Excuse Me? Whose Baby?: Excuse Me? Whose Baby? / Follow That Baby!. Jacqueline Diamond
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Название: Excuse Me? Whose Baby?: Excuse Me? Whose Baby? / Follow That Baby!
Автор: Jacqueline Diamond
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Зарубежные любовные романы
isbn: 9781474025607
isbn:
Now, however, her apron was ripped and flopping down at one side, she had a run in her stockings and the frilly white serving cap hung rakishly over her forehead.
“He told me to stick my can of disinfectant where the sun never shines,” she growled.
Rocky, balanced horizontally on Grace’s shoulders, made a low, wheezing sound. Jim interpreted it to mean, “But, chief, the whole house reeks!”
“Yes, I can smell it,” he said, approaching them. “Grace, it isn’t necessary to sterilize the house. Babies aren’t that delicate. Put Rocky down, would you?”
Grimacing, she lowered the butler to his feet. His face, Jim saw, had gone deathly pale.
With a low moan, the butler stumbled across the room and out through the French doors. Jim could hear him puking into the bushes.
“You wash that down with the hose!” Grace yelled. “No fair sticking Kip with your mess! He’s weird enough already.” Assuming a level tone, she addressed Jim. “Do you know, ever since Kip banged his head in that helicopter crash, he thinks letters and numbers have colors?”
“He’s a good gardener,” Jim said. “Now listen, you and Rocky have got to work things out.”
“Just let me pound him a little more,” said Grace. “He’ll come around.”
“That isn’t the way it’s done in civilian life.” Before he could continue, Jim’s spine tingled, and he realized that Dex was standing behind him.
Glancing back, he drank in the appearance of the two bristle-haired females, their lively faces so much alike. He hated to admit it, but the more time he spent around his daughter, the more resemblance he saw to her mother.
Maybe fifty percent, he was willing to concede. At maximum.
Annie beamed at Grace and clapped her hands. “More!” she said.
The room went utterly still. Even Rocky, staggering in through the double doors, paused in mid-stride.
“That was her first word!” Dex crowed. “Wasn’t it? Did she say anything today while I was gone?”
“Just ga ga da da,” said Jim.
“Ba ba,” replied Annie, as if they were carrying on a conversation.
Rocky’s face glowed like a Christmas candle. Grace blinked several times rapidly.
As far as Jim was concerned, the moment was worth more than a hundred million dollars.
6
A WARM GLOW enveloped Dex. Annie’s first word!
True, she’d apparently been requesting more violence, which wasn’t desirable, but she’d spoken. The person inside the cute little shape had communicated directly with them.
It was only a small step to more words, then short sentences. Soon a torrent of speech would spew forth insight into her daughter’s mind and emerging personality.
It’s a miracle.
Dex hugged the baby. How could she give her up?
Her throat clogged as she regarded the three faces watching her or, rather, watching Annie. Rocky’s, pale but delighted. Grace’s, sternly protective. And Jim’s, the handsome features transformed by tenderness.
Was he right? Did their daughter belong here rather than with some adoptive family?
But if Annie were here, Dex wouldn’t be able to stay away. She’d be underfoot, watching from close by as Jim married and as his new wife, no doubt a shining example of all that was nurturing, gave Annie the love and support that Dex couldn’t.
It would break her heart. Dex yearned to be that perfect woman, but she didn’t have it in her. Her fumbling attempts might fool other adults, but they would leave Annie’s needs unmet. And Jim’s, too.
Dex knew even less about relationships than about mothering. None of her boyfriends had lasted long, for reasons that eluded her.
In addition to not understanding men, she didn’t understand herself. She didn’t know, for instance, why Jim had scared her so much on their terrific night together that she’d lied to him about moving away.
She also didn’t understand why he’d forgotten her so quickly and proposed to someone else. It was all too confusing, a swamp into which she would sink forever if she weren’t careful.
Life for Dex was safest alone. And Annie would be safest with a new family. No matter how perfect Jim’s bride-to-be was, surely she would resent being forced to raise another woman’s child.
“I’ll keep a journal about her first words,” Dex said. “So her adoptive parents will have a record of them.”
“Adoptive parents?” said Grace.
“Dex and I disagree on the subject,” Jim told her. He gave no hint that it was out of place for a maid to question her employer’s child-rearing plans.
“They could live here,” Rocky suggested. “It’s big enough.”
“Live here?” Grace echoed in amazement. “What, a pair of adoptive parents move into the baby’s father’s mansion? You’ve been watching too many daytime talk shows!”
“I never watch daytime talk shows,” Rocky replied stiffly. “And I refuse to be taunted into another fight.”
“Because you’d lose,” said Grace.
Jim held up his hands. “Rocky, how’s dinner coming along? Grace, I believe you’ve got liberty call.”
The maid stood her ground for a moment, then nodded. “Thank you, sir. See you at Colors on Monday, if not before.”
“Good night, Grace.”
Dex watched the maid depart through the French doors. After she was gone, Rocky headed for the kitchen.
“What’s liberty call?” Dex shifted the baby onto her hip.
“Free time. It means she’s off duty,” Jim explained.
“And what’s Colors?”
“That’s when we raise the flag. Eight a.m. on weekdays,” he said.
Dex wondered how the future Mrs. Bonderoff would enjoy living on a Marine base. On the other hand, maybe the future Mrs. Bonderoff was a Marine.
“Make yourself comfortable. Dinner should be ready soon.” Jim gestured toward a couch.
“Thanks.” Dex СКАЧАТЬ