Читать книгу The Texan's Tiny Dilemma - Judy Christenberry, Judy Christenberry - Страница 9

At four months pregnant, Teresa Tyler didn’t move as quickly as she used to. So when the phone rang she needed three rings to answer it.

“I just realized I haven’t seen you for more than a month. Why don’t you come for dinner this evening?” It was her sister Tommie. She took being the eldest of the triplet sisters seriously and at times acted more like Teresa’s mother than her sibling. “I’ve invited Tabitha and Mom, with Joel, of course, and Pete’s mother and brother. It’ll be a family night. Say you’ll come.”

Panic instantly filling her, Teresa replied immediately. “I can’t.”

“But, Teresa—”

Teresa drew a deep breath. She’d known this day would come sometime. Tonight was probably as good as any to reveal her secret. “I’ll come on one condition.”

“What’s that?” Tommie asked.

“If you and Tabitha come to lunch today. Just us girls.”

Tommie hesitated. Then she said, “Okay. I’ll call Tabitha.”

“Great. I’ll see you both at noon.”

After she hung up the phone, Teresa sighed deeply. It was almost a relief that she finally had to tell her sisters the truth. It was inevitable. She couldn’t avoid them forever. Besides, she needed Tommie and Tabitha on her side when she faced her mother tonight.

But first things first. How was she going to tell her sisters that she was pregnant and had every intention of raising her baby alone?

On the way, Tommie Tyler Schofield picked up her sister Tabitha. “Have you actually seen Teresa lately?”

“Why, no. She’s spending all her spare time working on her book. Which isn’t easy after teaching all day.”

“So she is teaching? One of the women who moved with Pete’s company told me Teresa wasn’t at the same school anymore.”

“What? She never mentioned a change of school to me. Isn’t that strange?”

“Pete thinks it’s because we keep trying to interfere in her life. He warns me about that all the time,” Tommie said with irritation as she parked her car at Teresa’s small but well-tended house.

“He just doesn’t understand,” Tabitha said, getting out of the car. “We’ve always taken care of Teresa. I know she’s only six minutes younger than me but…it’s just like you taking charge though you’re only two minutes older than me.”

“Well, I’m glad we’re going to see her today, so we can figure out what’s wrong.”

They walked up the sidewalk and knocked on the front door.

Teresa swung open the door, wearing jeans and a long work shirt over a white T-shirt. “Come in,” Teresa said as she hugged her sisters. She’d missed them the past few weeks.

“How are you?” Tommie asked.

“Fine,” Teresa said as she turned to go to the kitchen.

“You look like you’ve put back on the weight you lost,” Tabitha commented. “We were concerned.”

Ignoring the remark Teresa waved them toward the breakfast table that was set for three. “Have a seat. I’ll explain everything to you.”

Taking the homemade quiche from the oven, she cut it into slices and put it on individual plates next to a fresh garden salad. After she’d poured iced tea for all of them, she sat down at the table, only to find both her sisters staring at her.

“I have a lot to confess,” Teresa began. “First of all, I’m not teaching.”

That revelation took both her sisters by surprise.

“Not at all? We’d discovered you weren’t at your old school, but—” Tommie’s voice trailed off.

“How are you supporting yourself?” Tabitha asked, getting to the bottom line quickly.

“I’m living on my savings. I took a sabbatical from my job so I could devote myself to my writing.”

“So you invited us here to tell us you sold your children’s book?” Tommie asked, hoping for the best.

“No, not yet. My other piece of news is…is a little more dramatic. You see, I’m pregnant.”

Stunned silence filled the room and echoed in her ears for a full minute.

Finally Tommie asked, “Are you getting married?”

“And to whom?” Tabitha wanted to know.

Teresa stared at the quiche rather than her sisters. “No, I’m not going to marry.”

“Why not?” Tommie asked.

“Because the baby and I are a family. We don’t need anyone else. Other than you two and Mom, of course.”

“But I don’t understand,” Tommie said. “You loved this man enough to make a baby, but you don’t want to marry him?”

“Things didn’t work out, Tommie. It happens.” She rose from her seat and did some busy work at the counter. Then she turned back to her sister. “Look, I didn’t want to come to your house this evening and shock you in front of other people.”

“Do you need anything?” Tabitha asked. “What can we do to help?”

“I didn’t tell you because I needed your help. I told you because I wanted you to know…and to share in my happiness.”

“Oh, we do, sweetie,” Tommie said, getting up to hug her sister.

