The Bakery Sisters (22 page)

“M
RS
. O
LIVE SAYS
the counselor will talk to Daddy and me,” Amy said, so excited that she was difficult to understand. “I'm going to need…” She paused to finger spell at the speed of light.

“Slower, please,” Claire signed. “You're going to need what?”

“T-h-e-r-a-p-y.”

“Oh, like what Nicole is getting for her leg but for you it will be your ear and your brain.”

“Uh-huh.” Amy grinned. “Daddy says we'll do my bad ear. It's a comp…Compy something.”

“Compromise.”

She nodded again. “After the counselor, we'll meet with the doctor.”

Amy climbed out of the car and ran up to the front door of Nicole's house, where she would wait until Wyatt came by to pick her up.

Amy hurried over to the sofa to greet Nicole, then signed about her impending surgery.

“Are you happy with just one ear?” Nicole asked. “One and not two?”

“Uh-huh. I need to wait until there's better ways for me to hear with the other ear. I'll still be able to hear good with the one implant.”

She spoke with a combination of signing and speaking.

“You're very mature,” Claire told her.

Amy dimpled.

“Go in the kitchen,” Nicole told her. “There's a surprise.”

Amy raced in that direction. When she'd left, Nicole said, “I agree. She's very together. I wouldn't have been at her age.”

“Me, either.”

Nicole rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. Of the two of us, you have the best shot at the title of mature child. You were practically living on your own as you studied and toured the world.”

“I couldn't have handled what she's doing. Amy has backbone. I would have listened to the adults around me and done what they told me to.”

“If only that were still true,” Nicole said with a sniff.

Claire laughed.

Amy burst back into the room. “You made cookies! Can I have one?”

“Of course,” Claire said. “My first attempt at baking. Be kind.”

“They'll be fine,” Nicole told her. “Baking is in your blood.”

“I hope so.”

“As long as you didn't use too much salt.”

Claire remembered the unfortunate incident the first day she'd gone to the bakery. “We're not going to mention that.”

“Aren't we?”

“No.”

Claire led Amy back into the kitchen and served her a couple of cookies, along with a glass of milk. She sat across from her at the table and listened to the details of her day.

As the girl spoke and signed and laughed, Claire realized something. She didn't just love Wyatt. She loved his daughter, too. Leaving them both behind, not to mention Nicole and even Jesse, was going do more than hurt. It was going to break her heart.

 

C
LAIRE HOVERED
impatiently, dancing from foot to foot, counting to herself. She'd used three different tests at the same time and then lined them up on the bathroom counter on a paper towel. Now came the hard part—waiting.

The sticks offered her nothing at first, then one by one they changed and gave her the same message. She shrieked and ran into Nicole's bedroom.

Her sister was still in bed. It was barely after six, so Nicole being asleep wasn't a huge surprise. But Claire didn't care. It was only in deference to her sister's still-healing knee that she didn't jump on the mattress. But she did yell.

“Get up! Get up. You have to be awake so I can tell you myself.”

She pulled back the drapes and opened the blinds. Sunlight spilled into the room.

Nicole sat up and blinked at her. “What's your problem? It's early.” She glanced at the clock. “Dear God, I'm going to have to kill you.”

Claire didn't care. She spun in a circle, her happiness giving her speed and momentum. She couldn't possibly be expected to contain all the happiness bubbling up inside of her.

“I'm pregnant,” she announced. “I peed on three different sticks in three different tests and I'm pregnant. I'm having a baby. Isn't that the best?”

Nicole's mouth dropped open. “Since when?”

“This morning. Oh. I guess technically since that first night Wyatt and I, you know. I'm so happy. I've always wanted children. I never thought I could get pregnant so easily. I thought I'd have to work for it more. This is going to change everything. I get to be a mom and start a family.” She stopped spinning and planted her feet until the room stopped moving, too.

Nicole laughed. “Too bad no one can harness that energy.”

“I know. You'll be an aunt. I hope I have a girl. Is it okay to hope that? Except a boy would be great. I definitely want a boy.”

