“I meant what I said about getting married.”

For a moment Leah resisted Will’s attempt to pull her toward him. But because she loved the tenderness with which he gathered her to his chest, she yielded.

She enjoyed the slight roughness of his throat and the way his cheek pressed against her hair. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing that he’d be visiting their child.

Impulsively, she stole a kiss. As his mouth moved against hers, a kind of enchantment flowed through Leah.

It took all her reserve to pull away. “Bad idea,” she said hoarsely.

“Not all that bad,” Will murmured.

Her mystery man from Texas was in her house. He’d kissed her again. He’d asked her to marry him.

She wondered how on earth they were going to work this out. One thing she knew for sure—if she didn’t land a new job in Seattle, she’d have to find one somewhere else.

Because she no longer trusted herself….

Dear Reader,

Nine-Month Surprise is the second of three books set in Downhome, Tennessee, a town that needs doctors and offers them a second chance—with dramatic and romantic results.

Many physicians today practice medicine in an environment worlds apart from the one in which my father served as a small-town doctor. He treated patients in rural Kentucky just prior to World War II, served in the army during the war and later became a physician in the small town of Menard, Texas. In later years he completed his residency in psychiatry and practiced in Nashville, Tennessee.

Today, medical treatment has become highly technological, subject to insurance restrictions and complicated by lawsuits. What I’ve created is an idealized situation, one that I believe many doctors would enjoy.

The story of Will and Leah involves a familiar theme—the unplanned baby—but to me it became fresh because these two strong characters made it their own. I hope you’ll enjoy it!

The third book in the series will focus on the relationship between Karen Lowell and Dr. Chris McRay. Although she once loved him, his testimony sent her brother to prison for a crime he didn’t commit.

If you enjoy this book, please e-mail me at jdiamondfriends@aol.com and visit my Web site at www.jacquelinediamond.com.

Happy reading!

Nine-Month Surprise

Jacqueline Diamond

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MILLS & BOON

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In memory of Maurice Hyman, M.D.

Books by Jacqueline Diamond

HARLEQUIN AMERICAN ROMANCE

913—THE IMPROPERLY PREGNANT PRINCESS

962—DIAGNOSIS: EXPECTING BOSS’S BABY

971—PRESCRIPTION: MARRY HER IMMEDIATELY

978—PROGNOSIS: A BABY? MAYBE

1046—THE BABY’S BODYGUARD

1075—THE BABY SCHEME

1094—THE POLICE CHIEF’S LADY *

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter One

The moment the man with intense gray eyes walked into the country-western bar, Leah Morris sensed she was going to do something foolish.

Since arriving in Austin, Texas, two days earlier for job interviews, she felt like a different person from the shy teacher who’d spent most of her life in a small Tennessee town. She felt like the sort of woman who wasn’t afraid to talk to a stranger or even offer to buy him a drink.

Not that she planned to do it. The man’s confident air warned that he probably had either more ladies than he could handle or one special lady. Even so, when he scanned the noisy room, the pucker between his eyebrows made her long to soothe away his worries.

Leah twirled a strand of black hair around her finger and smiled. With an almost physical jolt, she noticed the man gazing in her direction.

His expression warmed as he studied her with new interest. His reaction gave Leah butterflies.

She tried to make an objective assessment. The fellow appeared to be in his mid-thirties, a few years older than she was. His dark-blond hair had probably once been thicker, and his intelligent, slightly creased face might have been boyish in his twenties. Now he was a man she wished she knew a whole lot better.

Embarrassed by her reaction, Leah sipped her margarita and pretended an interest in the bluegrass band sawing merrily away across the room. The whisper of a sophisticated male scent alerted her when the man approached.

He stopped close by. “Mind if I join you?” To counter the loud music, he leaned over and spoke in her ear.

Leah’s skin prickled. “Please do.”

She’d applied for teaching positions in Austin and Seattle because she wanted more out of life than Downhome, Tennessee, had to offer. This was her first real adventure, and she intended to enjoy it.

“I’m Will.” The man extended his hand.

“Leah.” When they shook, she felt the restrained strength in his arm. “Do you come here often?”

“To the Wayward Drummer? Not as often as I’d like. Great, isn’t it?” Swinging into the seat, he ordered a scotch and soda. “How about you?”

“I’m new in town. A friend told me about it.” The music rose to a crescendo, cutting off further comments.

Her companion rested his elbows behind him on the bar. No ring on his left hand, she observed, although that didn’t prove anything.

The song ended. After the applause died, the bandleader announced the group was taking a short break. “Good,” Leah said. “I mean, I was enjoying it, but I’d rather talk.”

“So would I,” the man replied. “But first I have a request.”

“Oh?” Intrigued, she waited.

“Let’s not pigeonhole each other.” His gaze penetrated her defenses. “I don’t care where you work or what your astrological sign is. I’d rather find out who you are as a person.”

“Agreed!” Leah was glad to avoid being pegged as a small-town schoolteacher. “Now I have a question.”

“Shoot.” Although the bartender had set down his drink, Will ignored it and kept his eyes on Leah.

“Are you married?” A cheater wouldn’t necessarily tell the truth, but she had to make the effort.

“Used to be. Not anymore.” As if finally noticing the scotch, he picked up the glass and tossed down a quick swallow before adding, “That question says a lot about you.”

“It does?” She hoped she didn’t sound naive.

Will slanted her a teasing glance. “It tells me you’re interested in me, which I like. And it goes straight to the point.”

Leah waited a beat. He didn’t continue, so she said, “How come you’re not asking whether I’m married?”

He laughed, which made him look ten years younger. “Because it never occurred to me. You don’t strike me as the kind of woman who plays around. Are you?”

“Of course not!”

When his hand cupped hers on the bar, Leah could scarcely swallow. She didn’t understand why she was reacting so powerfully, except for the fact that she hadn’t dated anyone seriously in the ten years since college. Or maybe because the guy had more mystery about him than anyone she’d ever met.

“Tell me your fantasy,” he said in a low voice. “What kind of guy you want. The boy next door to settle down with?”

Being asked to put her longing into words was scary. “No. Someone exciting. Different. Someone who sets me free.”

His mouth twisted. “That’s a tall order.”

“Think you can fill it?” She couldn’t believe she’d said that.

The challenge seemed to amuse him. “Until I walked in here and saw your beautiful smile, I’d have had my doubts.” Will gave an easy shrug. “I can be anything you want. It’s your call.”

Leah bit her lip. She hadn’t told him the rest of the fantasy. It involved a lingering seduction by a stranger. But she suspected he’d guessed that.

This flirtation was crazy—dangerous and irresponsible. She knew nothing about Will, not even his last name. On the other hand, he knew nothing about her, either. Like how boring and conventional most people considered her.

“I’ll bet you could,” she mused.

“Could what?”

She peered around to make sure no one else overheard. “Could be anything a woman wanted,” she finished.

When his eyes widened, she imagined for an instant that she saw right inside him. She’d touched him in a way he hadn’t expected, awakening something he hadn’t felt in years.

Leah trusted her instincts. She had a knack for reading people.

“What are we going to do about this?” Will asked.

“You mean tonight?” But of course it had to be tonight. Leah was leaving tomorrow for a job interview in Seattle. While she would return if she got one of the jobs she’d applied for, there was no guarantee of that. And no guarantee that he’d be around if she did.

“Wait.” He held up one hand. “I’m not trying to pressure you. Hey, we’re both enjoying ourselves. Maybe it’s enough that we’re having this conversation. I don’t mean to ruin it.”

He’d noted her hesitation, Leah thought. She wasn’t the only one good at reading people.

Another couple sat down two stools away, making her self-conscious about speaking up, and then the band filtered back from its break. Will appeared content to sit wordlessly as the musicians launched into another set.

She ought to be glad he respected her, Leah supposed. Instead, she struggled with disappointment and, at the same time, an aching awareness of him beside her. She drank in details: the muscles of his wrist beneath a thick silver watchband, a trace of roughness on his jaw that he’d missed while shaving.

She wished she dared ask the questions they’d skipped. What kind of work he did. How his marriage had ended.

When he shifted on the seat, his tight shoulders revealed tension. All along, without realizing it, she’d been detecting signs of restless energy and coiled need.

A need she realized she could release.

He turned sharply, his gaze boring into hers. A silent query disturbed the air as clearly as if he’d put it into words.

Was she as ready as he was?

Yes, she thought, her lips parting. Oh, yes.

On the far side of the room, a fiddler attacked his instrument with passion. Leah only half heard the notes wailing to the rafters. Her heart rate sped up and fire danced across her skin as Will stroked her hair. When he removed his hand, she felt a physical sense of loss.

She set down her glass, and he did the same. As they got up, he tossed some bills onto the counter and took her arm.

They made their way into a steamy July night. “I’m parked around back,” she said. “You, too?”

He nodded. As they reached the lot, out of sight of other patrons, he caught Leah’s arm.

She touched his shoulder and her face tilted upward. As he drank in the sight of her, his thumb traced her cheek and hairline. Then his mouth found hers.

Leah reveled in his eager kiss, in the caress trailing down her waist, in his spicy lime scent. When he cupped her bottom and brought her against his hardness, she thought she might melt.

Will lifted his head. “Are you sure about this?”

Leah rested her head on his shoulder. He was the perfect height, perhaps five inches taller, so she fit against him as if they’d been sculpted from the same block of marble. “Yes.”

“I’ll follow you,” he said.

She gave him the name of her motel in case he got lost.

