Another Man's Child

“I feel as well as can be expected physically.” Lisa shrugged. “You want some tea?”

“Sure.” Beth followed her friend to the back of the house, to the huge homey kitchen she knew. Lisa adored. Oliver had told Beth that Lisa and Marcus were doing fine. Better than fine, according to Marcus. So what was up?

“I’m glad you stopped by,” Lisa said. “I’ve missed you.” She put water on to boil and pulled a couple of herbal teabags out of a canister on the counter.

Feeling uncomfortably guilty, Beth reached for the cups. “I’ve missed you, too. It’s not the same not having you at work.”

Lisa gave a small grin. “I don’t miss it as much as I thought I would. Of course, that’s probably because it’s such an effort just getting out of bed in the mornings I can’t imagine having to handle a crisis.”

Beth smiled. Maybe the normal fatigue that went with pregnancy was all that was bothering Lisa. “Get your rest now, while you can. ‘Cause in a couple of months, you’ll be lucky to look at your bed, let alone get in it.”

Lisa poured hot water over the teabags, still grinning. “I know. I can’t wait.”

The two women sat down at the kitchen table, sipping their tea, and Beth

couldn’t help being a little envious. Not of Lisa’s beautiful home. Not even of her baby. But of her happiness, her surety of where life was leading her, the closeness she shared with her husband.

“It’s probably not going to be all that bad for you, anyway,” Beth said. “Knowing Marcus, he’ll insist on taking all the middle-of-the-night feedings.”

Lisa frowned, looking down into her cup. “I’m planning to breast-feed.”

“So he’ll get up and bring the baby in to you, always changing his diaper first, of course.”

Lisa was silent for a minute before looking up at Beth. “He’s not going to have anything to do with this baby,” she said softly, her eyes suddenly filling with tears.

Beth covered Lisa’s hand with hers. “What makes you even think such a thing?”

“I don’t just think it, Beth. I know it.” The conviction in Lisa’s voice was chilling.

“He’s said so?” Beth asked.

Lisa nodded, the tears spilling from her eyes and rolling down her cheeks. “Many times. I thought he’d change his mind, even after he told me not to hope that he would. I thought I knew Marcus. But I guess I don’t. As far as he’s concerned, my baby doesn’t exist.”

“Oh, Lisa, I’m so sorry. What are you going to do? Do you want me to try talking to him?”

“Yes. No. I don’t know anymore. It wouldn’t do any good. I’ve talked until there aren’t any words left. Dad’s talked to him, too, though I don’t think he has any idea how bad it really is.” Beth saw utter despair in Lisa’s eyes. “I can’t even imagine a life without Marcus,” Lisa went on, “don’t know where I’d ever find the strength to leave him. But how can I bring my baby into a house where he’ll be ignored, treated as if he doesn’t exist?”

“Does Marcus know? That you’re thinking about leaving him, I mean?”

Lisa shook her head, looking more miserable than any pregnant woman ought to look. Beth got up and took her friend into her arms, her heart breaking in two. This was her fault; she’d ripped apart the lives of her best friends with her meddling. Her tears slowly mingled with Lisa’s as she held her, wondering when it was she’d forgotten that she was a doctor and started playing God, instead.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

BETH COULDN’T GO HOME that night. She couldn’t face the silence, the recriminations, the “I told you sos” she’d hear every time she looked at John’s picture. He’d been after her for her meddling since the day they’d met, telling her to leave other people’s business alone. But it was a habit she’d developed early on, growing up with a bunch of younger siblings. She’d been the one to take care of everyone, to prevent whatever disasters she could, to make certain everyone was tended to. She’d had to meddle to keep everyone safe—and she’d been good at it.

But it was an asset that had become a liability as she reached adulthood. This wasn’t the first time she’d caused someone heartache because she couldn’t leave well enough alone. If only John were still alive. He’d have stopped her from pushing Lisa into this last irrevocable step.

Beth didn’t make a conscious decision to seek out Oliver, but found herself pulling into his driveway just after dark, anyway. She wasn’t sure how he’d react when he found out how awful things really were between Lisa and Marcus. He’d probably never forgive her for sticking her nose in where it didn’t belong. Remembering Lisa’s broken sobs, she didn’t think she’d ever forgive herself.

“Beth! What is it, my dear? Come in. What’s happened?” Oliver asked as soon as he answered his door and saw her face.

Beth knew she must look a wreck. But it didn’t matter. Not when her friend’s life was falling apart.

“I’ve made the biggest mistake of my life and there’s no way to fix it,” she said bluntly, standing in the foyer of Oliver’s home.

Oliver’s eyes darkened with concern. “I’m sure it’s not that bad. We’ll think of something. Come in and sit.” He put one arm around Beth’s shoulder and led her into his living room.

I don’t deserve his concern, Beth thought.