Father to Be (45 page)

He clasped her hands. “I was pretty sure from the beginning that he wasn’t coming back, but … I had hoped. For the kids’ sake.”

“I know.” She sighed, and he felt her breasts shift against his back. “But at least they know.”

Yes, they knew. For whatever comfort that provided.

The license tag on Ezra’s truck had been expired, and there’d been no money to get a new one. The insurance had also expired, and Caleb had explained that that was why he’d taken the back roads when he’d started his search for work. He’d hoped to avoid the scrutiny that might bring him fines he couldn’t pay.

His plan had worked all too well.

There was no way to tell what had caused him to veer off the road, no way to know whether his injuries had killed him immediately or if death had come slowly. For the kids’ sake, J.D. had chosen me first theory, and because he was a doctor—because he was their new father—they’d believed him.

Rustling in the woods beyond the deck caught his attention, and he watched as Trey and Caleb came into the clearing. Kids were so adaptable. Lose your parents, get new parents, move in with new brothers and a sister, make a family out of so many different parts … They were nothing less than miraculous.

“You guys going to bed?” he asked as they came up the steps together.

“It’s not even nine o’clock.”

He couldn’t tell which of them had spoken. They acted
alike, moved alike, were even beginning to sound alike. Miraculous.

“He just wants us to go to bed so he can be alone with Kelsey,” the other said, and now he could see that it was Trey. “You’d think they weren’t married, the way he carries on with her.”

“Hey, I’m standing right here,” Kelsey protested as she stepped out from behind J.D. “Did you not notice?”

“Kinda hard not to notice.” Trey patted her belly as he passed. “You gonna have twins or something?”

“Maybe triplets,” Caleb said, mimicking his actions.

Trey started to open the door, then came back to kiss them both. “Good night, Dad. Good night, Kelse.”

When he went inside, Caleb hesitated, then came back too. “My father was a good dad.”

J.D. slid his arm around the boy’s shoulders. “I know he was. He did a fine job with you.”

“I don’t think he would mind …” He looked away, then dragged his hand across his nose. “I don’t think he’d care if you were my new dad, and if you were my new mom.”

“I don’t think he would either,” Kelsey murmured.

“So … good night, Dad. Good night, Mom.” As soon as the words were out, he raced across the deck and inside the house.

J.D. sighed as he sat down on the bench. “Kids. They’ll break your heart.” Then he gave an aggrieved yelp as Kelsey sat on his lap. “What
are
you carrying? Quints?”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder. “Wouldn’t that be something? One night of pleasure, and bam, you go from five kids to ten.”

“Oh, darlin’, I’ve gotten a whole lot more than one night of pleasure from you. You’ve made my life whole. You’ve healed me. I love you, Kelsey Colleen Grayson.”

She gave him a kiss and a sly, smug grin. “I love you too, J.D.”

Some Enchanted Season

Father to Be

First Kiss

Getting Lucky

Heaven on Earth

Cabin Fever

Small Wonders

About the Author
 

Known for her intensely emotional stories, Marilyn Pappano is the author of nearly forty books with more than four million copies in print. She has made regular appearances on bestseller lists and has received recognition for her work with numerous awards. Though her husband’s Navy career took them across the United States, they now live in Oklahoma, high on a hill that overlooks her hometown. They have one son.

Look for

Marilyn Pappano’s new novel

FIRST KISS

Available from Bantam Books

Late summer 2000

Holly McBride wants a fling.

Tom Flynn wants a wedding.

And everybody else in Bethlehem

just wants to stay out of the way.

There’s big trouble brewing … unless

Holly and Tom realize what they

really want is each other.