Baby in Waiting by Jacqueline Diamond

Author:Jacqueline Diamond
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2008-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

IN THE KITCHEN, wonderful smells greeted Brooke—along with half a dozen women. Brooke recognized the oldest as Minnie Ortiz. Another woman, whose age she placed at around seventy, Lois Oldham, turned out to be the mother of two younger women, Diane Lorenz, who’d recently married contractor Josh Lorenz, and Sarah Oldham, her younger sister.

Everyone, it seemed, had heard of Brooke’s heroism, which had been embellished by the neighborhood rumor mill. Brooke corrected the impression that she’d performed karate moves on the evildoer and held him pinned against the car till the police arrived.

When Tess Phipps and Renée joined the group, the conversation shifted to a discussion of Renée’s remodeling plans. Last to arrive was a fiftyish woman named Cynthia Lieberman, whom Jane introduced as a psychologist.

An obstetrician. An attorney. A retired school principal. What a remarkable group.

Feeling a little intimidated, Brooke resolved to listen and keep her mouth shut. She soon discovered, however, that despite their imposing credentials, these women were all pretty down-to-earth. She wished she really belonged to a group like this, with roots that in many cases went back for years.

To her surprise, Diane Lorenz took her aside. “May I get your opinion about something?”

“Sure.” Brooke had met Josh’s wife through Renée, since their houses faced each other. She’d heard the romantic story of how Diane, a widowed teacher, had fallen in love with a man she’d initially mistrusted, and how their twelve-year-old daughters had become as close as sisters.

“Nick Salonica Junior is in my fourth-grade class at Brea Academy. I understand you work for his father.”

“That’s right.” Brooke had met the chubby boy in passing. She doubted she could offer much insight.

“He’s been acting up a lot this year, and…well, I don’t mean to pry, but is there anything I should be aware of that might be affecting his behavior?” Diane hurried to add, “I mean, anything that’s more or less public knowledge. I’m not asking for confidential information.”

“You mean, like family problems?” When the other woman nodded, Brooke said, “It’s pretty well-known that his parents fight a lot. If I were their kid, I’d be upset, too.”

“That could account for his misbehavior. I was afraid some students might be bullying him, but no one at school has observed anything like that,” Diane said. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” Thank goodness the teacher didn’t realize that Brooke was at the center of the Salonica’s dispute. Okay, that was due to Kevin’s duplicity and Dr. Salonica’s dishonesty, not her own actions. Still, as much as Brooke resented Helen’s accusations, she had to sympathize with their children. And a little bit with a woman so insecure about her marriage.

They rejoined the group. Busy filling plates at the counter and carrying them into the dining room, the others didn’t seem to have noticed the separate conversation.

At the long, cloth-covered table, Brooke chose a corner seat next to Sarah Oldham. Diane’s sister appeared the closest to her in age, and with her mom, she occupied the house next door to Oliver’s on the opposite side from Jane.

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