Heart of Texas Vol. 3 (34 page)

Wade found that listening was more difficult by the minute.

“Because he often went away on business, we weren't able to see each other more than once a week. I…I lived for those weekly dates. Regular as clockwork, he arrived every Wednesday evening and took me out to dinner. We ate at the most wonderful restaurants. Small upscale places.”

“So he had lots of money.”

“Oh, he had more than that, Wade.” Her voice hardened. “He also had a wife and two children.”

T
HURSDAY AFTERNOON
,
Ellie Patterson left the feed store early. George, her assistant, would close up and Amy would help him. Amy had been taking on more responsibilities of late, and Ellie was grateful. She hadn't been feeling well the past couple of afternoons but suspected she knew why—especially since the home pregnancy test had been positive. Seeing her sister-in-law would confirm what she already knew.

Jenny Bender, Jane's receptionist, was just leaving when Ellie entered the health clinic.

“Jane's in her office,” Jenny told her, motioning beyond the reception area.

“Thanks.”

Sure enough, Jane sat at her desk making notations on a chart. She glanced up when she heard Ellie come in, and her tired face brightened. “Hi, there.”

“Hi.” Ellie threw herself into the chair nearest Jane's.

“Long day?” Jane asked sympathetically.

“Exceptionally long.”

“You're looking a little peaked.”

“I feel a little peaked.”

Jane studied her. “Do you think you picked up a bug?”

A slow happy smile came from deep within. “The nine-month variety.”

Surprise showed in Jane's face. “You're pregnant?”

Ellie nodded. “The little stick turned blue.”

Jane clapped her hands in delight. She closed the chart she'd been working on and relaxed in her chair. “Does Glen know?”

“Not yet.” Ellie hadn't meant to keep it a secret from her husband, but she didn't want him to be disappointed if it turned out, for some reason, to be a false alarm. “I thought I'd have you verify my condition first.”

They chatted for a few minutes, laughed about the things they always did and made plans to spend a weekend in San Antonio later in the month. They talked with the easy familiarity that had developed between them since they'd married the Patterson brothers. Not until after Jane had examined her did Ellie grow quiet.

Jane didn't press her, but Ellie knew her sister-in-law was waiting for her to speak. “I'm afraid, Jane,” she confessed. Her emotions had never been this muddled. Intertwined with the joy were all the fears she'd tried to ignore and couldn't.

“It's normal to be anxious. This is your first child, and your body's experiencing quite a few changes, right now. That can be confusing and stressful. Let's talk about it.”

Ellie took a deep breath. “Mostly I'm worried that I'll be like my mother. She didn't have an easy pregnancy with me—that's basically why I'm an only child. And she never seemed to
like
having a kid around.” Ellie hadn't been close to her mother, but the bond she'd shared with her father had been strong and special. It was the reason his death the previous year had shaken her so badly.

“You're not your mother,” Jane assured her.

Ellie relaxed a little. “In other words, don't borrow trouble?”

“That's a good place to start.”

Ellie nodded. “You're right. And I don't think my mother ever wanted a child, whereas I do.” She gave Jane a tremulous smile. “Glen and I talked about starting our family soon. That's the reason I went off the pill when I did,” she confided, “but we didn't think it'd happen so quickly.”

“So you're not sure you're ready for this.”

Ellie thought about that for a moment. “No, I'm ready,” she said decisively. “I just hadn't expected to be this…fertile.”

“I imagine Glen's going to gloat to Cal,” Jane said with a manufactured groan.

“Have you and Cal decided when you're going to get pregnant?” Ellie felt it would be nice if their children were close in age. Her own cousins, who'd lived in Brewster, were twins, two years older, and when they were around, it was almost like having brothers. Her mother blamed her tomboy attitudes on Rick and Rob, both of whom had gone on to make the military their career. They'd missed her wedding, but had written to congratulate her and Glen.

“Before Cal and I can think about a family, I need to fulfill my contract here at the clinic,” Jane said with a show of regret. “Don't misunderstand me, I love my work. It's just that we're eager to become parents. We're hoping I'll get pregnant about this time next year.”

“That'd be wonderful.”

“Mary's going to be pleased when she hears your news,” Jane said, referring to their mother-in-law.

Glen's parents were looking forward to becoming grandparents, and it went without saying that they'd be ecstatic.

“I want you to start prenatal vitamins right away—”

“Jane, Jane.” Ellie held up her hand. “Don't treat me like a patient. I'm your sister-in-law.”

Jane laughed. “You're right. Congratulations!” She stood up and hurried over to Ellie to share a heartfelt hug.

F
RIDAY MORNING
W
ADE KNEW
he should be working on his sermon, but he couldn't focus his thoughts. Every time he started to write down an idea, all he could think about was Amy. He worried about her, worried that she wasn't eating properly or getting enough rest. He wished she could take a few weeks off before the birth. He wondered what plans she'd made for child care once her maternity leave ended.

Now that her due date was so close, his worrying had become almost obsessive. If she wouldn't marry him, then he hoped she'd at least allow him to be with her when Sarah was born.

When he'd spoken to her on the phone recently, she hadn't sounded particularly interested in his company. But that could be his own doubts talking, because when he showed up at the house yesterday, she'd seemed genuinely pleased to see him.

Wade stared down at his sermon notes and, feeling uninspired, decided to take a break. His first inclination was to head for the feed store to check up on Amy, but he refused to make a pest of himself.

The one person who was sure to understand how he felt was Dovie Hennessey, since Dovie was close to Amy—her birthing partner, in fact. He had another reason for visiting Dovie's store; he wanted to buy a gift for Amy, a robe for after the baby was born. Something lovely and feminine.