“I know you haven't been drinking, but you are totally out of it.”

“I'm happy! I've always wanted kids but that seemed impossible, like I would never be that normal.” Claire laughed. “I should have gotten pregnant years ago.”

“Apparently.”

Claire settled on the edge of the bed and grinned. “You're worried. I can see it in your eyes.”

“Just about Wyatt.”

The man who was probably not going to be so happy about this, Claire thought, bubbling too much to have anything break her mood.

“He'll come around or he won't. Either way, I'll deal.”

“Good for you,” Nicole told her. “He may surprise us both. And if he doesn't, I'll break his kneecaps. I happen to know that can be really painful.”

Claire leaned forward and hugged her. “I love you.”

“I love you, too. Even if I am a little bitter.”

Claire pulled back. “Why?”

“Because I always wanted a family, too. Don't get me wrong. I'm grateful Drew and I never got around to the kid thing. But a baby would be nice.”

She sounded wistful as she spoke.

“So go get pregnant,” Claire told her. “It's easy.”

Nicole laughed. “So I've heard. I appreciate the advice, but I think I'll wait a bit. Things are a little complicated right now. But I'm happy for you.”

“Me, too!” Claire sighed. “I'm also terrified, but in a good way. I'm filled with possibilities and anticipation.”

“What are you going to do about your career?”

“I don't know.” While thoughts of Wyatt being unhappy didn't affect her mood, a sharp longing to play again seemed to shave off a couple of layers of happiness.

“I miss it,” Claire admitted. “More and more. Can I do both?”

“Why not? Aren't you rich? Can't you hire help if you need it.”

“Sure.”

“Honey, then I say go for it.”

Claire laughed again. “I will.”

C
LAIRE CALLED AHEAD
to make sure Wyatt was at his office, then drove over before he could head out to a job site. She spent the thirty-minute trip alternating between total happiness and a gnawing worry about what he was going to say.

In a perfect world he would be as excited about the baby as she was. She wasn't going to hold her breath for that, though. She figured the best she could hope for was neutrality.

She walked into the building and was directed back to his private office. Wyatt hung up the phone as she entered, smiled and moved toward her.

“An unexpected pleasure,” he told her, pulling her close and kissing her. “The best kind.”

His mouth was warm on hers, making her tummy clench in anticipation. Blood moved faster and the instant desire made her want to throw herself at him.

She pulled back, laughing. “How do you do that? Turn me on with just a kiss?”

“I'm gifted.”

He was more than that. He was everything she'd ever wanted. Strong, yet gentle. Caring, determined, even stubborn. She loved so much about him, including how much
he
loved his daughter. Would he be willing to give their child the same amount of caring?

He put his hand on her waist and kissed her again. “If you're here for something quick on my desk, I can tell you that I'm open to the possibility. In the name of making all your fantasies come true.”

She touched his face. “You're so generous.”

“I know.”

“While I appreciate the offer, I stopped by to tell you some happy news.”

Wyatt stiffened. “Okay.”

“What?”

“Your happy may not be my happy. Are you leaving?”

She hadn't expected him to say that. “Leaving for New York?”

“You will eventually. Your work is there. You can't give up the piano forever.”

A fierce longing gripped her. She was less surprised by it this time—it seemed to happen more and more lately. The need to create, to be one with the music. To let it fill her up and spill out of her.

“I'm not leaving,” she told him. Not yet, a voice whispered. She ignored it and looked at Wyatt. “I'm pregnant.”

Everything about him seemed to freeze in place. Then he was moving, putting space between them.

“You're sure?”

His words sounded so cold and distant. She held in a shiver.

“Yes. Very sure.”

He nodded once, then swore. The bubble of hope she'd barely allowed herself to admit was there burst.

“Wyatt,” she began, “This doesn't have to be a bad thing.”

His expression turned angry. She could see him visibly trying to get control. “It is for me. I never wanted any part of this. Not a baby. I can't believe it's happening again.”

She knew the “it” was his sense of being trapped. Of being forced into a relationship, a marriage, a responsibility he didn't want.

