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“I see.” All the blood leached from Alex’s normally tan skin.
Daphne’s heart dropped into her shoes. “Now you see that the divorce is necessary.”
“No, I don’t.” He shook his head slowly. “I’m sorry you had to go through all of that alone.”
“What about not having a son?”
He shrugged. “It’s not the end of the world.”
“Your father will be unhappy.”
“I don’t live my life to make my father happy.”
True, Daphne conceded. But he had made a promise to the old man, which at the time had been a deathbed vow. His father would still want a Banning heir. And she knew how bad he wanted it.
Bad enough to buy all her father’s cattle at top prices during a drought. Alexander Senior and her father had called it a business arrangement. It had really been a dowry.
“You might not live your life to make your father happy,” she said softly, “but he lives because he thinks you’re going to give him what he wants. And to be honest, it’s a huge strain to live under, Alex. I don’t mind staying here for a week or two until I get a little stronger, but then I want to go back to my apartment. I hope you’ll under stand.”
“Our anniversary’s coming up,” he reminded her. “One year of marriage. We can’t throw that away, even if it hasn’t been conventional, especially now that there are children involved.”
She shook her head. “I’m sorry. There’s just too much in our way. I’d like to celebrate our anniversary by finalizing our divorce.”
“Very well. If I can’t change your mind.” His face appeared carved from stone. “However, I think you should factor in a com promise, since I’m prepared to give you the divorce you want.”
Daphne was instantly wary. If he asked her to leave her babies behind, she would refuse. “What?”
“Since it’s two weeks until our anniversary, I suggest that you allow me that time to see you and the babies and to do my best to change your mind about a divorce.”
“I won’t.” Her blood raced as she thought about Alex trying to change her mind. He was a handsome man, tall and distinguished. Dark, well-trimmed hair and black eyebrows, which were fixed in a scowl right now. Such blue, blue eyes…and a good heart. That’s what she loved the most about him. He was a good man through and through. When he said some thing, he meant it. She admired that—even when he’d made the promise to his father. But she couldn’t with stand two weeks of him trying to change her mind. Because she would, especially in her weakened condition. She wanted to right now….
“You say you won’t, but I think for the babies’ sakes, we should give our marriage a second chance.” He ran a hand through his hair, ruffling it so it sprayed out in different directions, very un-Alex. “I married you, Daphne, and I’m not interested in letting you go.”
“You sound so possessive,” she murmured.
“I don’t mean to come on too strong.” He walked over and put the velvet pouch in her hand, clasping her fingers around it. “Please think about it.”
“I don’t know, Alex. I’m really exhausted, and it would be too easy to give in. I know in my heart that’s the wrong thing to do.” She was ready to give in now—if only she hadn’t over heard their conversation. If only the doctor hadn’t advised against more children. How could she stay with him knowing that she’d cheated him of the thing he’d married her for?
“Let’s not talk anymore. You lie down,” he said, helping her toward the bed. “I’m going to prove to you that I’m husband material you shouldn’t throw out.”
She sighed, allowing him to lead her to the bed. For a second, when his hands touched her shoulders through the thin material of her night gown, she wished things could be different. “Two weeks, Alex. That’s all. On our anniversary, we sign divorce papers.”
Was two weeks long enough to find out if they should stay married? Could she ever be convinced that she belonged with Alex, especially knowing her father had sold her along with his live stock?
A sudden wail pierced her thoughts.
“Where do you want this crib, ma’am?”
Alex’s jaw dropped. Daphne, suddenly very business like, pointed to a section of the room near her bed. “Line all three up in a row right there at the foot of the bed, please.”
“Wait a minute!” he thundered.
The staff paused instantly.
“What is going on here?” he demanded of Daphne.
“I’m setting up the nursery.” She lifted her chin to meet his gaze without any sign of retreat in her eyes.
“The nursery is on the third floor of the house, where it’s always been,” he said care fully. Maybe she thought she was confined to this small wing of rooms, and that the babies had to stay with her.
“I know where it is, Alex. But my children need to be with me. Carry on, please,” she said to Nelly and a few puffing young boys.
Alex stared as an insurmountable wall of baby cribs went up between him and Daphne. “Daphne, the babies have always stayed in the nursery.”
“How do you know?” She cocked her head at him. “You were the only baby from your parents’ marriage.”
