A Baby by Easter (3 page)

Susannah Wells had never had a fairy-tale life and she doubted it was about to start now, just because a nice man and his sister had cared for her. She didn't deserve a picture-perfect life.

And you won't have one. You're pregnant, Susannah. David Foster won't give you a second look.

Not that she wanted him to. Depend on yourself. She'd learned that lesson very well a long time ago.

Wearied by all the questions that had no answers, Susannah rose, drained the tub and prepared for bed. But when she finally climbed in between the sheets, she felt wide awake. She pulled open the drawer of the nightstand to search for something to read. A Bible lay there.

She picked it up with no idea of where to start reading. She let it fall open on the bed. Isaiah 43.

I, I am the One who forgives all your sins, for My sake, I will not remember your sins.

God forgave her? That's what Connie had said. But maybe it was only an accident that she was reading these words. Susannah closed the Bible, let it fall open again.

2 Corinthians.

God is the Father who is full of mercy and all comfort. He comforts us every time we have trouble, so when others have trouble, we can comfort them with the same comfort God gives us.

So many times she'd asked herself, where is God? According to this, He was right here, comforting her with Connie's house. He was the father who didn't walk out when life got rough.

A flicker of hope burst into flame inside Susannah's heart.

Maybe God could forgive the stupid choices she'd
made. Maybe…but she doubted it. She wasn't like Connie—good and smart and worth saving.

God had let her get duped by Nick. Why?

Because she wasn't worth loving. Her whole life was proof of that.

Susannah let her tears flow far into the night.

D
avid screeched to a halt in front of his home and jumped out of the car.

“I'm sorry, Mr. Foster. I only went to get Darla a drink because she said she was thirsty. When I came back, she was gone.” The caregiver wrung her hands. “I've looked everywhere. She's not in the house or the yard.”

“Okay. Okay.” He forced his brain to focus. “Show me what she was doing.”

“Here.”

He studied the reams of pictures Darla had drawn. Nothing made sense to him.

“What were you talking about?” he asked.

“Actually I was reading.”

“Reading what?” Suspicions rose. “
Sleeping Beauty.
From that big book she likes so much.” The woman pointed. “I tried to read something else, but she wouldn't listen.

Two weeks of Darla nagging him to visit Connie's.

Suddenly it all made sense to David.

“Wait here a moment, would you please?” He picked up the phone and dialed, chagrined when Susannah
Wells answered. “This is David Foster. By chance, did Darla walk over there?”

“Connie is just now calling your office,” Susannah explained. “We were having lunch by the pool when Darla showed up. She was quite upset. Connie didn't want to make it worse so she included her in our lunch. Not that you need to worry,” she added. “Why's that?”

“Darla calmed down immediately once we got her busy. Connie has tons of puzzles. Darla seems fascinated by them, too.”

Puzzles? Since when?

“I'll be over in a few minutes to pick her up,” he said. “I'm sorry she bothered you.”

“Darla's no bother at all,” Susannah said. She paused, then spoke slowly, thoughtfully. “It would be nice if she could stay for a while, though, if that won't upset your plans.”

Ha!
David's plans had gone on hold the moment he'd received the call.

“I'm afraid I've been at loose ends, taking up too much of Connie's time,” Susannah explained. “Having Darla here would free Connie to attend to her own issues. She wouldn't have to keep babysitting me.”

“You're feeling better?” Not that he wanted to know. He'd spent hours shoving the memory of Susannah's face out of his brain.

“Oh, yes. Much recovered.” She chuckled. “Especially with Darla here. She's got a wicked sense of humor.”

“Mmm.” What was he supposed to say to that? “Well, I'll come and get her out of your hair.”

“Really, it's not— Oh, here's Connie.”

“David?” Connie sounded breathless.

“Sorry for the invasion,” he apologized.

“Invasion? Darla's like a refreshing breeze off the mountains. Which, given today's heat, I could use. This is not autumn in Tucson as I've known it.” She chuckled.

“Hang around, you'll get used to it.” He swallowed. “Connie—”

She cut him off.

“David, I was thinking—” He could almost hear the wheels grinding in Connie's head. “Couldn't Darla stay? Susannah and I are enjoying the visit as much as she. In fact, I've just had the most wonderful idea.”

“Oh?” He glanced at his watch, not really listening to Connie's plan. Ten minutes before his next client arrived in his office. Could he get back in ten minutes?

“…Susannah would be great at it. They really connect.”

“I'm sorry, Connie,” he interrupted. “What did you say?”

