Pregnancy Plan (12 page)

They wouldn’t both fit in her full sized
bed, anyway.

Her mind wrestled with a solution. The
master bedroom had a king-size bed and plenty of closet space. But
could she move into her parents’ room?

She stepped down the hall, and looked into
the master bedroom, taking in the décor with fresh eyes. A
ten-year-old flowery bedspread covered the bed. The faded navy
curtains drooped over the windows. The wood floors were dull.

Her mother’s earrings in the silver jewelry
holder caught Jillian’s eye. They winked at her with sparks of
light. Her father’s class ring lay nestled next to her mother’s
tennis bracelet. An aged doily covered the rich oak
dresser-top.

Around the room, she found other items. The
porcelain wedding cake topper, the couple dressed in old-fashioned
gown and tux, which sat on her father’s nightstand. A wedding
anniversary portrait hung on the wall above the bed, showed a happy
couple smiling down at her. Her father’s worn slippers rested on
the floor by the bed where he'd always kept them.

Tears dripped onto her cheeks.

****

Several hours later, Jillian rushed through
the back door of the store so she could open on time. After putting
her purse in her office, she unlocked the front door. Karen Ann
stood there waiting with a cup of coffee in each hands.
“Morning.”

“
What’s the matter with you?” she
asked, setting down their coffees on the counter. “You look
flustered. What’s going on?”

Jillian twisted her hands in front of her,
trying to hold herself together. “Jason called me this morning.
Derek has been hurt.”

The explanation made her think of the pain
he must be suffering. “A car exploded, and he was hit by flying
debris. He has a concussion. He’s in a hospital in Germany.”

“
Wait a second, how did Jason know to
call you?” Karen Ann eyed her suspiciously.

“
That’s the strange part. Derek is
claiming we’re married.” Jillian studied her friend. Could she pull
off another lie?

“
Married? That’s not what you told me
the other night. You said that he left before you got
married.”

She couldn’t do it. “I know, but with the
blow to the head, his memory is foggy. He can’t remember anything
about his last assignment.”

Karen Ann grabbed Jillian’s arm. “What have
you done?”

“
I told Jason we were married,” she
confided tearfully.

“
Why?”

She wiped at her tears. “What other choice
did I have? He remembers marrying me. He wanted to marry me, he
would have married me. I’m the one that got cold feet. I can’t let
him down.” She begged for understanding. “You can’t tell anyone the
truth.”

Karen Ann picked up her coffee. Jillian
waited, uncertain as to how her friend would handle this news. “You
know you’re asking for trouble.” She sipped her coffee then set it
back down. “But you’re my best friend, so, yes, I'll keep your
secret.”

She sighed with relief and hugged her
friend. “You’re the best.”

“
I know.” Karen Ann grinned. “So when
is your
husband
due
back?”

Jillian drew in a deep breath. “Saturday. I
called Michael this morning and told him about Derek. He’s coming
down Friday so he can drive me to Dallas the next day. We’ll close
the store early on Saturday.”

“
Does Michael know about the baby?”
Karen Ann leaned against the counter.

“
No, I wanted to save some news for
when Derek gets home.” Jillian shook her head. “Jason already wants
his brother to stay in Dallas to keep us apart. But I know he'll
never go for it.”

Karen Ann’s eyes widened. “Then you want him
to come live here with you?”

“
Yes. Where else would he live? After
all, we’re married,” Jillian reminded her friend, and tried to
drill it into her own head.

“
Yes, but are you sure you want him to
come stay here while he’s still sick?”

“
He’s my husband, remember, in
sickness and in health.” She clenched her fists. If this farce was
going to work, she had to stand beside him and not let people pull
them apart.

“
Okay, Jill, calm down.” Karen Ann
slid her arms around Jillian.

The fact that her best friend was her only
supporter made Jillian hug her closer. “I’m sorry. I guess I got
carried away. It’s just that Jason said the same thing. What are
you all so worried about? Derek would never hurt me.”

