Paige gave herself a mental kick. Nora had told her that Sheila had an appointment that morning, but Paige hadn’t taken note of the time. Still, she couldn’t avoid the woman forever.
“How’re things going with Dr. Franco?” she asked as they walked toward the elevator.
“Good, I guess. I like both of you about the same.” Sheila’s forehead furrowed. “I hear you and Mike are getting married.”
It wasn’t like Nora to gossip. But then, Sheila might have heard the news any number of places, considering that she knew Mike’s family. “Yes.” At the elevator, Paige pressed the down button.
“Did you really get pregnant through artificial insemination?”
“I did,” Paige confirmed.
“And he’s marrying you anyway?”
She heard the pain in Sheila’s voice. Despite everything that had happened, the woman harbored feelings for her ex, or perhaps this was a matter of insecurity. “Thank you for giving him some straight talk.”
The doors opened. “Did that really help?” Sheila asked as they stepped into the empty elevator.
“I think you had an impact,” Paige said.
Sheila brightened. “I’m glad.”
The elevator glided downward. “Now we both get happy endings,” Paige noted.
“Don’t you mean happy beginnings?” Sheila asked as they reached the lobby.
“Exactly.” Paige liked that phrasing.
“Listen.” Sheila stopped in the middle of the lobby. “You should feel free to compare notes with me anytime. I’ve learned a lot about handling men.”
“I can see that.” Paige appreciated the good intentions. “Thanks.”
“’Bye!” Sheila beamed as she walked away.
Paige had to admit she had no idea how to handle Mike. And she intended to keep it that way.
* * *
I
N
A
GLOWING
CIRCLE
OF
LIGHT
from the bedside lamp, Paige tried to read a medical journal. Tonight, though, she just couldn’t focus, not with Mike ensconced beside her in his crisp striped pajamas, laptop on his knees, working intently.
She plucked a bit of lint from his sandy hair. When he looked up, she said, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
“That’s okay.” He closed the laptop. “I meant to tell you something at dinner but we were interrupted.” His parents had stopped by unexpectedly on the way home from visiting friends. Between catching up on wedding plans and sharing family news, the evening had flown by.
“What’s that?” Paige waited for him to continue.
“I decided to stop donating sperm.” He cleared his throat. “It seemed like a good idea at the time but…well…”
“No explanation necessary.” Besides, she had a small confession to make. “I know you said it didn’t matter, but I ran a DNA test using the last sample of your sperm. The baby’s definitely yours. I should have asked you first because if it had turned out not to be…”
His fingers brushed her cheek. “When I said it didn’t matter, I meant it. Now, any other revelations? This seems to be the night for them.”
She hadn’t had a chance to mention Sheila’s visit, Paige realized. “I ran into your ex-wife at lunchtime. She made me promise to ask for advice in dealing with you, if I need any.”
He grinned. “Do you?”
“I’d say I’ve done just fine without it.”
She held out her left hand, where the purple centerpiece on her ring shone as brightly as the diamonds around it. Everywhere she went, people commented on it. To their questions, Paige described the purple glass as a family heirloom, which was what she considered it.
“Okay, now that we’ve taken care of business, look at this.” Reopening the laptop, Mike swung it toward her. The screen displayed beach-oriented baby decor. “What do you think?”
She loved the theme. “Look at that cute mermaid mobile!”
Mike frowned. “I was thinking more of the surf’s-up theme.”
“It’s cheerful,” Paige conceded. “But I could live without the surfboard wall decals.”
“They’re nice and bright.” He sounded disappointed.
“The surf’s-up sheets only come in blue.”
“That’s the color of the ocean. And lots of girls surf.” He sighed. “I suppose we should table this discussion until we know the sex for sure.”
Although Paige never knew how he’d react to teasing, she decided to go for it. “Or we could have more than one baby.”
Mike froze. In the silence, she heard the low beat of rock music from their neighbors. At last, he squeezed out the words, “It’s a small house.”
“I’m joking,” she said.
Instead of meeting her gaze, Mike returned his attention to the laptop. A few clicks later, he turned the screen so she could see.
Bunk beds.
“We could buy a set of these when the kids get bigger.” He quirked an eyebrow. “If I survived sharing a room, so can they.”
Incredible. Curling close to him, Paige murmured, “Just imagine making a baby the old-fashioned way.”
“Oh?” he said. “Which way is that?”
She closed his laptop and set it on the nightstand beside them. “Let me show you.”
“I always appreciate a demonstration. It helps me get the hang of things,” Mike said, and turned off the light.
* * * * *
ISBN: 9781459226432
Copyright © 2012 by Jackie Hyman
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