Don't Break My Heart (Return to Redemption, Book 6) (11 page)

She returned to work on the second of January a half hour
late. When she’d gotten dressed that morning, absolutely nothing with a
waistline fit. After discarding one outfit after another, she’d finally settled
on a pair of stretchy pants and a long sweater.

At lunchtime, she sank into a chair across from Frankie in
the teachers’ lounge. “How’s your mom doing?”

“She’s fine. She’s already hopping around on her crutches.
The doctor put her in a boot.”

“That’s great. So?” Trisha grabbed Fankie’s hand. “How’s it
going with Andy?”

“Better. We did a lot of talking last weekend. We have an
appointment to see a fertility specialist.”

Trisha opened the container of salad she’d packed that
morning. “I’m so glad.”

“What’s happening between you and Justin?”

“We’re done. I dropped him off at the library on the
twenty-seventh, and I haven’t heard from him since.”

“You sound disappointed. Isn’t that what you wanted?”

“I’m not sure.” She poured a little dressing on the greens.

“We didn’t get to talk much at the resort, but I got the
impression you don’t see a future with him.”

“Not seeing a future and not
wanting
one are two different things.”

“So call him.” Frankie popped the tab on her Coke. “What’s
the worst that can happen? He ditches you?”

“I’ve considered it.” About three thousand times. It was all
she’d thought about for the last week. “I have a little problem with doing
that, though.”

“Why?”

She sucked in a deep breath and blurted in a low whisper,
“There’s a strong possibility I’m carrying
his
baby.”

“What!” Frankie dropped her turkey sandwich. “How’s that
possible? You were already pregnant when you went to the Poconos.”

She glanced around, grateful no one else had arrived in the
teacher’s lounge yet. “
Not
from our
vacation. He confessed that he donated to the same sperm bank I used.”

“Oh, my gosh.” Frankie slapped her hand over her mouth. “Did
you tell him that you’re—
you know
—with
child from a donor?”

“No way. What’s the likelihood the sperm bank in Doylestown
has a zillion Latino college graduate donors who are Justin’s height and
weight?”

“It sounds as if the odds are pretty good he’s the father.” Frankie
picked her sandwich back up and bit into it.

“I know. I have no idea what I should do.”

“Tell him. If you
are
carrying
his baby, it seems to me the two of you were meant to be. Heck, you caught
Sabrina’s bouquet, and he caught her garter. How many coincidences do you need
to convince you fate is pushing the two of you together?”

“And what if it doesn’t work out between us? I’d have to
worry about him wanting to share custody.”

“He can
want
all
he likes. He would’ve had to sign away any legal claim when he donated,”
Frankie pointed out.

“That doesn’t mean he won’t try to get visitation if he
finds out I’m carrying his child. The whole reason he mentioned donating was
because he now regrets the decision. He decided he wants to
know
his children. He’s planning to try
to buy back his semen.”

“Well, maybe you should make an excuse to see him and find
out if he was successful. If he gets all of his samples back, you can breathe
easy.”

“I know what I’m about to say will seem insane.” She stabbed
her fork into her salad. “But, even though it might cause a lot of problems, I
hope he
is
my baby’s father.”

“You’re just a glutton for punishment, aren’t you?” Frankie
shook her head.

Two other teachers walked into the lounge with their
lunches.

“Okay, change of topic,” Trisha told her.

“Right. I heard Matt and Abby Foster are organizing a trip
to see their sons’ play in New York a week from Saturday. The first matinee
performance is reserved for Vietnam vets’ families and Redemption residents
only. It’s sort of a final dress rehearsal, so it’s
free
—first come, first serve. All anyone has to pay for is a seat
on one of the buses, if they want one. Andy has to work that day, so would you
like to be my date?”

“You don’t live in Redemption. And you’re a little young to
be a Vietnam vet.”

“I work here. And
you’re
a resident.” Frankie laughed. “Why do you think I asked
you
to go with me?”