Tabitha did the same.

When they returned to their chairs, Tommie asked in an offhand fashion, “How far along are you?”

“About four months.”

“It was that guy you were dating when I got married!” Tommie exclaimed. “I never liked him.”

“You didn’t date for very long, did you?” Tabitha asked. “I only saw you with him a couple of times.”

“No, it—” Teresa caught herself, then, her stomach sinking, she covered up her stammer. “No, it didn’t work out.” She picked up her fork and dug into her food like a lumberjack on his lunch hour. “Let’s eat, before our quiche gets cold.”

It was with reluctance that Jim Schofield approached his brother’s home that evening. The dinner wasn’t just for the Schofields, but also for Tommie’s family. Would Teresa be there? He wondered. It’d been months since he’d seen her, and he was filled with mixed feelings at seeing her now.

Before he could gather himself, his mother, whom he’d driven there, reached the front door ahead of him and rang the bell. Evelyn Schofield was so pleased with Pete’s marriage and considered herself lucky to have such a thoughtful daughter-in-law. He was grateful for Tommie, too; she now helped out with Evelyn’s demands, freeing him from responsibility.

Pete opened the door with an odd look on his face. “Come on in. We were beginning to worry about you. You’re the last ones to arrive.”

Jim apologized before his mother could complain. “I got held up at the office.”

“No problem. My spaghetti isn’t done yet.”

“You’re the chef tonight?”

“Yeah, but Tommie picked up a cake from that great new bakery, so you’re safe for part of the evening.” Pete laughed.

“I’m not worried,” Jim assured him. Then he asked the question that had been on his mind all day. “Is Teresa here? I…haven’t seen her in a while.”

“Uh, neither had we,” Pete said, staring at his brother as if wanting to say more.

Jim wondered what the odd look was for. But when he stepped into the family room and heard the words Teresa and pregnant, he knew.

Teresa Tyler was pregnant.

He stared at her in disbelief. If she was, it was early in her pregnancy; she wasn’t showing much.

His mother didn’t hesitate to state the obvious. “Teresa, you’re pregnant! Congratulations!” she exclaimed. “I hadn’t heard that you’d gotten married.”

Teresa graciously accepted and returned the woman’s hug. “Oh, hello, Evelyn. No, I haven’t gotten married, but I am expecting. It’s getting rather difficult to hide,” Teresa responded with a smile, though her cheeks reddened like two ripe tomatoes.

“Well, where’s the father of the baby?”

Jim knew his mother was embarrassing Teresa, with her inquisition but he was too interested in the answer to that question to interrupt.

Yes, just where was the father of her baby? He repeated to himself.

“The father and I aren’t…together. I’ll be raising my baby by myself.” Teresa smiled again, but her shoulders held an obvious tension.

“And she’ll have all the help she needs from us,” said Ann Tyler, moving over to hug the youngest of her triplet daughters.

Feeling suddenly compelled to add his encouragement, perhaps to compensate for his mother’s doubts, Jim said, “I’m sure she’ll do fine.” As if thanking him, Teresa glanced his way, met his eyes for a fleeting second, then locked her gaze on the iced tea she held in her hand.

Jim couldn’t help himself from taking a long look at her. Her sleek blond hair was pulled back in her omnipresent braid, and she looked a little peaked. Whether from morning sickness or from the fifty questions, he didn’t know. Against his better judgment he noticed her breasts, fuller now as they readied for the baby she’d soon nurse there. He stopped the mental picture before it started to take shape.

He no longer had a relationship with Teresa, he reminded himself. And that was the way he wanted it to be. Months ago, when his twin brother had first returned to Texas and met Tommie, the real estate agent helping relocate his Boston software firm and executives to Fort Worth, Pete had dragged him along to all kinds of business and social functions, the same functions to which Tommie had brought Teresa. Jim found himself dating Teresa to round out the numbers. But he’d opted out of that situation. Not because of Teresa, who was a beautiful and sweet woman, but because he wasn’t comfortable double-dating with his twin. They’d tried that once before, with disastrous results.

He would do well to remember that, he told himself.

Evelyn, undeterred, was continuing to grill Teresa. “But how can you manage without a father for the baby?”

“Mom managed to raise the three of us without having a father in the house,” Tommie pointed out.

“Oh, I forgot that,” Evelyn said. “Probably because I always think of Joel as a part of the family.”

Ann cleared her throat. “Well, actually, Joel and I have an announcement of our own, if you all don’t mind.”

