His Child or Hers? by Dawn Stewardson

Author:Dawn Stewardson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

HAD FORCING THE ISSUE been a good idea or not?

Hank didn’t know, although he was positive that Doris Wagner wouldn’t approve. However, she wasn’t the one being driven crazy by the uncertainty.

At any rate, he’d done it, unsettling Natalie so badly in the process that her hands had been trembling when she’d poured the hot chocolate from the saucepan.

She set one of the mugs in front of him, then sat down on the opposite side of the table. In Audrey’s place.

That reminded him of the question Audrey had asked him last night. If Robbie wasn’t living here all the time…

As he’d told her, he’d be happy to have her stay, regardless. But she might decide she’d prefer to work for a family with full-time children. And if that happened, then when Robbie was here…

He wrapped his hands around the mug and told himself to take things one step at a time.

“So,” he said, gazing over at Natalie. “The question that didn’t get answered last night is just how much time do you want with him?”

He watched her lick her lips, amazed when he realized he was thinking how kissable they looked. He didn’t want to be thinking that. And how could he be thinking about anything except what her answer would be?

She picked up her mug and took a sip, then carefully put it back down. But she couldn’t delay answering forever.

“What I would like,” she said at last, “is to have Robbie living with me full-time. To have him come and visit you when you’re on vacation. Or have you come and visit him.”

His pulse pounding in his ears, he simply shook his head, afraid that if he opened his mouth he’d yell at her.

“Wait, Hank,” she said. “That’s what I’d like. That’s not what I’m suggesting. I know it wouldn’t be fair to either of you. He loves you. And you love him. So do I, though, and…

“This isn’t at all what I imagined I’d be saying—in the beginning, I mean. But now that I’ve seen you together…”

She paused for what seemed like an eternity, then said, “How would you feel about six months each?”

For a moment he had trouble believing he’d heard right. She was prepared to settle for half of the time, which was the best he could have realistically hoped for. And that was without any negotiating on his part.

But what if she was playing the sort of game Doris had told him to play? Starting at what she considered high, because she assumed he’d do his utmost to talk her down.

If that was it, she must not figure most judges would award her as much as six months. So would she actually settle for less?

Looking across the table at her again, he knew he couldn’t make himself even try to find out. Not when his instincts were telling him that she really did want to be fair.

And fifty-fifty was probably as good as it got—for them. Yet would it be best for Robbie?

He

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