“More like you’re asking me to
take
you.”

“
Pleease
.” Frankie
held out her folded hands. “It’s been ages since I’ve seen a Broadway play. The
tickets for
The Memory of You
are
selling for two hundred a seat, and they’re sold out for the next three
months.”

“Already? The play hasn’t even opened or been reviewed yet.
How does anyone know it’s any good?”

Frankie flashed a
you
can’t be that clueless
look at her. “We’re talking about a Matt Thomas and
Royce Harmon production. How could it
not
be phenomenal?”

True. Practically every song Matt Thomas ever composed had
hit the top of the pop charts. And Royce Harmon had created and produced two of
the most successful, longest running sitcoms on television, done the screenplay
adaptations of several books made into films, and written a couple of
bestselling novels of his own.

“There’s something I’ve been wondering since the wedding.
Tom Foster composes under the name Matt Thomas. Is Royce’s last name also an
alias?”

“I don’t think so. I’ve heard he’s not actually the Foster’s
biological son. They raised him after he lost his mother. Someone also told me
Tom Foster is a fairly shy and private person, so that’s why he goes by just
his first and middle names for his music. He’s actually Matthew Thomas Foster,
Jr.” Frankie leaned forward on her elbows. “So? Will you take me,
pleeease
?”

If the entire town was invited, there was an excellent
chance Justin would be going. Avoiding him would be impossible.

Trisha released a resigned sigh. “Okay.” Living in the same
town, she couldn’t help but run into him now and then, so she might as well get
used to it. “I’ll take you as my guest, but only if we can go shopping after
school today. I have nothing to wear.”

“Ready for maternity clothes already?”

“At the very least,
bigger
clothes.” She rubbed her stomach. “I could claim this gut is all baby, but the
only one I’d be fooling is myself. A five-pound weight gain in ten days is
not
just baby. I ate way too much during
the vacation break.”

“You, me, and everyone else. I can spend an hour or so at
the mall. But I want to be home by six-thirty. Andy’s working days right now.
We’re not on the same schedule that often, so I don’t like to make other plans
when we are.”

“That’ll work. I don’t need to buy much. Just a few pairs of
pants with elastic waists.”

“Why not just by maternity slacks?”

“I’d like to wait a little longer before I announce to the
world I’m pregnant. And I’ll need the larger size for a few weeks after I have
the baby, anyway.”

Or maybe a lot longer if she didn’t stop easing her
loneliness with food and inhaling whole pizzas. Some might excuse her appetite
because a pregnant woman supposedly eats for two, however, in her case, she’d
been eating for more like three or four.

~*~

When Justin arrived home late Friday afternoon, he sat right
down at the drafting table in his home office. The lunch meeting he’d had with
the Danvers family on Monday had been a success. He’d really liked Mike and his
parents, and they seemed like a family he could easily work with. They had a
lot of the same business philosophies, attitudes, and ethics.

Fortunately for Justin, Tyler Fitzpatrick had found time in
his busy schedule to negotiate on his behalf. Mike and his lawyer had spent the
entire morning with Justin and Tyler studying both businesses’ ledgers and
hammering out an equitable deal.

Since Danvers’ company was much older with a few more assets
and an equally sterling reputation, Justin hadn’t hesitated to accept second
billing in the new company’s name, which would be Danvers/ Riverá Quality
Construction.

The front door closed quietly in the foyer almost as if
Haley was trying to sneak in.

“How was your day?” he called.

“Okay.” She poked her head into his office. “What’s for
dinner?”

“I haven’t even thought about it.”

She strolled over to his drafting table and leaned on it to
study the preliminary sketches he’d done. “What’re you workin’ on?”

“A private school’s campus.” The day before, he’d received a
thick packet Luke had Fed-Exed to him from Bermuda that contained detailed
requirements for the project. BJ Elliott had apparently pledged additional
funds, and Luke wanted the facilities for the charity-supported institution to
rival any elite prep school in the country.