Joel stepped closer to the slim blond woman, still beautiful in her fifties. His gaze sought out the triplets as he said, “Ann has agreed to m-marry me—if you have no objections.”

All three of Ann’s daughters jumped to their feet and hugged the newly engaged couple. “We’re absolutely thrilled,” Teresa said, a sentiment echoed by the others.

“I told him you’d be happy for us,” Ann said, tears glistening in her eyes.

“Of course we are,” Teresa managed through her smile. “And now my baby will have a granddad…if you don’t mind, Joel.”

The soft-spoken, gentle man stammered, “I—I’d be delighted!”

Jim stood quietly by while congratulations were offered, but his mind was not on Ann Tyler’s upcoming nuptials. He was still back on the announcement of Teresa’s pregnancy.

His eyes bored into her as he bluntly asked, “When is the baby due?” He couldn’t get his brain to stop working, thinking, calculating.

Without looking at Jim, Teresa answered, “In about four months, give or take.”

Four months…That put the conception somewhere around Pete and Tommie’s wedding. He remembered the man who had escorted Teresa to the rehearsal dinner and the wedding, If he remembered correctly, he didn’t like the guy much. He was awfully…handy. His hands were all over Teresa.

Before Jim could pursue the line of questioning, Tommie told everyone to take their seats for dinner. It was probably just as well. He needed the time to remind himself that this was none of his concern.

“And we have seats assigned, so be sure you’re in the right place!” she added with a chuckle. “We found these cute place cards a couple of weeks ago. I couldn’t wait to use them.”

Jim found his name between Tabitha and Tommie at one end of the table. At the other end was Teresa, next to Pete. He couldn’t have been any farther away from her. When his mother asked if she knew the sex of the baby yet, he had to lean forward to catch her answer.

“I’m going to the doctor on Wednesday for my sonogram. I can find out then,” she said. “I haven’t decided if I want to know yet.”

Both her sisters protested. “Oh, no, we have to know so we can decorate the nursery in the right colors!” Tommie exclaimed.

“Yeah, and if it’s a girl, we can buy some of those cute little outfits!” Tabitha added.

“Girls,” Ann said quietly, “Teresa is in charge of her pregnancy. She gets to make the decisions.”

Teresa laughed. “It’s all right, Mom. They’re probably right. I just haven’t decided.”

“How long are you going to teach?” Jim asked.

“Oh, um, I’m not teaching. I took a sabbatical.”

“Then who’s taking care of you?” Jim asked, forgetting to stay uninvolved at her shocking statement.

“I’m taking care of myself and my baby, Jim. And as much as I appreciate all your concerns,” she said, addressing everyone at the table, “I’m managing just fine.”

“Do you have any contact with the father?” Jim asked, his voice husky.

Teresa gritted her teeth and stared at Evelyn, who was seated across from her. “No, no contact!”

Pete reached over and patted her hand. “I think we’ve all got the message now, honey. No one will ask that question again.” Since he accompanied his words with a determined stare at his brother, Jim backed down.

They lingered around the dinner table even after the dessert had been eaten, talking, exchanging news and discussing plans.

“Oh, by the way,” Tommie asked in a lull in the conversation, “have you started decorating the nursery yet, Teresa?”

“Not yet. I’ve been using the other bedroom as a study. I’ll have to move everything.”

“Just remember that you mustn’t do the painting.”

“I think that’s an old wives’ tale. They have safe paint now,” Teresa said.

“Maybe we should have a workday one Saturday and—”

“No!” Teresa’s empathetic response interrupted Tommie. “Thank you, but I’ll get it done in plenty of time, I promise.”

Silence followed her response.

“I really do appreciate all the support, and I may make mistakes, but I want to learn the hard way, I guess.” Teresa looked around the table, an anxious look on her face.

“I’m sure you’ll manage,” Jim said and received a warm smile in return. The first nice smile she’d awarded him since he’d told her he wouldn’t be dating her anymore.

Good thing she wasn’t a mind reader. Because as much as Teresa said she didn’t need anyone, Jim knew she did. And he knew just where to look for help. He’d remembered the guy she’d been with at the wedding. His name had been Roger something, and he was a teacher at the same school where Teresa had taught kindergarten.

Jim intended to find the man. If nothing else, the creep would pay for having abandoned Teresa and his baby. Jim would see to that.