He glared at her. “I know you didn't do this on purpose, but it sure as hell feels that way to me.”

“That's not fair and you know it.”

“You're right. Just like I know you're going to expect me to marry you, then you'll go back to your fancy life, leaving me with another kid to raise.”

Even though they weren't a shock, his words still hurt her.

“I'm not trapping you,” she said, wishing he could have been at least a tiny bit happy, if not for himself, then for her.

“So you say.”

He didn't believe her? “You don't know me at all, if that's what you think.”

“I know enough. I know you're used to getting what you want.”

What? “Since when?”

“When have you not?”

It wasn't a fair question. She thought of all the things in her life she hadn't wanted. But he wasn't in the mood to listen. “I thought…”

“That I would be happy?” he asked, interrupting. “Why? I should have used protection. I shouldn't have assumed. Not that I was thinking that day. Look, it's fine. We'll deal. Somehow.”

He sounded resigned, as well as angry. He was being magnanimous enough not to blame her totally, but he still expected to get screwed.

It hurt, she thought sadly. It hurt to have him so disconnected from the joy. They'd made a baby. Didn't that matter to him at all? They'd created life. They should be celebrating. But he didn't see it that way and she wouldn't see it any other.

“You don't have to be any part of this,” she said, trying to keep her voice from shaking. “I thought you might want to be a father to our child, but if you don't, that's perfectly fine. I can be a single mother.”

He didn't look convinced. “You mean you'll hire staff. Isn't that what you said you'd do? Hire a nanny?”

She'd known there was a chance he wouldn't be excited. More than a chance. But she'd never thought he would be deliberately mean. She squared her shoulders and raised her chin.

“I can see this is a bad time for us to discuss anything,” she said, determined to keep her voice calm. She didn't want him to know how deeply he'd cut her. “We'll talk later. For the record, I don't want anything from you. I also don't expect you to believe that. I'm sorry you're not happy but I can't ever be sorry there's a baby.”

She turned then, and left without saying anything else. She had to hurry to get to her car before she started to cry.

 

C
LAIRE BIT DOWN
on the Kidd Valley onion ring and waited for the yummy flavor to brighten her mood.

“You want to talk about what's wrong or do you just want to eat and sulk?” Jesse asked from across the table.

Claire smiled. “I'm not sulking. Not seriously, anyway. I'm just…” She sighed. “I'm pregnant.”

Jesse dropped her hamburger back on the paper. “You're what? Are you sure?”

“I'm triple sure.”

“Who's the guy? Some musician back in New York? A married conductor?”

“You're the one who seems to favor married men,” Claire said.

Jesse took a bite of her hamburger. “Sure,” she mumbled. “That's what you all think.”

Claire waited until her sister had swallowed, then said, “Wyatt.”

Jesse's eyes widened. “Are you serious? You slept with Wyatt? Does Nicole know?”

“Yes to both. She knows about him and she knows about the baby. She's not the problem. He is.”

Claire gave a brief rundown of her last conversation with him. “He's so distant and cold. I would almost wish he was angry because then I would know he was feeling something. He thinks I'm trapping him, which I'm not. I'm so happy about the baby, but he doesn't see it that way.”

Jesse put down her burger and wiped her hands. “Nicole isn't mad? She doesn't care that you slept with Wyatt? I can't believe it.”

Claire couldn't, either. “That's all you got from what I said?”

“What? No. I mean, yeah, it's too bad about Wyatt.”

“Talk about too little too late,” Claire grumbled, feeling a little of Nicole's annoyance with their baby sister.

“Hey, I've got my own troubles.”

“Maybe you have them because you only think of yourself.”

Jesse pulled back. “I don't need this from you.”

“An opinion on your behavior? I can see why you wouldn't want one.”

“Look, don't get all pissy with me because your life is messed up.”

“Is that what you think this is? I couldn't possibly have a valid insight? You're wrong about that. I know exactly what's going on with you. You take the easy way out. I wonder if you always have. Jesse, you're getting too old for this game. It's time to take responsibility. Do the right thing.”

