His Easter Baby by Heidi McCahan

Author:Heidi McCahan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2022-11-28T15:07:17+00:00

Chapter Two

“So you thought you were married to this man?” Connie said.

“Nick. Yes.” Susannah nodded.

“But—”

“I know it sounds stupid and gullible,” Susannah muttered and hung her head. “He said he didn’t want a fuss, that he wanted our wedding to be just us, private and intimate.”

“But to lie about marriage—I am so sorry.” Connie touched her hand in wordless sympathy.

“So am I—sorry that I was so dumb. Nick arranged everything that I asked for—the minister, the church, everything. But it wasn’t real. None of it was.” Susannah pushed away the rest of the soup David had brought. She shook her head. “I thought Nick loved me. I guess I should have known better.”

“Why? When you’re in love, you do trust the one you love.” Connie’s fingers smoothed hers. “That’s natural, exactly how God meant love to be.”

“Only God didn’t mean love for me.” Guilt settled on Susannah for ruining her friend’s party. “Shouldn’t you go back to your guests?”

“I told them an emergency had arisen.”

“I’m an emergency? Yuk.” Susannah made a face.

“Just like the old days, huh?” Connie teased. She shook her head. “Don’t worry. They’re friends and well used to my ‘emergencies.’ Wade will take care of them.”

“Is he nice?” Susannah asked softly, studying her friend’s glowing face with a twinge of envy.

“Wade is—wonderful.” Connie’s face radiated happiness.

“How did you meet?”

“Silver is Wade’s daughter. Wade had to leave her here while he worked in South America. David was her guardian. He hired me to be Silver’s nanny.”

“How romantic. Like Cinderella.” Susannah thought Darla would have loved that.

“Not at first. When Wade came home he was nothing like I expected. But God knew what he was doing when he put us together. We were married a year ago.” Connie held out her hand. “My engagement ring was Wade’s mother’s.”

“It’s beautiful.” Susannah thought of the cheap gold circlet she’d tucked into her bag. Nick had promised he’d get something nicer later on. Another lie. “Nick died and I didn’t have anywhere else to go.”

“Oh, Suze, I’m so glad you came here. You were only seventeen when you ran away from our foster home. What have you been doing?” Connie asked, her voice grave. “I called home several times, but Mom said she didn’t know where you’d gone.”

“I got in with the wrong group and went to Los Angeles. It took me a while to get my head on straight, but eventually I got a job in a nursing home. That’s where I met Nick.” She inhaled to ease the constriction in her throat. No more tears.

Connie squeezed her fingers. “How did you find me?”

“I finally phoned Mom day before yesterday.”

“She misses you.” Connie’s eyes blazed with sympathy.

“I miss her, too.” Susannah sniffed. “I was stupid to run away. So stupid.”

“Everybody makes mistakes.”

“Even you?” Susannah asked, glancing around.

“Especially me.” Connie laughed. “I’ll tell you later about my mistakes.” Her voice grew serious. “But what about the baby, Suze? When are you due?”

“April. Around Easter.”

“An Easter baby.”

Susannah gulped. “I’m on my own and I have about two nickels to rub together.

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