“Cool. Are you building it in Redemption?”

“Yup.” He tossed down his pencil and spun his chair to face
her. “Did you see Ms. Mason today?”

“No.” Haley looked at him as if he had a third eye. “Why
would I? She works in the guidance office. It’s not like she’s my teacher.”

“Right.”

“I could make some spaghetti and a salad,” she offered.

“Sounds good.” He stood and followed her into the kitchen.
“You make the pasta, I’ll fix the salad. After dinner, I have a ton of work to
wade through.”

“It’s Friday night. You have the whole weekend.”

“Actually, I don’t. A lot of it is paperwork I didn’t get
done last week.” He moved the cutting board to the work island. “I’m sorry. I
promise it’ll get better soon. I merged with another company today to take over
your dad’s—uhh, some of the jobs I don’t have time for,” he quickly amended.
The last thing the child needed was a reminder of why he was so busy.

She placed a large pot under the faucet and turned on the
water. “Did you hear about the free Broadway play Doc Foster and his wife
invited everyone in town to?”

“Yeah, I heard something about it.” Actually, Mike’s dad,
who was also Doc Foster’s best friend, had encouraged him to attend.

“It’s a week from tomorrow in the afternoon. All we have to
pay for are seats on the bus. Can we go?”

“Maybe.” Considering how involved she’d always been in the
drama club, he would hate for her to miss it. “If your Uncle Nick and Aunt Sam
are taking Dani, you can go with them if it turns out I can’t.”

He’d already burnt up an entire workday rescinding his donor
agreement at the sperm bank and arranging to have his semen specimens sent to
him. Apparently one vial had already been paid for and dispensed. Since the
proceeds had covered the cost of his donor testing and he hadn’t accepted any
remuneration, they’d told him he didn’t owe them anything.

He hated hoping for a desperate couple to fail at
conceiving, but he couldn’t help it. There was no way he would ever know if he
had a child as a result of his rash decision. But at least there would only be
one
potential offspring and not half a
dozen that he would spend his life wondering about.

Never again would he make decisions while in the middle of a
life-changing crisis.

“But if we don’t reserve tickets right away, they might run
out,” Haley persisted, opening a jar of pasta sauce and dumping it into a
saucepan. “You know,” she said in a hopeful tone, “Ms. M. could be goin’ to the
play.”

“You think?”

“I don’t know. I’m just sayin’ she might.”

“Okay.” He raised his hands in surrender. “I’ll call tonight
and tell Mrs. Foster to put us on the list.”

Haley set the empty jar on the counter and turned to him,
her arms crossed over her chest. “Aren’t you
ever
gonna call her?”

“I just said I would. Can we eat dinner first?”

“I meant Ms. Mason.”

“No! We already discussed this. I promised Trisha I wouldn’t
call. I do
try
to keep my word when
possible.”

“So how am
I
ever
gonna see her?” she whined.

“Visit her at school.”

“I guess I could.” She released a loud huff. “Or
I
could call her.
I
didn’t make any stupid promises.”

Ninety-nine,
ninety-eight, ninety-seven....
“I guess you could. But if you try to involve
me in your call, you’ll be grounded.” He pulled the fixings for their salad
from the refrigerator, and changed the subject. “So since I’ll be working,
what’re you gonna do tonight, Pinky?”

She glared at him and muttered, “Since I have so little to
say about my life, maybe I’ll call Dani and try to take over the world.”

“Good luck.” He chuckled. “Just make sure you’re home by
eleven.”

“Sometimes I really hate you.”

“I know, and that’s okay.” He kissed her forehead. “I love
you enough for both of us.”

On the second Saturday in January, Trisha climbed onto one
of the three tour buses with Frankie and slid into a window seat toward the
back. Every time someone boarded the bus, she ducked until she was sure it
wasn’t Justin.

Maybe she’d gotten lucky, and he passed on the tickets. She
hadn’t seen his truck in the library’s parking lot.

