Lynnette Kent - Expecting the Best

“You, too.” She shut the door before he’d even turned around, and locked it.

Leaning back against the panel, she let herself slide down to the floor. There, she drew up her knees and curled her shoulders and bowed her head, cradling her baby with all of herself.

“It’s you and me together, kid,” she whispered. “And we’re going to make it...on our own!”

CHAPTER FOUR

ZACH STOOD on the front porch and stared at the door to Shelley’s house until the lights went off inside.

What the hell just happened?

He thought about ringing the bell, or pounding the damn door down. He thought about serenading under Shelley’s window, assuming he could figure out which one belonged to her bedroom. He thought about sleeping on her doorstep and facing her over the morning paper.

In the end, he shoved his hands in his pockets and walked to the car. He carefully kept to the speed limit until he hit the interstate. Then he floored the gas. The Trans Am growled its way up to seventy, heading north.

After an hour of fast driving, he exited, got fuel and a soda, then started back to Denver. He reached the city limits without finding an answer to his question.

What the hell had happened?

All evening, he’d had the feeling he couldn’t quite reach her. She’d been wary from the minute he walked into the house—except for the kiss. He’d known exactly where they were during that kiss.

And then, just as he was about to ask for another date, she froze him out.

“What did I do?” Zach stalked into his house and threw his keys on the kitchen counter. “What didn’t I do?”

The only response was the blinking light on his answering machine. Darius the Perfect Persian strolled in, winked golden eyes and strolled out again.

“Glad to see you, too.” Zach had adopted Claire’s cat when she married. After two years, he and Dar had come to tolerate each other, and sometimes even sat on the couch at the same time. Not much of a replacement for Claire, but the best either of them could do, since Darius hated ranch life with a passion.

Pulling a carton of milk out of the refrigerator, Zach punched the message button on the machine as he took a swig.

“Zachary, it’s Mom. Please call, no matter how late you get in.”

She sounded well, but worried. Zach picked up the phone and hit the autodial number for his mother. Family problems would give him something to think about besides Shelley.

His mother’s wide-awake “Hello” told him just how worried she was.

“Hi, Mom. It’s Zach. What’s wrong?”

“You sound strange. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Why did you call?”

“Your sister was nearly arrested tonight.”

Zach choked on his milk. “Which sister?”

“Carol, of course.”

“What happened?”

“She was caught shoplifting in a store at the mall.”

“Damn. Did they book her?”

“Don’t swear, Zachary. No, the officer let her off with a warning. But you have to talk to her.”

“Mom—”

“You’re the only one she listens to these days. Ever since your father died, nothing I say seems to matter.”

He sighed quietly. “Okay, I’ll talk to her. Is tomorrow soon enough?”

“Of course. I’ll expect you for lunch after church.”

“I’ll be there.”

“Sleep well, Zachary.”

Yeah, right. “You, too, Mom.”

Zach punched the phone’s off button and set it back into the cradle. Finishing the last of the milk, he trashed the carton, flipped off the light and headed for the bedroom.

As predicted, sleep didn’t come easily. He couldn’t get his little sister out of his mind. She’d taken their dad’s death hard—they all had. Zach had spent time with her for his own sake, as well as hers. He taught her to bat and pitch, shot hoops with her, took her and her best friend to Broncos games. She’d been busier since she started high school last September—more involved with friends and social events—so he’d seen less of her, which he’d considered progress for both of them.

Flopping over in bed, he groaned. “Guess that’s another mistake I’ll have to correct.”

Like the mysterious goof with Shelley. Should he call her again? Would she call him? Or was her brush-off tonight a not-so-subtle hint that she didn’t want to see him anymore? He wasn’t her type—she went for high-powered, high-profile, high-profit guys like her ex-husband.

“Damn her, anyway,” he growled, bunching up the pillow. “I’ve got better things to do than chase after a woman who’s not interested. Right, Dar, buddy?”

Zach turned his head and eyed the cat reclining in the blue wing chair, his usual throne. A circle of light from the street lamp outside spotlighted long white fur, an indolent pose, enigmatic eyes. As he watched, Darius lifted a paw, carefully cleaned the pads with a few elegant sweeps of his pink tongue, then lowered his head and closed his eyes. In another second, he was snoring.

“Gee, thanks, pal. You’re a prince.” Zach smoothed the pillow and tried to settle in again. “If that’s what getting neutered does for you, maybe I should be talking to the vet!”

BECAUSE SHE USUALLY worked Sunday afternoons, Shelley made a point each week of calling her daughter by 8:00 a.m., before Allyson’s father took her to church.

This morning, Allyson herself answered. “Hello?”

Shelley sighed with pleasure. Just a single word from her daughter soothed like summer rain. “Hi, baby. How are you?”

“I’m good. And guess what, Mommy? We have new kittens!”

“How many? What colors?” She didn’t care what they talked about, as long as they kept in touch. Allyson updated details on her horse, Stormy, and his training progress, relayed every minute of the camping trip she’d taken with her dad and explained how her best friend from Cheyenne would be coming to visit for two whole weeks.

“And guess what else?” Her young voice reached its highest pitch. “We’re going to have a baby!”

Shelley dropped the phone. How could she know?

When her cold hand had fumbled the phone back to her ear, she apologized and cleared her throat. “What did you say, Allyson, honey?”

“Claire’s going to have a baby!”

“Oh. How—how wonderful.” Shelley closed her eyes as the room around her dipped and swayed. “You and your dad must be excited.”

“Yeah, and we’re going to make a nursery here on the ranch and I’ll get to teach her to ride and everything.”

Despite the sick feeling in her stomach, Shelley had to smile. “You’re sure the baby’s a girl?”

“Well...” She sounded as if she’d never considered the alternative. “I hope so. A boy wouldn’t be as much fun.”

They talked a while longer, making some plans for the summer. “Grandmom’s going to be there, isn’t she?” Allyson asked.

“She wouldn’t miss seeing you for the world. When she comes over this morning, I’ll tell her what we’re planning.”

“Can we make ice cream like we did before?”

Pulled out of the doldrums, Shelley laughed. “I know we can. You like Grandmom’s ice cream, don’t you?”

“It’s good!” As they ended the conversation, Allyson said, “Daddy wants to say something, Mommy. I love you. Bye!”

“Bye, baby.” She took a deep breath in preparation. Talking with her ex usually tied her in knots.

“Hi, Shelley.” His voice had picked up the hint of a cowboy drawl during his years on the Wyoming range. “How are you?”

“Just fine, Dexter. I hear you have good news.”

“Yeah.” The pride in his voice reminded her of nine years ago, when she’d been carrying Allyson. “We’re pretty happy.”

“Congratulations.” The perfect woman had accomplished the perfect task, perfectly. Unlike a certain unwed mother...