Alone in her rental car, navigating the glittering downtown streets, Leah knew she could still change her mind. Still do the sensible thing. Still back off from taking a ridiculous risk in all sorts of ways that didn’t bear thinking about. And there were moral issues that she’d been raised to respect.

Just this once, why not take a chance?

She had no idea where her actions might lead, she acknowledged as she checked the rearview mirror and saw his headlights a car length behind. The funny part was that she didn’t expect to get a lot out of the experience. What she wanted to do, most of all, was give.

She doubted Will had come into the Wayward Drummer to pick up a woman. Instead, she had the impression he’d been fighting his desire for her. This man was complicated.

She doubted she’d get a chance to figure him out. They might never meet again.

At thirty-two, Leah had stopped agonizing about finding Mr. Right. Since she wanted children, she planned to adopt a youngster who might otherwise languish in a series of foster homes or in an orphanage overseas. After she got settled in a new job, of course.

The decision not to worry about whether she ever married had freed her to take chances. Like inviting Will back to her room. Like coming to Austin in the first place.

Leah had chosen the Texas state capital for a lot of reasons: its large university, its bustling economy and a country-music industry that reminded her of Nashville, where she’d attended college. She’d also come because her cousin Josie had been urging her to visit.

Unfortunately, Josie had demonstrated the irresponsibility common to Leah’s father’s side of the family. She hadn’t mentioned that her boyfriend had recently moved into her one-bedroom apartment, bringing along a large, shaggy dog. There wasn’t even room for Leah to hang up her clothes, which in any case would be covered with dog hairs before she got to an interview. So she’d rented a room.

She’d arranged for two job interviews: at a public and a private school. After having dinner with her cousin last night, Leah had squeezed in a visit to the State Capitol and the LBJ Library and Museum and bought a large poster to show her students this fall. Unless a new job came through faster than expected, she’d still be teaching at her familiar classroom in Downhome.

Tonight, she’d decided to check out a bar her best friend had recommended—a tip from someone Karen had met recently. What a lucky break, Leah thought.

The rearview mirror showed Will in place behind her as she caught an east-west artery toward the airport area. Leah recalled a conversation she’d had a few months earlier with Jenni Vine, who’d recently moved to Downhome from L.A. In dire need of doctors, the town had advertised widely and Jenni, a family practitioner, had been the first hired. She’d also become a friend.

Jenni had offered to prescribe contraception before Leah left on her trip, but she’d declined. After drifting apart from her college boyfriend ten years ago, she’d been celibate, and certainly hadn’t expected to go to bed with anyone soon.

Contraception. What was she going to do about that? she wondered. She’d have to use something.

As she neared the motel, Leah watched in vain for a pharmacy. Still debating what to do, she turned into the lot and parked outside her room.

Will eased his dark, late-model sedan into a space some distance away. Leah wondered whether he’d chosen it so she wouldn’t see decals that might indicate where he worked. Since they’d agreed not to pigeonhole each other, he had a right to his privacy.

She enjoyed the way he strolled toward her with quiet confidence, neither arrogant nor uncertain. “Problem?” he asked when he saw her expression.

“I’m not on the Pill.” That ought to be blunt enough. “I didn’t see a drugstore.”

“It’s taken care of.” Catching her hand, he added, “Not that I do this sort of thing often. I just believe in being prepared.”

Leah refused to worry about why he considered it necessary to be prepared. She hadn’t taken him for a hermit, had she?

When she opened the door, she noticed at once how impersonal the room looked. The only signs that it belonged to her were her book on the nightstand and the robe tossed over a chair. It even smelled impersonal.

Will closed the door and, standing behind her, slipped his hands around Leah’s waist. Feeling his body press into her back as he stroked upward through her blouse, she relaxed, trusting him. When he cupped her breasts, she gasped with pleasure.

Their contact felt so intimate. And powerfully stimulating as his thumbs aroused her nipples and his mouth soothed the sensitive curve of her neck. Then Leah turned, and Will kissed her on the mouth.

His fingers made short work of her blouse and bra. Soon, his palms began caressing her bare breasts, filling her with hot longing.

He didn’t speak. He seemed utterly caught up in what they were doing, and so was she.

Leah didn’t recognize this woman who yearned to excite a stranger. She couldn’t explain why she felt no shyness as she traced her tongue along his throat, down to the pulse point.

When he tossed off his jacket she reached for his belt, but it defied her efforts. “I guess you don’t make a habit of this sort of thing, either,” Will murmured as he guided her hands to his bulge. Together, they undid the belt and zipper.

Leah didn’t care to admit her relative inexperience. He probably wouldn’t stop, but it might make him careful. And she preferred to strip away his inhibitions the way he’d removed hers. She wanted to dissolve whatever had made him frown when he’d come into the bar. She wanted to make him happy.

Being with Will was fun—helping him remove her skirt, kicking off her shoes, finding herself half lifted and half tossed onto the bed. He poised over her, pants sliding down as Leah removed her pantyhose. Will shifted her panties out of the way and pressed against her, bare flesh to bare flesh. Surprised as he parted her, she caught her breath.

“Sorry,” Will said. “I can’t wait, honey.”

“It’s all right. More than all right.”

He was inside her, big and fierce and gentle. Curving over her, sucking her nipples as he moved in and out. Ecstasy radiated through her.

Abruptly, she remembered. “Will! The protection!”

He stopped. “Oh. Damn.” A cool emptiness replaced him, and then he was back. Leah felt his movements as he unrolled the condom.

She liked observing him from below as he sheathed his erection. His dark-blond hair sprang every which way, and his eyes had an unfocused air, as if he’d lost track of time and place.

He glanced up and smiled. The worry lines had vanished. “I can’t tell you how fabulous you look.”

“Not half as fabulous as I feel,” she admitted.

Leah had always been awkward around men. First, she’d been a tomboy with buckteeth, and then, transformed into what passed for a swan in her small town, she’d intimidated her classmates. Since college, she hadn’t met a man who stirred more than a flicker of interest.

Until now.

How right she felt with Will amazed her. Completely natural, as if they were partners in this venture. When his palm stroked her soft mound, she opened to him without hesitation.

He moved inside her slowly, but after a few thrusts, control escaped him. Pushing harder and harder, he drove into her until Leah thought she might burst with desire. She wanted to savor this rainbow of sensations, but there was no time. Instead, she clutched Will’s shoulders, anchoring herself as she lost track of everything except the joy of dissolving into him and the ragged moan of satisfaction tearing from his throat.

His breathing echoed against her, mingling with her own. Off came the rest of their clothing as he pulled the covers over them and kissed her for a long time.

Leah loved this moment of closeness. She liked everything about Will—his abandon, his tenderness, the frankness with which he regarded her.

When he got up, she wanted to call him back. A minute later, he returned, and she realized he’d gone for more protection.

“Now let’s do this the right way,” he said.

Leah hadn’t imagined her body capable of responding again so quickly. Will proved her wrong. This time, he tantalized her until she begged for more and then he filled her. They rocked together, completely in tune.

It was much more than she’d fantasized. More than she’d believed possible.

The intensity built gradually, floating them onto a higher plane. Leah could have stayed there forever, or so she thought, until without warning she soared even higher as rapture seized them both.

The embers lingered long after the flames faded. They’d been meant for this, she thought as she curled blissfully against Will.

And he felt the same way. “That was wonderful.” He spoke as if he could hardly trust his own perception.

“Wonderful,” she repeated, and drifted into sleep.

WHEN LEAH AWOKE in the morning, he was gone. She thought he might be taking a shower, but she found the bathroom empty.

Wrapped in her robe, she pushed aside the front curtains and peered across the lot. The space where Will had parked sat empty.

Perhaps he’d gone to work, although it was Saturday. She searched all over the room for a note. Nothing.

Stunned, Leah sank onto the edge of the bed, trying to make sense of what had happened. Surely, she hadn’t mistaken the depth of passion between them. That hadn’t been merely a one-night stand. It had meant something.

To her, anyway.

It dawned on her that she had no idea how Will actually felt. He might do this kind of thing all the time. He’d known exactly the right words to lead her along and, as he’d said, he’d been prepared.

Oh, come on, she argued silently. You’re jumping to conclusions.

Feeling uneasy, Leah went to shower. Maybe Will expected to run into her tonight at the same bar. But if so, why hadn’t he made arrangements?

Probably because he wasn’t going to be there.

With a rush of shame, she registered that she’d invented a relationship that existed only in her mind. She’d given something special, and by leaving without a word, the man had thrown it in her face.

He hadn’t lied—at least, as far as she knew. But she had. She’d lied to herself, Leah scolded as she scrubbed every inch of her skin. She’d thought it would be fine if she never heard from him again. Now, too late, she saw the truth.

She was a rube who believed in fairy tales. Last night, she’d tasted paradise—a fool’s paradise. She’d expected happily-ever-after from a man who never wanted to see her again.

Leah wrapped her arms around her chest and held on tight, trying to subdue the pain. She couldn’t comprehend why he’d left that way, when they’d shared so much, but it hurt.

She should have known better. Should have listened to her better judgment, should have realized what an easy target she’d been. Will had played her every step of the way, and she couldn’t even blame him. This disappointment was her own fault.

Thank goodness for the water splashing over her. It washed away the tears, though not the sense of loss. Because at last—not the first time she’d made love, back in college, but only now—she had lost her innocence.

LEAH GAVE THE ROOM a final inspection to ensure she’d left nothing behind, other than her pride and her delusions. Except for the rumpled sheets and the maid’s tip on the nightstand, no trace remained of her visit.

She probably wouldn’t take a job in Austin even if one were offered. Too many bad associations. She never wanted to risk running into that louse again.

