It Takes Three

by Teresa Southwick

  Family pictures were everywhere, including some of Scott and his brother. She studied a photo collage on the wall and recognized Scott’s formative years. There was one of him as a little boy playing T-ball, a grade school play, junior high, high school football, then him with an infant in his arms. It hit her that the pace of his formative years had suddenly increased at the speed of light. There was no picture parade of girlfriends like his brother had. He’d gone straight from high school football to fatherhood.

  Before the knot in her stomach had a chance to tighten, she heard a car in the drive. Peeking out of the living room window, she saw doors on two vehicles open and the Matthews clan spilled out. Her gaze was drawn to Scott like a magnet to true north and her heart skipped in a way that was becoming familiar at the first sight of him.

  His brother Mike bore a striking family resemblance. He was as tall as Scott, with the same dark hair and hunk quotient. But the family photos hadn’t revealed a Mrs. Mike and she wondered about that. Kendra and Gail were both there with an older couple who must be their grandparents. Laughing and talking, the whole Matthews family walked up the brick sidewalk. Thea hurried into the kitchen. When everyone walked in, they stopped and stared—first at her, then at the banner.

  Thea looked at Kendra and grinned. Together they said, “Surprise!”

  Scott read the words on the hand-lettered sign— Happy Mother’s Day, Grandma. Happy Mother’s Day, Dad. With a pleased, yet puzzled expression on his face, he looked at his daughter. “What’s all this?”

  Kendra stood by the kitchen island and twisted her fingers together. “You’ve been both mother and father to Gail and me, and Father’s Day didn’t seem like enough. I just wanted to do something special to say thanks.”

  The older woman hugged her granddaughter, then sniffled and wiped away a tear. “Now I know why you were so insistent about getting us out of the house to that dreadful movie. That business about starting new family traditions. And this is why you threw that fit about not wanting to go out to dinner afterward. All that drama about starving to death while waiting to get a table.” She shook her head as she smiled fondly at the teen.

  Kendra shrugged. “I didn’t know what else to do when you suggested that new restaurant by the theaters. I worked my fingers to the bone on this.”

  “You certainly were a big help,” Thea agreed wryly.

  “Thanks.” Kendra grinned at her. “Are you surprised?” she asked, looking from her father to her grandmother.

  “Absolutely,” they both said.

  “So was I,” said the older man, who was obviously Scott’s father. Tall, silver-haired, distinguished, he was the image of what his son would look like as he aged.

  And Thea realized how very much she would like to know Scott for a long time and watch him grow distinguished. But the thought scared her because she didn’t trust the future.

  Before she could process that information further, Scott met her gaze and smiled. “Kendra, this is obviously your gig. Maybe you should introduce everyone to Thea.”

  The teen nodded and cleared her throat. “Family, this is Thea Bell, from For Whom the Bell Toils catering. Thea, this is my family.”

  “Smart aleck,” Scott said, shaking his head. He put his arms around his mother and father. “These are my parents—Betty and Tom.”

  The older woman was a short, slim brunette. Her brown eyes still sparkled with a suspicious brightness. “It’s nice to meet you, dear.”

  “The pleasure is mine, Mrs. Matthews, Mr. Matthews.”

  “It’s Betty and Tom,” the older man said. He indicated the man beside him. “This is our youngest son Mike.”

  Scott’s brother studied her openly. “I’ve heard a lot about you. It’s nice to finally meet the woman giving my brother fits,” he said, smiling.

  She was dealing with the fact that he was every bit as good-looking as his older brother and it took several moments before his words sank in. “Fits?”

  Scott looked uncomfortable. “Mike has a big mouth.”

  Betty glanced from one son to the other, her gaze finally settling on the youngest. “Michael what are you talking about?”

  “Nothing, Mom. Call it payback for years of sibling oppression.”

  “I never picked on you,” Scott said with over-the-top, self-righteous indignation.