“I’ve seen pictures! I’ve heard Nelly talk about it. I was raised in the nursery!” Yes, their lives were different, but even Daphne should be able to comprehend that being married to him meant luxuries she should enjoy.
“My children aren’t going to sleep in an attic, Alex,” she said briskly. “They stay with me.”
“But you’re exhausted! You’d sleep better with them upstairs.”
She gave him a wicked smile. “You said you’d help me. I’m assuming that also means with the babies. We’ll be just fine.”
With a regal nod, she dismissed Nelly and the other help. Three crying babies wiggled on the king-size bed, all wanting some thing. He had no idea what.
“Here now,” she cooed. Swiftly, she let down her nightgown top and lifted a baby to her breast.
Cold prickles ran over the back of Alex’s neck as he watched the baby latch on to the rose-colored nipple. His mouth dried out. Whoa. Out of my element with that one. Shifting from boot to boot, he wondered what he should do with the other two squalling babies.
“You can hold them and rock them in that chair,” Daphne instructed. “They’ll calm down long enough for me to feed this one.”
With trepidation, he went to pick up one baby, very delicately. She fit into his arm like a well-wrapped package, instantly quieting at being picked up. With some difficulty, he hoisted the other one and fit her into the other arm as he sat. With his boot, he set the rocker to moving, but the babies seemed more interested in sticking their fists in their mouths. “I kind of like this,” he said, pride growing in him.
“Good. If you’re going to help me for two weeks, you’d better.”
“Now, wait a minute. I said I wanted the chance to convince you that our marriage was worth saving. I didn’t say I wanted to be a—”
“Father?” Daphne supplied. “Maybe you don’t.”
“I do,” he cried, stung. “It’s just that maybe you’re deliberately going about this the hard way!”
She bristled before his eyes. “Meaning?”
“Meaning that the babies could be upstairs with the proper help they need, and we could get on with working our marriage out!” He glowered at her.
“I’m sorry, Alex. But I’m not going to have these babies and then toss them aside for someone else to raise. I know your definition of saving our marriage probably meant getting back into my bed, but as you can see, it is occupied. And will stay that way until the babies are older.”
“How much older?” he demanded, frowning.
“I don’t know how long I’ll be able to nurse,” she said honestly. “Though it’s going very smoothly for me now, I’ve been told that the more tired I get, the more difficult it is, particularly with three. The milk supply may not be enough for what the babies need. They’re so new right now, they don’t need much, mainly just the comfort of suckling. I’ll have to see.”
He obviously wasn’t going to be allowed that same comfort, Alex realized, with Daphne’s bed full of his off spring. Despite the generous size of the bed, that left very little room for his six-two frame. Making love wasn’t what he had in mind. But he did want to hold his wife, lie with her, be able to reach out in the night to assure himself she was where she belonged.
He had a sneaking suspicion Daphne didn’t want him there, though. Briefly, he wondered if she’d insist on nursing just long enough to get past the two weeks they’d agreed upon.
A knock sounded peremptorily at the door. “Your mother has arrived, Miss Daphne,” Sinclair said. “Where shall I put her suit cases?”
Great. Alex braced himself and his load by putting a boot against the bed rail and settled down as com fort ably as possible with the babies waiting for their turn to nurse. Three babies, a wife who didn’t want to be married to him and a mother-in-law in residence.
Bad odds for a man who’d drawn a supposedly lucky three of a kind.
Chapter Three
“Hello, Mrs. Way,” Alex said congenially.
Daphne could tell by the look on his face that he wasn’t pleased her mother had come to stay. But she needed her help, needed someone on her side.
“Hello, Alex,” Danita Way replied warily.
“Put Mother’s things in the room down the hall, please, Sinclair,” she instructed.
He nodded and left the room. Daphne continued to nurse, trying to stay relaxed so her milk would flow. Her mother reached to take one of the babies from Alex and sat down, cooing to it.
“I think I’m ready to switch,” Daphne told Alex. She handed him a nicely soothed baby, noting how swift he was to hand off the agitated, hungry child.
“Is there enough left for the other two?” Alex asked.
Daphne smiled tightly. “For now, yes. In the next couple of days, we’ll know.”
“Daphne’s gotta be relaxed,” Danita Way stated, with a meaningful look at him. “She needs six full weeks to recover just from having the babies, and then probably a whole year to get back up to strength. She doesn’t need to be upset.”