There was still Seattle, though, where she planned to stay with a college friend who ran a day care center. Thinking about the future, Leah squared her shoulders. She didn’t intend to quit seeking adventure just because her first one had turned out miserably.

From now on, however, the journey wasn’t going to involve men. Or acting stupid. Thank goodness no one but her would ever know about this.

Remembering the clerk’s instructions about checkout, Leah set her key on the nightstand before fetching her suitcase, carry-on bag and purse. With everything safely outside, she shut the door and heard the lock click.

In the room, the phone rang.

She glared at the door. Great timing. But her friends and relatives all had her cell number. The only one who might call would be the clerk to remind her of the deadline for departure.

It certainly wouldn’t be Will. She refused to delude herself. In any case, she had no way to get in.

The phone rang three more times and stopped. By then, Leah had finished loading her car.

She drove away with a sense of relief at putting the whole incident behind her.

Chapter Two

Will snapped his cell phone shut. He felt relieved that she hadn’t answered, because he didn’t know what he could have offered. An apology, at best.

His edginess had started building earlier in the week, when his ex-wife had accused him in an e-mail of being a rigid workaholic. Then yesterday, when he drove the twins to his parents’ ranch for a visit, emotions had rushed back from a boyhood spent feeling like the odd man out among his three rough-hewn brothers.

When he’d returned to Austin, Will had been seized by a restless longing for something he couldn’t name. Leah had showed him what it was. Flirting with her in the bar had made him feel like a man again, and the sex had been mind-blowing.

But he’d taken stupid risks. Forgetting the condom at first, for one thing. Getting involved with a transient, for another. A woman living in a motel was likely to be desperately seeking someone to latch on to. And Will had no illusions about what a superficially attractive package he offered, if she’d gotten close enough to see the MD decal on his car.

Two other doctors came into the lounge. In no mood for chitchat, he turned away to pour a cup of coffee from the decanter. He would require more than a few cups this morning to make up for the lack of sleep.

The delivery room had paged him at 3:00 a.m. He’d been grateful the beeper hadn’t woken Leah.

After dressing, he’d stood by the bed, admiring the way her dark hair spilled across the pillow. Remembering the glow in her blue eyes, Will had been tempted to rouse her and explain why he had to leave. With uncharacteristic impulsiveness, he’d considered confessing who he was and giving her his phone number.

Then what? He remembered all too well the experience of a colleague who’d had an ill-considered affair with a waitress. Of course, the man had been cheating on his wife, so he’d had even more to lose, but the subsequent stalking and suicide threats had lasted over a year, and the whole incident had wrecked his marriage.

Leah hadn’t seemed unstable. If Will had met her under other circumstances, he would have considered her delightfully sweet. But innocent women didn’t go around picking up men in bars. She had to be playing some game.

He’d already made the mistake of marrying the wrong woman. Allison hadn’t been a nutcase, but in his book, she came close. No matter how frustrated a woman might be, that didn’t justify dumping her husband and children for a rich playboy. The husband, maybe, but definitely not the kids.

A smile touched Will’s face at the thought of his six-year-olds, outgoing Diane and reserved India. They deserved a dad who shared his spare evenings with them, not a strange woman. And one who cut back his schedule so he could enjoy more time with them before they grew up. For heaven’s sake, they were already about to start first grade.

That was why he’d decided to relocate to a town that offered them all a second chance. His announcement that they were moving out of state had ticked off Allison, but since she’d visited the twins only sporadically in the two years since she’d run off with a guy who didn’t like children, she had to accept it.

Due to his commitments in Austin, they were moving less than a week before school started. Luckily, Will’s housekeeper had agreed to accompany them. Eileen McNulty was the answer to a single father’s prayer.

As his pager went off again, Will set down the cup and looked at the number. The delivery room. He had two patients in labor, so the summons didn’t surprise him.

His new position required working occasional evenings and weekends, but judging by his earlier visit, things were a lot quieter in Downhome, Tennessee. Moreover, Will’s office would lie only blocks from home.

True, the town lacked a hospital, so he’d have to perform surgery in a facility about twelve miles off. And he understood some candidates for the position had balked at the requirement that they handle occasional on-call duties for nonobstetric cases. Will figured he’d enjoy getting to know a range of townspeople, and he liked the idea of practicing old-fashioned community-based medicine.

No doubt about it, he mused as he left the doctors’ lounge. He was going to be much happier away from the stresses and temptations of Austin.

ALTHOUGH THE VISIT to Seattle proved a soothing relief after her experience in Texas, Leah returned without a firm job offer. She’d been impressed by the Rosewell Center, a private school for children with mild handicaps, special talents and emotional problems that made it hard for them to fit into regular classes. Given a nurturing environment and challenges tailored to their temperaments and abilities, the kids flourished.

“The staff at Rosewell said they might have an opening next semester,” she explained to her principal, Olivia Rockwell, who’d stopped by to catch up on the news. Eager to post the pictures and maps she’d gathered on her trip, Leah showed up six days before school started to work in the classroom.

“Can I be selfish and hope they don’t?” After finding a thumbtack, Olivia fixed a loose upper corner of a poster. The African-American woman was tall, with a commanding presence. In her mid-forties, Olivia had embraced maturity by letting her hair go dramatically white-on-black. “It does sound exciting, Leah, but we’d certainly miss you.”

“I have mixed feelings,” she admitted. A warm welcome home from her friends, including a swim party at the community center, had gone a long way toward reviving Leah’s spirits since her return three weeks earlier.

“How can you bear to leave all this excitement?” Olivia, who also served as principal of the adjacent high school, gave her a teasing grin. “They say our football team might beat Mill Valley’s for a change.”

“We’re known for our intellectual depth, not our brawn,” Leah replied, although she doubted most citizens, who placed great store in football victories, shared her opinion.

“Intellectual depth? Well, I do my best.” Olivia was being modest. Since moving here from Memphis fifteen years earlier, she’d made a tremendous difference in the town, as had her husband, Archie Rockwell, who owned the hardware and feed stores and currently served as mayor.

In addition to other civic activities, Olivia had organized a search committee—along with the police chief, Ethan Forrest, and Leah’s friend, Karen Lowell—to recruit physicians after the town’s two doctors, a married couple, had retired. Their first pick had been Jenni, who’d not only fit in beautifully but had fallen in love with Ethan.

“Have you been to Pepe’s Diner?” Olivia asked. “I heard they unveiled his new murals last night, but I haven’t had time to look.” The Italian restaurant had shed its old decor for the creations of a talented local artist.

“Oh! That reminds me. I’m meeting Karen there for lunch—” Leah glanced at her watch “—in ten minutes!”

“Better get a move on.” The principal stepped back to survey the room. “Those other cities do look beautiful, but remember, there’s no place like home.”

“I plan to come back for visits.” Leah would never give up her friends, or her aunt and cousin, who lived in town. Still, she had no siblings and her mother had died of cancer eight years earlier. Her father, who had remarried, lived in Denver.

“It won’t be the same. But I’m an old married lady with two kids. You couldn’t pry me loose from my roots for all the excitement in the world,” Olivia said. “Now you’d better ske-daddle or you might have trouble finding a table. The place will be crowded.”

“I don’t want to keep Karen waiting,” Leah agreed.

“Have fun!”

After collecting her purse, she hurried out, barely noticing the familiar August heat and humidity. The K-8 elementary school stood on a street with the funny name of Grandpa Johnson Way, after the town’s founder. Turning left, she passed the Snip ’N’ Curl salon, owned and operated by her aunt, Rosie O’Bannon. The windows featured blown-up photographs of town residents in stylish hairdos, which Leah preferred to the usual images of models.

On her right lay the old Johnson House, presently occupied by quarrelsome Beau Johnson, a member of the city council and the owner of the Tulip Tree Market. He’d never married, and had practically disowned his only relative in town, Yvonne Johnson, a nurse at the clinic who’d had a baby out of wedlock.

Farther down the street, Leah passed the weekly Gazette—edited and published by Karen’s brother, Barry—and the Café Montreal. She cut diagonally across The Green, a square park where the café’s owner, Gwen Martin, sponsored a monthly farmers’ market and craft fair.

On Tulip Tree Avenue, the town’s main thoroughfare, she blinked at the unusual sight of half a dozen people standing in line in front of Pepe’s Diner. That never happened.

“Is this because of the murals?” she asked her cousin Mark, a police lieutenant, who was waiting with Captain Ben Follows. Ben moonlighted as pastor of the Downhome Community Church.

Mark nodded. “Pepe won’t let anyone in to see the paintings unless they order lunch.”

“We’re in line for takeout,” Ben added. “I think Karen’s got a table for you.”

“Oh, good. Thanks!” It was a hot day to stand outside. Besides, Leah’s stomach had been bothering her all morning.

Slipping through the door, she found the interior cooled by ceiling fans, although noisier than usual from the capacity crowd. Scents of garlic and olive oil swirled around her, along with the unwelcome smell of fresh paint. The odors made Leah so dizzy she had to catch the back of a chair for balance.

As she adjusted, she scanned the murals that had replaced faded images of grapes and wine jugs. The artist, a talented young man named Arturo Mendez, had covered one wall with vibrantly colored images of proprietor Pepe Otero and his three grown children wearing baggy peasant-style clothes and picking grapes. On the opposite wall, the family was making wine in a vat while Pepe’s ex-wife, Connie, peered in through a painted window, her face a study in envy.

Pepe bustled over. “Karen is in the back,” he informed her with a trace of an accent from his native Argentina. “So, how do you like my pictures?”

