Jack's Baby

It would be so easy to reach out and take the comfort and warmth and pleasure of being with him again. He’d wrap her in his arms and stroke her back and kiss her hair, and she’d feel his body stir with desire for her and…She’d missed him so much. But if she gave in to the need aching through her now, Jack would be encouraged to stick around, and the inevitable consequences would be worse than her current sense of deprivation.

Better to remain independent.

“I don’t need your help, Jack,” she said flatly.

“That’s not how it looks to me, Nina.” He reached out and took her left hand, fondling it warmly, persuasively pressing a link between them as he added, “I think we should get married as soon as possible.”

“No!” She snatched her hand away, feeling as though he’d burned her. Her eyes blazed fierce conviction. “I won’t marry you, Jack.”

“Why not? It’s the most sensible, practical thing to do.”

“I will not subject my baby to a father who doesn’t want her.”

“If you’re worried about the kid, let me assure you—”

“Her name,” Nina interrupted furiously, “is Charlotte.”

“Charlotte?” He frowned. “It doesn’t go very well with Gulliver. Let’s toss a few other names around.”

“Charlotte Brady sounds fine to me.”

Jack studied the stubborn set of her face and made a political retreat. “Fine. If that’s the name you like, I’m happy to go along with it.” He brightened. “On second thoughts, Charlotte isn’t too bad. We can call her Charlie. Charlie Gulliver has a nice ring to it.”

“Charlotte is a girl, Jack,” Nina pointed out with seething emphasis. “She is my daughter and she will remain Charlotte Brady. I am not going to marry you.”

He sighed. Heavily. His eyes glittered with devious intent. “Okay. We’ll just live together then.”

“I have no intention of living with you, Jack. I have my own place. I have everything set up as I want it, and neither I nor my baby requires your support.”

“Brave words, Nina, but what if something goes wrong with your well-laid plans?”

“I’ll cope.”

“You’ll cope better with me at your side.”

“No, I won’t.”

“We’ll see about that,” he declared, letting her know he was not about to be put off, put down or put out.

Nina sighed. Heavily. Jack was going to make a battle of it, no matter what she said. A wave of weakness dragged through her. She wished Charlotte would start bawling her head off. That would soon shift Jack.

If her cries set the other babies off, too, he’d be out the door as fast as his feet could carry him.

Sally returned, darting apprehensive looks at Jack and Nina as she put the cup of tea on the mobile tray. “Better now?” she asked hopefully.

Sally Bloomfield was the most assertive person Nina had ever met. She was a brilliant saleswoman, able to talk anybody into anything and make him feel delighted about it. Her appearance was always polished and professional, from her chic auburn hair to her beautifully shod feet. Her smile dazzled, and her bright hazel eyes mesmerised. Sally sailed through life with the blissful belief that no matter what happened, it would turn out for the best. Her optimism was good to be around, but right now Nina needed her professional expertise.

“Tell Jack I’m perfectly capable of doing without him, Sally,” she appealed.

“Right!” She sat herself at the end of the bed and addressed Jack gravely. “It’s like this. Nina and I are set up in business together.”

Jack looked surprised. “Nina is organising weddings, too?”

“No, no, that’s my specialty. I adore weddings. Nina is a great seamstress. She fixes any bridal hire gowns that need altering. Does extra beading and tucks and stuff. Some of our clients have chosen Nina’s own designs, and she makes them so beautifully, it adds a lot to our reputation of delivering the dream.”

Jack frowned. “She won’t have much time for that with the baby. They’re time-consuming little mo—” He caught his breath.

“Monsters,” Nina finished for him. “Go on. Say it, Jack. That’s how you think of them. Monsters!”