Baby on the Way

Author:Lois Richer [Lois Richer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance
ISBN: 9781459257856
Google: 6FOK9EZh98gC
Amazon: B0056I1CN0
Barnesnoble: B0056I1CN0
Goodreads: 22153117
Publisher: Love Inspired
Published: 1999-08-01T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

“It’s just an evening with some friends, Clayton.

Nothing to worry about. Come on! We’re waiting for you.” Exasperated, Caitlin hung up the phone before the man could ask her the one question she’d avoided at all costs during the past week.

“He’s not too thrilled about coming, is he?” Jordan’s lip sloped up when she turned her head away. “Wants to know if Maryann is here, I’ll wager.” He laughed when Caitlin turned her back. “I thought so.”

“What are you doing out here anyway?” she demanded, bending to check the tiny puff pastries in the oven. “You’re supposed to be in there, keeping the conversation going!”

“Hah! What conversation? Gar, as I’ve been told to call him, sits there like a bump on a log, staring straight ahead. Beth is on the other end of the sofa, glaring at the fireplace. They won’t even look at each other, let alone speak.”

“And Maryann?”

“Maryann went upstairs, ostensibly to check on her daughter.”

“What? You’re not supposed to let her go up there!” Caitlin whirled around, hands on her hips. “Some host you turned out to be.” With a flick of her wrist, she opened the oven, emptied the pan of shrimp hors d’oeuvres onto a plate and shoved them at him. “Here.”

Obligingly, Jordan reached out and took one.

“They’re good,” he murmured in obvious surprise.

Caitlin sighed. Nothing was going right tonight.

“Of course they’re good.” She chuckled, whooshing a puff of air over her heated forehead. “And they’re supposed to be for our guests, the ones you are supposed to be serving.”

“Oh.” He took the platter and moved toward the other room. “How long do I have to stay in there this time?” He looked like a little boy who had just been sent to his room.

“Until I come in and tell you otherwise. Now get them talking. You can do it, Jordan. You can talk about anything.”

A man forced to walk to his own execution couldn’t have looked more pathetic. Caitlin grabbed the tray of glasses from the counter and headed in after him.

The scene before her was pathetic. The other two inhabitants refused to look at each other, deliberately focusing their sights on some faraway spot. Maryann eventually returned to the room and took her seat, glancing worriedly from one to the other of her friends. Jordan shoved the platter in front of each of them in turn and then almost dropped it when the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it,” he called, rushing toward the entry in jubilant relief.

Caitlin frowned at his retreating back, drew a deep breath and plunged in.

“Beth, how’s your sister enjoying school in Oakburn? Does she get into as much trouble as we did?”

“She loves it.” Beth’s voice warmed. “She a real clown and the drama teacher wants her to audition for the spring play.”

“That’s great! Remember how you and Gar played Romeo and Juliet…?” Maryann’s voice died away, her face flushing painfully as she realized that she’d just linked the two of them when it was obvious neither wanted to remember the past.

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