“I love them,” Leah said. “You’re the talk of the town.”

“Not for long.” The compactly built, dark-haired man went on to explain. “Gwen is having the artist paint the walls of her café. The project is under wraps, just like mine was—you know Arturo’s artistic temperament.”

“I hope you’re not mad at her for stealing your thunder.” Pepe’s and Gwen’s establishments maintained a friendly rivalry.

“No, actually, we’re…going out.” He gave her a contented smile.

“Oh.” Leah hadn’t paid attention to town gossip this summer. Although pleased for the two restaurateurs, she felt sorry for her aunt Rosie, who had a longtime crush on Pepe. “Good for you.”

“Excuse me.” He hurried off to assist a waitress with an overburdened tray.

Leah’s stomach was nagging again, probably from hunger, so she was relieved to see breadsticks on Karen’s table in a back corner. “I hope I’m not late.” In addition to the bread, small bottles of vinegar and oil topped the red-and-white tablecloth, Leah noticed as she sat down.

Her friend regarded her over her menu. “I got here early.” Karen, who managed the Tulip Tree Nursing Home, had a passion for punctuality. Two years younger than Leah, she had a forthright manner and strong opinions.

“Can you believe this crowd?”

“It may get worse. Barry’s running shots of the murals in today’s Gazette, so if anybody didn’t know about the unveiling, they soon will.” The newspaper came out on Tuesdays.

“I’ll stay away for a few days till things quiet down.” Leah studied her menu. “What are you having?”

“I’m strongly tempted by the scampi. What do you think?” A reddish-brown curl fell across Karen’s cheek. She pushed it behind her ear.

Usually, Leah relished scampi, but today the prospect of garlic butter put her off. “I’m more in the mood for spaghetti Bolognese.”

“I thought you didn’t like that much meat.” In Pepe’s sauce, the ground beef nearly overwhelmed the tomato base.

“Can’t a girl change her mind?” A waitress brought ice water, which Leah sipped gratefully, then Karen and Leah both ordered.

She didn’t mention her indigestion to Karen. Leah had a natural reticence about discussing intimate matters, even with someone she’d been close to since grade school. She’d kept quiet about her plans to leave Downhome until shortly before her trip, and she hadn’t mentioned her insane one-night stand to anyone. Nor did she plan to.

Besides, they had other things to talk about, including Jenni and Ethan’s wedding in two weeks. After they’d exchanged a few tidbits about that, Karen gave an update on the physician-search committee.

They’d chosen an obstetrician from Texas named Dr. Rankin, who was due to arrive later this week. Leah recalled that he was the one who’d recommended the Wayward Drummer when Karen had asked on her behalf.

She hoped the subject never came up, because she found her memories both painful and confusing. What she needed to do was chalk the experience up to a life lesson and move on.

She returned her attention to her companion. Karen was describing a pediatrician who’d applied for the second opening at the clinic.

“Beryl’s from St. Louis, a single mom. She has a thirteen-year-old son that she wants to remove from bad influences.” Karen selected a breadstick from the basket. “I am so glad she applied.”

The previous candidates all fell short. A pediatrician from Wichita had barely retained his medical license after an arrest for smoking marijuana. Another applicant had turned out to be in questionable health.

That left Dr. Chris McRay. Unlike his competitors, he’d grown up in Downhome, where he wanted to return to be near his grandmother. Leah had liked Chris in high school, but she would never mention it to Karen.

Her friend couldn’t forgive Chris for testifying against her brother, Barry, in a manslaughter case when both men were eighteen. His word had sent Barry to prison for five years for a crime he swore he hadn’t committed, and for which he believed Chris had framed him.

It was a nasty business. Better by far to hire the lady from St. Louis.

Karen had used up most of her lunch hour by the time they had finished eating. Although she ran the nursing home more or less independently for distant corporate owners, she rarely cut herself any slack, not even to linger at lunch. In addition to putting in a full week, she escorted residents on outings during her free time. Several had become good friends, including Chris’s grandmother, Mae Anne.

“I guess we can’t have lunch again next week, can we?” Karen said. “You’ve got school starting Tuesday.”

Leah took out her personal organizer. “How about a week from Saturday?”

“Good! We can eat at the farmers’ market.” The monthly event was always fun.

They set a time and place to meet, and split the bill. The lunch crowd was thinning by the time Karen departed.

Still at the table, Leah glanced at her organizer. She kept getting the sense that she’d overlooked some key date in her preoccupation with traveling, preparing for school and arranging much-needed repairs to her roof. But she couldn’t imagine what it was.

As she scanned the dates, it hit her. She’d missed her period.

That couldn’t be right. Her periods had always been regular, and she kept track of them. Leah got a disoriented feeling, as in one of those dreams where she overslept an exam or paraded naked in public.

She remembered being glad that her period had started in early July, before she left for Austin, because it meant she didn’t have to worry about it while traveling. Checking her digitized calendar, she noted that the next one had been due nearly three weeks ago, the same day the roofers arrived. That must be why she’d forgotten.

She was three weeks late. Leah went cold.

Grateful that she sat in the rear of the restaurant, shielded from most diners, she reviewed what had happened that night at the motel. Although Will had used condoms both times they made love, he’d begun without one.

Still, it seemed unlikely she’d become pregnant from a single encounter. Leah had heard that most women tried for months before conceiving. Besides, traveling would throw a woman’s system out of whack.

She ought to ignore the whole thing. In a few days—perhaps a week, on its regular schedule—her period would show up.

A breadstick shredded in her hands. Annoyed at the evidence of her agitation, she dropped it on her plate.

Then she thought of an even scarier possibility.

Her mother had died of ovarian cancer, which often produced vague symptoms. Since not even regular checkups guaranteed an early diagnosis, Leah had vowed to seek help at the slightest sign of abdominal distress or general exhaustion. The first she definitely had, and she’d been sleeping more than usual, which she’d attributed to jet lag.

She didn’t dare put this off. For privacy’s sake, perhaps she should contact a doctor in Mill Valley, but she’d started seeing Jenni as a patient and liked her. Also, the new doctor could be trusted to keep confidences.

Suddenly, Leah couldn’t bear to wait another day. If Jenni wasn’t completely booked, maybe she could work in another patient this afternoon.

One way or another, Leah had to learn the truth.

The Home Boulevard Medical Clinic was a few blocks away. The one-story brick building had always seemed inviting, but today she had to force herself up the steps.

In the waiting room, she said hello to one of her former students and the boy’s mother. “You aren’t sick, I hope?” the woman said.

“No, no. Just a routine…visit.” She could hardly claim to have a checkup when she lacked an appointment, Leah realized.

She felt more and more uncomfortable. Maybe she ought to leave and call a doctor in Mill Valley after all. Otherwise, she risked becoming the subject of speculation.

Before she could retreat, the young receptionist spotted her. “Hi, Miss Morris!” Patsy Fellows said brightly. “Did you want Dr. Vine to work you in? She’s in the lunchroom, but she might have some time later.”

Leah gestured toward the waiting patients. “She’s obviously busy.”

“Oh, no, they’re here to see my mother.” Estelle Fellows, Ben’s wife and Patsy’s mom, worked as a nurse practitioner as well as the clinic’s business manager. “Hold on. Here’s Yvonne.”

Yvonne Johnson, Jenni’s nurse, regarded Leah questioningly. Despite her exotic looks—long silver hair and violet eyes—she had a no-nonsense quality that Leah liked.

“I’m, uh, if Jenni has a few minutes she could spare…” Remembering the inquisitive woman behind her, Leah finished lamely. “I have a couple of questions.”

“Let me ask,” Yvonne responded, and bustled off.

Lingering at the counter, Leah realized she didn’t want to sit down and risk engaging in further conversation. Nor could she take an interest in any of the magazines. Especially not—she couldn’t help noticing—the large number that featured babies on the covers.

Yvonne reappeared a minute later. “She said to show you into her office. She’ll be right with you.”

The nurse led the way into the clinic’s interior. As Leah inhaled the medicinal odor that pervaded the facility, her stomach went into a tizzy, which reminded her all over again of her concern.

Probably just nerves, she thought sternly. Or the meat in the spaghetti sauce.

Yvonne ushered her into Jenni’s corner office. Since the doctor had only arrived at the beginning of June, it remained rather bare except for a couple of framed degrees, a scattering of reference books and a large painting of a woodland scene.

Jenni entered a moment later. The blond doctor, whom Ethan had dismissed as a California surfer-girl type before he got to know her, greeted Leah warmly. She pulled her chair from behind the desk so they could sit face-to-face.

“I knew this had to be important or you’d have waited for an appointment,” she said. “Unless it’s a social visit?”

Leah shook her head. “No. I…” She hesitated, trying to figure out a discreet way to broach the subject.

“Spit it out,” Jenni suggested. “It’s easier that way.”

Gratefully, Leah let the words fly. “I might be pregnant. Otherwise, I was afraid it could be even more serious—you know my family history. I figured I should come right in.”

“What are your symptoms?” Jenni listened to a recounting of her late period and upset stomach, and, as an afterthought, sore breasts. Her comment was, “I assume you have reason to think you could be expecting.”

“Unfortunately, yes. I realize how stupid that makes me look, when you urged me to use contraception. Well, we did…mostly.” Without going into detail, Leah explained how they’d forgotten the condom at first. “But he put it on before…climaxing.”

Unaccustomed to discussing such intimate matters, she stumbled over the term. Thank goodness Jenni didn’t ask about the circumstances.