  “Okay.” Mike’s grin was full of the devil. “And because you’re lying, I will revert to junior high mentality for just a moment. Scott likes Thea.”

  “I can see why,” Tom said, studying her. “And we all know the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Why do you think I married your mother?”

  But the levity did nothing to disarm the glare Scott turned on his brother. “You just violated some serious sibling code. And, for the record, I never picked on you.”

  “You still pick on him, Dad,” Gail said. “Hi, Thea.”

  She was glad to have the focus off her and Scott. But it was clear he’d talked to his brother about her. Was that good or bad?

  “Hi, kiddo,” Thea said. “How’s UCLA?”

  She beamed. “Way cool. Although finals are coming up fast.”

  Thea nodded and glanced at the Matthews clan. “It’s nice to meet you all. Now it’s time to get this celebration on the road. I’ve set all the food up in here.” She indicated the hot trays on the kitchen island containing lasagna and stuffed shells. “Your backyard and patio are so beautiful, I decided to set up the picnic table out there.”

  Scott went to the window and looked out. “Wow.” He glanced back at her. “It looks great. You did a terrific job.”

  His compliment pleased her more than a compliment usually did, proving that she was in a lot of trouble. “I’m glad you approve. Now everyone, the plates are here. Fill them up and I’ll get drinks when you’re all settled at the table.”

  “Of course you’ll join us,” Betty said.

  “Thank you, no. I’m working,” she explained.

  “I don’t know how Kendra roped you into this,” the older woman said, “but I’m going to make an educated, instinctive guess that she’s supposed to be helping.”

  “Yes, but she’s part of the family and this is a family party. You all don’t want a stranger intruding.”

  “You’re not a stranger.” Scott’s mouth turned up at the corners.

  The twinkle in his eyes told her he was thinking about seeing her naked, which supported his statement. Thea’s cheeks couldn’t have been hotter if she’d been cooking over an open fire.

  “I’m the caterer,” she explained. “It’s my job to be unobtrusive—to not be seen or heard.”

  “I thought that was kids,” Mike Matthews said.

  “No, Uncle Mike.” Gail huffed out a breath. “Kids should be seen and not heard.”

  “Then how come you didn’t get the memo?” Mike playfully grabbed her and rubbed his knuckles over the top of her head until she shrieked for mercy.

  Betty Matthews stepped forward and handed Thea a plate. “You may be the caterer, but this is my house and no one goes hungry. Besides, you’re too skinny.”

  Scott shrugged. “I think you just had your first example of what Mike and I learned many years ago.”

  “What’s that?” Thea asked.

  “Don’t mess with Mom.”

  Thea smiled at the woman who’d taken back control of her kitchen, removing plastic from the salad, uncovering steaming dishes of food and directing traffic through her domain.

  “Well, I tried,” she said to Scott. The two of them were at the end of a line of Matthews family members filling their plates as they filed past the food. “Your mom is obviously happier running the show.”

  “She is now that food she didn’t have to prepare is here and assembled,” he said. He sniffed the fragrance of basil and garlic wafting through the air. He sighed dramatically. “You’re amazing. I think I’ve died and gone to heaven.”

  “Not yet.” Mike turned and looked at him. “But I can arrange it
.”

  Thea laughed. “You remind me of my brother.”

  Mike looked offended. “Not exactly what a guy wants a pretty girl to say.”

  “Not so fast, little brother. I saw her first.”

  The tone got Thea’s attention and when she looked at Scott, she wondered if he was angry. Did he think his brother was hitting on her? The idea that he might be jealous filled her with a sense of awe. She wasn’t the sort of woman men fought over. And it certainly wasn’t her intention to manipulate the two of them, but the fantasy of two such attractive men vying for her attention was so incredibly lovely. The rush of exuberance filled her with sheer happiness to be alive.

  And for the first time since losing her husband, that thought wasn’t followed by a flood of guilt.

  “That was a test.” Mike grinned. “And I found out what I wanted to know.”

