Page 19 of Maybe My Baby

She shrugged. “They’ll probably think I’m too young to be starting a family. My mom was thirty-five when she had me. She believes in women pursuing solid careers.”

“I can go with you,” he said. “For moral support.”

Ginny couldn’t quite meet his eyes. “Thanks. But I think it will be better if I go on my own this first time.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she knew it was the wrong thing to say.

His eyes flashed and his mouth tightened. “Are you ashamed of me? Or of the baby?”

“It’s not that...”

But maybe it was exactly that. She didn’t want to tell her parents this was an accidental pregnancy with a man who had given no promises to her and vice versa.

They made the short trip home in silence. Donovan carried in her bags and boxes. “I cleaned out two drawers in the dresser,” he said. “And I moved most of my closet stuff across the hall. I don’t want you to overdo it unpacking.”

She sat down on the bed, feeling those damn tears clog her throat. “It can wait until tomorrow. I think I’ll read or watch TV.” She glanced at her watch. “At least you can get several hours of work in before bedtime. I know today jacked up your schedule.”

Donovan cursed beneath his breath. She was so shocked, she clenched her fists. “What?” she asked. “What did I say?”

He shoved his hands in his pockets and stared at her with a laser gaze that laid bare every one of her insecurities. “Youare my schedule right now, Ginny. You and this baby. Having you here isnotan inconvenience. So please quit acting like an unwanted guest. Will you do that for me?”

She had never seen him lose his temper. She bit down hard on her lower lip to keep it from trembling. “Yes.”

He stared at her for another interminable collection of seconds. Then he turned on his heel and disappeared.

She collapsed backward on the bed. All the breath left her body.

Living with Donovan wasn’t going to work unless she was honest with him about her feelings. How would he respond if she told him she loved him? Would her admission make their situation better or worse? For the next hour, she huddled in bed with the covers pulled to her chin and tried to find the courage and the words she needed.

At nine o’clock she knew she couldn’t go to bed alone. Not without trying to clear the air between her and Donovan. Dinner had stayed down, but her stomach was queasy.

When she stepped out onto the breezeway, she discovered that the summer night had cooled considerably. Tree frogs made a racket nearby. The neighbor’s dog barked at unseen possums or skunks.

Ginny tiptoed barefoot to Donovan’s workshop and quietly opened the door.

He noticed her immediately. No music tonight. He tossed a small tarp over the table and came in her direction. “What’s wrong?” he asked sharply. “Are you okay?”

She held up both hands. “Stand down, soldier. This is a social visit.”

His posture relaxed. “I thought you’d be asleep by now.”

“I probably will be soon.” She saw the huge piece of wood that was going to be a dining room table. “You’re not working on that?” He’d said it was already overdue.

“No.”

That was it. No explanation.

She inhaled sharply. “I’m sorry this has happened, Donovan. It would have been fun just to move in with you and enjoy playing around. Now, everything is...” She trailed off, not sure how to describe what she was feeling.

He closed the distance between them and took her hands in his. “There’s something I haven’t been honest about, Sunshine.”

Ginny tensed, the nausea returning. “Oh?”

One of his shoulders lifted and fell. A look of self-derision painted his face. “I don’t know why this has been hard to say.”

Tremors made her legs wobbly. Was he going to offer her money? Or buy her a house nearby where she and the baby would be close but not underfoot?

“Go ahead,” she said. “I’d rather you be completely honest with me than try to protect my feelings.”

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