Her Secret, His Child

"Great! Everyone ate a ton." Jamie laughed. "Kyle said he got so many compliments he lost count of them."

HER SECRET, HIS CHILD

"Kyle said." "Kyle said." Karen wondered if Jamie realized how many times she uttered those words. Or how hard she was falling for the new English professor. Karen hoped not. She wanted Jamie to be too much in love to fight the inevitable, as she knew her friend would fight once her mind caught up with her heart.

"He said the fashion show was a real success," Jamie continued. ' 'I guess Dean Patterson was more than impressed."

"That must have scored you a few points with Kyle."

Jamie shook her head. "Kyle's not like that." She paused. "And besides, I'm not looking to score points." She was staring out the front window of the minivan, her face expressionless. Karen had never known anyone who could hide emotion as well as Jamie could.

Much as she envied Jamie her nearly ideal life, Karen felt a deep sadness for her friend. If Jamie could only allow herself to love a good man, she'd have it all.

"Have you told Dennis about the baby yet?"

Karen shook her head. No matter how hard she tried not to, she felt a sadness for herself, too. She'd already started to feel heavy and unattractive because of this pregnancy. She was still uncertain about her husband's reaction—not to the baby but to her. Worst of all, she felt trapped. And guilty for resenting this baby. Yet at the same time, she looked forward to the child's birth. She sighed, frustrated by her contradictory emotions.

TARA TAYLOR QUINN

Glancing from Karen's stomach to her face, Jamie asked, "Don't you think it's about time?"

Of course it was. Past time. "I've tried to tell him on a couple of occasions, but…the words just won't come."

"You're three months now!" Jamie said. Though she didn't take her eyes from the road, Karen could feel her friend's gaze. "Surely you aren't worried about a miscarriage anymore."

Karen shrugged. She was so confused, worried about so many difficult things. "It could still happen."

And there were lots of gorgeous, young, businesswomen on the road, too—possibly setting a snare for Dennis that very moment.

"Kar, are you unhappy about this baby?"

"No!" Karen surprised herself with the vehemence of her reply. Except that she knew it wasn't really the baby that upset her. She loved babies. She'd just wanted to be more than a wife and mother—and she was desperately afraid that, compared to the career women with whom Dennis spent his days, he'd find her boring.

' 'Do you think Dennis will be unhappy about the baby?" Jamie asked hesitantly.

"Of course not. He'll love him just because he's ours." Which was true. It was just Karen he might not love anymore.

"And you're feeling okay?"

"Fine." Karen grinned at her friend. "With you mothering me so much this past couple of weeks, I'm feeling downright slothful."

HER SECRET, HIS CHILD

"No more morning sickness?"

A car cut in front of them and Karen put on the brakes, then changed lanes to let the faster traffic go by. "An occasional bout. Nothing like I had with Kayla."

"Have you made an appointment yet to see your doctor?''

Karen nodded. And she'd cried for an hour afterward, too. "I go in next week."

"So, you gonna tell Dennis this weekend?"

Karen looked at Jamie, wishing she had her friend's strength, her confidence. Her life. "I guess I kind of have to, huh?"

"Unless you want him guessing first."

No, she didn't want that. She wanted to be the one to break it to him, to see his expression the exact second he heard. She could read Dennis like a book, and that instant expression would tell her what she needed to know. She was just scared to death to see it. Signaling their exit, she steered the van down the ramp.