Baby, I'm Yours. Carrie Weaver
Чтение книги онлайн.
Читать онлайн книгу Baby, I'm Yours - Carrie Weaver страница 12
Название: Baby, I'm Yours
Автор: Carrie Weaver
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Современные любовные романы
isbn:
isbn:
Gabe’s mother, Irene, came in the kitchen. She glanced at him, unspoken questions in her eyes. “Hello, Rick. Good to see you again.” So soon?
“Good to see you, too. I brought some files for Becca.”
“Why don’t you join us for a snack, Irene,” Becca invited.
“No. But I’ll steal a couple cookies and take them out to Jim.”
“Is he working on something in the shop?” Rick asked.
“Yes. I haven’t seen it yet—he’s been very secretive about this project. But he did let it slip that it’s some sort of commemorative to Gabe.”
“Ah, so you’re trying to catch him unawares and the cookies are your excuse?” Becca teased.
Irene stiffened. “Absolutely not. That would be an abuse of his trust. Trust is very important, don’t you agree, Rick?”
Did he detect an undercurrent? Surely there was no way she could know what had happened with Becca the night of Gabe’s funeral.
He forced himself not to break eye contact. “Trust is very important.”
She nodded, her hand hovering over the cookies. Her stare was lethal.
He grasped at another reason for his visit. “Um, Becca, I also came by to talk to you about David.”
Becca frowned. “Did he take your parking space again? I talked to him about that. If it involves him working more hours, I would prefer that he spend the time studying.”
“I agree with you about the hours and I’ll back you up. He seems determined to be the man of the house now that Gabe’s gone.”
“I don’t want that for him and I’m sure Gabe wouldn’t, either. I want him to have every opportunity to be a young man before he has too many responsibilities thrust on him.”
“It seems to be something he’s taking on himself,” Rick said. “The kid’s wound pretty tightly. I need to find a replacement partner for racquetball, or I’m going to lose my court time at the gym. I was thinking it might be a good outlet for David to blow off steam.”
Becca smiled. “I think it’s a wonderful idea.”
“Hmmph.” Irene made a great show of wrapping cookies in a napkin.
“What do you think, Irene?” Becca asked.
“It’s fine, I guess. Nobody could replace David’s father, though.”
There was a moment’s silence, then Rick said, “I know that.”
Slowly, Irene nodded. “Good.” Then she left through the back door.
“I hope Irene’s feeling all right.” Becca sounded concerned. “She’s not usually short with people. I’ve been worried about her since the funeral.”
“I’m sure she’s fine.” As a matter of fact, he was pretty sure Irene had picked up on the vibes he’d been trying to hide, even from himself.
Because when he looked across the table at Becca, he remembered how good they’d been together.
CHAPTER SIX
BECCA TRIED TO focus on what Rick was saying. But her mind kept drifting to the news she’d received from the doctor and what it would mean to her life.
“Hey, earth to Becca.”
“I’m sorry. I guess I’m still groggy from my nap.”
“I better go.” Rick rose and placed his glass in the sink.
For a wild instant, Becca wished she could confide in him. She needed a shoulder to lean on so badly. But Rick was the last person to rely on for emotional support. Look where it had gotten them last time.
“I’ll walk you to the door.” There must have been a note of desperation in her voice, because Rick raised an eyebrow.
“Thanks, I think.”
“I’m not trying to get rid of you…”
“Hey, I didn’t intend to stay.” He ruffled Aaron’s hair on his way past. “Keep hittin’ the books.”
“I’m almost done.”
Becca breathed a sigh of relief when she closed the door behind Rick. She found pretending everything was normal tremendously draining.
After helping Aaron with the rest of his homework, she tucked him into bed and ran a couple loads of laundry, then sat down on the couch in the great room.
Glancing at her watch, she sighed. It was nearly time for Maya to be home from studying. Becca closed her eyes for just a moment…
She awakened to the sound of glass breaking. Fear brought her instantly awake. Was it an intruder?
But her eyes focused on Maya clumsily trying to scoop up pieces of Becca’s favorite vase.
“I’m sorry, Mom. I was trying to be quiet, but I bumped into the table, and the vase…” Maya swayed. “Broke.”
Becca went to her daughter and was dismayed when she smelled beer.
Grasping Maya’s arm, she asked, “Have you been drinking?”
“No!” But the teenager hiccuped and giggled. “I guess I’m busted.”
“Where’d you get the beer?”
“Nowhere.”
“Maya, I want to know the truth. Where were you tonight and how did you get the beer?”
“I told you, I was at Trina’s house. Her dad keeps a whole fridgeful.”
What had happened to her levelheaded honor student?
“Maya, this isn’t like you.”
“No big deal. Everybody does it.”
“Not you. We’ll discuss your punishment in the morning when you’re more likely to remember, but you can bet you’ll be grounded for starters.”
“Sure, Mom, whatever.” Maya wove her way to the stairs and managed to navigate them on legs that were probably steadier than her mother’s. “G’night.”
“’Night, baby,” she murmured, wishing her daughter was in fact a baby again. So Becca could keep her safe from harm.
RICK THOUGHT he might just expire on the spot. His lungs burned, his muscles screamed in protest, and sweat nearly blinded him.
But he would not give up.
He СКАЧАТЬ