The Boss's Baby Surprise by Lilian Darcy

Author:Lilian Darcy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-10-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Celie closed the trunk of her sister Veronica’s car, which was now loaded with their mother’s two suitcases and her crutches, as well as enough of Lizzie’s essential baby equipment to furnish half a baby store. Ronnie was taking Mom down to Kentucky, today, for a stay of several weeks, until the cast on her leg was ready to come off.

Celie had left Nick’s last night after taking the minimum possible time to eat duck a` l’orange, and he hadn’t tried to stop her. He hadn’t come close to kissing her again, and neither of them had mentioned Carter’s name. While they were eating, they’d talked about the three new Delaney’s restaurants in Southern California that were scheduled to open next week, as if it was the most important thing on both their minds.

In her apartment a little later, Celie had stood in the middle of the floor and said to the silent rooms, “I’m sorry.”

She hadn’t told the apartment what she was sorry for, but probably it and its former occupant already knew.

She was sorry for doubting the dreams.

She was sorry for failing to bring Nick and Carter together, even if it wasn’t her fault.

Sometime this weekend, she’d decided as she stood there, she would go back to her hairstylist and get rid of the high, tight knot once and for all. She didn’t want to be that knot-haired person anymore. She could hardly be angry with Nick for not letting Carter into his life, if she wasn’t prepared to let in something new, either.

Now, with her hair appointment scheduled later this morning, Celie hugged her mom and helped her into the front passenger seat, which Ronnie had already extended as far back as it would go.

“Look after yourself, Celie, honey,” her mom said.

“You, too, Mom. Don’t get too ambitious, okay? Don’t try to help Alex with the yard work. Make Ronnie wait on you hand and foot. Now, where’s my Lizzie to say bye-bye to?”

“Already smiling for you, Celie,” Veronica said. She had Lizzie in her arms.

Celie reached for the baby and held her close. Lizzie smelled like baby shampoo and sweet milk, and she was blond-haired, blue-eyed and gorgeous. She was only a few weeks younger than Carter, Celie had calculated, but she’d been blessed with such different circumstances. Would Nick’s nephew ever get to call anyone Mom or Dad?

“You are a lucky little girl, sweetheart,” she whispered to the baby. “I hope you’ll always know it.”

“What is your auntie telling you, Busy Lizzie?” Ronnie crooned, taking her daughter and strapping her in her infant seat.

“Nothing important,” Celie answered.

Nothing important to Lizzie herself right now, anyhow. Carter might one day feel differently.

Ronnie climbed into the car and drove off down the street. Celie watched them go, then finished various tasks in her mother’s house, locked up and went to her hair appointment. Later, back home, when she came out to the front gate of the old Victorian to check her mailbox, there was a woman standing on the sidewalk, beside a tiny pink-wrapped baby in a carriage.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.