Her Secret, His Child

"I'm going to tell Ashley's father about her."

Swerving, Karen pulled into the gas station at the corner of the exit ramp. "What?" She stared at Jamie. "When? Where is he?"

Jamie tried to grin, but her lips were quivering.

"Who is he?" Karen asked.

"It doesn't matter who he is," Jamie whispered, gazing out the windshield again. "I don't expect anything from him." She took a deep breath. "But he has a right to know."

TARA TAYLOR QUINN

Frowning, wishing she could read Jamie's mind, Karen asked, "Why now? Ashley's four years old."

Jamie glanced over, and then away again, shrugging. "Because she needs to know who he is."

"Do you think that's wise?" Karen certainly didn't. "I mean, if he doesn't want her, wouldn't she be better off not knowing?"

"He'll want her."

"I thought he didn't." Karen wasn't getting this at all. And hoped Jamie wasn't letting misplaced guilt open up a Pandora's box she'd never be able to close.

"I thought so, too."

Karen's heart thudded. "You've heard something different?"

Jamie nodded, sucked in her lips and took another deep breath, her face still expressionless. "I've done some… checking.''

"And?"

"He's a good man." Karen saw just the hint of tears in Jamie's eyes, tears she was sure would never be shed when anyone else could witness them. She wanted to haul Jamie into her arms and never let go-

"That doesn't mean he'd want a daughter sprung on him." Then something else occurred to Karen. "Did you find out if he's married? If he has other children?"

She just didn't see any sense in upsetting the nearly perfect life Jamie had created for herself. And where would the handsome professor fit in all of this?

HER SECRET, HIS CHILD

"He's not married, doesn't have any other children." Jamie sighed and squeezed Karen's hand. "He's an honorable man, Kar. He deserves to know."

"So why didn't you tell him before?"

Releasing Karen's hand, Jamie looked away. "I just didn't… There were circumstances—" She broke off.

"Hey." Karen reached for Jamie's hand again. "It's okay. You don't need to tell me any more." Jamie gave her a tremulous smile, those tears almost brimming over. "I just want you to know I'm here for you, okay?" Karen said.

Jamie nodded but still couldn't speak.

"Anytime, day or night, if you need me, you just call, got it?"

Jamie nodded again, gratitude shining from her eyes.

Karen gave her hand one last squeeze and put the van in drive. She pulled out into the Denver suburb toward the little music shop she and Jamie had been visiting every Thursday morning for the past six weeks.

"When're you gonna tell him?" She finally broke the silence that had filled the van.

"I don't know." Jamie was staring out at the rows of middle-class houses with their nicely manicured lawns—as nicely manicured as they could be with an inch of snow still covering them. She looked at the toys and sleds littering the shoveled walks. "Soon."

Making a mental note to keep close tabs on Jamie