1022 Evergreen Place (31 page)

Both Jack and Cliff stood to greet the other man. Will did, too, but his dour, thoughtful mood hadn't improved.

Although Olivia sympathized with her brother's disappointment, she felt a bit of rejection might be good for him. He did seem genuinely hurt that Shirley Bliss had fallen in love with someone else. But then, most people had learned by this age that life had its share of disappointments.

Ben leaned close to Charlotte, whispering a few words in her ear. Almost immediately, Charlotte relaxed.

Olivia didn't want to seem too inquisitive, but she couldn't help being curious. “Is everything all right, Ben?” she asked.

Ben's hand rested on his wife's back. “Never better,” he assured her, although his face was expressionless.

Olivia wondered what had taken place between David Rhodes and his father. Obviously Ben wasn't about to divulge what had happened, nor was he willing to feed anyone's speculation. But she guessed that whatever had been said would eventually come out.

An hour later it was time to go. Olivia had visited with various friends she hadn't seen since she'd taken a leave of absence from court. As they filed out of the restaurant, Olivia felt that Faith and Troy's wedding had been lovely in every way, exactly what she'd wanted for them. Earlier, she'd learned from Grace that they'd booked a honeymoon trip to Alaska. The couple planned to fly out the next morning.

As Jack escorted her to the parking lot, Charlotte called out to them. Olivia walked back to meet her mother.

“Olivia, I can't seem to find my knitting. You didn't see it when I arrived, did you?”

“No, Mom, sorry. Are you sure you brought it?”

“Olivia, sweetheart, you know me well enough to realize I never go anywhere without my knitting.”

Yes, which was why Olivia had wondered about it. “Could it be in Will's car?”

Charlotte smiled in relief. “Of course! How silly of me. That's where it must be.” Will was ready to pull out of the parking lot when Ben stopped him.

Will lowered his window as the two men had a quick exchange. Will reached over to the passenger seat and handed Ben the quilted bag. Ben turned, holding it up so Charlotte would know he had her precious knitting.

“Oh, thank goodness,” Charlotte breathed.

“Everything's going to be fine, Mom,” Olivia said more confidently than she felt. “I'm sure of it.”

Jack came up then, and the two of them saw Ben and her mother off. “Poor Mom,” she said to her husband.

“She was worried about Ben, that's all,” Jack said. “We all get confused when we're concerned about someone we love. And when you're dealing with someone like David, someone who seems to have no conscience at all, everything's that much harder.”

Olivia had to agree. In her opinion, David Rhodes had already done untold damage. She could only hope this was the end.

R
achel was convinced that telling Jolene about the baby this soon was a mistake. Bruce, however, disagreed. He seemed to think that the longer they could give his daughter to adjust to the news, the better it would be.

However, Rachel couldn't see Jolene accepting this gracefully. Certainly not with joy or excitement.

Bruce decided the best way to make the announcement was to take his “girls” for a night out. He planned every detail, starting with reservations at D.D.'s on the Cove.

As Rachel dressed for dinner she felt sick, but her queasiness had nothing to do with the pregnancy. She'd managed to hide her morning sickness from her stepdaughter all these weeks and doubted Jolene even suspected she might be pregnant.

“Are you ready?” Bruce called from the living room.

“Give me a minute,” she called back. Then, sitting on the edge of the bed, Rachel closed her eyes and offered up a silent prayer that her stepdaughter would welcome her half brother or sister into their family. A cold sweat broke out across her forehead as apprehension settled over her.

“Hey, Rachel,” Bruce said, crashing into the bedroom. “What's the holdup? If we don't leave now, we won't make our reservation.”

She gave him a weak smile. Bruce didn't appear to notice her uneasiness as she reached for her purse.

Jolene was waiting in the living room and eyed Rachel curiously when she appeared. “You aren't sick, are you?” The question wasn't one of concern. She asked it as if she expected Rachel to do something to ruin this evening her father had planned for them.

“I'm fine,” she lied.

Bruce pulled the car out of the garage and Rachel got into the front seat beside her husband.

Jolene slammed the rear door as a reminder that until Bruce had married Rachel,
she'd
always sat in front. Bruce had yet to comment on the abuse his daughter gave the rear door. Rachel let it go. That door was the least of her problems.

Bruce located a convenient parking spot at D.D.'s and the three of them walked to the restaurant. Rachel saw that Jolene stayed close to Bruce's side, preventing her from walking next to her husband. Bruce seemed unaware of the girl's maneuvering and Rachel wasn't about to get into a shoving match over whose right it was to be next to Bruce. She followed quietly a couple of steps behind, desperately hoping she'd make it through the evening.