“Who on earth are you trying to avoid?” Annie Fitzpatrick
asked the fifth time Trisha hid behind her.

“Ummm, no one. My
uhh
,
ankle itches,” she lied, as an explanation for why she kept bending over.

“Right.” Frankie muttered.

Trisha elbowed her friend and whispered. “Let me know if you
see him or Haley.”

“She told me they were coming. Maybe they’re on one of the
other buses.”

She spotted Nick and Sam walking alongside the bus with Dani
and Haley tagging behind. A second later, they boarded. Nick and Sam slid into
two of the forward seats while the girls wobbled their way toward the back,
presumably to put as much room between their chaperones and them.

“Ms. M! Ms. Conner.” Haley waved to them and pushed Dani all
the way to the back and into the window seat behind Trisha. Haley sat on the
aisle directly behind Frankie, so Trisha only had to turn her head to see her.

There were no other empty seats near them, so at least if
Justin showed up, he would have to sit in front by his brother.

“Where’s your uncle?” Frankie had the good sense to ask.

“Working. Where else?” Haley muttered in a sulky tone.

“So he’s been really busy?” Trisha asked as the bus engine
started.

“At least too busy for me. But that’s not why he hasn’t
called you.”

“I asked him
not
to, sweetie.”

“I know. Why?” She stuck her head between the seats. “I
thought you really liked him.”

“My life’s complicated right now. I’m not in a position to
have a relationship.”

“Oh.” Haley sat back quietly for several seconds before
asking with a hopeful lilt in her voice, “Maybe when your life get less
complicated?”

Frankie turned and smirked at Trisha. “Yes, what about
then
?”

“I don’t know,” she muttered, gritting her teeth.

“I can’t wait to see the play.” Dani bounced in her seat,
mercifully changing the subject. “Ms. Foster told my mom that her teenaged
granddaughter, Katie, is playing the part of her when she was eighteen. Isn’t
that cool?”

“Someone older is gonna play Ms. Foster after Doc came home
from the POW camp,” Haley told them. “I heard Katie played the little girl, on
that old sitcom,
Just Between Us
. I
love that show.”

No surprise, seeing as Katie’s father had created and
produced the program.

Trisha rolled her eyes at Frankie. “Old, she says. Now I’m
really feeling my age. The show just went off the air about six years ago.” During
its first run, the Emmy awarding-winning sitcom had aired right before the late
news due to its mature content.

“Well, we were only nine when they stopped making new
episodes.” Dani laughed as the bus pulled out of the parking lot. “My mother
just started letting me watch the reruns this year.”

“Katie Harmon is one of the few child actresses who actually
seems to have her head screwed on straight,” Frankie told the girls. “I think
she has a promising career ahead of her—assuming she stays out of trouble.”

Trisha sat back in her seat and sighed. Now that she knew
she wouldn’t have to dodge Haley’s uncle all day, she could relax and enjoy
herself.

~*~

As soon as the train’s doors opened, Justin dashed out to
the platform and raced up Penn Station’s stairs. He shielded his eyes from the
glaring sunshine and glanced at his watch. A little after one-thirty. The play
began at two. If he arrived late, Haley would undoubtedly quit speaking to him.

He couldn’t blame her. She’d accepted him working around the
clock for the last week because he’d promised they would have the whole day
together today.

He glanced at the bumper-to-bumper traffic. It could easily
take more time to flag down a cab and possibly end up stuck in Manhattan’s
gridlock, than it would to travel on foot. Supposedly, the Broadway theater was
only a fifteen-minute walk from the train. If he ran, he could be there in less
than ten.

He took off at a slow jog . After two blocks, he broke into
a full-speed run.

Haley had refused to even try to understand, no matter how
many times he’d explained that he had to stay to handle an emergency. She’d
reminded him that Abby and Matt, no doubt, had plenty of other people who
would’ve enjoyed seeing the play in his place.