“There can be semen present before ejaculation.” Her calm, professional demeanor never wavered. “It’s possible you’re unusually fertile. Since there’s an easy test, let’s rule out pregnancy before we consider any other possibility.”

Unusually fertile. That would be just her luck. “Does Yvonne have to know?” Leah’s cheeks burned at the prospect of her situation becoming common knowledge.

Jenni tilted her head. “Yes, but don’t forget, she’s been through a similar situation.”

Remembering how the nurse had held her head high during her pregnancy—and refused to this day to disclose the name of the father—Leah conceded the point. Besides, she had to trust someone.

Following Jenni’s instructions, she went off to give a urine specimen for testing. Then Leah changed into a hospital gown and underwent a physical exam.

The results came back just as Jenni was finishing. “The result is positive,” she reported. “That confirms my observation that your body’s showing the kinds of changes we expect during early pregnancy.”

Stunned, Leah hugged her knees as she sat on the examining table. She was going to have a baby. Will’s baby.

Chapter Three

This altered everything about Leah’s life and plans. Will, on the other hand, would never find out about it. She had no way to reach him even if she wanted to.

Nevertheless, in spite of the difficulties ahead, she felt a spurt of excitement as she sat on the examining table, trying to absorb the news. What she’d regretted most about staying single was that it meant never giving birth to a child. Part of her longed for that experience, though she would never have attempted it on purpose.

Now she’d have a tiny baby with fingers that would curl around hers. A little boy or girl toddling on chubby legs. An eager, freshly washed face like the ones she saw in her classroom each morning.

“I have no idea what to do next,” she admitted. “I mean, I’m happy in a way. I’ve always wanted children, but I figured I’d adopt.”

Holding her clipboard, Jenni leaned against the washstand. She’d had a difficult early life, shuffled from one relative to another because of neglectful parents, Leah recalled. The experience had given her a depth of understanding beyond her years, and it showed.

“Let’s talk about the father,” the doctor said gently. Her obvious concern and lack of judgmentalism dispelled the last of Leah’s hesitation.

“He’s someone I met in Austin,” she said. “We got carried away.” That seemed simpler than relating the whole ugly story, and less embarrassing.

“Are you planning to tell him?”

“I don’t know where to find him.” To cut off further inquiries, Leah said, “I really really really doubt he wants to be involved.”

Jenni accepted her statement. “It’s too bad your child won’t know his or her genetic heritage, not to mention having a father to help raise him, but apparently, it can’t be helped.”

“Thank you.” More than ever, Leah was struck by how much she could have used her mother’s support. Despite all her connections, she felt basically alone.

“As your physician, I’m concerned about your emotional as well as your physical health, so let’s talk about how you’ll deal with gossip,” Jenni said. “If you want to, of course.”

“Sure.” Leah shuddered. “In my position, things could get nasty.” She hadn’t forgotten Beau Johnson’s harsh reaction to Yvonne, or the unpleasant comments some of the students’ mothers had made within her hearing.

“You won’t be able to hide your condition for long,” her friend pointed out.

“I could leave town. It’s no secret that I’ve applied to other schools.” No sooner had she uttered the suggestion than Leah rejected it. “That’s all I need. I’d have no job, no friends and no place to live.”

“You’re more familiar with Downhome than I am.” Jenni frowned. “Is there any chance you could lose your job on moral grounds?”

“Not while Olivia’s the principal, but I hate putting her in a tough position.” An idea hit Leah. Much as she disliked lying, it might soften the criticism, and it would deflect questions about the baby’s paternity. “I could say that I had artificial insemination while I was in Seattle. I’ve mentioned plenty of times that I planned to adopt, so it wouldn’t seem totally strange. I’ll tell Karen the truth, but as far as anyone else is concerned, my private life is none of their business.”

She braced for objections. Jenni reflected briefly.

“Under the circumstances, I don’t see what harm it can do, unless the father shows up, demanding his rights,” she said.

“He has no idea where to find me.” For the first time, Leah considered that a good thing.

“Normally, we’d include a report from the Seattle clinic in your medical records. Obviously, we can’t do that. However, I can truthfully put down that the father is unknown and that you state that you were inseminated at an unidentified facility in Seattle. You are stating that, right?” she added teasingly.

“You just heard me.” Despite her anxiety, Leah appreciated the conspiratorial humor.

Jenni made a note on her clipboard. “Folks will be curious. Even though our staff is sworn to protect patient privacy, your condition will become unmistakable within a few months. You ought to develop a more complete story, such as how you planned it and why.”

“I’ll say I did it on the spur of the moment,” Leah replied. “I mean, it could happen that way, right?”

“Clinics usually do a lot of screening,” the doctor replied. “However, this unidentified facility might have lax rules. Perhaps you used a private physician that you heard about from your friend?”

“Sure.” Leah had never realized lying could be so complicated. And she hated involving Jenni in the deception. But how fair was it that she faced all sorts of repercussions, while Will faced none at all?

The doctor went on to explain about proper health care during pregnancy, and provided several brochures, along with a prescription for neonatal vitamins. “Our new obstetrician is arriving day after tomorrow. It isn’t necessary to return for a few weeks unless you’re having problems, but when you do, perhaps you should visit him instead of me.”

Leah didn’t care to share her most delicate feelings with a stranger, especially a man. “I’m staying with you.”

Jenni looked pleased. “I have to admit, I like treating mothers-to-be. Of course, if complications develop, we’d need Dr. Rankin’s help, but there’s no reason to expect any problems. He should probably handle the delivery, though. He’ll have staff privileges at Mill Valley Medical Center.” The clinic had an arrangement with the hospital twelve miles away.

“We’ll deal with that in due time,” Leah said. “Right now, I’m trying to figure out how to settle my stomach. Any suggestions?”

Jenni had several, including eating frequent, small meals. “I seem to recall hearing that you provide snacks for your class, so that should help. Which reminds me—I’ve been meaning to talk to you about Nick.”

Nick Forrest, soon to be Jenni’s stepson, would be in Leah’s class this year. “That’s right. He’s diabetic, isn’t he? Tell me about his special needs.”

Jenni explained that, thanks to the boy’s insulin pump, he didn’t require shots, but had to eat regular meals and avoid excessive sweets, as well as monitor his blood sugar levels by pricking his finger and testing the blood droplet. She and Ethan would drop by to make sure all went well, she promised.

“Good,” Leah said. “I’d love to have you educate the kids about his condition. That should allay any teasing.”

“Great idea!” They set a date. When they were done, Jenni said, “Go ahead and get dressed. By the way, congratulations.”

“Thanks.” Accepting best wishes under the circumstance felt odd. Yet having a baby was cause for joy, Leah thought.

“Don’t forget to stop by the front desk,” Jenni added from the doorway. “You’ll need another appointment. Also, Yvonne will give you vitamin samples to get you started.”

“Thanks.” As soon as the door closed, Leah took several deep breaths. Pregnant. How exhilarating and how terrifying.

She’d often watched students’ mothers as their waistlines expanded. She’d been both curious and envious that a child grew inside. And despite their discomforts, the moms had mostly beamed with contentment.

Still, they had almost always had husbands or at least boyfriends to help out. Helen Rios, the manicurist at Aunt Rosie’s salon, was moving to Knoxville soon with her fiancé, the artist who’d painted Pepe’s murals, to start a new life. It would shortly include their baby.

Leah, on the other hand, faced going through the entire experience alone.

Her aunt and Mark would help, she felt certain. So would Karen and Jenni, of course. But it wasn’t the same.

Lots of women managed, and so would she, Leah decided firmly.

When she pulled on her slacks, they strained over her midsection. Karen hadn’t noticed the problem this morning, so no doubt her heavy lunch had contributed, but already her body was changing.

It reminded her that she would need a new wardrobe. Other things, as well: clothes, baby furniture and a car seat.

So many changes. So much to consider.

After she finished dressing, she went to the reception desk, where Yvonne discreetly slipped her the vitamins. The nurse frowned at Patsy, who was sorting through a cardboard box.

“That girl is out of her mind,” the nurse confided. “The new ob-gyn sent some books and stuff ahead for his office, and she’s mooning over his picture.”

“I heard that!” The receptionist skewered her with a mock glare. “He’s cute, that’s all. And he’s divorced.”

“Terrific! An obstetrician she can flirt with,” Yvonne grumbled. “This is a medical office, not a dating service. I don’t know where they’re to find a nurse for him—they’ve been advertising for weeks—but I hope they do, because I’ve got my hands full as it is. Plus, I prefer a female doctor any day.”

“Me, too,” Leah agreed.

“You should see Dr. Rankin. With him around, work is going to be way more interesting.” Patsy retrieved a framed photo from the box and thrust it toward her. “Look!”

Leah took the picture. Stunned, she stared, barely managing to keep her disbelief from showing.

It was Will, kneeling on a lawn, a breeze ruffling his hair as he favored the camera with a heart-stopping smile. He had his arms looped around two little blond girls, one on each side.

Dr. William Rankin, she thought numbly. In a crazy way, it made sense. Karen must have asked him to recommend a country-music bar in Austin, and he’d cited the Wayward Drummer.

Now he was moving to Downhome. Her situation had just become a whole lot more awkward.

The obstetrician who might be expected to deliver her baby was its father. Yet he’d made it clear he wanted nothing to do with her. Presumably, with her child, as well.

Still, unless she fled, they couldn’t avoid meeting again. Besides, seeing the joy he showed for his two daughters gave Leah pause.

“Well?” Patsy said. “What do you think?”

“Cute girls,” Leah responded, and handed the picture back. She went out the door, too flummoxed to make any further attempt at chitchat.