“I said, why don't you ask Susannah about caring for Darla after school? She has her certification as a special care aide. And she's very level-headed. They get along so well. I'm sure Darla would love it.”

“I don't think a pregnant woman—”

“Don't be silly. This is October and Susannah's not due until Easter. I think it would be perfect,” Connie enthused. She lowered her voice. “Susannah really needs a job, David. Working with Darla is taxing but it would only be for a few hours a day and it would keep her mind occupied. The hours Darla spends at her school would also give Susannah some time on her own.”

David hated the whole idea. He didn't want a pregnant woman in his employ, someone else to be responsible for. Especially someone he was faintly attracted to.

Faintly?

David shut off the mocking laughter in his head and refocused. His sister had to have someone, and clearly the woman the agency had sent over wasn't going to work out. Again.

“Will you consider it?” Connie asked. “Please?”

“I can't decide this right now. I left the office in a rush and I've got an urgent appointment in a few minutes.” David thought for a moment. “Could Darla stay there for the afternoon, just till I get home? Then I'm going to have to talk to her. This can't happen again.”

“I'll make sure she stays. You go do your work. We'll be fine,” Connie insisted. “But promise me you'll think about my suggestion. It would be so perfect.”

“Connie, Darla is bigger than Susannah. And stronger, judging by what I saw. She could hurt your friend. Not intentionally, but she does lash out.”

“But that's the funny thing. She hasn't with Susannah. Maybe because of the baby, I don't know.” Connie sighed. “I know how you like to dot all the
i'
s, David. Go back to your office. Think on it. We'll be here.”

“Thanks. You're a good friend, Connie.” David hung up and wasted a few minutes musing on the idea.

“Am I fired?”

He blinked and saw the helper he'd hired staring at him.

“Because if I'm not, I quit. I can't do this. She's—violent.”

“She just gets a little frustrated. I'm sorry if Darla scared you. Here.” He handed her a wad of money. “That should cover your expenses. Thanks a lot.”

By the time David returned to his office, his father's former client was antsy and David had his work cut out assuring the high-profile man that his case wouldn't suffer just because his father wasn't handling it. David
worked steadily until he suddenly noticed the office was quiet and the clock said ten to six.

He was so far behind he could have used another three hours to catch up. But no way was he going to add to Connie's responsibilities by shirking his. Traffic was backed up and by the time he arrived on their street the sun had long since dipped below the craggy red Rincon Mountain tips.

“I'm so sorry,” he began as the door opened. He stopped. Susannah. “Hello.” She looked infinitely better than she had last time. In fact, she glowed.

“Hello, yourself.” She didn't smile. “We're about to sit down to dinner.”

“Then I won't bother you.” He could feel the ice in her voice. “If you'll call Darla?”

“No, I won't.” She stepped forward and pulled the door closed behind her, forcing him to take a step back. “You can't make her leave now.”

“Why not?” The peremptory tone of her voice confused him.

“Darla's spent a huge amount of time helping prepare this meal,” Susannah informed him. “It's only fair she should get to enjoy it.”

“I'm not sure this is about fairness. But—”

She cut him off.

“Look, I get that you don't like me, that you think I'm some kind of a tramp. It was evident in the way you looked at me when I told Connie I was pregnant.” Her face flushed red but she didn't stop glaring at him. “Fine. No problem. But this isn't about me.”

If that's what she thought, her perceptions were way off. David had lost valuable billing time in the past two weeks thinking about Susannah Wells, and not one thought had been negative.

“Did you hear me?” she asked, frowning.

“This isn't about you,” he repeated, noting the way the porch light reflected the emerald sparks in her eyes. The deep hollows under her cheeks had filled out a little and that pallid, sickly look was completely gone. Her blond hair shone like a swath of hammered gold as it tumbled down her back.

“It isn't about you, either. It's about Darla. She's tried very hard to make up for worrying you by leaving your house without telling anyone. Helping with dinner is her way of making up.” Susannah lowered her voice as the door creaked open. “Can't you let her have that much?”

She made it sound like he was some kind of an ogre. David fumed. But he kept his lips buttoned because Darla's dark head appeared in the doorway.

“Can we stay for dinner, Davy? Connie invited, I didn't ask.” His sister stood in front of him, hands clasped at her waist as she waited. She looked different and it took David a minute to figure out why. Her hair. It had been styled in a way that showed off her pretty eyes.

“Do you deserve to stay?” he asked, waiting for her to blow up.

But Darla simply shook her head.