“Mother,” Daphne protested mildly.
“I don’t want to upset her, Mrs. Way,” Alex began.
“Danita,” she informed him. “I’m here to help. We can all work together if need be. But last I heard you and Daphne was getting a divorce. Don’t think much of ’em myself, but if that’s what you want to do, it ain’t none of my business. However, these babies are, and I won’t have you up set ting my daughter. Or my grandbabies.”
“Mrs. Way!” Alex’s boot slid from the bed rail to the floor. The baby in his arms, who had been so nicely soothed, flailed her fists momentarily and peered at him.
“Danita,” she reminded him.
“Danita, the last thing I want is to upset your daughter. In fact, I don’t even want to divorce her. I want to stay married. The divorce is her idea. At this point, I’m going along with whatever Daphne thinks is best, but I’m definitely not trying to upset her, even though I intensely dislike the idea of not being married to her.”
“He telling the truth?” Danita speared her daughter with a stare.
Daphne stirred un com fort ably, holding a baby against her as if she were a shield. “It isn’t the way he makes it sound.”
“So how is it?”
Daphne shrugged helplessly, refusing to meet Alex’s gaze. “We can’t stay married.”
“Why can’t we?” Alex demanded.
“Because of the babies.” She could hardly bear to look at him, sitting in the rocker holding her child so gently. Why did he have to be so difficult? She couldn’t stand knowing that she couldn’t give him what he wanted. A woman wanted to be everything to her man. She couldn’t be his dream come true.
“I was happy when I discovered we were having a child, Daphne. A bit sooner than we’d planned, and the fact that there were three did surprise me, but who can plan these things? I just always wanted you here with me.”
“So what’s the problem, Daphne?” Her mother eyed her suspiciously. “The man sounds serious to me.”
“You don’t under stand,” Daphne protested weakly. “He… Alexander Senior bought Daddy’s live stock at a highly inflated price to help him out financially. It was a dowry. An expensive, twentieth-century dowry. Alexander Senior thought he was getting a good deal, Mother. Genes, basically. I can’t bear staying married knowing it.”
“Whoa, Daphne,” Alex protested. “You’ve got this all wrong.”
She shook her head at him. “No, I don’t. I heard you talking to your father the day I came to tell you I was pregnant. You said then you weren’t sure if the marriage would last.”
“Did you say that?” Danita demanded.
“I don’t know,” Alex said slowly. “That’s been many months ago. Daphne, I think I only meant that we needed time to be together, time to get to know each other without having the passel of kids Dad wanted under foot.”
“Well, it didn’t quite work out that way.” Daphne raised her eyebrows at him in an exasperated manner.
“No, it didn’t. But that doesn’t mean we can’t work it out. Not all marriages start on a perfect foundation. We at least have good materials to start with.”
She stared at him, wishing he weren’t everything she’d always wanted in a man. Completely aware that her mother watched her with eagle eyes, Daphne decided she couldn’t say what was bothering her the most. Sometime when she and Alex were alone, she would tell him exactly what had been the crowning blow in her decision to leave. But not right now. It hurt too much to say in front of another human being. Especially her mother, whose feelings would be hurt if she knew that Cos Way had been so under handed as to sell his worst live stock to Alexander Senior. Daphne hadn’t even been worth his good live stock. Cos had laughed himself silly over the “runt cows” he’d sold Alexander Banning. Over hearing her father’s celebration, Daphne had burned with shame. Her father was under handed, dishonest, a snake-oil salesman.
Alex had been forced to marry her on this foundation. Shaky it was, indeed. He’d only done it for his father, who had been so ill at the time.
Too bad they couldn’t have foreseen Alexander Senior’s rapid recovery. It could have saved them all a lot of heartache.
“Sounds like a tempest in a teapot to me, Daphne,” her mother pronounced. “Alex has got his head on straight. He’s a fine man. You just make up yer mind to stay married and quit all this gibbering about him not understanding the problem.” As an aside, she said to Alex, “She may have baby blues. It’ll go off in time, but it’s darn wearing while you got ’em. Makes ya hysterical and overly weepy.”
“Mother!” Daphne ex claimed. Her hope of support was vanishing right before her eyes as she watched her mother siding with the enemy. “I don’t have baby blues. I’m not hysterical nor weepy!” She burst into tears.