Two shocks in one day. Knowing she couldn’t carry on a coherent conversation with anyone, she hurried to her car and drove home.

One fact stood out in her mind. She wasn’t going to let that man chase her from this town or her friends.

Beyond that, Leah had no idea how she was going to handle this.

IN THE BACK OF THE CAR, Diane squirmed. “Daddy, can I stay with you today?”

“You don’t want to go to school?” The girls had been atwitter all weekend, partly about settling into a new home but mostly about preparing for class. They’d even set up a pretend classroom for their dolls. Now, however, it sounded like Diane had a case of cold feet.

Will had to admit that he shared a touch of her nerves. Their first day of school didn’t seem nearly as casual as escorting his kids to kindergarten had been. He was much more aware of starting them on a path that would eventually lead to—heaven help them all—adolescence.

“I want to be a nurse,” Diane replied. “Let me work with you.”

“Me, too,” India said.

“They don’t let kids work at medical offices,” Will informed them as he drove.

He wished he had a clearer view of the girls than his small mirror provided. Safety required strapping them into the rear seat, something his ex-wife hadn’t always bothered to do, despite his warnings.

He refused to think about Allison or how she ought to be here. In many ways, the three of them were better off without her.

“Tell people we’re midgets,” Diane commanded.

“We could sit very still on your couch,” India countered.

“Won’t work,” Will said, “but thanks for the suggestions.”

Last Thursday, the twins had accompanied him to the clinic, where they’d been thrilled to spot themselves in the photo on his desk. The receptionist had fussed over them, providing sugar-free lollipops and paying them compliments.

The rest of the staff had acted a bit more reserved. Will figured they’d all relax once he settled in.

“Anyway, you have to study,” he told his daughters. “I studied for years and years to become a doctor.”

“I don’t want to be a doctor,” Diane said.

“Why not?”

“I told you! Because I don’t want to go to school!”

“You liked it when you saw the place,” he said over his shoulder. He’d taken the girls to the elementary school on Thursday to register them.

The principal had assured him that the first-grade teacher, Miss Morris, was warm and nurturing, as well as an excellent educator. Too bad she hadn’t been around. He’d have liked to talk to her about the difficult transition the girls were making.

“What if we get lost?” Diane demanded, which surprised him, because usually she was the braver of the pair. “What if Mrs. McNulty can’t find us?”

“Then I’ll come get you in person,” he responded promptly. “Listen, I’ll make sure Miss Morris has my phone number, okay? If Mrs. McNulty isn’t there, ask your teacher to call me.”

“She might not have a phone,” Diane protested.

In the mirror, he saw India reach across and take her sister’s hand. “It’ll be okay,” she said quietly. “I’ll stay with you.”

His heart swelled with love for his two little sweethearts. They made everything else worthwhile.

Will realized he should have left the car at the clinic a couple of blocks away, when he pulled into the lot and found it filled. He’d noticed the high school next door but hadn’t realized until now that the two shared parking facilities.

Trying not to let the girls see his irritation, he backed out and located a free space on the street. By now, the twins had pasted their noses to the windows as they stared at the passing children.

What a lot of kids there were for such a small town, Will noted as he emerged. From kindergarteners to adolescents, they skipped, strolled or slouched toward the campus, some accompanied by parents and others with friends.

Most had a shiny, well-groomed appearance, although here and there he saw a child who might be neglected. When he’d visited the town last month, the police chief had explained that he and Dr. Vine were conducting an outreach program to help some of the needier youngsters.

Diane wriggled out of her booster seat unaided, while India waited patiently for him to release her. Both girls caught his hands, staying close as they crossed the street.

Diane made no further mention of her fears, although perhaps she was putting on a bold face in front of fellow students. Thank goodness Will didn’t have to deal with a screaming temper tantrum like the one a little red-haired girl was throwing on the sidewalk.

“First-grader?” he asked as they came alongside.

“Yes.” Her mother, a harassed-looking woman with a round face and ultrashort hair, sighed in resignation. “She’ll be all right as soon as we get into the classroom. I’ve got two older ones, and they adored Miss Morris.”

That sounded promising.

In front of the building, Will spotted a familiar face. Chief Ethan Forrest accompanied a self-assured little boy, who glad-handed a group of other kids as if preparing for a junior career in politics.

“Gotta watch that kid,” Will joked as he approached. “He’ll be running for mayor before you know it.”

“Good to see you.” Ethan started to shake hands, then noticed that Will didn’t have one free. “This is Nick.”

Will introduced the girls.

“They’ll be in the same class,” the police chief said. “Make them feel at home, will you, Nick?”

The kids made funny faces at one another. India giggled.

“Best chums already,” Will noted.

They joined the swarm going through the double doors, by-passing a father so intent on videotaping his little boy that he didn’t notice what a roadblock he created. Inside, the cheery corridor featured student drawings and paintings.

Will had forgotten to ask the number of the classroom, but with Ethan as his guide, they proceeded down the hall and around a corner. Children’s shrill voices bounced off the walls and feet clattered on the linoleum.

He flashed back to his first day at school. He’d been one of the ranchers’ kids, marked by loose-fitting jeans and a T-shirt, in contrast to the town youngsters, with their brand-name outfits. Although most parents had escorted their youngsters, his father merely idled the pickup while his elder brothers, Burt and Mike, exited with Will.

He’d clutched his lunch bag, scared to death of the unfamiliar commotion. Mike had walked him to the classroom, smacked him on the shoulder and offered, as a parting bit of advice, “Don’t pick your nose.”

That day had marked the start of a long journey that had increasingly isolated Will both from his peers and from his family. He didn’t regret deciding to focus on his education and prove the naysayers wrong, however.

Thank goodness India and Diane wouldn’t have to struggle to prove themselves. He intended to be there for them at every step.

Will followed Ethan into a classroom arrayed with desks and chairs scaled for Lilliputians. The walls blazed with alphabet and number charts, illustrations from books and a couple of travel posters. One featured Seattle’s Space Needle, and another showed the familiar sight of the Texas Capitol. He wondered fleetingly if the teacher had put them up to welcome the new kids in town.

Then he saw her.

Crouched in front of a teary little boy, she was talking earnestly. Her long black hair fell tantalizingly across her shoulders and her blue eyes went wide as she uttered what appeared to be words of sympathy. After a moment, the child stopped crying and hugged her.

Will got a tight feeling.

Leah. Downhome. Miss Morris. Impossible.

He couldn’t be mistaken about that cover-girl face or the gently sculpted lines of her body. A body he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about for the past month. Exquisite. As sweet as his dreams. But good heavens, what kind of mess had he created? Yet here the woman was.

He struggled to sort out how such a coincidence could have occurred. He recalled mentioning the Wayward Drummer to Karen Lowell, a member of the physician-search committee, who’d mentioned a friend planning to visit Austin. This must be the friend.

A knot formed in Will’s gut. That night at the motel, he’d made some huge mistakes. Jumping into bed with a stranger was the most egregious. Leaving without a word hadn’t exactly put him in a defensible position, either.

That left the question of what he was going to do with his children. Could he trust her with them?

When he caught Leah’s eye, a flicker of something he couldn’t read crossed her face, quickly replaced by bland welcome. She’d been expecting him. Sometime since her return, she must have figured out who he was.

“Hi, Leah! I mean, Miss Morris!” Nick bounced across the room. “Want to see me prick my finger?”

Ethan made a choking noise. Leah kept a straight face. “You know what? We’re going to talk about diabetes on Wednesday, so everyone understands. Dr. Vine’s agreed to make a presentation, and I would really appreciate if you’d help.”

“You bet!” Satisfied, the little boy headed over to talk to a friend. After the chief said a good-natured farewell, Leah turned toward Will.

Just as in Austin, her smile lit up the room. Combined with her open, unaffected manner, her striking appearance made it hard for him to think straight.

Fortunately, she directed her comments to his daughters. “I’m excited to have twins in my class, but I’m sure you’re two very different individuals.”

“I’m Diane. I like pink and India likes blue.” The little girl indicated their jumpers, which were identical, except for the colors. Will wondered how much Eileen had influenced their choice of the same style, and made a mental note to take them shopping himself next time.

“Even though I’m the teacher, you’ll need to teach me about yourselves,” Leah went on in her musical voice. “Do you want to sit together or would you like to sit separately?”

The girls exchanged looks. “Together,” Diane said.

India’s head bobbed.

“That’s fine,” their teacher said gravely. “Later in the year, when you feel more comfortable, you can switch if you want to.”

“You need to get our dad’s phone number,” Diane told her. “In case Mrs. McNulty can’t find us.”

“I’ll do that. You’re a very responsible young lady,” Leah told her.

India took Diane’s hand. “Come on,” she said in an urgent half whisper. “Let’s go sit by Nick.” The little girls scampered off.

With only the slightest hesitation, Leah shifted her attention to Will. “I guess I’ll have that phone number now, Doctor.” She didn’t bother to disguise a touch of irony.

He could have sworn his face grew warm, but he hadn’t blushed in years. “Certainly, Miss Morris.” Since he hadn’t had business cards printed yet, Will took out a prescription pad. Unable to find a pen, he borrowed a watercolor marker from her desk.

As he scrawled the number, he grew more and more uncomfortable. He had to let her teach his kids, since she appeared to be the only first-grade teacher in town. Besides, yanking them now would upset the girls and raise far too many questions. All the same, there was no way he and Leah Morris could ignore what had happened.

“We have to talk.” He kept his voice low.

She gave a friendly nod to a new arrival, the woman whose daughter had thrown a tantrum. Sounding politely impersonal, Leah said, “When would you suggest, Dr. Rankin?”

