by Rita Herron
The bell chimed again. "You'd better go see who it is, Seth."
"All right. You wait here and think about the room and what kind of furniture you'd like while I get rid of whoever's there."
Mimi nodded, and a slight moment of anxiety attacked him. She still hadn't said yes to his proposal, he realized as he raced for the door.
* * *
Mimi stared at the teardrop diamond glittering on her finger, then the spacious room painted her favorite color, and the stack of consumer reports and furniture catalogs. She felt so overwhelmed a lump lodged in her throat. She did love Seth, she could no longer deny it, yet he still had never used the L-word. Although, he had shown her he cared—he'd tried to be impulsive in planning their dates, he'd even bought new underwear and that ridiculous Hawaiian shirt, and had made friends with her animals. He must love her. Surely he wouldn't go to this much trouble if he was only acting out of a sense of responsibility.
Her gaze rested on a big teddy bear perched on a blue-and-yellow wooden rocking horse, making the room come alive and look playful, something she would never have imagined Seth choosing. But that stack of catalogs in the corner of the floor mocked her, screaming out the differences between the two of them.
Seth was so prepared, already planning and thinking of everything, while she felt at a loss, like a failure because she hadn't thought of anything the baby would need. She'd been too busy thinking about herself and the changes in her life and the audition and now … what kind of career she would have. Would she continue managing the café for the rest of her life? Quit work and become Seth's wife? Jump from letting Hannah and her father take care of her to letting Seth?
Shaken by the thought, she tiptoed to the doorway, heard Seth's parents' voices in the foyer and decided to stay out of sight. Taking a deep breath, she stepped back into Seth's bedroom, trying to picture herself living in this house. Lying in his bed at night, sharing the bathroom, raising their child here, her things scattered around… Would her disorganization drive Seth crazy?
The house was spacious, with lots of windows and natural light, and if she added a few splashes of color here and there and got rid of some of his uncomfortable furniture, especially that hideous pea-green love seat, it could be extraordinary. Her gaze fell on a stack of books beside Seth's bed, and she walked over to examine them, half expecting some psychology textbooks. Odd. Instead, a book on dating topped the pile. Curious, she thumbed through the book. Her pulse jumped. Certain sections had been highlighted in yellow.
Favorite Dates. For a fun, innovative change, try an evening of Putt-Putt golf. Surprise your girl with tickets to her favorite concert. Take her to the zoo.
The dates listed were the same as the days Seth had arranged their outings—spontaneous, huh?
Seth's laptop stood open on the desk. Curious, she glanced at the screen and saw the title of his entry—Every Baby Needs a Daddy. Plan to Win Mimi. Her breath stalled in her lungs. The first paragraph described his desire to raise his baby and be a part of its life. He'd even scribbled notes—advice from Wiley? Her father had talked to Seth? What had he done? Threatened him with a shotgun if he didn't marry her? Anger and hurt welled up in her chest.
She searched the folder for any sign that Seth really wanted her, any note that he loved her and hadn't been strong-armed by her father or acting out of his sense of responsibility, but no. He'd very methodically and carefully outlined a plan to win her affection, detailing each date, when to send flowers, when he should spring the proposal. It was nothing more than a business plan.
Mimi's heart thundered with fury. Seth hadn't fallen in love with her at all. The big lug had formulated a well-ordered plan to sucker her in so he could gain access to his baby. He should have been the actor, not her. And she'd fallen for every ploy. Even worse, she'd fallen in love with him!
She was so angry she was shaking. Uncaring now whether his parents were privy to her relationship with Seth, she stomped into the foyer.
"Mimi?" Seth looked agitated, as if he'd been arguing with his parents.
"Miss Hartwell, what are you doing here?" Mr. Broadhurst asked.
Mrs. Broadhurst smiled a brittle smile. "Yes, it's a little early, isn't it?"
"I—"
"My parents and I were discussing the funding for the support group," Seth said, cutting her off. He pulled her toward him, and draped his arm around her shoulders. "And Mimi's here because I invited her. Father, Mother, Mimi and I are getting married."
