Becca's Baby

“Can I have some of that?” Rose asked as the waitress delivered Sari’s hot fudge brownie cake with ice cream.

Sari cut off a chunk, lifted it onto a saucer and passed it to Rose.

“With the dilemma heavy on his mind, Samuel went into the desert with a couple of his Hopi friends and came back with a new lease on life. He’d discovered a small abandoned settlement—probably a camp left behind by settlers heading west—and had suddenly known what to do. Montford money was going to be put to good use.”

“That settlement was Shelter Valley,” Becca guessed, caught up in the tale.

“It was.” Sari nodded. She’d started in on her dessert, but the ice cream was melting on her plate. “Lizzie and Samuel began long weeks of letter-writing, ordering and waiting, but within a year, the

y had their home built, as well as several others, and some of the people he’d sent for had already arrived. He’d founded a town. And he named it for the haven it was to all those who had pure hearts and were willing to work hard to obtain a good life.” Sari finished reading with a flourish.

Haven. That was exactly how the town felt to Becca. Was why she’d never once been tempted to leave. Until recently.

Capping her pen, Betty reached for the bill. It was her week to pay. Janice picked up her purse.

“Wait,” Becca said, more sharply then she’d intended. Four sets of eyes were drawn to her taut face.

“I have something to tell you.”

Sari’s eyes softened, though they were filled with worry, too. She knew what Becca was about to say.

“What?” Rose asked urgently. Her mother had never given up hope that Becca might one day come up with something juicy Rose could pass along.

“You need help with another committee?” Janice asked when Becca hesitated. “I’ve got a little extra time I can spare you.”

The offer brought tears to Becca’s eyes. “No, thanks, not at the moment, but I’ll remember that,” she told her sister. “Actually, it’s just that—”

“What?” Rose demanded, leaning forward so far she was almost out of her seat.

“I’m pregnant.”

Mouths open, Janice and Betty stared at her. Rose gasped, sank back into her seat.

“You are?” her mother whispered, one hand to her chest.

Becca nodded.

“You’re sure?” Rose asked.

Becca glanced at Sari and then back at their mother. “Completely.”

“How far along?” Betty asked, her voice as soft as Rose’s had been.

“Just passed my first trimester.” She gazed down at the table, brushing off crumbs with her fingers. Afraid of their reaction, their possible doubts, considering her age.

Shocked silence hung for a moment while the women digested her news. Becca wished Will were there with her.

“Thank God!” Janice broke the silence with words that were more a release of held breath than actual words. Becca looked up. Janice was crying—and grinning so hard it must have hurt.

So were Betty and Rose.

“CONGRATULATIONS, OLD MAN!”

“It’s about time, you son of a gun!”

“Congratulations, sir.”

The number of well-wishers took Will completely unawares early Thursday morning as he entered the plush meeting room in the administrative offices at Montford. He made his way through the group and assumed his seat at the head of the table.