His housekeeper retired to her quarters—in this case, a separate guesthouse, much to Will’s satisfaction—by 7:00 p.m. Adding his address to the note, he said. “How about seven-thirty tonight at my place?”

She quirked an eyebrow but, to his relief, didn’t refuse. However, she added, “Let’s make it eight.”

“Eight will be fine.” He suspected the hour mattered less than her power to control the terms.

She tucked the note into her skirt pocket and, after one last assessing look, moved on to the short-haired woman, who caught her arm eagerly. “Leah, I hope you’ll let me serve as the class mom! Nobody’s beaten me to it, have they?”

“A few people dropped hints, but nobody’s signed up. That would be wonderful, Minnie,” she said. “I can’t believe Sybill’s old enough for school!”

On his way out, Will lengthened his stride. The curious thing was, he realized as he scooted down the front steps, that he felt almost as off center as he had on his own first day of school.

By eight o’clock tonight, he would regain his usual iron self-control. And they would figure out how to put the whole embarrassing incident behind them.

Chapter Four

By the time the last child hurried out that afternoon, Leah’s back and shoulders ached. Even so, she trudged around the room straightening desks and picking up dropped papers. Surely, she didn’t feel this exhausted every year on the first day of school, did she?

At naptime, when she’d expected to have a few minutes for reflection, she’d put her head on the desk and promptly fallen asleep. In nine years of teaching that that had hardly ever happened.

Jenni had warned of requiring more sleep than usual. Leah had figured that meant going to bed half an hour early. Well, live and learn.

On the short drive home, she finally allowed her thoughts to stray to Will. Thank heaven she’d learned of his identity in advance and discovered the two Rankin girls’ names on her class list, because the sight of his intense gaze and expressive mouth had hit her hard.

She was proud of maintaining her poise during their encounter. The fact that it has taken place on her turf had helped. The prospect of meeting him at his place tonight didn’t thrill her, but they must get this over with.

The question remained: how much did she intend to tell him? He clearly wanted to deal with the issue of their affair. She’d rather save the matter of her pregnancy for later, but that might not be wise. Given his occupation, he was sure to find out, and he might be angry if it appeared she’d tried to keep it secret.

At the two-bedroom cottage her parents had bequeathed her, Leah fixed a salad. She carried it to the country-style table at one end of the living room.

Usually the décor lifted her spirits with its mix of conventional furnishings and quirky accents, including a carved red chest and a Japanese-style print silk scarf framed on the wall. Tonight, however, she was too busy wrestling with her decision.

So far, no one except Jenni and Yvonne knew about the pregnancy. She hadn’t had occasion to use the artificial insemination story, so it didn’t present a stumbling block to whatever she and Will decided.

If she admitted the truth to him before anyone else found out, they could concoct a story together. They might say they’d dated for a whirlwind few days and fallen in love. Eyebrows would be raised no matter how they put it, but if he decided to stand by her…

Leah glared across the room at her reflection in the glass of the built-in cabinets. She had no business indulging in infantile fantasies. The man who had walked out on her without a word was not going to fall on his knees and ask her to marry him.

Nor did she want him to. In fact, she wouldn’t marry Will Rankin if he begged her—and not only because he’d betrayed her trust.

After college, she’d longed to see the world. She’d begun looking into teaching English at a foreign school or joining the Peace Corps, but there’d been no question of that after her mom fell ill.

By the time her mom had died a year later, Leah had taken on a job in Downhome. A short time later, her father had announced his plans to marry an old friend in Denver. Perhaps as a way to cushion the blow of his rapid defection, he’d given Leah the family house, saying her mother would have wanted her to have it.

A bolder person might have rented it out and pursued her old dreams. However, losing her mother—and, in some ways, her always-distant father—had left Leah feeling insecure.

Clinging to the comfort of old friends and routine, she’d persuaded herself that traveling during the summers ought to be enough. Three-week jaunts to Europe, Asia and South America had proved educational and exciting.

She hadn’t realized how quickly life was slipping past, although she’d begun to feel restless on her thirtieth birthday. The defining moment had come a year later, as the result of an offhanded remark from her cousin.

Mark, four years Leah’s junior, had told her at her thirty-first birthday dinner, “I’m glad you don’t feel you have to chase after something new all the time.”

Aware that a longtime girlfriend had dumped him because she considered him stuffy, Leah had tempered her response. “I like to try different things, Mark. I’m just quiet about it.”

He’d dismissed the comment. “You’ve worn your hair long and straight for as long as I’ve known you. You’ll probably wear it the same way when you’re eighty. And that’s great, because it suits you.”

She’d had a sudden vision of herself as an aging, stereotypical old maid, still dwelling in the house where she grew up. Even if she married, it would be to some boring guy who lived down the block.

Leah had made up her mind to leave Downhome. This summer, she’d put her plan into action.

Now Will Rankin lived down the block, or almost. The mysterious man who’d stirred her in Austin had metamorphosed into a respected obstetrician with two children. Although she could never call him boring, he hadn’t turned out to be a daredevil, either.

Leah had made up her mind to leave town, and she meant to do it. If the job in Seattle didn’t materialize, she’d move somewhere else. Hawaii. Alaska. Las Vegas. Anywhere but here. A child didn’t have to tie her to one place.

A man was a different story. He’d restrict her in all sorts of ways.

Okay, so she’d settled that. Even if Will threw himself at her, she’d still say no. Leah smiled at the unlikelihood of such a development.

All the same, she planned to inform him of the pregnancy. For the child’s sake, she hoped he would want some involvement.

But not too much. He’d already blown his chances for that.

WILL INSISTED ON doing the dishes so Mrs. McNulty could retire early. Although he didn’t expect Leah until eight, he meant to put the girls to bed well before then, to recuperate from a busy day.

They’d greeted him after work with crayon pictures that included their names. Since the twins had learned many of the basics in kindergarten, they’d been encouraged to add any words they wanted.

Diane had written “Dog cat horse.”

India had scrawled the name “Nick.”

His little girl had her first crush. If that boy broke her heart, Will would make sure the police chief gave him a spanking.

Guiltily, he remembered what he’d done to Leah. Although she’d shown no sign of suffering a broken heart, he owed her an apology.

Eileen supervised the girls’ baths. Procedures that frustrated Will, like settling squabbles over who went first and shampooing hair without creating hopeless tangles, came easily to the experienced housekeeper.

She’d joined the family two years ago, after Allison left. Previously, she’d raised two generations of children in other families, along with a daughter of her own.

At seventy, Mrs. McNulty could have retired, but what would she do all day? she’d responded when Will had asked. Divorced, she’d always worked, first as a maid and later as a housekeeper. She might have considered moving to Florida to be near her daughter’s family, she’d said, but they led their own lives.

She’d been thrilled to have two young charges again. Desperately seeking a solution to recurrent child-care problems, Will had been overjoyed to find her. The move to Tennessee hadn’t fazed her, thank goodness.

He’d finished loading the dishwasher when the housekeeper’s substantial frame filled the kitchen doorway. “The girls are ready for their night-night story,” she told him. “There’s a coffee cake in the fridge, and I could make a pot of decaf for your guest if you like.”

Will nearly dropped the box of dishwasher detergent. “I’m sorry?” He hadn’t mentioned inviting anyone.

Mrs. McNulty favored him with a knowing glance. “Dr. Rankin, what’s the first thing you do when you get home?”

“Hug the girls,” he said.

“After that.”

“Change my clothes.” He saw her point. Tonight, instead of throwing on jeans and a polo shirt, he’d merely removed his jacket and tie.

The housekeeper sniffed the air.

Okay, so he’d shaved and applied lotion. After a hard day’s work, he didn’t want to appear slovenly.

“I knew it wouldn’t take long for the females in this town to discover you,” Eileen continued. “All the same, she must be pretty special for you to invite her home this fast.” He hadn’t even thought about dating any of his acquaintances in Austin.

However, the last thing Will needed was for word to spread about his private connection with Leah. Not that Eileen gossiped, but he preferred to keep certain matters private. “It’s a professional meeting,” he said without elaborating. “She’s doing me a favor by dropping by.”

“I see.” Eileen’s nose wrinkled ever so slightly. He shouldn’t have put on so much aftershave, Will thought. It was a dead giveaway. “We’ll leave it at that, then. I’ll be on my way.”

“Sleep well,” he said.

“Oh, I plan to.”

After she let herself out the back door, Will cast an assessing glance over the room. Mrs. McNulty had done a terrific job of setting up the household in only a few days, considering what little she’d had to work with.

The one-story house, which the physician-search committee had found for him to rent, lacked personality, and the modern furniture Allison had left for her family seemed more functional than aesthetic. One of these days, Will was going to buy his own place and hire a decorator with good taste. No hurry, though.

He went in to see the girls, who’d chosen to share a bedroom. They and their dolls crowded around when he sat on a bed, but instead of their usual story time, tonight they wanted to tell the tale of their first day of class.

“Go ahead,” Will told them. “I can’t wait to hear it.”

The girls spilled out their anecdotes. Miss Morris had told a funny story, Diane said, and recounted it. Miss Morris had visited Austin last summer. Could he believe that? added India. Miss Morris served healthy snacks and taught them about nutrition, Diane said. They both wanted to grow their hair longer so it could swing like Miss Morris’s.

Will stifled a groan. This was going to be a tough year, filled with stories of the one person in town he didn’t want to hear about. He only hoped the girls wouldn’t detect Miss Morris’s voice in the living room later or they’d come pelting out, and no doubt, tell the entire class about it tomorrow.

