A Baby by Christmas. Linda Warren

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СКАЧАТЬ she care for him? Be his mother? She honestly didn’t have an answer. All she could feel was the fear inside her, and before she could find an answer she’d have to tell Jake the truth. Derek had understood, but then Derek had loved her. Jake didn’t love her and it made this problem so difficult.

      He’s just a little boy, though…. She swiftly closed that door. She wouldn’t open it. She couldn’t. Selfishly, painfully, she pushed those thoughts aside. Tomorrow would be brighter. It had to be.

      THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS were difficult. Jake worked himself to exhaustion. He talked to Elise several times to see how she was doing and she was always happy to hear his voice. Still, their conversations were stilted and the waiting was getting to both of them.

      Elise went through her regular routine of teaching and attending meetings, but Jake was never far from her mind. She was surprised she missed him so much. She missed his presence at night and she missed his company in the mornings. He always brought her a cup of coffee to wake her up; she enjoyed that and enjoyed what followed even more. She became angry every time she thought of how that had been taken away from her without warning. But she had to learn to cope, to deal with the situation.

      She had a dinner engagement with her family at the club and came up with several excuses, but they all seemed lame. Besides, she had to get on with her life.

      The club was busy and Elise spotted Althea Wellman and her family eating at a table. She purposely avoided them because she didn’t want to be asked questions about Jake. She hurriedly slid into a seat at her mother’s table and forced a smile.

      “You’re late,” Constance Graham said before Elise could speak. Constance’s hair was blond, as was Judith’s, but now her color came out of a bottle. In her sixties, Constance was regal and proper and expected the very best of her daughters. Being late wasn’t tolerated.

      “The husband not with you?” Judith asked in her catty way. “I’m not surprised. He’s never with you.”

      Stan, Judith’s husband, spoke up. “Leave Elise alone. For God’s sake, she just sat down.”

      “Thanks, Stan,” Elise said pointedly. “And it’s nice to see everyone, too.”

      Constance patted her hand. “How are you, darling?”

      “Fine,” she replied, gritting her teeth. Her family had that effect on her.

      “Stan’s ordered wine,” Constance informed her. “Oh, here it comes now.”

      The waiter poured wine into a glass and Stan tasted it. “Great, just great,” he murmured, and the waiter filled the glasses around the table.

      Elise took a sip of wine. She was going to need it to muddle through the evening. Why had she come? She just wanted to be by herself. She didn’t like the way she was thinking or feeling these days and she couldn’t seem to do anything about it.

      “I’ve had a horrible day,” Judith was saying. “I’m not satisfied with Duncan’s school and I can’t get through to his teachers. It’s like talking to robots.”

      “He’s at a very good private school,” Elise said. “Their academic record is excellent.”

      “There’s nothing wrong with the school,” Stan put in.

      Judith turned in her seat to confront her husband. “Our son is not excelling the way he should. He has to be pushed. You’re too lenient. Why can’t you understand that?”

      Stan shoved back his chair. “I need something stronger.” He headed for the bar.

      “Oh, he makes me so angry,” Judith said, tipping up her glass. “He lets Duncan get away with anything. I caught them watching sports the other night instead of doing homework. I won’t have it. I won’t.”

      “Calm down, dear,” Constance said. “We’re in a public place.”

      Judith drank more wine.

      “Duncan is eight years old,” Elise had to say. “He’s bright and energetic. I’m sure he’ll excel in anything he chooses.”

      “I don’t need your advice, Elise.”

      Normally Elise wouldn’t say anything to her older sister because when Judith was in a bad mood, it was better to leave her alone. But tonight she was out of patience. “Then stop giving me advice.”

      Judith’s head jerked up. “And do you ever take it? No. You just had to marry that McCain man. Lord only knows why. Look at his brothers over there. They’re educated and respected in their fields, but you chose the farmer in the family. What were you thinking?”

      “It’s my business,” Elise shot back.

      “Yes,” Judith settled back with a smug expression.

      “The business of making a baby. But has it happened? No. I think you should cut your losses and get out while you can.”

      Anger bolted through Elise at her sister’s words. Judith didn’t even know Jake, but she’d judged him because of his profession. “I will thank you to stay out of my life.” She rose to her feet. “I’ll pass on dinner.”

      Constance caught her arm. “Darling, no. Judith is just upset and not acting rationally, are you?” She looked at Judith. “I won’t have this kind of behavior at the dinner table.”

      Judith waved a hand. “Okay, I’m just upset with Stan. I promise I won’t say another word about the farmer.”

      “You just did,” Elise said heatedly, and walked away. She didn’t even pause when Constance called her name. Before she could escape, Althea stopped her at the door.

      Althea was petite with short brown hair now highlighted with shades of gray. Her eyes were brown like her son’s.

      “I’m sorry to bother you, but I was wondering how Jake is.” She asked the same question every time Elise saw her. Tonight she didn’t think she could take much more.

      “He’s fine, Althea. Busy as ever,” she managed to say.

      “That’s good. I just want him to be happy.”

      “I really have to go,” Elise said, and hated that look in Althea’s eyes—as if she’d hurt her. “I’ll talk to you later.”

      She quickly made her way to her car, resisting the urge to run. She wanted to go to Jake, to feel his arms around her and…what? She didn’t know anymore. All she knew was that she was falling apart and the worst wasn’t over.

      JAKE WAS FINISHING FOR the day when the phone rang. He’d spent hours in the fields, making sure things were done to his specifications. He was dirty and tired and he longed for a shower and a change of clothes.

      “Hello,” he said into the receiver.

      “Mr. McCain, this is Ms. Woods.”

      Jake immediately sat down. He had to, because he knew what the call meant.

      “Yes.”

      “I СКАЧАТЬ