“Oh, no, Daphne, don’t do that,” Alex said, getting to his feet instantly and shifting the sleeping baby in his arms to one of the cribs. “Honey, don’t cry.”
She jerked away from the comforting arm he tried to put around her. “Don’t patronize me.” Sniffling, she wiped her nose on her gown sleeve.
Alex quickly called for Nelly, who must have been hovering outside because she quickly popped into the room. “Yes, Mr. Alex?”
“Can we have some handkerchiefs in here? I’m not sure this wing has been completely out fitted for—”
“Handkerchiefs!” Daphne shot to her feet. “Is there anything wrong with toilet paper? Do I have to wipe my nose on linen just because I’m living under your roof? Do people have to hover just to wipe my nose? Alex, my mother is here to take care of me, and she’s all I want!” She eyed him defiantly, and he backed up a step. Nelly dutifully shuffled out of the room. Daphne hoped she hadn’t hurt Nelly’s feelings, but she’d sort that out later. For now, she wanted one less person in the room.
“Why don’t you give her a chance to finish nursing, Alex?” Danita inquired kindly. “I’ll send for you when she’s more rested.”
Daphne turned her back so he would leave.
“Okay,” Alex agreed, though she could tell he was reluctant. “Let me know if you need anything.”
A moment later, the door closed behind him and Daphne put the baby she’d been nursing in a crib and threw herself on the bed to cry.
“There, there,” her mother said, patting her back. “It’s going to be all right, Daphne. You’re just trying to do too much.”
“I only want some peace and quiet!” she wailed. “I don’t want to be upset, I want enough breast milk for my babies. Is that so much to ask?”
“No, it’s not,” her mother soothed. “Get some rest.”
“I have to feed the last baby!” Daphne broke into fresh weeping, completely over whelmed by her situation. It was Alex, it was the babies, it was her mother not understanding. But mostly it was Alex and the fact that her heart was breaking because she couldn’t give him what he needed. It was worse than not having enough breast milk, though that was terribly difficult. She wanted to be an earth mother, giving her children good nutrition. She wanted to be a perfect wife, but that wasn’t going to happen, either.
“She’s gone to sleep already, Daphne. I honestly don’t believe that one was as hungry, or maybe rocking put her to sleep. Rest now. In another two hours, you can try again.”
Daphne allowed herself to relax under her mother’s ministering hands. Unfortunately, as good as it felt to be com forted by her mother, she couldn’t help wishing for her husband.
ALEX JUMPED as the door popped open. Danita stared at him. “I knew you’d be out here pacing. She’s asleep.”
“Good.”
“Well, come on. Show me where the kitchen is,” Danita told him. “I’m going to fix this baby a bottle, nursing or no. Daphne needs sleep, and sleep she’s gonna get. This one’s gonna get food, if she’ll take it.” She handed Alex a flailing body that smelled suspiciously like its diaper needed changing.
“Don’t worry about the odor. I’ll show you how to change a diaper in a minute.” Danita bustled along behind him. “She’s just about to let out a good shout, and I didn’t want her waking Daphne up. That girl’s determined to be everything to everybody, but she’s stretched herself too thin this time.”
Alex commanded himself to ignore the smell, though if the truth were to be known, he was rather fascinated by the thought that his child had made its first bowel movement in his presence. “I have a lot to learn about this baby business.”
“I know. Don’t we all.” She moved into the kitchen and began banging through cabinets. “I had eight and I’m still gettin’ educated. New gadgets, new thinking about a simple subject. Nowadays, folks have a baby and they gotta buy a library full of books to tell ’em how to talk to their kids and everything. Not as simple as it used ta be.”
“Can I help you with some thing?” Nelly asked, somewhat timidly approaching Danita Way.
“Formula. Show me where the formula is.”
Nelly shook her head worriedly. “We don’t have any.”
“Don’t be silly. The hospital always sends some home.”
“According to Sinclair, Daphne left hers at the hospital. Said she wasn’t going to use it, and her share could be given to those less fortunate who needed extra.”
Danita sighed in exasperation. “That’s my daughter. Flying with her face in the wind and never looking back. Okay.” She gave Alex a considering stare. “You’ve probably got a Mercedes or some such you drive around in, don’tcha?”
“Yes, I have a car,” Alex replied, bewildered. If Daphne was “flying with her face in the wind,” then her mother was the proverbial whirl wind of motion.
