The Christmas Baby Bump. Lynne Marshall

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СКАЧАТЬ don’t deserve to be alive. She could practically hear her ex-husband’s voice repeating the cutting words.

      On her way back to the extended-stay hotel that night, Stephanie realized how famished she was. On a whim, she stopped at a decent-looking Japanese restaurant for some takeout.

      After placing her order, she sat primly on the edge of one of the sushi bar stools. She sipped green tea, and glanced around. Down the aisle, there was Robbie, grains of rice stuck to his beaming face like 3-D freckles. Across from the boy, with his back to her, sat Phil. A jolt of nerves cut through her as she hoped Robbie wouldn’t recognize her. He might start crying again. How soon could she get her order and sneak out? Just as she thought it, as if sending a mental tap to his shoulder, Phil turned and saw her, flashed a look of surprise, then waved her over.

      She couldn’t very well pretend she hadn’t seen him. She waved tentatively back then shook her head as Phil’s ever-broadening gesture to join them was accompanied by a desperate look.

       Be strong. He’s the one babysitting. It’s not your responsibility.

      He stood, made an even more pronounced gesture with pleading eyes.

      The guy begged, but she couldn’t budge. She shook her head and mouthed, “Sorry.” He might think she was the most unfriendly woman he’d ever met, but no way was she ready to sit down with them, as if they were some little happy family. No. She couldn’t. It would be unbearable.

      She avoided Phil’s disappointed gaze by finishing her tea.

      Fortunately, the sushi chef handed her the order. After she paid for the food, she grabbed the package, tossed Phil one last regretful look, and left.

      Strike two.

      Stephanie walked her last patient of the morning to the door. The lady hugged her as if they were old friends. One of the things she loved about her job was telling people they were pregnant.

      “Have you got all the information you need?”

      The young woman’s head bobbed.

      “Any more questions?”

      “I’m sure I’ve got a million of them, but I can’t think of anything right now except…I’m pregnant!” She clapped her hands.

      Stephanie laughed. “Well, be sure to write all those questions down and we’ll go through them next time.”

      “I will, Doctor. Thanks again.” The woman gave her a second hug.

      Stephanie waved goodbye, and with a smile on her face watched as her patient floated on air when she left the clinic.

      “I was about to accuse you of being heartless, but I’ve changed my mind now,” Phil chided.

      Stephanie blushed. She knew exactly what he referred to.

      “How are things going with Robbie?” her nurse asked Phil in passing.

      “Just dandy,” he said, with a wry smile. “I finally figured out it’s a lot less messy to take him into the shower with me instead of bathing him in the tub by himself.”

      The nurse giggled. “I can only imagine.”

      Stephanie fought the image his description implanted in her mind, obviously the same one Amy had. He seemed to be a nice guy. Everyone liked him. Adored him. The fact that he was billboard gorgeous, even with ever-darkening circles under his eyes, should be a plus, but it intimidated her. And after the way she’d treated him and Robbie, she didn’t have a clue why he kept coming around.

      “You doing anything for lunch today?” he asked.

      Could she handle an entire lunch with this guy? “Why would you want to take me to lunch?”

      “Why not? You’re new in town, probably don’t know your way around…”

      His cell phone went off, saving her from answering him.

      “Cripes!” he said. “Hold on a sec.” He held up one finger and answered his phone.

      After a brief conversation, he hung up with a dejected look. “Evidently Robbie got pushed by another kid and skinned his knees.” He scratched his head, a look of bewilderment in his eyes. “He’s crying and asking for me, so…”

      “It’s a big job being a stand-in dad, isn’t it?”

      “You’re telling me. Hey, I have an idea, why don’t we have lunch tomorrow?”

      Swept up by the whole package that was Phil, including the part of fumbling stand-in dad, she answered without thinking. “Sure.”

      The next day, at noon, Stephanie found Phil standing at her door wearing another expression of chagrin. “I completely forgot we have a staff meeting today.”

      “Yeah, I just got the memo,” she said.

      “You should come. We’ve got some big decisions to make.”

      “I don’t have any authority here.”

      “Oh, trust me, on this topic your input is equally as important as any of ours.”

      “What are you talking about?”

      “We have to decide how we’re going to decorate the yacht for the annual Christmas parade.”

      “It’s not even Thanksgiving yet!”

      “Big ideas take big planning. Besides, have you been by the Paseo? They’ve already put up a Christmas tree. Huge thing, too. I took Robbie to see it last night.”

      His deadpan expression and quirky news made her blurt a laugh. When was the last time she’d done that? “Well, seeing I’ve never been on a yacht, not to mention the fact that I suck at decorating, I can’t see how I’ll bring a lot to the table.”

      “Come anyway. You might enjoy it.”

      I might enjoy it. Wasn’t that the pep talk she’d given herself the other day? Be open to new things? Start acting alive again?

      “It’s a free lunch,” he enticed with lowered sunbleached brows.

      “I’ll think about it.”

      “If you change your mind, we’ll be in the lounge in ten minutes.”

      “Okay.”

      His smile started at those shocking blue eyes, traveled down to his enticing mouth and wound up looking suspiciously like victory. The guy was one smooth operator.

      After he left, Stephanie surprised herself further when she brushed her hair, plumped and puffed it into submission, then put on a new coat of lip gloss before heading to the back of the building for the meeting. She stopped at the double doors, fighting back the nervous wave waiting to pounce. The place was abuzz with activity. Claire called out various types of sandwiches she had stored in a huge shopping bag, and when someone claimed one, she tossed the securely wrapped package at СКАЧАТЬ