A Baby In The House. Pamela Bauer

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СКАЧАТЬ with the back of her hand. “We shouldn’t be talking about this now. I have to get ready for the shower.”

      “Then we won’t talk about it anymore,” her mother said with a maternal authority. “Now stop crying so those splotches go away.”

      She glanced in the mirror and moaned. “Oh great! My eyes are all puffy.”

      Her mother scrutinized her swollen lids. “Do you have any cucumbers?”

      “I’m sure Leonie has some, but I don’t think I have time to sit with them on my eyes. I’ve too much to do.”

      “Then we’ll have to think of something else.” Linda gave her a gentle shove. “You go get in the shower and let me get started on your to-do list. What should I do first?”

      “The party favors have to be taken downstairs.” She gestured to the tray on her dresser that was covered in tiny champagne cups filled with candies. “Mom, you have to promise me you won’t mention my pregnancy to Leonie or anyone else you meet tonight.”

      Linda made a sound of indignation. “Of course I’m not going to say anything.”

      “Good. This is Dena’s night. I can’t seem to even mention the baby without getting weepy and if there’s one thing I don’t want to do, it’s spoil the bridal shower by being a wet rag.”

      “Doesn’t anyone know about the baby?”

      “Dena does, but she’s the only one. Are you planning to stay the night? You can sleep on my futon if you want,” Krystal offered.

      “Why don’t I wait and see how late it is when the festivities end?”

      Krystal nodded. Some of her apprehension must have shown because her mother said, “You can take that worried look off your face. I’m not going to reveal your secret. I’ve walked in your shoes and I know what you’re going through.”

      “Then help me get through it. Please,” she begged, again getting weepy.

      “I will, sweetie. I will,” her mother said, giving her another hug.

      “And please whatever you do, don’t say anything to Leonie about the baby,” she repeated.

      Linda sighed impatiently. “I’ve already told you I wouldn’t.”

      Yes, she had and Krystal needed to trust her.

      During the bridal shower, her mother spent most of her time in the kitchen. When it came time for the food to be served, however, Leonie insisted that she join the party and eat with everyone in the great room.

      It was a long night for Krystal, not because she worried her mother would slip and mention the baby, but because of the look in her mother’s eyes as she listened to Dena talk about the wedding. It was what she’d always wanted for her daughters—the white dress, the elegant reception, the romantic honeymoon.

      Later, as they cleaned up the kitchen, she knew she hadn’t imagined the wistful look in her mother’s eyes. “Bridal showers are such happy occasions, aren’t they?”

      “Mmm-hmm,” Krystal agreed, rinsing plates in the sink before putting them in the dishwasher.

      “It sounds as if Dena and Quinn are going to have the kind of wedding most folks only dream about.”

      “I’m sure it’ll be nice.”

      “She showed me a picture of her dress. It’s gorgeous.”

      “I know. I was with her when she picked it out.”

      “They’ve hired a live orchestra for the reception. It’s at the country club,” Linda told her, as if it were news. “It’s amazing what they’ve planned in such a short time, isn’t it?” She didn’t wait for Krystal to comment but added, “Which just goes to show you that you can have a beautiful wedding on short notice.”

      “I suppose you can…if you want one,” Krystal said on a weary note.

      “Every girl wants one.”

      Krystal didn’t say a word, but continued working in silence until her mother said, “You want one, don’t you?”

      “No, I don’t think I do.”

      “Krystal!”

      Without glancing at her mother she knew the look on her face. It was the shock and disappointment that always accompanied that tone of voice. When Krystal did finally look at her she saw that she was right.

      “Are you telling me you’re giving up your dream of a wedding with all the trimmings?” Again she didn’t wait for an answer. “Just because you’re—” to Krystal’s relief, she stopped herself before saying the word pregnant “—doesn’t mean you can’t have a wedding.”

      Krystal had heard enough. She wiped her hands on a dish towel and tossed it aside. “I’m going outside for some fresh air.”

      She should have known her mother would follow.

      “You can have as big a wedding as you want, Krystal.” Linda stood beside her, pleading her case. “You just need to do it quickly and, if that’s what’s worrying you, I can help with the plans. Dena is proof that it doesn’t take long to set the plans in motion. Look at what she’s accomplished in just a few weeks.”

      Krystal was tired, too tired to be having this discussion, but she had to say, “I don’t have any plans to set in motion.”

      “Not right now, maybe, but you’re going to have to make some soon. Time is not on your side. You need to think about this.”

      Think about getting married was what she meant. Her mother had jumped to the conclusion that because she was going to have a baby she was going to get married.

      “Now if it’s money that has you worried, I’ve got a little put aside. You know I helped Carly with her wedding and I want to do the same for you.”

      “You can keep your money. I don’t want to get married, Mother,” she stated firmly.

      “What do you mean you don’t want to get married?”

      “Just what I said. I don’t want to get married,” she repeated, enunciating each word slowly.

      “Of course you want to get married. Do you know how many times you and Carly played brides when you were kids?”

      “Well, I’m not a little girl anymore so can we please not talk about this?”

      “I’m only trying to help.”

      “I don’t need that kind of help,” she said with exasperation.

      Her mother shook her head in resignation. “I don’t know what you want.”

      “Neither do I, Mom. Neither do I,” Krystal mumbled, but her mother had already gone back inside.

      AS GARRET PULLED HIS CAR INTO the small СКАЧАТЬ