The hostess seated them and Jolene instantly slid into the booth beside Bruce.

“The last time we were here we split a bowl of steamed clams,” Jolene told him. “Can we do that again?”

“Sure,” Bruce said, without looking up from his menu.

Jolene knew that Rachel disliked clams. She hated to be paranoid but her stepdaughter seemed to be going
out of her way once again to prove that Rachel was an intruder on their happy family.

This was all the more reason, in Rachel's view, to delay telling Jolene about the pregnancy. Unfortunately, Bruce didn't agree. He also disagreed that counseling might help. Rachel had tentatively brought it up, but he insisted that they could work out their own problems—and that Jolene would refuse to go anyway.

Bruce and Jolene had steamed clams as an appetizer, while Rachel sipped herbal tea. She did her best not to watch for fear that looking at them eating clams would upset her stomach even more. Jolene made slurping sounds as she ate, suggesting that she was thoroughly enjoying herself.

“Let's order dinner,” Bruce said as the waitress removed the bowl of clam shells. “Do you know what you want?” he asked Rachel.

“Can I have steak?” Jolene cut in, not allowing Rachel to respond.

Bruce smiled indulgently at his daughter. “You can order anything you like, sweetheart.” He looked at Rachel again.

“Dad, what are you going to eat?” Again, Jolene cut Rachel off before she had an opportunity to answer.

“I believe I'll have a T-bone. This is a celebration, after all.” He smiled at Rachel, clearly pleased with himself.

He didn't seem to share any of her concerns about Jolene's reaction to their news. Rachel wondered how her husband could be this oblivious. After helping Jolene with her algebra, she thought her relationship with the girl had improved. That peace, however, was short-lived. Within a matter of days, everything returned to the way it was from the moment Rachel had married Jolene's father.

Instead of the family friend Rachel had been, starting when Jolene was in first grade, she became an interloper,
the woman who'd trespassed on the girl's territory. It'd been just Jolene and her father for so long that no one, no matter how close, would fit into the family picture.

When the waitress came for their dinner order, Rachel was finally able to announce her choice. She asked for crab cakes with rice pilaf and a green salad. Both Bruce and Jolene chose the full steak dinner, complete with baked potato, soup and salad.

Bruce, at least, was in high spirits. Rachel tried to catch his mood; she ignored every slight Jolene threw at her, smiled sweetly and pretended it didn't hurt that her own husband hadn't noticed the way his daughter treated her.

To be fair, Rachel didn't know if she was being over-sensitive, since the pregnancy had played havoc with her emotions. The best she could do was disregard the verbal jabs and refrain from countering even the nastiest ones.

Father and daughter spoke animatedly through dinner. Rachel swallowed a few bites and then asked for a take-out container. By contrast Bruce and Jolene both ate their entire meals.

“How about dessert?” Bruce said when the last of their dishes had been removed from the table.

Rachel placed her hand on her stomach. “I'm full. I couldn't eat a single bite,” she protested.

“I could,” Jolene said eagerly. “What would you like, Dad?”

Bruce read over the dessert menu and then looked at his daughter. “I suppose you want the ice cream sundae with chocolate sauce.”

“Dad,” she moaned playfully. “That's for kids.”

“You're still a kid,” Bruce said.

“No, I'm not.” Jolene giggled.

The girl was happier than she'd been in all the months since Rachel had married Bruce. It was easy to see why.
Jolene was in her element. She had her father's full attention and she'd managed to shut Rachel out.

What Jolene didn't know was that her father was about to deliver a devastating blow that would disrupt her entire world.

They each ordered a different dessert. Bruce got the apple tart warmed and with vanilla ice cream and Jolene chose a slice of chocolate cake.

Bruce waited until their dessert was served, then stretched his hand across the table to reach for Rachel's. His fingers curled around hers.

Jolene stared at Rachel and narrowed her eyes menacingly.

“I mentioned that tonight's a celebration,” Bruce began, turning to his daughter.

Jolene slowly nodded.

“Do you know what we're celebrating?” he asked.

For a moment, Jolene looked confused. “I passed my algebra test and advanced to intermediate in swimming, remember?”

“I do,” Bruce commented.

Jolene had been forced to take the swimming test three times before advancing. In addition, she'd gotten a B-on her algebra final. Both tests had been hard for her. Rachel was proud of Jolene, although the girl had scorned her praise.

“This isn't about making it into the intermediate swimming class or doing well on your algebra final,” Rachel told her.

Jolene looked blankly at her father. “Then what are we celebrating?”

Bruce glanced at Rachel and offered her a soft, reassuring smile. “Rachel told me some exciting news recently.”

