Becca's Baby

“Because I have to know that I can do it all.” She had no idea where the words came from. Was shocked to hear them. Even more stunned to realize they were the truth.

“Why is that so important?” Randi asked softly.

“Don’t you already know, Bec, that you run this entire town? And that everybody knows it?”

“It’s who I am,” Becca said, searching inside herself for answers she’d only just discovered she needed. “My whole life has been spent doing, being a person other people can rely on. I’m scared to death I won’t be that person anymore.”

Her foot back on the floor, Randi sat forward, elbows on her knees. “We’re talking about more than the town, aren’t we?”

She supposed they were. “I’m afraid of losing myself.”

“Why? Because of the baby?”

“Maybe.” But she didn’t think so. Not in that sense. “Maybe because my husband’s no longer in love with me.”

“Will’s coming around already, Becca.”

Perhaps. Perhaps not. Becca couldn’t bear to tell Randi—or anyone—about the conversation she and Will had had the night of the play.

“I’m scared to love this baby too much in case I lose it,” she whispered, tears gathering in her eyes.

“And if everything goes okay, I’m scared I won’t have the energy to keep up with my baby.”

Still leaning forward, Randi reached over and grabbed Becca’s hands, holding them silently. There were no words of assurance she could possibly offer; Becca knew that. No way Randi could promise her that everything would turn out all right.

But it still helped, having Randi close, feeling the wealth of her caring.

“I love you,” Randi said.

“I love you, too.” Becca smiled at her sister-in-law through her tears.

Somehow that was going to have to be enough. The love of her family. Of her friends. The support of Shelter Valley. One way or another, they’d all have to help her see this through.

CHAPTER TEN

IRONICALLY, TODD WAS SITTING in Will’s office Tuesday morning when the phone call came. Todd, dwarfing the leather chair, had come to request scholarship alternatives for Stacy Truitt. The young woman wanted to continue her graduate studies at Montford, but couldn’t afford to.

And because Todd was sitting there so casually in his khakis and polo shirt, one ankle resting on the opposite knee, because he was asking so boldly, Will had felt relieved. There couldn’t possibly be anything going on between them if Todd was willing to champion the girl so openly.

The ringing phone startled both of them. Will’s business calls were screened by his very efficient secretary. Becca called on his private line.

He knew, as soon as he picked up, why Freda had put the call through. She knew he was waiting to hear from the private investigator.

“What have you got?” He spoke into the receiver, uncomfortably aware of his friend sitting across from him. He hoped this would be the evidence that would clear Todd’s name. Hoped they’d soon be laughing about the vagaries of students, grudges and unwarranted complaints.

“…all the proof you need,” the man was saying.

“Dates, times, records of meetings at the girl’s apartment, a dinner in Phoenix, a night at a resort in Tucson…”

Will felt his heart pound as the investigator continued to give him a very professional rundown of a ruined life. Of several ruined lives.

He avoided looking at Todd, couldn’t bring himself to see the man he’d known all his life while listening to repeated episodes of Todd’s adultery.

“I know you didn’t ask for them, but I’ve got pictures in case you need them,” the man said.

Pictures. Just thinking of what they’d portray made Will sick. And confused. What in hell was the world coming to?

As though compelled by his sense of horror, he look