He walked from the church into town and stopped to chat with the Moorhouse sisters en route. He arrived at Dovie's to find her, as usual, doing a robust business. She acknowledged his presence with a nod and continued to help Susan Bonney, who was considering an antique bowl and pitcher for her guest bedroom.

Wade was a patient man. While he was waiting, he wandered around Dovie's store, picturing Amy wearing this necklace or that scarf, imagining her on the brocade-upholstered love seat, holding her baby. With him beside her….

A while later Mrs. Bonney left smiling and Dovie turned her attention to Wade. “This is a pleasant surprise,” she said. “What can I do for you, Pastor?”

“It's about Amy,” he replied, feeling a bit self-conscious. “I wanted to buy her something to wear after the baby's born. A robe. Or whatever you think would be appropriate.” Actually this was all mildly embarrassing. He could just imagine what Louise Powell would say if she heard about this. If the woman thought it improper for him to have lunch with Amy, what would she think about his buying her nightwear? It didn't
matter
what Louise thought, he chided himself. She was an uncharitable and narrow-minded woman, and her opinions were of no consequence.

“A robe is an excellent choice.” Dovie beamed him an approving look. “It's both practical and luxurious.”

He nodded. “I want it to be special—not the type of robe she'd wear every day…if you know what I mean.”

“I do. In fact, I have something in mind,” Dovie said with a satisfied smile. “I was actually thinking of giving this to Amy myself.” She led him to the far side of her shop. A selection of old-fashioned wardrobes dominated one corner. The doors of one wardrobe were open to reveal a number of party dresses and nightgowns on scented hangers. She reached inside and pulled out a soft pink satin robe, its long sleeves and collar edged in lace. It was exactly what he'd hoped for. Simple, elegant, beautiful.

“It's new—not vintage,” Dovie explained. “But it's modeled after a 1930s pattern.” She watched for his reaction. “What do you think?”

He swallowed hard and nodded. The vision of Amy in that robe did funny things to his insides. “It's perfect.”

“I agree,” Dovie said. “It's utterly feminine and I know she'd treasure it.”

Wade touched the sleeve, intending to look at the price tag, but changed his mind the instant his hand made contact with the rich smooth fabric. His gut clenched. Amy, wearing this. Lying in his bed…

“I'll take it,” he said quickly.

“Don't you want to know the price?” Dovie asked.

“Not particularly.”

Dovie's grin spread across her face.

Wade took out his wallet as he and Dovie walked toward the cash register. She wrapped the robe in tissue paper and placed it carefully in a gift box, which she tied with a pink ribbon. When she'd finished, she glanced up at him. “Amy told you about Alex, didn't she?” Her gaze held his.

“Yes.”

“She only told me this week, you know. She's shared very little about the baby's father.”

“It's not important.” He wanted Dovie to know he hadn't asked. In fact, he'd almost rather Amy hadn't told him.

“After the birthing class this week, I brought her home for tea. She cried her eyes out.”

“Amy was upset?” He wasn't sure what unnerved him more—Amy's being distressed enough to cry or her choosing to weep on Dovie's shoulder and not his.

“Yes. She told me about Alex—and about her relationship with you. She said you'd been wonderful.”

That reassured him a little; Amy must still care for him, still trust him. Her story had broken his heart. Yes, she'd been foolish and naive, but she wasn't the first woman who'd learned such lessons the hard way. Not the first woman who'd been lied to by a married man—and fallen in love with him.

“You love her, don't you?” Dovie asked, then laughed at her question. “You must. No man pays $125 for a satin robe otherwise.”

Wade gasped in mock outrage. He would gladly have paid twice that.

“Do you want me to keep it here at the store for you until the baby's born?” Dovie asked after he'd paid for the robe.

“Please.”

They talked a while longer, and then another customer came in and Wade knew it was time to leave. He walked to the town park and sat on a bench, watching the children at play, listening to the sound of their laughter.

Amy had told him about Alex and what had happened once she learned he was married. It wasn't until after she'd broken off the relationship that she'd discovered she was pregnant. Although she'd only mentioned her mother in passing, Wade surmised that they didn't get along and that her mother had provided absolutely no emotional support.

In the days since she'd made her revelations, he'd forcefully pushed all thoughts of Alex and Amy's affair from his mind. It was just too painful to think about Amy loving another man.

He knew that Alex had been afraid she'd come to him and demand child support, so he'd insisted on an abortion. When she refused, they'd had a horrible fight, in which her mother had somehow become involved. She'd also told Wade that her mother had come up with an entirely unacceptable suggestion.

Wade could well guess. Six or seven years back, when he worked as a youth pastor in Austin, he'd been approached by a childless couple desperate to adopt a baby. Because of the limited number of available infants and the high number of applicants through legitimate agencies, Wade had been solicited by this couple, who hoped he could arrange a private adoption. They'd made clear that price was no object; in fact, the husband had bluntly spoken of “buying” a baby. While Wade appreciated how frustrating such situations could be, he referred the couple to an adoption agency with which he was familiar.

He could only assume that Amy's mother saw her daughter's baby as a profit-making opportunity.

Amy had been calm and collected while she'd relayed the details of her unhappy romance. Too calm, he recognized now. From what Dovie had said, she'd gone to a woman friend the following day and wept bitter tears.

It made Wade wonder why she'd remained so stoic with him. She'd spoken almost as if this had all happened to someone else.

Feeling a strong impulse to straighten things out with Amy, Wade walked over to the feed store. It wasn't the ideal place for such a talk, but this wasn't something they could ignore. They had to have an honest no-holds-barred discussion. And soon. Then he had an idea—he'd invite Amy to dinner. Tonight. At his place so they'd have the privacy they needed.

Never mind that he was absolutely devoid of any cooking talent. Hey, he'd barbecue a couple of steaks, throw some fresh corn in a pot of boiling water. Couldn't go wrong there.