A Wedding for Baby by Laura Marie Altom

Author:Laura Marie Altom
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2009-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

“Thanks for taking me to the doctor,” Gabrielle said Monday morning, squeezing herself into a waiting room chair at her obstetrician’s office.

“No problem.” It’d been a week since their morning talk, and on the surface, everything between Gabrielle and Dane seemed fine. But he knew the truth—he was torn up inside.

The office was packed with pregnant women. A TV in the corner had shown the same ten-minute prenatal care infomercial for nearly an hour. Dane could recite it.

The walls were green, the overstuffed sofas and chairs upholstered in dizzying stripes. As if the TV’s drone wasn’t annoying enough, sappy love songs played. Every side table was littered with pamphlets. Your Baby and You. Baby’s First Week. Breast-feeding Baby. The air smelled like apples. The jury was still out on whether that was good or bad.

“I’m nervous,” Gabrielle said.

Grasping her hand, Dane said, “Don’t sweat it. You’ve been the perfect patient.”

“Thanks to you.” Eyes shining with emotion, she looked so pretty, Dane had to avert his gaze. That morning, he’d helped her with her hair. He’d fumbled through blow-drying and brushing. Burned himself twice with the straight iron. He’d helped her dress in black maternity slacks and a yellow, black and white smock-style blouse—looking away during the intimate parts.

He shrugged off her compliment. A few weeks, and all of this would be behind him. A good thing, right?

“What’s got you so deep in thought?”

“A, um, case,” he lied.

“Is it juicy, sad or infuriating?”

Laughing, he only just now realized he still held her hand. He tried releasing her, but she held on tight.

“I know it’s juvenile, but please keep holding my hand. The comfort helps my nerves.” She aimed a wobbly grin his way, and he was a goner. Of course he’d hold her hand. For however long she liked.

“What’s this like for you? Being back out in the real world?”

“Overwhelming. I’d expected it to be exciting, but the traffic and noise and all of the people in here—it’s a bit much.” Leaning closer to him, she rested her head on his shoulder. Automatically, he raised his hand to comfort her, stroking her soft hair. “Being outside again was nice. In my yard. Feeling the sun on my face.”

“You should’ve told me you were craving the Great Outdoors. I would’ve carried you to your front porch.”

“You’re sweet,” she murmured, rubbing her hand absentmindedly along his chest.

“Gabrielle Craig,” a nurse called.

“Guess that’s me,” she said, struggling to her feet. Dane stepped in to help, tugging her upright while she leaned forward.

He kissed her forehead. “Hope it goes well.”

“You’re not coming with me?”

“I suppose I can, but…” As he’d told himself all too many times, he wasn’t the baby’s father. He had no right to privileges like being with Gabrielle during private meetings with her doctor.

“Don’t be a dork,” she teased, taking him by his hand. “And besides, if you don’t see the doctor, then you can’t have a lollipop and sticker when it’s time to leave.”

“Why didn’t you say so earlier?” Dane grinned.

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