The fact he was the Fosters’ guest made it even more
imperative that he not only show up but arrive on time—especially after Matt
had gone so far out of his way to bring him and Mike Danvers together.

Justin made it to the theater, huffing and puffing, with ten
minutes to spare. He collected the ticket his brother had left at the will call
window, and by the time he made his way into the packed theater, he’d caught
his breath. The usher pointed to his reserved seat on the aisle of the tenth
row. Thankfully, Nick had had the foresight to leave him the spot on the end so
he wouldn’t have to climb over half a dozen people.

The lights dimmed, and the audience quieted as the orchestra
played the opening notes to the overture.

When Haley spotted him coming down the aisle, she catapulted
from her seat and threw her arms around his neck. “You made it!”

“I promised I’d try my best,” he whispered as he sank into
the seat next to her.

His brother saluted him from further down the row.

Justin nodded and settled back to watch one of the two large
screens situated on both sides of the stage. A montage of images from the 60s
accompanied the opening music. The overture ended with the whapping sound of a
helicopter growing louder by the second, punctuated by the sounds of war. A
frantic mayday radio call filled the theater and climaxed with a giant crash on
stage as the curtain opened.

As the spotlight focused on the wreckage of a helicopter,
the extra illumination highlighted a blond head two rows in front of Justin.

Yes! His heart did the cha-cha in double time. She was here!

All through the first half of the show, he struggled to pay
attention to what seemed to be a top-notch play. The poignant music and lyrics
and the witty dialogue should’ve held his mind captive, but all he could think
about was what he would say to Trisha.

An hour and fifteen minutes later, the curtain came down for
intermission. While he kept one eye on Trisha, he stood to let everyone else
file out of his row. He pulled a twenty from his wallet, and handed it to
Haley. “You can get whatever you want at the concession stand.”

“Thanks.” She snatched the bill from his hand and dashed up
the aisle after Dani.

If Trisha held true to form, she would need a trip to the
ladies’ room by now. He had to wait only thirty seconds before she made her way
to the end of her row and looked up the aisle.

Her
oh,
crap, what’re you doing here
expression
deflated his hopes faster than a pin could burst a child’s balloon.

~*~

Trisha stalled and muttered, “Oh, crud. How and when did he
get here?”

Frankie glanced at Justin. “Maybe he finished up at work and
came on his own.”

“I guess there’s no time like the present to talk to him.”
Trisha threw her shoulders back and headed up the aisle. “Hey, how are you?”

“I’d be better if you looked happier to see me.”

She chuckled. Evidently her feelings must be written all
over her face. “I’m not
unhappy
to
see you. Just surprised,” she fibbed, praying a lightning bolt wouldn’t shoot
down from the theater’s catwalk. “Haley told me you had to work today.”

“Not exactly. I had an emergency. One of my guys fell from a
ladder this morning. I needed to make sure he received the proper care to
minimize the company’s liability. The merger I told you about isn’t quite
finalized, so the last thing I need right now is to be sued for negligence.”

“I’m sorry. Is the worker okay?”

“Yeah. He broke an arm, but otherwise, he should be fine.”

She pointed to the crowd heading toward the back of the
theater. “I’d love to chat,” she lied, “but I need to go to the ladies’ room.
The line is probably already out the door.”

“I should probably go, too.” He stepped beside her behind
the people filing out the exit.

Great. That’s what she gets for lying. At least maybe she
could find out if he’d done anything with contacting the sperm bank. “So how’ve
you been?”

“Busier than I anticipated.”

“That’s what Haley told me. Have you been doing anything
more exciting than working?” she asked, praying he’d tell her what she wanted
to know without her having to come right out and ask.

“Not really.”

“You know the saying about all work and no play. You need to
take a little time off to relax.”

“I wish could, but I can’t afford to.” He lowered his voice.
“Especially after I blew an entire afternoon last week to check on my, uhhh—
little swimmers
.”