“No, I don't,” she murmured. “I promised not to leave the house without asking, and I broke my promise. I'm sorry, Davy.”

“Are you really?” he asked, suspicious of the meek tone in her voice. He glanced at Susannah but she was watching Darla, her face an expressionless mask.

“I really am.” Darla peeked at Susannah who gave a slight nod. “I got mad because Ms. Matchett said my fairy-tale book was silly. We argued, and she said I was
a dummy.” Her bottom lip trembled, but after a moment she collected herself. “I didn't like her calling me that so I left. But I shouldn't have. I'm sorry, Davy.”

His hands tightened into balls of anger. Dummy. The one put-down Darla hated most of all. No wonder she'd run.

“I was really scared, Darla,” he said quietly. “I didn't know if you'd been hurt or got lost or what had happened. I was ready to call the police.”

“The police?” Her eyes grew huge, then flared. “But I didn't do anything wrong!” She stamped her foot.

Susannah cleared her throat. Darla's entire demeanor altered.

“I'm sorry, Davy,” she said. “I did do something wrong. I know it. And I won't do that ever again. I promise. Okay?”

Those big brown eyes—they always got to him. Peering up at him so adoringly from the first day he'd seen her in her bassinet. The innocence was still there.

“Okay. I forgive you.”

She threw her arms around him in an exuberant hug and nearly squeezed the breath out of him. Behind her, Susannah hid her grin behind her hand.

“Thank you, Davy.” Darla was all smiles now. “So can we stay for dinner? I helped,” she said proudly.

“If Connie says it's okay,” he muttered, knowing he'd been bested.

“She will.”

He watched his sister and Susannah share a grin before Darla hurried into the house.

“She was very hurt by that Matchett person's comment,” Susannah murmured.

He nodded.

“She hates to be called dumb.” He studied her. “What did you say to her?”

“What makes you think I said anything?” She preceded him into the house.

“Connie seems to think the two of you have developed some kind of rapport.” He couldn't help but notice the way Susannah's face tightened.

“You don't like that, do you?” she challenged. “You don't think someone like me should be anywhere around Darla.”

“I don't think that at all,” he argued.

“Darla is a lot smarter than you give her credit for, Mr. Foster.”

“My name is David.”

Susannah paused in the foyer, her face serious. “Your sister is very smart, David. She craves your attention. She feels alone and she desperately wants to please you.” She tilted her head to one side, watching him. “I'm no psychiatrist, but I think Darla wants to prove to you that she's good at something. Hence the reciting of commercials and such.”

“That's—interesting,” he said.

“She could do so many things.” Susannah's voice grew intense. “But she says you won't let her try. You're afraid she'll hurt herself. That's hard on her.”

“Uh—”

“You don't think I know what I'm talking about. I get that. I guess I wouldn't listen to me, either. I don't have any credentials and I'm not exactly a walking advertisement for responsibility. But please, don't write off Darla's ideas too quickly. That's worse to her than being called dumb.”

She'd put her hand on his arm as she spoke, imploring him to listen. David glanced at it. Susannah only then
seemed aware of what she'd done and hurriedly jerked her hand away.

“Never mind,” she whispered and hurried toward the others.

All through dinner David kept watch over his sister and the woman she seemed to adore. Darla told Susannah all about the pottery she'd made in her therapy classes, but it was the first time David had heard that she missed working with clay.

Or that she didn't like the outfit she wore. His choice.

Susannah Wells had been busy.

“Aren't they great together?” Connie sat by him in the family room, watching Susannah and Darla with Silver outside in the courtyard. “Darla has a way with flowers, David. She repotted several cacti with Hornby this afternoon and you know he never lets anyone help him do that.”

Just yesterday David had refused to let Darla weed the flower garden, afraid she'd hurt herself on the prickly thorns of the cholla.

Was Susannah right? Was he holding her back?

No. Susannah was full of advice, but she wasn't the one who had to rescue Darla when something bad happened, or calm her when life didn't go her way.

“She's been asking Susannah questions about the baby all day.” Connie chuckled. “She's very excited.”

“Connie.” David frowned as he struggled to find the right words. “I'm sure Susannah is a nice person. And I'm guessing something bad landed her here, but—”

“Something bad? You could say that,” Connie said, her voice harsh. “She married a guy she thought loved her. When he found out she was pregnant, he told her they weren't actually married at all and he kicked her
out.” She smiled grimly. “Susannah has a long history of those she trusts letting her down, so much so that she doesn't believe she's worthy of love.”