Starlight (19 page)

“We’re under the table.” Karen laughed as she watched his dark trousered leg walk toward her.

“Under the what?”

“Come and join us; we’re having a picnic,” Judy explained, stifling her own laughter.

“It’s times like these that make me wonder just exactly what kind of a family I married into.” His face was smiling as he knelt down. “Just what will be required of me before I can talk to my wife?” he quizzed suspiciously.

“I’m here, Rand.” Karen edged her way between bodies, sandwiches, and Number Nine to meet her husband. “Sit down and make yourself at home,” she invited, and placed a welcoming kiss on his puzzled brow.

“May I remind you, I
am
home!” Humor glinted briefly in his expression. “I’m almost afraid to ask this, but just why are you eating your lunch
under
the table?”

“Because it’s raining,” the boys explained simultaneously.

“True,” he reasoned, “but not inside the house.”

“Well, it wouldn’t be a picnic on top of the table, would it?” Karen asked him with an impatient sigh.

“There’s logic in this someplace, but I swear it’s beyond me.” The humor in his smile held a wealth of love and warmth.

Karen regarded him curiously. “You’re home awfully early. Is anything wrong?”

“Can’t a husband come home early? May I remind you we’ve only been married a short while.” His husky voice held a suggestive note, and Karen flushed.

“Finish your lunch, boys.” Judy tipped her head back and winked knowingly at her sister. “It’s time we left.”

“There’s no need to rush,” Karen said, but she didn’t insist they stay. Rand was rarely home early, and she selfishly wanted him to herself.

The picnic items were quickly packed while the boys protested. Judy ushered them out the door, and it suddenly became very quiet without the chatter of the two boys.

“Would you like some lunch? Are you hungry?” Rand stood beside her, and she turned, sliding her arms around his middle. Tilting her head back, she watched his expression alter.

“Starving.” His mouth explored the side of her neck and sent shivers of delight shooting down her body.

“What would you like?” She melted against him, her heart thundering wildly.

“Don’t ask silly questions,” he whispered before claiming her mouth in a flaming kiss that left her weak and clinging. When he led her into their bedroom, Karen had no intention of protesting.

The nagging suspicion Karen was pregnant became a reality as the days passed. She’d refused to acknowledge the early signs, but there could be no denying the slight thickening of her waist or the added fullness of her breasts. Now it wasn’t only coffee that upset her stomach; the smell of certain foods, especially bacon, would cause her to wretch. She found herself irritable, and it didn’t seem to matter how much sleep she got, for she was constantly tired.

The first morning she lost her breakfast was the day Karen accepted the truth. Deathly pale and still nauseated, she staggered back to the bedroom and lay down.

With her arms cradling her stomach, she closed her eyes and let out a low moan of despair. “No, please, God, no.” Rand would never believe she hadn’t purposely gotten
pregnant. The knowledge was sure to destroy the budding trust between them. She had worked so hard to gain his confidence in her integrity. How would she ever tell him? No possible explanation would make things right. And his reaction would defy comprehension.

Forcing herself to dress, she brushed her teeth, still feeling wretched and miserable. Her reflection in the bathroom mirror told her she looked as rotten as she felt.

Her sister had advised her to make an appointment with the doctor as soon as possible. But Karen had delayed, hoping against Las Vegas odds that she had some weird, unexplainable virus.
Some virus
, she mused. Her fingers trembled when she made the call. She wouldn’t say anything to Rand until she was sure. His mother was coming for a visit, and she couldn’t tell him before then.

Depression as heavy as Karen had ever experienced weighed on her. A baby. She found her hands resting on her abdomen while a myriad of emotions filled her all at once. A gentle smile touched her lips. A baby. This should be one of the most glorious days of her life, knowing that the love they shared had created this life growing within her.

Love. What a strange emotion, but not really an emotion at all; more an act of the will. Certainly it wasn’t anything she could define. Did Rand really love her? Could she be totally secure in his love? He desired her physically. Was that love? He had accused and doubted her regarding their marriage. Was that love? As sure as the sun would rise on the morrow, he would doubt her again when he learned of this pregnancy. Was that love?

Hiding her symptoms from Rand became a worrisome game. The mornings she was especially ill, she would complain of being overly tired and stay in bed. Rand would lovingly accuse her of being lazy. Karen watched him dress, praying he’d hurry while she took deep breaths to delay the inevitable. The minute he was out the door, Karen would rush to the bathroom to empty her stomach.

Judy recommended eating soda crackers before rising in the morning to relieve the nausea. But when Rand complained of crumbs between the sheets and accused her of cheating on her diet, Karen laughed and promised not to eat in bed again.

A hundred times, she was grateful Rand couldn’t see her. One look at her pale, bloodless cheeks and he would have guessed her condition immediately. That he hadn’t put the facts together knotted Karen’s stomach with guilt. His trust in her had become so complete that he didn’t even suspect.

