Her Secret, His Child

"No kidding," Nelson said, staring first at Jamie, then Kyle. "You managed to snag one, eh, little lady?" he muttered. "Good for you."

Kyle's face was red, his hands bunched into fists. ' 'Where do you get off talking to her like that?'' he demanded.

Jamie was afraid Kyle was going to hit the older man. "It's okay, Kyle." She couldn't bear another minute of this. She couldn't have Kyle risking arrest—not when he didn't have anything to defend. "Let's just go."

"It's not okay." He pushed her gently behind him. "You owe the lady an apology." Both feet planted firmly on the ground, he faced Nelson Monroe.

"Sure! Okay," Nelson said, holding both hands up in surrender as he took stock of Kyle's size through bloodshot eyes.

"Sorry, Jamie," he said, leaning far enough around Kyle to wink at her. He turned then and stumbled off.

Jamie had never hated herself more.

HER SECRET, HIS CHILD

Still not recovered from Saturday night, Jamie reluctantly took Kayla and Ashley to school on Monday morning. The girls were going on an all-day field trip to the zoo, and all day seemed entirely too long for Jamie to be without them. She needed the comfort of innocent chatter, the security of Ashley's unconditional love.

She'd tried to be positive. Had taken time with her hair and makeup that morning, wearing her favorite pair of beige cords and a stylish black jersey that Karen said looked great on her—even put on the black boots that took ten times as long to lace up as the loafers she usually wore to drive Ashley to school. All in an effort to feel good about herself. It hadn't worked.

She desperately wanted to run away—so far away no one would ever find her again. Except that running would be wrong and she was determined to live her life right.

Besides, Ashley already loved her father so much. She loved her home, her school, her friends. To take her away would scar the little girl for life.

And Jamie wasn't going anywhere without Ash-ley.

Returning home for a morning of dodging thoughts, Jamie saw Karen waving frantically at her from her own front door.

After throwing the car into park Jamie hurried next door.

"I'm losing the baby!" Karen cried as soon as Jamie was within hearing. She was bunching the front of her denim jumper in her fists.

TARA TAYLOR QUINN

Oh, God. No. "Come on," Jamie forced herself to think, to stay calm. "Let's get you inside."

She led Karen to her living-room couch, where she helped her friend lie down. "Have you called your doctor?"

Karen nodded, close to tears. "She said to come in, but I didn't want to go alone, to drive myself."

"Are you spotting?"

' 'No. But I started having cramps right after you left with the girls. I just know I'm going to lose it."

"Have you called Dennis?"

Tears blurred Karen's eyes as she slowly shook her head. "I still haven't told him."

"Karen, my gosh, you're over four months pregnant! I'm surprised he hasn't guessed."

"I've only gained a couple of pounds so far. And…and he's hardly been home."

Looking at her friend's pinched face, Jamie considered calling Dennis herself. She would for sure if things got any worse.

"What did your doctor say, exactly?" Jamie wondered if maybe she should call an ambulance rather than risk driving Karen.

"She said that cramping is perfectly normal and there might not be anything to worry about, but she wants to see me just in case."

"Then let's go."