LITMIR.BIZ

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Becca, is that you? Where did you come from? Where have you been?” He crossed the room and wrapped his arms around her for a tight embrace.

      He held her closely against him. Rebecca couldn’t have moved if she’d wanted to. But she didn’t. She’d forgotten how wonderful it was to feel his arms around her. She wished this feeling would never end…even though she knew it was about to.

      Jeff swayed back and forth. “I looked for you everywhere. I even went back to Arkansas to find you. You’d disappeared. I kept waiting for you to contact me. Where did you go? What happened between you and your parents?” he demanded, backing away but not letting go of her.

      Before she could even begin to compose an answer, his fiancée, Chelsea, took charge. “Perhaps you should introduce me, Jeff?”

      “Oh, yeah, sure. This is Rebecca…Barlow, was it? We were in school together in Arkansas. After I moved, I lost track of her. Though that wasn’t her name at the time. You married?”

      “No. I found out my real name from Mom. I was adopted.”

      “What? They weren’t your real parents? That must’ve been a shock! How did you—” he began, but Chelsea interrupted.

      “Jeff, I hate to rush you, but we did tell Mother we’d be there early for dinner.”

      “Yes, of course. Is there anything I need to deal with immediately, Harriet?” Jeff asked, but his gaze remained fixed on Rebecca.

      “No, there’s nothing urgent,” Harriet assured him, frowning.

      “Okay, I’ll see you Monday. Rebecca, will you be here Monday afternoon? I’d like to hear more about what happened to you.”

      Rebecca said yes, but she wasn’t sure about her returning to her newly found job. She had a major decision to make that would affect her life greatly.

      Whether or not to tell Jeff Jacobs that he was the father to her almost-four-year-old Joey.

      “MOMMY! DIDN’T YOU HEAR ME?”

      “What, honey? Oh, I’m sorry, Joey. I had something on my mind. What did you ask?”

      “Will you play ball with me? Grandpa Will showed me how to throw it.”

      The sun was shining outside, and Rebecca couldn’t think of any reason not to grant her son’s wish, so she nodded and followed an enthusiastic Joey outside. He had benefited from Will’s masculine influence.

      But he would benefit even more from his biological father’s influence.

      That thought had played in Rebecca’s head all weekend. And she still hadn’t made up her mind. If she told Jeff and he wanted to be a part of Joey’s life, it might affect his engagement. Was it fair to do that to Jeff? But was it fair not to tell him about Joey at all?

      “Mommy! You didn’t catch it!”

      Rebecca looked up to see the white ball rolling past her. “Oh, sorry, honey.” She picked up the ball and rolled it back to Joey.

      “You’re supposed to throw it back. Grandpa Will said.”

      “But I’m afraid it might hit you. I think you need to grow more before I throw it to you.”

      “I’m big enough. Come on, Mommy.”

      Rebecca complied, gently tossing the ball to her son, holding her breath that he wouldn’t get hurt. After half an hour, she told him it was his naptime.

      “Mommy, I’m too old to take naps!” he complained.

      “Well, it’s quiet time, really. You can lie on your bed and read one of your books, if you want.”

      “Can I watch television?” he pleaded.

      “No. I want you to read.” Not that he really could read, but he knew most of his books by memory. He could look at the pictures and remember the story.

      He wasn’t happy with her decision, but she didn’t mind. Being a parent meant you had to disappoint your child every once in a while.

      What if Jeff didn’t know anything about parenting? What if he gave in to every demand Joey made? That would undo everything she had already set up with Joey and that would be terrible. Maybe that was another reason not to tell him.

      Rebecca was going crazy trying to make the decision. In her heart of hearts, she knew she should tell Jeff the truth. But this was a life-altering decision, one that couldn’t be taken lightly. For whatever she decided, it would affect not only her and Jeff, but most important, Joey. She just wanted to do right by him.

      After she got Joey settled in his room, she knocked on the door of Vanessa’s room. Having a sister to discuss things with was one of the newfound joys of family life.

      “Rebecca, come on in,” Vanessa said, swinging open her door.

      “I need someone to talk to,” Rebecca said apologetically.

      “Sit down,” Vanessa said, waving her sister to the only chair in the room while she sprawled on her bed. “Is something wrong?”

      “Sort of. You know your mom found me a job at that law firm?”

      “Yes. Isn’t it going well?”

      “It was going well until today. The only lawyer in the office came back from vacation today.”

      “Is he awful? Did he make a pass at you?”

      “No, not that. Vanessa, he’s—he’s Joey’s father.”

      Vanessa stared at her. “How can that be? You got pregnant in Arkansas and had Joey there, didn’t you?”

      “Yes. But Joey’s father was a prelaw student then. He left because his parents died and he moved in with his aunt and uncle here in Dallas.”

      “Oh, my. What are you going to do?”

      “I don’t know. I’ve been trying to decide if I should tell him about Joey.”

      “He doesn’t know? Well, of course you should tell him. He has a right to know.”

      “Are you sure? He’s engaged to another woman. What if she doesn’t want a stepson and it breaks up his engagement? Would that be fair?”

      “Hmm. I think you should talk to Mom and Will about it. They’re wiser than I am.”

      “Will they mind?”

      “Of course not. Mom will be pleased. Come on. I think they’re in the library. Will was going to do some paperwork while Mom read a book.”

      When the two young ladies entered the library, they discovered Will working at the desk, but Vivian was dozing in a big chair.

      Will greeted them quietly. “Do you need something?”

      Vanessa stepped closer. “Rebecca has a pretty big problem and wanted to ask you and Mom what you think she should do, but Mom’s asleep and—”

      “I am not,” Vivian protested, having awakened while Vanessa talked. “What’s the problem?”

      “Are you sure you don’t mind?” Rebecca asked hesitantly.

      “Of course not, child. I don’t know why I fell asleep. I just seem to be tired lately.”

      Will smiled at his wife. “I think maybe you need a checkup, Vivian. You may be low in iron or something.”

      She made a face at him but promised to make an appointment next week. “Now, what’s the problem? Do you not like one of your classes?”

      “No. I—I’ve found Joey’s father.”

      Will looked at her sharply. After all, it was his business to find people who were lost. “I could’ve helped you if I’d known you were looking.”

      “I—I wasn’t

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