When the final dismissal bell rang on Monday at the elementary school where Teresa had taught kindergarten, the school erupted as students headed for happier pursuits.

Jim entered the office.

“May I help you, sir?” an elderly lady said from behind the counter.

“Yes, I hope so. This is embarrassing, but yesterday I ran out of gas and I was broke. This guy loaned me ten dollars and told me he was a teacher here. His first name was Roger, but I forgot his last name. I want to pay him back. Do you have anybody here by that name?” He used his most charming smile.

“Oh, that would have to be Roger Arnsby. He’s the sweetest thing!” the grandmotherly woman said.

“Yes, of course. How could I have forgotten—Arnsby. What room is he in?”

“His room is one-oh-seven, just down the hall, but you’ll have to sign in if you want to see him.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” Jim signed the visitor log and left the office. He quickly found the correct room. He rapped briefly on the door and stepped forward to face the man behind the desk.

He hurriedly stood and looked at Jim. “Can I help you?”

“Perhaps. We met at my brother’s wedding in July.”

“Oh, right, Teresa’s sister’s wedding,” the teacher said with a relieved smile. “I knew you looked familiar.”

“Oh, you remember Teresa?” Jim asked grimly.

The man frowned. “Of course I remember her. She’s a friend.”

“Seen her lately?”

“No, I called her in September to go get a cup of coffee. You know, touch base with her, but she was busy.”

“Guess what she was busy with.” Before Roger could answer, Jim continued, “She was throwing up because she’s pregnant.”

“Did you come here to tell me that?”

“I came here to tell you because she doesn’t have a brother to inform you.”

“Why would she need a—Wait just a minute! Are you implying she’s pregnant with my baby?” Roger demanded, his voice rising close to hysteria.

“Glad to see you got my meaning. Now, I’m not sure Teresa wants you in her life, and that’s her choice. But you owe her some financial support for your child.”

“But I’m not the father of her child.”

“Oh, really? How do you know?”

“I know because Teresa and I are friends. I never had sex with her.”

“You seemed pretty hot and heavy at the rehearsal dinner and wedding,” Jim reminded him.

“Yeah, because that’s what she wanted. When I tried to continue the relationship because—because I was falling for her, she refused. Said she appreciated my help, but she wasn’t ready for a relationship.”

“Would you say that if she were standing here in front of you?”

“Yeah, I would. And I’d also want to share in my child’s life, even if its mother still wasn’t interested in me. But unless the ways to get pregnant have changed to include hand-holding, I’m not the dad. That’s about as far as I’ve gone with Teresa.”

Jim frowned ferociously and Roger took a step backward. “Ask Teresa if you don’t believe me. I’m sure she didn’t tell you that I was the father!”

“She didn’t,” Jim said with a growl. What the hell had gone on last summer? And why did she ask this bozo to slobber all over her at the rehearsal and wedding? It was as if she was trying to prove that she hadn’t been hurt.

He turned, almost stumbling, and started out of the room. “Sorry,” he muttered over his shoulder.

“Hey! Wait! Did you figure out who the father is?”

“I think so. Sorry I bothered you.”

Jim got in his car and sat in the parking lot, trying to gather his thoughts.

Could it be?

He hadn’t thought—

But she’d avoided him after he’d told her he wouldn’t be seeing her anymore. That was for sure. Which meant he’d hurt her.

He hadn’t intended to. Drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, Jim thought about his reasons. As a teenager, he’d been embarrassed, humiliated by a girl who thought he was going to give her his senior ring. They had doubled with his brother and his girlfriend because his brother had asked him to. His senior year had been ruined because the girl had vilified him to everyone.

He’d vowed never to be caught in the same situation again.

Then Pete had come back home, met Tommie and the other two triplets. Somehow Jim had ended up dating Teresa. And he’d panicked as his mother kept talking about him marrying Teresa.

He’d felt he had to disassociate himself before any free choice was taken from him. He’d arranged to take Teresa to dinner one Friday night. Unfortunately, before he’d gotten up his nerve to tell her, she had acted out of character.

She’d seduced him.

Jim rubbed his face with his hands. That night had been wonderful…and horrible. He hadn’t been strong enough to resist her, probably because he’d secretly wanted her all along. But after they’d made love, he’d still told her he wouldn’t date her again.

Stupid of him.

There was no justification for what he’d done, except that he’d panicked. After having the most memorable sexual experience of his life, he’d rejected her.

But the most important question here was whether or not he was the father of her baby.

And that question had to be answered today!