My Babies and Me

“What can I do for you, Ms. Sinclair?”

“You’ve never heard of me.” Michael’s sympathy for their pretty blond guest grew. Her glance darted toward the door.

“Laura’s the woman Seth told you about,” he said quickly, before the other woman decided to run.

“You’re Seth’s woman?” Susan asked, her eyes wide as they took in Laura’s long blond hair, faded blue jeans, the old but neatly ironed blouse that accented her tiny waist. “He’s got better taste than I realized.” Susan grinned and Michael, standing with his hands in the pockets of his shorts, relaxed just a little.

Laura’s brow was still furrowed, her eyes worried. “So you have heard of me?”

“I actually know more about you from what Seth hasn’t said than what he has,” Susan said frankly. “Have a seat.” She led the woman over to the couch. “Can I get you something to drink?”

Classic Susan, handling everything, Michael thought with admiration. Almost six months pregnant with twins, she’d been shopping all day, and with a quick trip to freshen up, was now playing the perfect hostess.

Laura declined the drink, but she sat. After Susan had joined her, Michael sat, too, in a chair opposite them.

“You’re probably both wondering why I’m here,” Laura said, twisting her fingers in her lap as she gazed earnestly from one to the other.

Susan sent Michael a worried look. And because he knew her well enough to read her mind, he quickly reassured her.

“I explained to Laura that I was an old friend staying with you while I’m in town on business.”

“I’m sorry,” Laura said, still fidgeting with her hands. “I didn’t catch your name.”

“Michael,” he and Susan answered in unison. Both forgoing the surname that would surely bring more questions than either of them was prepared to answer.

“Then you’re—” Laura broke off, bright color creeping up her cheeks. “I’m sorry,” she said. “It’s just that Seth told me a lot more about you two than he apparently told you about me.”

“Oh,” they both answered again.

Damn. Restless, Michael stood. “I’m going to the kitchen for some tea. You ladies sure you don’t want anything?” he asked.

He barely heard their requests for tea because he was already down the hall. Escaping from the watchful eyes of a stranger who knew what he’d done. Fathered a child with the full intent of abandoning all responsibility for it.

Escaping, too, from the pressure that had been slowly building all these months. The pressure to just give in. He’d had to leave before he made promises he wasn’t sure he could keep. He’d almost told Laura that it wasn’t the way she thought, that Seth didn’t know everything. He’d almost told her he was in town because he had every intention of marrying Susan again. And of being a proper father to his children.

He poured three glasses of iced tea, the peppermint tea he’d begun to favor since her pregnancy.

And had himself more firmly under control as he carried them to the living room. He’d done nothing but grant his ex-wife a favor, given her something that apparently mattered more to her than life itself, saved her from throwing herself at the mercy of some unknown man who might have done far worse than leave her with his child growing in her womb.

So why, since that fateful Super Bowl weekend, had he felt no higher than a slug in the mud? Unfortunately, he was pretty sure it had nothing to do with Atlanta losing.

SURPRISING HERSELF, Laura liked Susan. A lot. She was intimidated by Seth’s older sister. Sure. Who wouldn’t be? The woman was a hotshot lawyer, and gorgeous to boot. Six months pregnant and her hair was styled and beautiful, her makeup impeccable. And the only place she’d gained any weight was her stomach. Laura had had fat arms. She’d hated that.

But she wasn’t there on a social call. She waited until Michael returned with their tea, and then dove in before she could change her mind again and bolt.

“I’m sorry to bother you both,” she heard herself say and followed the words with a silent reprimand. She’d decided to think more positively. Which meant presenting herself in a positive light. She tried again. “Thanks for seeing me.”

“You’re welcome,” Susan said, grinning at Michael, who remained silent. Laura was so envious of them it hurt. It was obvious just being with them during this short period of time how attuned they were to each other.

Laura had once believed she and Seth were that connected, too.

“I just had to do something,” she blurted as the pain rose once again to swamp her.

“About what?” Susan’s voice was warm, her eyes soft and concerned.

“I’ve made a mess of things.” As usual. “And now I’m not sure how to go about fixing them.”

“And you thought I could help?”