A Baby by Easter

Author:Lois Richer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-03-20T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

“Connie, you shouldn’t have done this!” Susannah said, looking at the gifts piled in the living room. The dining table was set with fancy dishes.

“It’s your birthday and we’re having a party. Get over it.” Connie grinned.

“But you’re having your Thanksgiving party tomorrow night.” Susannah wished she hadn’t spent the afternoon sleeping—perhaps she could have put a stop to all this fuss. “This is a lot of extra work.”

“It’s not work. It’s fun.” Connie grabbed Susannah’s hands and whirled her around. She stopped abruptly. “Oops, sorry. I keep forgetting this little one makes you dizzy.” Tenderly she set her hand over Susannah’s ever-increasing baby bump. “What a miracle.”

Her baby was a miracle? But weren’t miracles for those God thought special? Susannah found herself blown away by the thought that God had singled her out, specially gifted her with this child.

Could God have trusted her with such a gift?

An instant later the wonder dissolved as reality hit. This baby might be a gift, but it was a gift she couldn’t keep.

Guilt assailed Susannah.

“Suze? You feeling okay?”

“Yes, thanks.”

“Sure?” Connie’s fingertips brushed her forehead before smoothing back her hair. “You don’t feel warm.”

“I’m absolutely fine.” She pulled back. “Don’t fuss.”

“I have to take care of my best friend, don’t I?”

The doorbell rang and a moment later Darla’s excited voice, followed by David’s lower rumble echoed through the house. Her stomach clenched just as the baby kicked her in the ribs.

“Surprise!” Obviously delighted with her secret, Connie beamed. “I take it Darla didn’t squeal on me when she called this morning?”

“Not a word.” Susannah hadn’t told Connie about her argument with David because she didn’t want her friend fighting her battles. She schooled her expression into a placid mask and followed Connie from the room to welcome her guests.

David’s gaze caught hers. He smiled at her, eyes melting to butterscotch. There was nothing in his manner to suggest the least problem between them. In fact, he looked happy to see her. Susannah’s heart jumped when he continued to stare at her. She swallowed hard and felt a little sick. Not a pregnancy sickness—more a kind of this-can’t-be-happening, heart-dropping sickness.

How could he look at her like that, as if he thought she was something special, when she knew he thought she was nothing, nobody? And why did one man get the full package—height, good looks—along with a strong sense of who he was, a sense that would never make him feel unworthy of anything?

“Happy birthday,” he said in that low growl she’d become accustomed to. He handed her a small silver box. An envelope was attached. “For you.”

His fingers brushed hers. Susannah pulled away, burning at the contact. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“I hope you have a great year.”

What did that mean? Was that sweet grin a prelude to firing her?

“This is from me.” Darla edged in front of him and held out a beautifully wrapped flat box. “Can we open the gifts now?” she asked Connie, impatience showing in her dancing feet.

“Yeah, can we?” Silver echoed, just as excited.

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