Too Grand for Words (BookStrand Publishing Romance) (34 page)

“Their faces are so chiseled and rugged, and those brilliant eyes could trap a girl’s heart.”

She glanced at Gail, who refrained from saying anything. “Well, that’s Gail and Daniel’s doing.”

“To be honest, I think I have a huge crush on Dane. The first time he looked at me, he made my legs weak. To see two of them is unbelievable.”

“I think I know what you mean, but they’re very different men,” Moira said carefully. “How long have you been seeing each other?”

“This is the fourth time. When he asked me to come to the barbeque today, I was thrilled.” She crossed one lanky leg over the other and leaned back in her chair. “I like the girls, too, but it must be hard for them. I remember when my parents split up. I didn’t like anyone my father dated.”

“They’re sweet girls. They’ll get used to the idea eventually,” Moira said. She searched the yard and saw them throwing a ball for the enormous retriever she and Steven had adopted. The girls’ mother didn’t like pets, maintaining she had allergies. When Charlotte and April came to visit, which was a lot, they spent time playing with Sedona. They took him for long walks on the beach or romped around on the lawn with him. He loved it, and so did they.

Taking in a deep breath to clear her head, she looked over at Gail. She wore a distant, almost sad expression. Moira reached over and laid her hand on hers. “Are you all right, Gail?”

Gail started with her touch. “Of course. It’s nothing.”

“It doesn’t look like nothing to me,” she said.

Gail patted her hand. “It’s just when we have these family gatherings, it makes me think of Kyle.”

No one in the family ever mentioned Steven and Dane’s brother. Steven sent a clear message that he didn’t want to talk about him. She didn’t broach the subject again, but maybe Gail would. “You miss him, and understandably so.”

Gail’s hands twisted together. “I do. I wish I knew where he was.”

Moira searched the faces of the other family members, but no one said a word, in fact, they looked away from her. “Steven won’t talk about him.”

Gail swept a quick smile onto her face. “I know, but I think he misses him, too, even if he won’t admit it.”

“Maybe one day he’ll surprise you and just show up.”

“I don’t even know if he’s still alive,” Gail said sadly.

Steven had said the same thing. It didn’t really seem appropriate to dig into something that obviously caused Gail and the rest of the family discomfort. “I think you’d know. Mothers have an instinct that others don’t.”

Gail squeezed her hand and nodded.

Moira sat back in her chair, watching the girls play on the lawn, while thinking about Kyle. In a couple days she’d go visit Gail, and ask her to tell her the story, and why Kyle wasn’t here with them. Steven had told her to leave it alone, but she couldn’t. She had to know.

“Moira, you’ve been doing too much lately,” Gail said. “You and Steven should have a bit of a break before next month. You’re feeling all right, aren’t you?”

“Sure, you know how it is. I just feel a little tired.”

“You hardly ate dinner,” Gail said.

“I’m not very hungry these days. Maybe I just need to take some more vitamins or something.”

“How long have you been feeling like that?” Jackie asked.

Jackie was a first cousin on Gail’s side, her sister’s daughter. They were about the same age, and had become close since she’d moved to California. “I don’t know, a while, maybe a couple months. It’s not unusual for me. Being a shift worker all my life didn’t help. Mainly, too much coffee, a bad diet, and not enough sleep. Women who work a lifetime of days and nights have to try harder than most to keep their bodies healthy. I didn’t try that hard. Anyway, it’s just a flu bug or nerves.”

“The flu doesn’t last that long. Why would you think it’s the flu? And why didn’t you tell me?” Jackie chided.

“Because it’s nothing to worry about. It’ll pass, I’m sure.”

Lydia asked, “You’re not feeling sick to your stomach or more irritable than normal are you?”

“I’m always irritable. As far as sick to my stomach, well that’s why I thought it was the flu. I feel nauseous sometimes. Oh, don’t look at me like that. It’s not always in the morning. It comes in the afternoon or even in the evening.”

Lydia grinned. “You do know that pregnancy doesn’t just cause sickness in the morning?”

“What?”

“What about your periods?” Lydia asked.

“They’ve never been regular anyway. I just blamed it on poor habits because of my irregular hours. As I say, it’s not uncommon. My period stopped for six months once.”

“When was the last one?”

“Do you think I’m going through the change of life early?”

Gail’s eyes widened. Lydia picked up her purse and dug through it, handing her a slim box.

“What’s this,” Moira asked, taking it from her and reading the label. “Oh, get real, I’m forty years old.”

Lydia laid a warm hand on her shoulder. “I’m assuming you have been very active. And I have a lot of patients who are in their forties, Moira.”

“What are you doing walking around with a kit like that?” Jackie asked.

“I’m a pediatrics physician. I have so many they’re practically popping out of my socks.”

Moira bit her upper lip, and then looked toward the men. They sat around the fire, drinking and laughing it up. Steven appeared relaxed and happy. As if reading her mind, he turned to look in her direction. She gave him a cryptic smile. He winked at her before one of his cousins grabbed his attention. “It can’t be,” she said.

“Have you had a pregnancy test?” Lydia asked.

“No, but…this can’t happen.”

