.
