Twins on the Way by Janice Maynard

Author:Janice Maynard
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-04-06T16:00:00+00:00

Nine

Cassidy hunched over the commode, dry-heaving. If she had ever been this miserable, she couldn’t remember. But when she opened the door of the stall and found Maeve Kavanagh sitting in a small chair at the ornate vanity, her stomach plummeted even farther.

“Mrs. Kavanagh. I didn’t hear you come in.”

Gavin’s elegant mother, her auburn chignon only slightly threaded with gray, smiled gently. “Are you pregnant, dear?”

Cassidy swallowed hard and tried not to think about oysters. “No, ma’am. Of course not.”

Maeve shook her head. “I’m not completely oblivious to the fact that my sons have sex lives. I choose not to dwell on the subject, but I am not naive. Gavin has never brought a girl home before.”

“He didn’t bring me, either. I showed up at his house for a visit, that’s all.”

“And that explains why you rushed from the dinner table?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude.” Cassidy was disheveled and ill and upset, but she couldn’t fault Maeve’s concern for her son. “I may be coming down with something. You probably shouldn’t be near me.”

Maeve grinned, taking fifteen years off her age. “Are you carrying Gavin’s child?”

“No. Really.”

“Your commitment to the lie is impressive, but I can do this all night. Tell me, honey. Tell me the truth.”

Cassidy’s legs lost their starch and she sank onto an ottoman that matched the decor. “Okay. Yes. I’m pregnant.”

“And is Gavin the father?”

“Yes. But he doesn’t think so...or to be exact, he’s not sure. He wants a paternity test.”

Maeve winced. “How old are you, Cassidy?”

“Twenty-three.”

“And did you want to become pregnant?”

“No, ma’am. Not at all. But now that I am, I’m going to do everything in my power to take care of this baby.”

“And what do your parents think about all this?”

“My mother died when I was very young. My father is furious.”

“Poor dear.” Gavin’s mother shook her head. “I would like to help you, if I can.”

Cassidy held out her hands. “I know you mean well, but this is something Gavin and I have to work out between us. Please don’t be angry. You’re very kind. But I feel disloyal enough already for telling you without Gavin’s consent.”

“I understand. And I won’t let on that I know. But I think I can shed some light on my son’s attitude. Why don’t you come to tea with me tomorrow? Here at the hotel. We can get to know each other.”

“I’m pretty sure Gavin wouldn’t like that.”

“He brought you here for dinner tonight, didn’t he? He may not be willing to admit yet that he’s going to be a father, but deep down I’d say he acknowledges the truth.”

“There are things you don’t know,” Cassidy said. Like the fact that she and Gavin had been impetuous and foolish in the midst of a night of wild, crazy sex.

“I could say the same. I’ll expect you tomorrow, Cassidy. Don’t disappointment me.”

By mutual consent the two women returned to the dining room. Cassidy was relieved to see that the oysters had disappeared. In their place were four servings of innocuous chicken piccata with fresh asparagus and brown rice.

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