"What?" Mrs. Broadhurst brought a hand to her forehead as if she might faint. "She would be an embarrassment to the family."
"You can forget the money for the support group if you marry her," Mr. Broadhurst snarled.
Mimi decided to save the project and save Seth's mother from any more theatrics. Besides, family was everything, and she'd never forgive herself if she came between Seth and his parents. She would never fit in with them, either. "Don't worry, Mr. and Mrs. Broadhurst, your son is mistaken." She turned to Seth, her heart breaking. "Seth, we'll work out some kind of shared custody for the baby, but—"
"The baby!" Mrs. Broadhurst screeched.
"Good Lord, son, you haven't…" Mr. Broadhurst swiped at his forehead.
Mimi tossed Seth's ring at him, along with the book on dating and a copy of the computer notes. The words he'd written about her father taunted her—"Wiley convinced me that I need to be part of my child's life."
"We're not getting married. Ever."
"But, Mimi. I thought you were starting to care for me."
"Remember, Seth, I'm an actress." Mimi grabbed his car keys, slammed out of the house and climbed into his car, not caring if he reported it stolen. It would be just one more charge to add to the charge she'd be slapped with once she finished with her meddling father.
* * *
Chapter 18
« ^ »
Seth's first instinct was to run after Mimi, but she'd taken his car, so he was virtually stranded with his parents. And she'd only been acting? But why?
Because he'd kept reminding her that they were responsible people who should do what was right for the baby. He'd basically guilted her into trying to make a relationship work.
A relationship she'd made clear she didn't want.
"At least the girl is showing some sense," his mother said, digging the knife into his bleeding heart even deeper. "She knows she won't fit into our lifestyle. And heaven forbid—we'd have to invite her father to the club!"
"Have you discussed alternatives to this pregnancy?" his father asked.
Seth stared at his parents, appalled. His stomach churned at his father's insensitive, uncaring suggestion. This was his grandchild he was discussing, as if the baby were nothing but a bad investment he could dump without reservation.
"Mother, I can't believe you pride yourself on good manners and etiquette when you are so rude and arrogant."
His mother gasped and clutched her chest.
He glared at his father. "And I can't believe you'd even hint that I would think of an 'alternative.' Then again, from the example you two set as parents, I shouldn't be surprised. At least Wiley Hartwell loves his daughters and isn't afraid to show it."
"Son, I don't know what that tramp did to you," his father said, "but you're thinking with your lower anatomy now, not your brain. When a little time has passed, you'll see we're right."
Seth stabbed at his father with his finger, fury in every word. "I will never think you're right. I love that woman and I intend to marry her." Her words knifed through him again, the pain still raw. "If my friends don't like it, then I'll find new ones." He lowered his voice to a lethal tone. "And if you or your friends don't like it, then I don't need you in my life. And neither will your grandchild."
"But you can't even be sure this baby is yours!"
"That's right," his father said smugly. "Have you asked for paternity tests? The girl may just be after your money."
Seth seethed. "The baby's mine. I don't have to ask her
because I know." He jabbed his father in the chest again, grinding out every word. "And don't you ever insinuate anything so vile about the woman I love again." He hesitated when he realized what he'd just said. It was true. He loved Mimi. He just hadn't been able to tell her. His father started to speak, but he cut him off, his tone lethal. "Mimi is not the one who's obsessed with money—you two are."
His mother gaped. "Well, I never!"
His father's nostrils flared. "You'll regret this decision one day. Then you'll come crawling back to us."
Seth forced a smile and pointed to the door, indicating he wanted his parents to leave. "The only thing I regret is that I didn't marry Mimi Hartwell sooner."
And that I didn't succeed in making her fall in love with me.
* * *
Hell had no fury like Mimi Hartwell on the warpath. She barreled into her father's office, ignoring the shocked looks of two of his salespeople. Her heart ached so badly, it had become a physical pain shooting all the way through her. "I have a bone to pick with you, Dad."