When they’d finished and he’d kissed them both, he said, “I have a colleague arriving in a while to discuss some business. I’m going to close the bedroom door and the hall door so we won’t disturb you, okay?”

The little girls nodded uncertainly.

“No fair interrupting,” he said. “You both need your sleep. If you stay up late, I might have to keep you home from school tomorrow.”

Horror showed on India’s face. Diane wrung her hands dramatically. “Oh, no, Daddy!”

He hadn’t expected his threat to cause such alarm. “Go to sleep. You’ll be fine in the morning.”

They dove under the covers. After stepping out, Will stood in the hallway listening and was amazed to hear none of the usual chortling and whispering. He wondered how many kids were afraid of being kept home. Only ones who loved their teachers, or who loved learning, as he had.

In the living room, he took out a stack of medical journals. The field of obstetrics changed rapidly.

When the bell rang at eight, Will gave a start. He hadn’t read a single word of the article in front of him. He’d been too busy rehearsing what to say to Leah.

The effort was a waste of time. As he hurried to answer, he discovered he’d forgotten every word he’d planned.

When he opened the door, Will simply stood for a moment, enjoying the sight of long, shiny black hair and velvet-smooth skin. He got a physical buzz even stronger than he’d experienced at the bar, because now he knew how delicious Leah’s lips would feel beneath his and how her body could tantalize him.

He took a tight grip on his musings, and got the impression she was doing the same. “Miss Morris,” he said. “How punctual.”

“We both want to get this over with, I presume,” she replied coolly.

Will ushered her into the living room. The hard contours of the room softened around her. “Care for a drink?”

“No, thanks.” Leah wore a light-blue dress, belted at the waist and covered with cornflowers that seemed to emit a delicate fragrance. “I brought you something. Are the girls around?” She reached for her handbag.

“They’re in bed. I told them I was expecting a colleague.” He nearly touched her waist to guide her toward a chair but stopped in time.

“Good. I don’t want them involved in…whatever we have to discuss. But I’m sure they’ll enjoy these.”

From her purse, she produced two photographs. One showed India and Nick proudly carrying trays of snacks to their classmates. In the other was Diane pushing the red-haired girl in a swing.

She’d captured both children in moments of uninhibited animation. From his own frustrating attempts with a camera, Will knew how much sensitivity that required.

“I take shots of all the children on their first day,” Leah said. “Usually, I give them out at parent conferences, but I printed yours early.”

“I’ll treasure these.” No exaggeration required. “I should have brought a camera with me this morning.”

After Eileen had started to work for him, she’d rescued the girls’ photos and drawings from assorted boxes and drawers and assembled them into a family scrapbook. Will planned to add to it regularly.

“It’s more important to experience life than to record it.” Leah remained standing, shaking her head when Will gestured toward the couch. “Some parents are so busy viewing everything through a lens that they become emotionally isolated.”

Will remembered the father with the video camera, but didn’t bother to mention him. Instead, hoping to break the ice, he said, “My housekeeper left a coffee cake in the fridge. Would you care for some?”

“No, thanks.”

“At least, sit down,” he blurted.

“We’re not going to pretend this is a social call, are we?” Leah regarded him skeptically. “We both know why I’m here.”

“So we can put this behind us.”

She folded her arms. “Yes, that would be nice, wouldn’t it?”

The sarcasm raised Will’s guard. “Nice? I should think it’s essential.”

“Convenient, in any case,” Leah muttered.

Irritably, he realized she didn’t intend to simply shake hands on an agreement to keep silent. Then he remembered that he hadn’t yet apologized. “You have a right to be angry. I acted like a jerk.”

“Yes, you did.” Her taut stance eased by a fraction. For heaven’s sake, how had he transformed the welcoming, delightful lady from the Wayward Drummer into this tightly wound challenger?

“I’m sorry. I tend to be self-protective,” Will conceded. “A man in my position…”

“Which, as I recall, was with your pants around your ankles,” Leah quipped tartly.

Amusing as it was, the remark stung. “That’s true. However, knowing practically nothing about you, I had reason to be cautious. Under the circumstances, I believed you might turn out to be unstable.”

A wing of dark hair fell across her temple, partially obscuring her face. “Don’t insult me. You summed up your conduct just fine a moment ago.” She was evidently referring to the comment about acting like a jerk.

“We both screwed up.” Will considered. “May I be blunt?”

“Certainly.” The air in the living room crackled with renewed tension.

Will wished they could sit down and talk, but Leah still showed no inclination to get comfortable, so he forged ahead. “I moved here for a fresh start.”

“That’s why I went to Austin. Ironic, isn’t it?”

He nodded. “My divorce became final this summer and believe me, that marriage was a huge mistake, except for my little girls. I’m not ready for another relationship and I know it. Okay, I acted selfishly. I took what I needed, and you gave it. You have my thanks for that, but you made your own choice for what I presume are your own reasons. You have no right to hold me responsible.”

Her chin lifted. Will wished he weren’t tempted to cup it with one hand and soothe away the tiny distress lines crinkling her eyes.

For a moment, he thought he glimpsed something else in those depths. Disappointment, perhaps. And resolve. He got the sense that he’d missed some subtext to the conversation, but then, he’d never been particularly good at reading people.

“So that’s the bottom line?” Leah said. “You can’t be held responsible for anything, and you don’t want me intruding on your privacy?”

He didn’t like the way that sounded. Maybe he ought to suggest a compromise—perhaps that was what she’d hoped for—but if he backtracked, he was likely to be drawn into an involvement for which neither he nor the girls were prepared.

For heaven’s sake, Will was only human. He’d love to get close to this woman again. But the repercussions could be devastating, especially in such a small town.

“That about sums it up,” he said, and felt like a heel. The worst part was that he liked her more than ever.

“I’ll hold you to that.” Despite the strain in her voice, Leah seemed relieved. What was going on with her?

Her willingness to withdraw so readily bothered him, for practical as well as intuitive reasons. Although accustomed to being an outsider, Will hoped things would be different in Downhome, for his daughters’ sake. He certainly didn’t mean to alienate their teacher. “As for India and Diane…”

“What’s between us has nothing to do with them,” she answered sharply. “They’re wonderful children. I enjoy having them in my class, and I’m glad to see that they’re already forming friendships.”

Will was pleased, because he didn’t relish the prospect of trying to find another school, possibly many miles away. And he knew he wouldn’t find a better teacher. “That’s fine. They love being in your class.”

Leah glanced around edgily. She’d shown courage in coming here, Will reflected. This meeting must be, at least, as hard on her as on him.

He reached out and touched her hand. When she didn’t object, he took it in his, noting how small and firm it was.

Will had a sudden, inexplicable urge to protect this woman, but against what? Or, more likely, whom, if not himself? “I’m sorry it came to this,” he said. “You seem like a decent person. I guess we both acted uncharacteristically.”

When she faced him, moisture glinted in her eyes. “Yes, well, it’s a real mess, isn’t it?”

“Not necessarily.” He didn’t see the problem, as long as both of them remained discreet and kept their emotions under guard.

She pulled away without making a fuss. “It’s important that we go our own ways and that nobody hears a breath about this. Not your housekeeper. Not anyone.”

“Okay.” Although he shared her viewpoint, he didn’t understand the urgency. The woman definitely had other matters on her mind, but they concerned her personal history. “Wait!”

She glanced at him inquisitively.

From an end table, Will fetched the marking pen he’d discovered in one of his pockets. “I borrowed this from your desk and forgot to put it back.”

Leah took it with a wry smile. “Always relieved to get one of these back. I buy writing utensils by the boxcar. Usually, it’s the kids who swipe them, though, not the parents.”

“A bad habit of mine, I’m afraid.” One of Will’s former colleagues had threatened to chain a pen around his neck so he’d stop taking hers.

Leah opened the front door. “Don’t show the photos to anyone for a while, including the girls. They might ask how you came by them.”

“Right.” He made a mental note to store them in his desk drawer. Mrs. McNulty took care not to poke around his home office in case he brought home confidential information.

Leah peered outside. “Looks like the coast’s clear. Good night, Dr. Rankin.”

“Good night, Miss Morris.” He watched her hurry down the walkway. Apparently, she’d parked around the corner, because she strode off until the darkness closed around her. A wise precaution, given the risk of gossip.

The men in this town must have cotton in their heads, Will mused as he went inside. A woman that appealing and intelligent should have her pick of boyfriends. Instead, for reasons he still didn’t comprehend, she’d gone to Texas and tried to capture something—love or excitement, maybe—with a stranger.

Too bad, she’d picked the wrong one.

For a painful beat, he wondered if he’d made a mistake. He’d always dreamed of marrying a soul mate, of sharing his life with someone who understood him in ways no one else did.

But if that kind of relationship existed, he doubted he’d ever find it. Nor, he supposed, did he really want to try. The fallout from his marriage had been too bitter.

Will paced through the house to look in on his girls. Wearing angelic expressions in sleep, each daughter curled to face her twin across the gap between their beds. Diane cradled her favorite doll, while India had piled so many stuffed animals on her bed that it was a wonder she found room to move.

As always, the sight of the twins restored his spirits. With them, as with no one else, he’d made a deeply human connection. It was all he needed.

Yet they couldn’t stay babies forever. Stealing another peek at the new photos, Will noticed that Leah had caught the twins at the very beginning stage of making new friends. One step at a time, they were separating from each other and, he supposed, from him.

A little disconcerted that it was Leah Morris who’d awakened him to this transition, Will went to put the photos in a safe place.

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