LITMIR.BIZ

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edge of sarcasm.

      “They are. So what?”

      “It explains a lot, that’s all. The Castle troops have rallied, forming a united front against evil.”

      She almost laughed at the drama he was implying. “You’re not evil, Paul. Just selfish and insensitive. I can assure you that my sisters have given you very little thought, much less hatched some nefarious scheme to get even with you.” Not that Emily and Samantha wouldn’t enjoy doing exactly that if she’d signaled she wanted it.

      “I’m not sure I buy that,” he said.

      “It’s the truth. You’re just not that important. Now, I’ll expect those documents by the end of the week.”

      “Maybe I should bring them in person, just in case you’ve had a change of heart once you’re thinking more clearly. This could be the hormones talking.”

      “I’m hanging up now,” she said, barely containing her fury over the sexist comment. “Otherwise, this will not end on a civil note.”

      Before he could respond, she disconnected the call, then threw the cell phone across the room. Samantha snatched it out of the air before it could hit the wall. Gabi winced when she saw her.

      “How much did you hear?” she asked her sister.

      “Enough to figure out it was Paul, and that you weren’t any happier with the conversation this time than you had been when you gave him the news about the baby.”

      “He accused me of being hormonal,” she reported indignantly, pacing to work off some steam.

      Samantha chuckled. “Well, you probably are, but it’s not exactly diplomatic on his part to point it out. Why’d he call? He did make the call, right? Not you?”

      “Oh, no, this was all about him. He called to soothe his conscience. He wanted to throw some money my way.”

      “And you turned it down?”

      “Of course I did,” she said, continuing to pace. “I don’t want his money. All I want is for him to relinquish all parental rights to this baby. That way, when I put him or her up for adoption, there won’t be any complications.”

      Samantha frowned.

      “Oh, don’t look like that,” Gabi grumbled. “I just wanted to cover that base. I saw my chance and took it.”

      “And if you keep the baby? Don’t you think Paul owes it to you and your child to help pay expenses?”

      “I don’t need his money,” Gabi insisted stubbornly.

      “It might make a tidy nest egg for your son or daughter’s education,” Samantha said reasonably. “At the rate college expenses are rising, you’ll probably have to mortgage not only your house but your soul to assure the kid can attend a major university.”

      “You think I’m being shortsighted,” Gabi concluded with a sigh. “Maybe I am, but even if I keep this baby, I don’t want Paul to have any say in his or her life.”

      “When the child gets a little older, he or she might feel differently,” Samantha argued.

      “Which is yet another recommendation for adoption, if you ask me,” Gabi said irritably, putting a protective hand over her belly. “I’ll be saving this child from all the bitterness and hard feelings.”

      “You don’t mean that,” Samantha said. “You’re hurt and justifiably angry about the way Paul handled the news of the pregnancy, but surely you don’t want to punish the baby by trying to keep the identity of the father locked away forever.”

      Gabi sighed. “Okay, no. You’re right. Then I’d be behaving just as selfishly as Paul was when he said he wanted no part of the baby.” She gave her sister an imploring look. “But you have to see how much simpler it could be for this child to be raised in a loving home with two parents who will dote on her and not have all this emotional baggage they’re dragging around.”

      Samantha smiled. “I have boundless faith in your maturity, sweetie. You won’t allow your emotional baggage to affect your child.”

      “I wish I were as sure of that as you are.”

      “Give it time,” Samantha advised. “You have a few months to get your equilibrium back before you have to make a final decision. Just don’t do anything hasty. Can you promise me that much, at least?”

      As if to echo Samantha’s plea, the baby fluttered in Gabi’s womb, making his or her presence’and maybe even his or her opinion’felt. Gabi sighed, wondering once more if she’d really be able to let this child go when the time came, no matter how deep her belief that it was for the best.

      * * *

      All things considered, Wade thought, his evening with Gabriella had gone pretty well. He’d managed to keep himself from trying to steal a kiss when he’d taken her back to Cora Jane’s. He wanted to believe the decision had been part of a greater strategy, but he had a hunch it had stemmed from a fear of humiliating rejection. No way was she ready for so much as a hint of his growing feelings for her. She’d made that plain enough with her little speech at the marina.

      Fortunately, this morning he’d been too busy meeting with a new client and trying to solve the problem of leveling out the kitchen cabinets for Tommy to worry too much about Gabi’s perception of their date.

      As lunchtime neared, Jimmy sidled close, his expression hopeful. Wade chuckled.

      “You interested in grabbing that burger today?” he asked the teen.

      Jimmy’s expression brightened. “Sure, if you have the time. I’m getting sick of the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches I’ve been bringing.”

      Wade frowned. “You’re not going out with the other guys for lunch?”

      An embarrassed flush crept up the boy’s neck. “Nah, they’re older than me. They don’t want me hanging around. Besides, I need to put my paycheck aside to help out at home. Since my dad’s accident, he hasn’t been able to work as much. We can use whatever money I bring home.”

      “Your dad had an accident?”

      “His right hand got cut real bad on a job a few months back. It makes it hard for him to do construction, you know? They say with rehab, it’ll get better, but he hasn’t been able to do the kind of rehab they recommended. He cut back on his insurance to save a little money. Mom told him it was a mistake, but he wanted to get her the new stove she wanted.”

      “So money’s real tight,” Wade guessed, resolving to see if there was anything he could do to help out. It was plain, though, that Jimmy had a lot of pride. He suspected he’d gotten that from his dad.

      Jimmy shrugged. “We do okay,” he insisted. He hesitated, then added, “If I could pick up some overtime, it would help.”

      “I’ll see what I can do. You’re a good worker, Jimmy. If Tommy can’t find a few extra hours for you, maybe somebody else will be able to use you.”

      “I’ll take anything,” Jimmy said eagerly. “That’d be great, Mr. Johnson.”

      “It’s Wade. Now, let’s go grab those burgers.”

      He drove over to Castle’s, which was already bustling with a lunch crowd.

      “Any tables left?” he asked Cora Jane.

      “I’ll always be able to find room for you,” she said.

      “And this is Jimmy Templeton,” Wade told her.

      Cora Jane looked him over. “Any kin to Rory Templeton?”

      Jimmy nodded. “Yes, ma’am. He’s my dad.”

      “I thought so,” Cora Jane said. “You look just like he did when he was your age. I was real sorry to hear about his injury.

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