Wiley's ruddy skin turned as red as his bright crimson jacket. He flapped his hands, signaling his sales staff to leave. "I believe we can talk later, folks."
The man and woman rushed out, stumbling over each other in their haste, leaving Mimi and her father alone. She tapped her acrylic nails on her father's desk. "I cannot believe you interfered in my life like that."
"L-like what?" Wiley stuttered.
"You went over to Seth's and tried to strong-arm him into marrying me."
Her father held up a hand as she stalked toward him. "Wait, Mimi, it's not what you think."
Mimi picked up a glass paperweight from his desk. Wiley backed farther into the corner, looking afraid she might hit him with it. "So, you're telling me you didn't go to Seth's after you found out about the baby?"
"Well … uh … yes, I went to see him."
"And you talked about me and marriage?"
Wiley shifted sideways, clutching the lapels of his jacket as if to protect himself from her anger. "Uh, yes, we talked about you and him and … um, that you two should get married."
"Oh, you think we should?"
"Of course I think you should."
"Because I'm pregnant, right?"
"Can you think of a better reason?"
"Yes! Being pregnant is the worst reason to get married. Look at you and Mom."
"Honey, I told you your situation is different. Didn't your mother come by and talk to you?"
"Yes," Mimi exploded, "and don't think you're getting away with that one, either. How dare you tell Mom my secret without consulting me!"
"She cares about you, honey. She's your mother."
"She hasn't been around enough to care."
"But she's a woman and she understands this pregnancy thing better than me. I've always tried to be there for you girls, but when you went through puberty and all…" He paused, wiping a drop of sweat from his forehead, then continued, "Sometimes I felt you needed a woman's ear."
Mimi's heart squeezed. "Dad, you … you've been wonderful." Seth's note ran through her mind. Every baby needs a daddy. Seth would make a wonderful father, too.
"And just because people mess up and don't always do things the way we want them to doesn't mean they don't care." Wiley tried to placate her with his calm voice, the one he always used when he thought her an hysterical teenager. "You don't want to marry Seth?"
"Of course I do! That's not the problem."
Wiley scratched his head, sending his springy hair into wild disarray. "I'm sorry, honey, but I'm not following."
Mimi dropped into the chair beside her father's desk. The vinyl screeched beneath her as she squeezed the edges. "Dad, don't you get it? I don't want Seth to marry me because he should. I want him to marry me because he wants to."
* * *
The next week was hell.
Seth hadn't eaten or slept and had barely dragged himself to work each day, slogging through his therapy sessions with his patients like a robot. Everywhere he went, everything he saw, reminded him of Mimi. And the family he had lost—not his parents, but Mimi and his child. On the way home, he'd gone to a drive-through hamburger joint and gotten all lump-throated at the sight of a bunch of kids playing on the outdoor playset. And yesterday he'd nearly broken down when Ralph had told him he was taking George to a Braves game.
Would he ever get to take his child to a ball game? Teach him or her how to swim?
Would he ever hold Mimi in his arms again? Hear her soft laughter? Feel the energy and excitement for life he felt at her simplest touch?
His head throbbed from worry, his chest ached with loneliness. Hell, he'd never been lonely in his life. He actually used to enjoy being alone; now he hated it. He paced the floor of the unfinished nursery, wondering what to do. He loved Mimi. Desperately, infinitely, soulfully loved her. With all his heart.
Only he'd discovered too late—after she'd walked out the door.
He wrung his hands. He had to figure out where his plan had gone wrong so he could come up with a better one. All week he'd contemplated the theory that Mimi didn't love him or find him attractive, but their recent bout of lovemaking and the way she'd cried his name in ecstasy made him wonder. She couldn't have been that good an actress, could she?
No.
Feeling better, he considered other possibilities. Should he go back to the dating book, the Mars-Venus theory, the book on stages of pregnancy?
An engine rumbled and died outside in the driveway, and he jumped. Already agitated, he decided if it was his parents, he'd simply refuse to open the door.