“
All right.” Karen Ann picked up her
drink. “If Michael is coming down Friday night, do you think I can
convince him to take me out again?”

Glad for the change in subject, Jillian
offered support for her friend’s budding relationship. “Sure, why
not? He seems to have enjoyed your last date. He asks about you
every time he calls.”

“
Well, maybe I’ll give him a call.”
Karen Ann glanced at her watch, and stepped to the door. “I’ve got
to go. Call me if you need me. My last appointment today is at
four-thirty then I’ll be over to check on you. Remember to take it
easy. We don’t want you upsetting the baby.” After a quick wave,
she strolled out of the store.

Jillian stared at the closed door. What was
wrong with everyone? Had she suddenly lost her ability to take care
of herself? Why were people telling her to call if she needed them?
Had she ever needed anyone before?

She thought about this for a moment. Maybe
it was Derek they were really worried about. She couldn’t see any
reason why she would need any help.

****

Near the end of the day, Jillian heard Karen
Ann’s voice out in the store.

“
Hey, what’s going on?” She stepped
out of her office and watched her friend coming down the
aisle.

“
Nothing, how about with
you?”

“
Well...” dragging the word out
slowly, she answered. “Derek is scheduled to arrive at DFW at
6:51on Saturday night, which means, we’ll probably spend the night
in Dallas and come home Sunday.”

“
Who’s Derek?” John Paul
asked.

Jillian turned and stared at John Paul. She
hadn’t noticed him standing so close to them.

“
He’s my husband. He’s coming home
from Germany on Saturday.” Knowing this would have to come out
sooner or later, she thought she’d help the rumor mill of
Gladewater.

“
Oh! I didn’t know you were married.”
The boy blinked in surprise.

“
You might say that you’re one of the
select few who do.” Karen Ann grinned.

“
It was a secret,” Jillian explained.
“We were waiting until Derek returned from overseas before we made
the announcement.”

“
Okay.” He hesitated, then continued.
“Uh, would you mind if I left today around five-thirty instead of
six? I told some of my friends that I’d meet them for dinner and I
don’t want to be late.”

“
That’s fine.”

“
Thanks.” John Paul walked back down
the aisle.

“
He’s a nice kid,” Karen Ann
whispered.

“
Yes, he is.” Jillian turned and slid
her arm around her friend’s shoulders. “How would you like to go to
Longview with me tonight? I want to buy a new bedspread and
curtains for the master bedroom. We can get dinner and make an
evening of it.”

“
You sure? You look tired?”

“
No, Mother, I’m fine. Now get going.”
She pushed Karen Ann toward the door. “Meet me at my house at
six-thirty.”

****

Dozing, Jillian woke when Michael’s car
stopped outside Derek’s condo. Memories of their passion-filled
weekend flooded her mind as she stared out the car window at the
house. A blush burned her cheeks, and she averted her face from her
brother.

After drawing in a deep breath, she checked
her watch and opened the car door. They didn’t have long before
they’d need to leave for the airport. Derek was due in around
seven, but she needed to retrieve her ring before they left.

Michael slid his arm around her shoulders
when they paused on the front porch. “It’ll be okay, Jill.”

Jason opened the door, cutting off her
reply. “Hello, there.” He stood aside to let them in.

“
Hi Michael, Jillian. How was your
trip?” Kelly, Jason’s fiancée, waved them into the living
room.

“
I managed to sleep most of the way
with Michael driving for the entire trip.” Jillian stepped inside
and paused by the staircase.

“
It was an uneventful trip, but I’m
afraid we may have cut the timing a little close. How soon do we
need to leave for the airport?” Her brother didn’t venture into the
room as if ready to leave.

“
We probably need to get going,” Jason
said from behind them.

Jillian grabbed the banister. “First, I need
to run upstairs and get something out of Derek’s closet. I’ll be
right back.” She raced up the steps.