  “I should have taken you out when I could have,” Scott mumbled, flexing his wide shoulders as if they were tense.

  When all the plates were full and everyone else was seated at the table beneath the patio cover, Scott pulled a chair up beside his own for Thea before the two of them sat down. Her heart stumbled at the masculine gesture that was just shy of possessive.

  She dug into the food on her plate, realizing she was very hungry. Fortunately, the Matthews clan went into action, laughing, talking, teasing. This gave her a chance to observe them.

  The mutual love, respect, and acceptance was evident in the good-natured banter and joking. They reminded her of her own family. She’d been raised in a similar environment and had always yearned to have that same kind of life. But fate had stepped in and robbed her of the chance.

  “So, Thea, I understand you’ll be catering Kendra’s graduation party.” Betty took a bite of garlic bread and closed her eyes for a moment as she chewed, an expression of sublime enjoyment suffusing her expression.

  “That’s right.” She looked at the teenager. “In just a few weeks, she’ll be the proud owner of a high school diploma.”

  “And it’s about darn time,” Scott said. “What took you so long, kidlet?”

  The words, teasing though they were, twisted in Thea’s chest. He was obviously happy to be almost finished with child-rearing and she’d barely begun. He was such a good father, with so much to offer. And that was when she pushed the thought away and ate as if this were her last meal.

  When everyone declared that they couldn’t eat another bite, Thea stood to clear the dishes and Kendra helped.

  Gail joined them in the kitchen, resting her elbows on the island. “The food was great, Thea.”

  “I’m glad you liked it.”

  “The most important thing is that Grammy did. And Dad. Way to go, sis,” Gail said. “Wish I’d thought of it.”

  “Thanks.” Kendra flashed a grin over her shoulder as she loaded the dishwasher. Then she looked at Thea. “What about your mom? I’m sorry. I didn’t even think. Was she okay with you doing this on Mother’s Day?”

  “My brother and sister and I took her and Dad out for brunch,” she explained. “That’s been our tradition for several years, which left me free this evening.”

  “We’re glad you’re free, too. If you were a mom, you wouldn’t be,” Gail said. A thoughtful expression settled on her pretty face. “How come you’re not? Do you want children?”

  “Yes.”

  “How do you know? How do you decide when it’s right to have kids?” Kendra asked.

  Thea knew the question was generated by her family history. Her father had never had the opportunity to choose when he wanted to be a father.

  “I don’t know about timing,” she admitted. “But I do know that ever since I was a little girl, I’ve wanted to have a baby.”

  “So how come you don’t?” Kendra asked.

  Thea couldn’t say anything to them about her dream nearly come true—not until she told Scott about the baby. When he walked through the sliding glass door connecting the kitchen to the patio, she knew she had to tell him soon.

  “Hey, you guys,” he said to his daughters. “I can’t hold your grandmother back any longer. She’s opening your gifts whether you’re there or not.”

  “No,” Kendra said. “I want to see her face.”

  “Me, too,” her sister said as the two of them hurried back outside.

  Scott came up behind her and slipped his arms around her waist. “I thought I’d never get you alone.”

  “So you lied?”

  “How did you know?” he asked, chuckling into her ear.

  “I thought you never lied.”

  “It’s not a lie as much as a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.”

  His breath stirred the hair around her face and raised tingles all over her body. How she wanted to lose herself in his arms.

  But Scott must have felt her body tense because he turned her toward him. “Is something wrong?”

  “No,” she lied. Correction: a woman had to do what a woman had to do. And right now she didn’t want to spoil his night.

  His gaze skimmed her own and he shook his head. “I can see it in your eyes. What’s going on?” He pointed a finger at her. “And don’t tell me it’s nothing.”

  “It can wait,” she hedged. “This isn’t the time.”

  “If you’re upset about something, I’ll make time. Spill it, lady. It’s not good to keep things bottled up.” She started to put him off again, but he silenced her with that same pointed finger over her lips. “Just so we’re clear, I don’t intend to let this drop until you’ve come clean.”

