Soon To Be Brides: The Marrying Macallister / That Blackhawk Bride. Barbara McCauley

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СКАЧАТЬ asked,” Caitlin said, matching his smile.

      “Fear not, new mommy. I’ll take plenty of notes that will be at your disposal. Those plus the handout from Carolyn ought to cover it for you.”

      “Thank you, sir,” Caitlin said, then redirected her attention to Carolyn.

      Good grief, Caitlin thought, Matt MacAllister was so ruggedly handsome it was sinful. That auburn hair of his was a rich, yummy color like, well, like an Irish setter. And those brown eyes of his. Gracious, they were like fathomless pools of…of fudge sauce and… Oh, for Pete’s sake, this was silly. Matt reminded her of a dog with eyes the color of an ice-cream topping? That was a rather bizarre description.

      But there was no getting around the fact that Matt would turn women’s heads whenever he entered the room. He was tall and well built with wide shoulders and long, muscular legs. He moved with an easy grace, like an athlete, a man who was comfortable in his own body.

      He was charming, intelligent, had a way of listening that made a person feel very special and important. And when he looked directly into her eyes there was no ignoring that she felt a funny little flutter slither down her spine. Yes, masculinity personified was the drop-dead gorgeous Mr. MacAllister.

      He was also one of the multitudes who was focused on his career to the exclusion of everything else in his life. No one was perfect and that was Matt’s flaw, his glaring glitch. And she had no intention of allowing all his other attributes to make her forget it, not for one little second.

      “Okay, first up,” Carolyn said. “We ask that you don’t wear jeans while in China. I know that must sound picky, but we’re going into a country with a different culture than ours and we want to exhibit the respect due our hosts.”

      “But we can wear slacks?” Marsha asked.

      “Yes,” Carolyn said. “In any material other than denim.”

      “I’m writing this down,” Matt said.

      “Go for it.” Caitlin laughed softly.

      “You’ll be spending one night in Hong Kong,” Carolyn went on, “which we have found helps the jet-lag problem at least a little bit. The flight to Hong Kong is fifteen hours nonstop, so it’s imperative that you get up, walk around the airplane and drink lots of water during the flight.

      “After the night in Hong Kong you’ll fly into Nanjing, China, and you’ll be staying at a lovely hotel there. Cribs will be placed in each of your rooms for the babies.”

      “Oh-h-h,” a woman named Jane said, “a crib.”

      Her husband Bill chuckled. “This is going to be a long, weepy trip, no doubt about it.”

      “Well, we’ve waited a long time to need a baby crib, honey,” Jane said, sniffling.

      “I know, sweetheart,” he said, then kissed her on the forehead.

      And they’re sharing it all, together, every precious moment of it, Caitlin thought. No, no, she wasn’t going to go there, wouldn’t dwell on the fact that she was the only single mother making this journey. She’d thought and prayed for many months before making the decision to adopt a baby and it was right for her, just as it stood. This was the way she wanted it. This was the way it was going to be.

      “Feel free to get all dewy-eyed about the crib in the room,” Matt whispered to Caitlin. “Everyone else seems to be.”

      “I’m holding myself back. I’m saving up for when my daughter is in that crib.”

      “Good idea.”

      “On page two of your packet,” Carolyn said, “is a list of suggested things to take for your baby. You will each be allowed one…I repeat…one suit-case. The laundry service in the hotels you’ll be staying in is excellent, but you’ll get tired of wearing the same clothes over and over. You’re packing for your baby with your things tucked around the edges of that one suitcase.”

      “This I’ve got to see,” a man named Fred said, laughing. “Sally takes at least five suitcases for a weekend in San Francisco. One suitcase for a two-week stay in China? And the majority of the space is for our daughter? This is going to be a hoot.”

      “Hush, Fred,” Sally said. “I’ll manage just fine, you’ll see.”

      “Yeah, right,” Fred said, shaking his head and grinning.

      Lots of diapers, Matt wrote on the paper in front of him.

      “There are instructions on your sheets,” Carolyn said, “about formula and how you’ll need to cut it down with water because the babies aren’t used to having such rich, nourishing food on a regular basis. You’re going to be easing them into it slowly so they don’t get tummyaches.

      “As far as your tummies, you will be consuming some of the most delicious food you’ve ever eaten.”

      “Do they have forks in China?” Matt asked, causing Bud to hoot with laughter.

      “Yes, they have forks, Matt,” Carolyn said. “They’re used to fumble-fingered Westerners where you’ll be staying and will provide you with utensils you’re accustomed to.”

      “That’s very comforting,” Matt said.

      “Oh, before I forget,” Carolyn added. “The salt and pepper shakers are reversed from ours. Pepper has the big holes, salt the small ones. Write that down so that you don’t ruin the fantastic food I’m raving about.”

      “Write that down,” Caitlin said, tapping the paper in front of Matt.

      “Yes, ma’am,” he said. “I’m on it, ma’am.”

      “You’ll be in Nanjing about a week,” Carolyn said, “then you’ll fly into Guangzhou, where our American consulate is located and the visas are issued for the babies. The adoptions will be final before you leave China and you won’t have to readopt through our courts here when you get back.”

      A buzz of conversation began around the table at that exciting news.

      “This is all very interesting,” Matt said, nodding. “Fascinating. Just think, Caitlin, Madison or MacKenzie, whoever she turns out to be, will be your legal daughter when you two step onto U.S. of A. soil again. That’s pretty awesome, don’t you… Uh-oh, the crib didn’t get to you, but this one did.”

      “Ignore me,” Caitlin said, flapping a hand in front of her tear-filled eyes. “It’s just the thought of leaving here as…as me, and returning as a mother with a daughter and…oh dear.”

      Matt put one arm around Caitlin’s shoulders.

      “Tissue alert,” he yelled. “We need a tissue here. Marsha, didn’t I see you go get a box?”

      “Here it is,” someone said, shoving it across the table. “The container was full when Marsha brought it out here and it’s half-empty already. We’re all a mess.”

      “You’re all delightfully normal,” Carolyn said, smiling. “Be certain you have tissues with you for that moment when you see and СКАЧАТЬ