Karen was sure Carl knew. More than once she found his eyes following her, his look concerned and worried. She wasn’t sure if he was anxious because she was obviously having such a bad time with the morning sickness or if he realized what this
child would do to her and Rand’s relationship. Either way, her eyes silently pleaded with him not to say anything. The look he returned assured her that he would not betray a confidence.

There was another problem Karen had yet to resolve. Number Nine was obviously pregnant.

“But Carl,” Karen had protested, “I thought you said you’d taken her to the vet and everything had been taken care of.”

“All her shots.” Carl looked away nervously. “Number Nine was just a kitten then, and the vet wanted to wait a few weeks before having her spayed. I assumed you realized that. I’m sorry, Miss Karen.”

She sighed in defeat. She couldn’t be angry with Carl; it hadn’t been his fault. If she hadn’t been so wrapped up in her own problems, she would have known something was wrong when all the male cats started prowling around.

“Don’t worry, Carl,” she reassured him with a weak smile. “I’m sure Rand will understand.”

“I’m sure he will, too,” Carl told her, and Karen had the funny feeling he wasn’t referring to the cat.

“But I don’t understand how it could have happened.” Karen’s eyes pleaded with the doctor.

“It’s not unusual for a pregnancy to occur even with the appropriate precautions, but judging from the look of things, I’d say you were already pregnant when you came for your first visit.” Dr. Marshall offered Karen a reassuring smile. Since she was obviously so upset with her condition, he took the time to talk with her and answer her questions in a gentle, reassuring manner.

“Already pregnant?” Karen stared back in disbelief.

“I’m afraid so. I’d guess you were close to three months pregnant.”

“Three months?” she whispered incredulously. Had she been so obtuse that she had not recognized even the most obvious signs? Dazed and unsure, Karen responded to the remainder of the appointment with little more than feeble nods.

Judy was waiting for her in the reception area. “Well?” She rose expectantly as Karen entered the larger room.

Karen stared at her sister with sightless eyes. “The doctor thinks I may be as much as three months along—”

“Karen.” Although she shared her sister’s anxiety, Judy didn’t bother to disguise her pleasure. “Good grief, you won’t be hiding this from Rand much longer. When do you plan on telling him?”

“I don’t think it’s a matter of when but how I’m going to tell him,” Karen answered.

“But, Karen, the longer you delay, the more likely he is to guess.”

“I know.” Karen expelled her breath and looked to her sister helplessly. “I’ll tell him soon.”

After his mother’s visit
, Karen promised herself. Judy’s look was skeptical.

Each day, Karen answered her sister’s inquiring gaze with a negative shake of her head.

Rand had described his mother perfectly, and when she stepped off the plane, Karen spotted her instantly.

Eileen Prescott was tall and slender. Her blue business suit, smart and stylish, was a pleasant contrast to her hair, which was completely gray, cut fashionably short. There wasn’t a striking resemblance between mother and son, but it wasn’t difficult to tell the two were related.

“I see her,” Karen said nervously.

“Relax, Karen. My mother’s going to love you.” His hand, resting on her shoulder, gave her an encouraging squeeze.

With swift, bold strides, Eileen Prescott walked directly to Rand. Karen stepped aside as mother embraced son.

She gave him a surly look. “Well, introduce me. I didn’t fly two thousand miles to look at your dour face.”

There was an affectionate smile in Rand’s eyes as he held his arms open for Karen’s return. “Mother, this is my wife, Karen.”

Karen moved forward, still in awe of this overpowering woman. “Welcome to Tacoma, Mrs. Prescott.” Her senses were clamoring under the woman’s cold, unfriendly gaze.

Eileen ignored Karen’s welcome. “Why, Rand, she’s barely more than a teenager.” It was the same gruff tone as before.

Karen eased herself closer to Rand, embarrassed and uncomfortable. The welcoming smile died on Rand’s face, and he spoke sharply. “Woman enough, Mother.”

Eileen ignored his tone and returned her attention to Karen. “I understand your father was an immigrant. The Prescotts can trace their family tree back to the sixteen-hundreds. I expected Rand to marry within his own class,” she stated stiffly, as if she doubted Karen’s legitimacy.

The assertion stung. The McAlisters were of proud Scottish descent, and what they lacked in heritage was compensated for in pride. Karen bit back angry words, but Rand felt no such restraint and snapped angrily.

“Are you sure you wouldn’t like to check out her teeth?”

There was dead silence. Eileen’s severe expression altered to a twinkling smile, and she laughed, smiling at Karen with satisfaction. “Welcome to the family, Karen, such as it is.” She stepped forward and gave her daughter-in-law a vivacious squeeze.

Astonished at the extreme change in mood, Karen was at a loss for words but managed a tremulous smile. “Thank you.”

In the days that followed, Karen came to respect her unpretentious mother-in-law. Her manner was sometimes surly and forward, but it didn’t take long for Karen to discover her warm and sincere heart.

Eileen discovered Karen’s secret the first morning of her visit. As soon as Rand was out the door to school, Karen slumped in the chair, feeling wretched.