On the Doorstep by Dana Corbit

Author:Dana Corbit
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2005-04-07T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Pilar couldn’t believe they’d been sitting there talking about nothing for the last two hours. She would never have guessed that much time had passed had the wall clock not announced the time with seven clear pings.

Their conversation had started when Zach had returned from the kitchen after he’d tried to hide how personally he was taking the case. Pilar had purposely not brought up the subject again. It wouldn’t have helped anyway. They’d already discussed all the same leads he’d been following and had hit all the same walls he’d hit.

Instead, she’d mentioned Reverend Fraser’s recent sermon on the story in the Book of Luke about the two thieves crucified alongside Jesus. Their conversation had taken off from there, and, aside from an occasional break to draw breath, they’d talked nonstop ever since.

She couldn’t help grinning as she remembered Zach’s confession that with his police background, he’d had problems with that gospel story. He’d really struggled with Jesus’ promise to one thief—Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.

“What are you smiling about?”

She chuckled at having been caught. “The thief thing.”

“That’s the last time I confess anything to you.”

He was probably joking, and yet she hoped it wouldn’t be the last time, either for silly things he would confide in her or time they would spend together, just talking.

She couldn’t remember having felt more at ease with anyone in a long time. Twice in the past two hours, she’d momentarily forgotten why they were there, but then she’d shifted positions, experienced the discomfort, and it had all come rushing back.

Pilar cleared her throat. “Do you really want to know?”

He turned his head back to her, twisting in his strange position in the overstuffed chair, with his legs dangling uncomfortably over one of the arms.

“Know what?”

She didn’t bother to reply, “You know what,” since they both knew what she was talking about.

“I only went in for an ultrasound this morning.”

She waited for shock or some other reaction to register on his face, but he only continued watching her. “Looks like you got more than you bargained for.”

His gaze lowered briefly to the light blanket he’d brought her earlier to lay across her lap, and then he met her gaze again. He was curious, sure, but never demanding.

The realization came upon her quickly, like a drizzle that transforms into a downpour, but Pilar suddenly wanted Zach to know about her. She needed someone to know, to understand what had been tearing her apart.

“It started with some unusual cramping.”

Zach nodded, apparently comfortable discussing the intricacies of a woman’s body.

“The doctor said there were cysts on my ovaries. Both. But one was larger. The ultrasound was to confirm her theory that I might have this condition that sometimes leaves women…infertile.”

She stopped, the last word tasting of bile as she’d finally spoken it aloud. Glancing at Zach, she waited. What was she waiting for him to do, run away in shock? He didn’t. He only continued resting with his head turned her way and waiting for her to tell him more.

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