  Interesting choice of words. But now she really had no choice. As if she ever did. Twice she’d tried to tell him and both times he’d interrupted her with a kiss that scrambled her brain function. This was lousy timing, but there simply wasn’t going to be a perfect time and place for this announcement. And one thing she’d learned about Scott—when he made up his mind, he wouldn’t back off. Now that he’d insisted, she needed to just say it.

  “I just have something to tell you.”

  “What?” He frowned as he studied her face. “Interest rates went sky-high? You’re moving to Micronesia? Global warming ruined the world’s garlic and herb crop?”

  She shook her head and took a deep breath. “Mother’s Day seems as appropriate a time as any to tell you I’ve always wanted to be a mother.”

  His hands stilled on her arms. “You have?”

  “Yes. In fact, I’m going to have a baby in about six months.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Scott couldn’t have been more shocked if she’d stripped naked and slugged him in the gut. He would have bet everything he owned that she hadn’t been intimate with another man since her husband died. How could he have been so wrong? The bitterness of her betrayal slammed through him.

  “So that’s what you meant when you said you were okay. If you’re already pregnant, I suppose that qualifies as birth control,” he said, his throat tight. “Were you going to try to pass it off as mine?”

  She took a step back, looking genuinely shocked. “Whatever you’re thinking, you couldn’t be more wrong.”

  “I’m thinking who’s the father?”

  “My husband.”

  “That would take a miracle.”

  “Exactly.” She nodded. “A miracle of modern science. The magic of IVF.”

  “What?”

  “In vitro fertilization.”

  “But your husband’s been gone two years.”

  Thea leaned back against the sink and folded her arms over her chest. The smooth skin of her forehead puckered. From outside, sounds of laughter drifted in through the open window. At least his family was having a good time.

  “When David was diagnosed with cancer,” she finally said, “we were trying to have a baby. The oncologist told us that chemotherapy was the only chance to save his life, but it would make him sterile. It would be impossible for him to father the child we so desperately wanted. We were advised to freeze sperm.”
/>   “I see.”

  “When the treatment put him in remission, we didn’t want to waste any time. We consulted a fertility specialist who guided us through IVF. He injected me daily with ovulation stimulants before my eggs were harvested and combined with his sperm in a petri dish.”

  “Then what?”

  “The cells multiplied and divided. After that, three fertilized embryos were implanted and the rest were frozen. We thought we’d hit a home run first time at the plate. I was pregnant.” Anguished sadness crept into her face. “Three months later, I had a miscarriage. We were crushed. Then we tried again, but the same thing happened. We were devastated. But there was more bad news. David’s cancer came back.”

  Scott tried to wrap his mind around what she was telling him. She was pregnant. Her dead husband was the father. The words banged around inside him and he felt as if he were slipping into a black hole. At the same time he was angry that she looked so sad for another man. A man who’d lost his fight to live. What kind of bastard was he to be resentful because she’d loved the guy with everything she had?

  “Scott, I promised my husband that I would do everything in my power to make sure a part of him went on.”

  “But it’s been two years. Why now?”

  “Lots of factors. I had no reason to believe the results would be any different this time, but time was the operative word. I’m thirty-four years old. Twenty-five percent of women under thirty-five achieve live births. After that, the rate drops with each year over thirty-five. Also, I had to make a decision about what to do with the frozen embryos. I couldn’t give them to strangers or pull the plug and let them go. I had enough left for one more try and figured I had nothing to lose.”

  Maybe she had nothing to lose. But he felt as if he was losing everything. If only she’d said something…

  Anger churned through him and settled in his gut like acid. “What I don’t get is why you didn’t tell me right away.”

  “I should have, I guess.”

  “You guess?” His voice rose as waves of what ifs washed over him. If only he’d known. If only he could have insulated himself. If he’d simply shut down his instantaneous attraction to her from day one. If he’d done any of the above, he wouldn’t be fighting off the pain that threatened to pull him under now.