A full-on smile grew on Gail’s lips. “Well, there’s only one way to find out now, isn’t there?”

She stood up in a daze.

Gail clutched her chest. “Oh my goodness, please.” She peered into the sky. “How long does it take, Lydia?” she asked.

“It gives an instant result, but if it does show positive I’ll see you on Monday, Moira, and we’ll do some other tests. You’ll have to be careful. A first pregnancy at your age is riskier than if you had children before.”

“Children? Ladies, your jumping the gun here. It’s not possible,” Moira assured them, but she wasn’t so sure herself. She walked calmly toward the patio doors, but calm was not how she felt.

* * * *

She used the downstairs bathroom and followed the instructions. She lifted the stick to her eyes. A cold snap rushed through her body. As if she were in a trance she walked through the kitchen and out onto the deck. The men sat in a circle talking. She didn’t know what to do except aim for Steven. He had become her rock during the transition between her reclusive life before she knew him, and the world of flashing bulbs and Hollywood. She walked straight for him like a drowning person sees nothing but a life ring. Chairs scratched across the tiles, and the shuffle of the women’s feet followed behind her.

Steven stood up immediately. “What’s wrong, Moira? You look like someone just died.”

With her eyes wide, she scanned all the men. Their heads turning with concerned expressions. She didn’t know if this was the time or the place, but she didn’t know what to do. “Steven—”

“Moira, what’s wrong?”

Her hands instinctively went to her stomach. “Steven, the little stick said ‘yes.’”

“Little stick? What?”

“Steven, I’m pregnant.”

“What? What did you just say?”

“I said
the fucking rabbit died, Steven
.” It was all she could get out, and she barely got that out. Her hand slapped over her mouth to stop the scream from coming out. How could this happen?

Steven’s face lit like a Christmas tree as his head snapped to look at his mother. Gail’s hands jumped to her cheeks, and the smile on her lips couldn’t have been bigger.

“Moira, sweetheart.” He leaped across the firepit, and swung her into his arms. “Are you kidding me, we’re going to have a baby? I knew it, God damn it, I knew it.”

She stood frozen with shock, barely feeling the ground beneath her feet when Steven set her down. Their family and friends ravaged them. Everyone crowded around waiting to take their turn to congratulate them.

Steven’s father hugged his son fiercely. “I’m so happy for both of you.” Daniel Porter reached over and kissed her on the forehead. “Now you’re going to take good care of yourself and everything will be fine,” he assured her. She nodded quickly. “Steven will make sure you have the best doctor in town, and if he doesn’t I will,” he said, curling her into his arms. “Don’t be scared, honey. We love you. You’re like the daughter we never had.” He tucked his head next to hers. “Don’t tell the boys, but Gail and I always wanted a girl.”

“Well you’ve got me, Daniel,” she said, feeling safer in his arms. She missed her parents, but Steven’s parents had been so good to her she couldn’t help but love them. “Thank you.”

* * * *

It took a while before the commotion calmed down. Dane sat in his chair the entire time. He hadn’t gotten up to congratulate the happy couple because he wasn’t happy at all. Her words had somehow shoved a knife in his chest. The night he had told Steven his feelings about Moira, he had lied. He did love her, and he knew he would be standing right where Steven was if he had found her first.

“Dad?” Charlotte poked him. “What’s wrong? Aren’t you happy? This means we get a cousin, right?”

He gave Charlotte and April a reassuring smile, then pulled them onto his lap. “Of course I’m happy, girls. I guess you’re going to be babysitting soon,” he said.

“Yeah, that would be cool,” April said, playing with the lapel of his shirt.

Dane looked up to see his brother standing over them. Steven reached down and lifted Charlotte into his arms. “You know I still love you girls.”

“Yeah we know. So can we babysit?” April asked brightly.

“Of course you can,” he said. “Why don’t you girls go tell Moira?” They ran off, and Steven crouched in front of him. He picked up a small stick of wood and turned it over in his hands. “You didn’t just want one night with her, did you, Dane?”

His jaw went taut.

“Are you going to be able to be happy for us?”

“I am happy for you,” he said, lowering his gaze.

“You’re lying, but maybe in time you will. Lydia is a great woman. Why don’t you try?”

“She’s nice, but she’s not my type really.” He stared at Steven. “I prefer brunettes.”

“Maybe Lydia would be, if you gave her a chance.”

“I can take care of my own love life, thanks.” Moira joined them. Dane pushed himself out of the chair, wrapping her in his arms. “I’m happy for you, Moira. You’re going to be a wonderful mother.”

Moira bit her lip, giving him a weak smile. “I hope so.”

“There’s nothing to be scared of,” he said. “We’ll all be there for you.” He gave her a comforting smile. “I’ll always be there for you.”

Steven cleared his throat but didn’t interfere, which said a lot about his brother. She would be Steven’s wife soon. He knew eventually he’d get over his infatuation with her. At least he hoped he would. Until then, Steven would just have to deal with it. “My asshole brother is the luckiest man alive,” he said, darting a look at Steven. He unfurled his arms, and stepped away from her. “Ya know, I think Dane is a great name, don’t you, Steven?” He turned and gave his brother a suggestive grin.