“
Rachel
did?” This was asked as if she had difficulty
believing Rachel was capable of saying anything of interest.

“Jolene, tonight we're celebrating the fact that you're going to become a big sister.”

The girl looked from her father to Rachel, and then back at Bruce before the light dawned. She turned to face Rachel. “You're having a
baby?
” The question was an accusation more than an inquiry.

Gazing down at the table, Rachel nodded and then, reminding herself that she had nothing to be ashamed of, boldly met Jolene's eyes.

“Daddy?” The girl turned to her father. Her face crumpled as if she was begging him to tell her it wasn't true.

“Didn't you hear me?” Bruce asked in the same animated way he'd announced her pregnancy. “We're having a baby.”

“I heard,” Jolene muttered.

“Aren't you happy?”

Reluctantly she nodded.

“You can name the baby if you want,” Bruce said next.

He hadn't discussed this with Rachel. However, if it helped Jolene adjust, she was more than willing to let the girl make suggestions.

“Is it a boy or a girl?” she asked sullenly.

“It's too early to tell,” Rachel said. “I won't have an ultrasound for several weeks.” Personally, she'd rather not know the sex of their baby. However, it seemed important to Jolene. Rachel took longer than she should have to realize why. Jolene was afraid a baby girl would be competition for her father's affection.

“I thought you'd show more enthusiasm than this,” Bruce complained.

“Give her time,” Rachel said, hoping a gentle approach would soothe Jolene's feelings. She directed her
subsequent remark to Jolene. “I understand this is a shock and I apologize if it upsets you.”

“Jolene's not upset,” Bruce said. “You aren't, are you?”

She didn't respond. Instead, she glared straight ahead, avoiding eye contact with both her father and Rachel.

The waitress brought the bill and Bruce reached for his wallet. “How about a movie?” he suggested as he slid his credit card into the holder.

Rachel couldn't imagine Jolene agreeing to spend any more time with her than necessary.

“Can we just go home?” the girl asked.

“Sure.” Bruce was more than eager to appease his daughter in any way he could.

They left the restaurant and drove back to the house. Bruce stopped to set the garbage cans by the curb while Rachel and Jolene went inside. Jolene immediately raced to her bedroom.

Rachel slumped down in a living room chair. This had gone exactly as she'd expected.

“Where's Jolene?” Bruce asked as he threw his car keys on the kitchen counter.

“Her room.” Rachel guessed she was on her cell, talking to her friends, spilling the disastrous news to anyone and everyone who'd listen. And once Bruce was out of the house, the silent treatment would start. It was either that or a tirade against Rachel because of how she'd single-handedly ruined the girl's life.

Bruce stood in the middle of the room, hands on his hips. “Why's everyone so miserable?” he asked. “I couldn't be happier about the baby. I'm thrilled to death. Okay, I know we agreed to wait for Jolene's sake, but the deed is done. She'll get used to it.”

Rachel feared that was simply wishful thinking on his part. “I hope so,” she whispered.

“Give the kid some credit,” Bruce said. “Jolene is flexible. It might take her a while to come to terms with the fact that we're adding to the family, but eventually she'll be as happy as we are.”

“Eventually,” Rachel echoed. She wasn't a pessimist by nature, but she didn't share his optimism about Jolene.

He studied her for a moment. “You look tired.”

“I am,” she said. It was a mild exaggeration, but she needed time alone to think. “Would you mind if I went to bed?”

Glancing at his watch, he arched his brows. “It's only seven-thirty.”

“I know.”

He smiled slowly. “Interested in company?”

She smiled back. “Sorry, not tonight.”

His face fell. “Is it going to be like this during the whole pregnancy?” He sounded like a little boy who'd been deprived of dessert.

“Bruce,” she snapped, in no mood to deal with this.

“All right, all right, I apologize. It's just that it's been a while.”

“Three days,” she reminded him.

“Are you keeping track?” he asked. “Isn't that like closing the barn door after the cow gets out?”

“It's a horse.”

“Whatever.”

“I suppose you're right. We should've paid more attention before now.” She stood and started toward their bedroom.

Reaching out, Bruce grabbed her hand. His eyes were dark. “Are you saying you'd rather you weren't pregnant?”

“Oh, honestly, Bruce. You have to know the timing's all wrong. Jolene is upset and—”

He released her hand. “Fine. If having my baby is such
a hardship, then I won't trouble you again. I'll move into the spare bedroom and you can rest assured I won't interrupt your precious sleep.”

So it had come to this. The two of them were at odds, attacking each other. This should be the happiest time of her life and it was all Rachel could do not to break into tears.

“Did you hear me?” Bruce demanded.

“If moving into the spare bedroom is what you want, then don't let me stop you.”