Thank you, Lord
—
not only for rewarding me on my fishing
expedition but for not punishing me for my fabrications
. “How’d you make
out?”

“Mission accomplished.”

“Oh, good.” She exhaled her relief. As much as she would’ve
loved to have his baby, she didn’t need the problems that could result.

“All except for one vial they dispensed in October.”

Her stomach clenched. She’d been inseminated on the
nineteenth of that month. “I guess your baby will be born this summer—if there
is one.”

Exactly when hers was due. She could share her suspicion with
him, but if he still had no desire for a committed relationship, she didn’t
dare say a word.

“I don’t want to think about that. I’m choosing to assume
any insemination bombed. Sometimes couples try for months without conceiving. So
I would think the odds are better that a single attempt would fail, right?
Especially with a couple who has fertility issues.”

That certainly had been true in her case. She’d tried to get
pregnant five times with a different donor before she decided to switch
profiles to change her luck. Justin’s so-called
little
swimmers
might be
microscopic, but evidently, they were speedy, potent little athletes.

Perhaps she and Justin really were
meant to be
, as Frankie had put it. Inasmuch as Trisha hated to
admit her friend might be right, she couldn’t ignore the fact that she could’ve
conceived the five other times she’d ovulated but hadn’t. And, now, she most
likely carried the baby of the only man she ever loved.

She found it hard to believe in that much coincidence. Some
might call it fate or destiny and others, like her, the will of God. Whatever
the case, there had to be another force in play other than a mere fluke or
accident.

When she stepped into the line at the ladies’ room, Justin
stopped beside her and said in barely more than a whisper, “I once read
somewhere that it’s actually harder to conceive through artificial insemination
than it is naturally. So it’s probably safe to assume it’s unlikely my genes
will be passed on.”

He could assume all he liked. It didn’t make it true.

“I thought the idea of not leaving something of yourself
behind in the world bothered you?”

“It does. But who knows.” He shrugged. “Maybe I’ll
eventually have kids. After listening to Haley talk about how much she enjoyed
her time with you and how much it was like having her mom back, I’ve started
questioning if she would really resent sharing me with you. Considering how
busy I am at work, she might be better off if she had a woman in her life.”

Right. In other words, he wasn’t looking for a wife and
companion for himself as much as a role model and confidant for Haley.

“Samantha’s been great with her, but she needs a woman’s
influence and affection on a day-to-day basis.”

She swallowed hard and rasped, “That would probably be
really good for her.”

“And so do
I
,” he
added softly, giving her a meaningful look that said he had more interest in
the
affection
part of the equation.”
He lowered his voiced further to a whisper. “I think you know how much I
enjoyed your company during the holiday.”

It made her sick, remembering how quickly she’d fallen back
into bed with him after so long. Of course he enjoyed it. What man wouldn’t
want to jump back into bed with
someone
who’d only required a few smiles to make her spread her legs? The wedding
reception had begun at seven and by midnight he’d had her naked between the
sheets. Not just for a one-night stand, but again and again for three days and
nights.

In all relationships, one party inevitably loved more deeply
than the other. Back in college, she’d been the one giving her whole heart.
And, damn it, she was still doing it.

As the line of women moved forward, she turned away and
blinked back the tears stinging her eyes. She refused to settle for a lifetime
of aching for a fraction of the love she gave Justin—no matter how phenomenal a
lover he might be. If all he wanted was a stand-in mom for Haley and a warm
body in his bed, she wasn’t interested.

“So I guess what I’m trying to say is, we’d love to have you
in our life.” He grabbed her hand as she approached the ladies’ room door. “I
know you said you have personal commitments, Trisha, but we can work around
them. Hell, I’ll help you in any way I can.” He smiled and winked at her,
adding in a seductive tone, “
Any time,
anywhere
.”

Oh, what a sweet-talking devil he was. She snorted softly to
herself. How could any woman resist such a
selfless
offer?