He peeked through the window and saw the whole Hartwell gang emerge from a silver Suburban, one of Wiley's weekly specials he recognized from his latest ad. He shuddered as Wiley, Alison, Hannah and her new husband marched single file up his drive looking like bounty hunters. He was obviously the prey. Why had they brought Hannah's husband? In case they needed some muscle?
A fleeting idea crossed his mind—he could pretend he wasn't home. After all, his car was missing from the driveway. Then again, he'd faced his family's wrath, so what the hell, he could take on the Hartwells. Although Jake did have about two inches and thirty pounds on him.
Deciding death by the Hartwells might be better than life without Mimi, he swung open the door before the bell even rang. "I guess I should have been expecting you."
The foursome strode in, looking somber and angry as they congregated in his den.
"I suppose Mimi talked to you."
Wiley rubbed the back of his neck, looking chagrinned. "Well, I'd say she talked at me. Didn't much like my interference."
"We waited all week, hoping you and Mimi would work things out," Alison said.
"I don't know how." Seth realized he sounded pathetic. He was supposed to be the shrink, the one with the answers, yet he didn't have a clue.
Wiley shrugged. "We're talking about my baby girl here and her future."
"And our sister and niece," Alison said. "Or nephew."
"It's important," Hannah said. "Grammy Rose wanted to come, but we didn't have time to go get her."
Seth turned to Jake with a curious look.
"I'm here as a referee, just in case," Jake said with a twitch of a grin that made Seth relax slightly. At least he had an ally of sorts—Jake hadn't come to stomp on his face. He'd obviously suffered the skepticism of the Hartwell gang before.
"So what exactly happened with Mimi?" Hannah asked.
"Yeah, she's been miserable all week." Alison stalked toward him. "Crying her heart out."
"What?" Hope bubbled inside him. Hannah arched a brow. "You think that's something to smile about?"
Wiley stepped forward, his hands fisted.
"No, I… It just gives me hope. I didn't think she cared."
"She's in love with you, you big buffoon," Alison said.
He glanced at Hannah for confirmation. Her other eyebrow shot up. "Tell us your side."
Seth shifted and
jammed his hands into his pockets. "Everything seemed to be going fine until that morning I showed her the nursery."
"You've already fixed a nursery?" Alison asked.
"Well, not all the way," Seth explained. "But I have catalogs on furniture and supplies, and I'm researching the best kind of car seats."
Hannah rolled her eyes. Jake took a seat and folded his big arms as if settling in for a show.
"Safety's important," Seth protested. "I want our baby to have the best, and it takes time to study consumer reports."
Alison shook her head. Wiley rubbed his neck again. Hannah pressed a hand to her temple. "Forget the consumer reports. Tell us what you said when you proposed."
Seth chewed the inside of his cheek, feeling more exposed than he had in those ridiculous bikini briefs.
"Word for word," Alison ordered.
Seth searched his memory. "I … I told her I wanted us to get married. That I had everything planned, that we could live here or move if she wanted, then I showed her the baby's room."
Alison gave him a sympathetic look. Wiley clucked. Jake spread his big hands on the chair ends and shook his head.
"What? What's wrong with that? I took her on a date every night. I even bought books on romance and highlighted things to do. But in the end, she didn't want me."
"How can men be such idiots?" Alison said.
Hannah silenced her by slicing her hand through the air. "I just have three words for you, Seth, and I want you to listen carefully."
He closed his mouth. He supposed he could use some advice.
"I love you."
"What?" Hannah loved him? What about her husband?
She repeated the words, slowly, as if he were a child. "I love you."
He stabbed his thumb into his chest, his knees shaking. "You love me? But … but it's too late for us, Hannah. Like you said, we're just friends. I love Mimi now and our baby." He chanced a panicked glance at Jake, expecting him to leap up and kill him any second. "And what about him?"
Hannah rolled her eyes again. Alison and Wiley looked at him as if he was stupid. Jake actually chuckled.