In his bedroom, she opened his closet, and
reached for the small wood box where Derek had stashed her ring.
She silently promised to honor the ring that his mother had left
him. Sliding it onto her finger, she pictured him. Soon, the
lifetime of waiting would be over and he’d be home. She didn’t
think he’d leave her alone again. Hopefully, this was his last trip
to the Middle East.

Rushing down the stairs, she found herself
sitting in Jason's car a short time later on her way to the
airport.

“
Did you find what you were looking in
Derek's room?” Kelly turned from her place in the front seat beside
Jason.

“
Yes. My wedding ring was in Derek’s
closet. I left it there so that I wouldn’t be tempted to show it
off.” Jillian held out her hand to show off the gorgeous stone to
her brother and Kelly. "It belonged to his mother.”

“
I didn’t know your mother left behind
some family heirlooms. Why haven’t you ever shown me this before,
Jason?” Kelly examined the ring.

“
It belongs to Derek. Mother gave it
to him years ago to encourage him to get married. There aren’t any
other heirlooms,” he replied.

“
Right, and even if there are, you
don’t want me to have them,” Kelly hissed at him as if the two of
them had argued over rings and let go of Jillian’s hand. "It’s a
beautiful ring.”

“
Thank you.” The deep red stone seem
to pulse with the beat of her heart. She remembered the first time
Derek had placed it on her finger. Her eyes filled with
tears.

The thought of what she could have lost
tightened her throat with regret. “He showed me this ring after I
had told him I wouldn’t marry him. He told me about your mother.
How she’d told him to give it to the girl he wanted to marry. He
said I was that girl. It melted my heart.” Eyes full of tears, she
begged the others to understand. “I couldn’t say no.”

Michael, sitting beside her drew her into
his arms. The others were stone silent. She hoped they believed
her.

****

“
I need to stop at the little girl’s
room. I’ll be right out.” Jillian dove into the women’s bathroom
next to baggage claim. She needed a few minutes alone.

Once inside a stall, she fought to breathe
deeply. The ride to the airport had been silent and grueling. The
other three had made her feel as if she encased in a steel prison
while riding along with them in Jason's car. Their uncertainty had
ridden over her nerves like wiggling snakes of doubts.

The uncertainty of the future didn’t bother
her, but being coddled was driving her crazy. Derek needed their
support, not her. Couldn’t they see that?

Digging deep inside herself, she faced
the truth. Not everyone was happy about him coming home. Maybe they
didn’t want to face his problems, or they didn’t want him to be
with her. Whatever the case, he couldn’t stay here in
Dallas.
He has to come home with
me.

After washing her hands, Jillian hurried to
baggage claim. His plane would be arriving any time now, if it
hadn't already arrived. She glanced at her watch, rushing to be
there to greet him. Searching the faces ahead of her, she saw him
with Jason. The two were standing about three feet apart. Neither
looked sure about what was expected of them. Stepping around a
chatty group that blocked her path, she finally caught sight of the
brothers sharing a manly hug. She smiled, but had eyes only for
Derek. He looked like an injured soldier returning from war. He’d
lost weight, and his clothes hung on his body. Beaten, worn, and
weak, he held his shoulders straight, his inner strength showing
through. Heart full of joy, Jillian had never seen a more beautiful
man. Unable to stand it any longer, she sped forward. “Derek!”

He turned and took the full weight of her
embrace. Staggering backward, he wrapped his arms around her. Jason
steadied them.

“
I’m so glad to have you home,” she
whispered into his neck and plastered her body against his. Tears
streamed down her face. Her heart overflowed with love as she held
onto him. “I missed you so much.”

She stared up into his face. The blank stare
behind the gray wall of his eyes didn’t acknowledge her. But she
didn’t let that scare her. His arms held her as if his life
depended on it, even if his eyes didn’t reflect the emotions in his
soul. The battle to reach him had begun and she proclaimed what lay
in her heart. “I’m so glad that you’re home.” She wrapped her hands
around his face and kissed him on the lips. After one more hug, she
dropped one arm, still holding him with the other.