LITMIR.BIZ

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father came home unexpectedly while she and I were discussing the party.”

      “What about the kid’s mother?”

      “Out of the picture,” Thea answered. “And I get the feeling Kendra is having some feelings about it. She accused her father of ignoring her.”

      “I was going to high-five you on your perception, but most teenagers are giddy with happiness when their parents ignore them. I’d say that’s a big clue she’s got issues.”

      Thea laughed. “There’s more.”

      “How can there be more? Is this kid in training for America’s Most Wanted? How old is she?”

      “She’s eighteen, getting ready to graduate and go to college. Scott wants—”

      “Scott?”

      “Her father. He wants her to go away to school and she was talking up the local junior college. Reading between the lines, I think maybe she’s getting cold feet.”

      “So she’s acting out? Masterminding a covert event to get even with a pushy dad?”

      Thea shook her head. “Your flair for the dramatic comes in handy for planning themed events. But in everyday life, not so much.”

      “I’m not the one trying to pull a fast one,” Connie protested.

      “Maybe she has reason. She was upset about her father getting ready to sell the house when she goes to college. He hadn’t said anything to her about it yet. Selling, I mean.”

      “Still, he’s the grown-up. I don’t think a failure to communicate is cause to take him out back and beat the crap out of him. So to speak,” she added.

      Thea shrugged. “I think he’s guilty of premeditated failure to communicate. He didn’t want to deal with his daughter’s emotional fallout until it was absolutely necessary.”

      “Chicken,” Connie said.

      “I can’t say I blame him.”

      “Now you’re defending him?” her friend questioned.

      “I guess it’s my tragic flaw that I can see both sides of an issue. He was somewhat hostile in the beginning. But then I began to feel sorry for him.”

      “Why?”

      Thea rested her chin on her knuckles. “I guess it was the pregnancy test he found.”

      “Whoa.” Connie shook her head as if to clear it. “You’re going to need to back up and explain that one.”

      “It’s not that complicated. Joyce took a tour of the house for the market evaluation and I tagged along. It’s a great place, by the way. Just what I’ve been looking for.”

      “Yeah, yeah. Get back to the test.”

      “Kendra’s bathroom looked like a beauty supply store threw up all over it. He was shocked and appalled in equal parts and instinctively grabbed the bag of trash. When he was dumping it, the little stick fell out.”

      “Is she pregnant?”

      Thea lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “Inconclusive because it’s only accurate for a certain length of time. He didn’t know how long ago she’d done the test before tossing it in the trash.”

      “Did you tell him you knew this because you’d recently used one yourself?”

      Thea shook her head. “He was in a state of shock and didn’t ask how I could read it.”

      “And if he had?”

      “I’d have told him it’s none of his business. My pregnancy has barely gotten off the ground. In my experience, it’s bad luck bordering on a jinx to talk about it until I’ve successfully completed the first trimester.”

      “Okay.”

      The tone of that one word said she was crazy and superstitious.

      “Connie, don’t you go judgmental on me. You know better than anyone why I feel this way. In vitro fertilization is personal and private. I’ve done it twice and twice I thought I was pregnant. The first time, I told everyone. Strangers on the street, people on the phone, it didn’t matter. And then I lost the baby. I had to go back to everyone I’d told and relive the pain of losing a child over and over. But once wasn’t enough. I did it again because apparently I’m incapable of learning from my mistake. Third time’s the charm. I won’t do it again. Especially because I’ve got all my eggs in one basket. So to speak. I have no more eggs, at least none that are fertilized.”

      “I’m aware of that. And, by the way, that was quite a speech.”

      “It’s from the heart, Con. If I lose this baby, too, it will be like losing my husband all over again.” She took a deep breath to relieve the sudden pressure in her chest. “I promised David I would make sure part of him went on.”

      “And you’ve done that,” Connie said, sympathy lacing the words.

      “Not yet. Not until this child is born. To do that, I will not breathe a word to anyone—”

      “What am I? Chopped liver?”

      “You’re my best friend. I had to tell you. Besides, you’d have known. Sort of a best friend ESP.” She shrugged. “But I will not discuss this baby with anyone else until the first trimester is under my belt.”

      “So to speak.”

      “Yes.” Thea reluctantly gave in to a smile.

      “Not even your family?”

      “Especially not them. Mom and Dad can’t be emotionally involved until the risky first three months are done. They were crushed the other two times and I don’t want them hurt again. Or my brother and sister, either.”

      “You don’t need to protect everyone, Thea.”

      “Not everyone. Just my family, including this life inside me. Con, I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want children. Even when I was a little girl, I was drawn to babies. When I see a pregnant woman, or someone with kids in a stroller, the yearning to have one is so powerful, it’s almost a pain inside me. Does that sound crazy?”

      “Yes.” Connie tucked a strand of red hair behind her ear. “But I understand. If I’d never had a couple of little misery-makers, I know I’d feel as if something was missing from my life.”

      Connie’s choice of words belied the fact that she was a devoted wife and mother. She’d been Thea’s rock through everything: when Thea and David were trying unsuccessfully to conceive; the subsequent exams that indirectly led to discovering his cancer; freezing sperm so they could have children following his chemotherapy; remission; the two IVF attempts that were unsuccessful and so incredibly heartbreaking; David’s relapse and death. Now this one last try.

      “I will do anything,” Thea said, “to insure the success of this pregnancy.”

      “And I’ll help in any way I can.” Connie made a gesture, as if she were zipping her lips.

      “Thanks.”

      Connie grinned. “So tell me about Scott Matthews.”

      “He’s got baggage, big-time.”

      “Who doesn’t?”

      “You, for one.” Thea toyed with the diamond-studded heart on a delicate chain around her neck. “He’s raised his two girls on his own—a father for the first time at twenty. It was an enormous responsibility and he was understandably upset to learn his daughter used a pregnancy test. And concerned she’ll repeat his history.”

      “Wow, that’s a lot of information.”

      “I guess he felt comfortable talking to me. That happens sometimes with a complete stranger.”

      “And

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