“Well, grab a car seat and let’s get to the store.” Danita hurried in the direction of the garage. “I’ll show you the secret of soothing a fussy baby. You put the car seat in, and I’ll fix this one’s stinkiness.” She took the baby from Alex and held it to her ample body. “And you sure know how to announce your presence, little lady. Reminds me of…never mind.”
“Here’s a diaper, Mrs. Way,” Nelly said.
“Danita,” she replied.
“And some wipes. I wouldn’t mind doing that, if you’d let me,” Nelly offered.
“And I wouldn’t mind lettin’ ya.” Danita surrendered the infant to a grateful Nelly, whom Alex knew had been itching to get her hands on the babies. Daphne had been like a ferocious mother bear, not allowing anyone near her cubs. “I’ve been fully responsible for eight babies’ clean back sides, and danged if I don’t mind letting someone else help me.”
“Car seat’s in.” It had been a bit of a battle, and he’d nearly called Sinclair to explain how the contraption worked, but he had finally gotten it positioned properly.
Danita took the freshened baby from Nelly and popped it into the car seat, then got in next to it. Alex started the engine as Nelly leaned in the window.
“It’s up to you, Ms. Way, but Daphne insists only cloth diapers touch her babies’ skin. She says it’s healthier, and environmentally conscious.”
“She’s right, my Daphne is,” Danita said. “I’ll pick up a case of plastic diapers while I’m in the store. Hurry, Alex. Get the car started so the baby’ll settle. I swear, Daphne’s got ears like a bat. She’ll hear this baby crying and there’ll be no keeping her down.”
Alex backed the sports car down the driveway. As he hit the main road in front of the ranch and gathered speed, the baby miraculously quit crying. “Whew. That’s some thing, isn’t it?”
“Not really. This ‘un’s got a stomachache. She’s not hungry, just gassy. She wouldn’t have nursed even if Daphne had tried to. She might as well be sleeping.”
“I see.” Alex watched her in the mirror. “Do you think we’re smart to cir cum vent what Daphne wants for the babies? You did say we shouldn’t upset her.”
Danita shrugged. “Daphne’s a great girl, a real go-getter. Determined as hell—heck,” she said in deference to the sleeping baby. “But she don’t know squat about babies. The first month these critters are gonna poop stuff that doesn’t even resemble poop, and they do it constantly. It’s really better if we handle this a little differently, at least for the first month.” She sighed as Alex pulled into the grocery store lot. “Parents are always over wrought with their first kiddos.”
“She’s got a lot to deal with.” Alex searched for a parking spot.
“Be better if she could do things the easy way, but not my Daph. All my children are stubborn. Like me.”
“Probably a good trait.”
“Yep. Your father’s stubborn, too.”
“Like a mule.” Alex could agree with that.
“’Course, only one of ya’s gonna be able to be stubborn all the way,” she said, “it’s either gonna be you or Daphne. Else the marriage doesn’t work out.”
He shut off the car and turned to face her. “Do you have any suggestions?”
“Let her be the stubborn one,” Danita suggested. “Gonna be tough for you, ‘cause you got the old man’s personality, and he’s an ornery son of a gun. But let Daphne be the stubborn one, and you just might keep her.”
“She’s determined to leave me.”
“Nah. What’d I tell ya, Alex? She’s gotta do everything the hard way. Whether it’s breast-feeding, which most woman tire out feeding one, Daphne’s gotta do three. And diapers. She’s gotta be environmentally conscious. It’s the same in her marriage. She’s got a bug in her bonnet that she’s not perfect enough for ya. Dig in your heels and prove to her that you two are right for each other, all the while telling her she’s right.”
“It sounds so under handed,” he murmured.
“Yep. Runs in our family a bit. I call it learning to get along with folks.” Danita gave him a huge smile. “Now. You run in there and get some soybean formula. This one’s farting up a storm, and that tells me maybe her and cow’s milk ain’t gonna be a good thing. Get Daphne some roses while you’re at it. She likes big yellow ones that look like the sun. I can’t stand that damn dreary room, all those cribs crowded in there like buses. Your family’s rich as Croesus, she can have the help I could never afford, and by heaven, I’m gonna make her take advantage of it.”
He grinned at her. “Why do I get the feeling you’re on my side?”