Claire thought Jesse might get angry and stalk off, but instead she stayed in her seat.

“I've tried,” Jesse grumbled. “I apologized to Nicole but she's still mad at me. She won't listen. What if I didn't do it? What if nothing happened?”

Claire held in a sigh. “Were you in bed with Drew?”

“Yes.”

“Naked?”

“I had my panties on.”

For how long? So what if there hadn't been actual intercourse? They'd been on the verge. That was enough. “He was touching your breast.”

Jesse tossed her burger on the tray. “Okay, I get it. I'm the big bad?”

Even now, Jesse wasn't taking it seriously, Claire thought in annoyance. “Guess what?” Claire snapped. “You're the one who screwed up. She gets to be mad as long as she wants. Just because you're sorry doesn't mean the pain goes away. You need to keep showing up until she knows that you're serious. Right now she thinks you're just saying what she wants to hear and I kind of agree with her.”

“Figures you'd take her side. You're just like her, you know. Stupid twins.”

Claire knew Jesse hadn't meant the comment as a compliment, but that's how she took it. “I want to be like Nicole.”

“You're more than halfway there.”

“She's smart, capable, loving and successful.”

“Bossy, annoying and a real pain in the ass.”

“You miss her.”

Jesse nodded slowly. “I know what you're saying, Claire, but it's not like that with Nicole. Once she gets mad, she doesn't get over it.”

“You're wrong. She got over it with me.”

“I'm not you.”

“You're not trying. There's a difference.”

Jesse slid out of the booth and grabbed her purse. “I don't need this crap. Not from her and not from you. You're mad at me for something that didn't happen. Go to hell.”

With that she was gone.

It was, Claire thought sadly, the Keyes sisters' day for running away.

 

W
YATT KNOCKED ONCE
, then let himself into Nicole's house. “It's me,” he called, then found her sitting on the sofa, her foot propped up on the coffee table.

“How are you feeling?” he asked Nicole.

“Ready to take you on.”

Her eyes were bright with annoyance and something else he couldn't identify. He didn't need to ask if she knew about the pregnancy. That was obvious. She probably knew how he'd reacted. Even if Claire hadn't told her, Nicole knew him well enough to guess his reaction.

“What did you expect me to say?” he asked, feeling anger rise up in him. He'd been numb earlier, but now he was feeling it all. “This shouldn't have happened.”

“You're right. It shouldn't have. But it did. And whose fault is that? What the hell were you thinking, Wyatt? You slept with my sister and didn't use a condom? Who does that?”

He didn't have an answer for that. It had been the night, or morning, and the moment. He'd been carried away by a wave of passion he'd never experienced before. But there was no way he was going to say that to Nicole.

“I thought she was covered.”

“She was a virgin and the person supposed to be doing the covering is you. What right do you have to take those kind of chances?”

“I don't usually do that.”

“So Claire just got lucky? This is all your fault and now you're whining about taking responsibility.”

“I'm not whining.”

“Sure sounds like it to me. Worse, you're punishing her. You were there, big guy. You wanted to play escaped convict and the warden's wife. Now you take responsibility for your actions.”

Wait a minute. Nicole was supposed to be his friend. “You're taking her side?”

“Absolutely. You couldn't be more wrong. Dammit, Wyatt, I expected a whole lot better of you. Now get out.”

He stared at her. “You can't mean that.”

“More than you know.”

He left the house, then stood by his car. What was going on? The whole world was screwed up.

He glared at the house. If Nicole wanted him gone, he was gone. He didn't need her or Claire or any of them.

 

C
LAIRE ARRIVED
at the house to find Nicole waiting with an assortment of pints of Ben & Jerry's ice cream.

“Normally we'd both get drunk on margaritas,” Nicole told her. “But in your present condition, that's probably not a good idea. We're going to have to settle for ice cream.”

The sympathy in her sister's voice told her she'd heard about her conversation with Wyatt.

“How'd you find out?” Claire asked.

“The bastard came here looking for a shoulder to cry on. I told him that was reserved for you, then kicked him out.” Nicole held open her arms.