With Courage And Commitment

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A sheen of tears filled Stephanie’s hazel eyes, dimming the flecks of gold hidden there. “With any luck, she’ll come out ready to arm-wrestle you.”

“Probably beat me, too.”

Her teary smile nearly undid him. Without removing his hand, he leaned forward and kissed Stephanie on her temple. She’d perspired during the day, making her natural waves frizz around her face, and the strands were soft against his lips.

“You’ll be a great mom, Stephanie. A great mom.”

Chapter Four

The heat of his palm seeped through Stephanie’s blouse to warm her belly. The sweetness of his breath swept across her damp forehead like a refreshing spring breeze.

But it was the intimacy of his touch that brought a tightness to her chest. A fierce longing she hadn’t recognized she’d been harboring.

Other than herself and assorted medical personnel, Danny was the first person to feel her baby move, to acknowledge her daughter existed in more than an abstract way. In the depth of his blue eyes, she saw the same awe she experienced every day. The reflection of her own wonder that a tiny, helpless person was growing inside her.

She ached to share her amazement, her excitement with someone special. To relate each change in her body, every new sensation, the pokes and prods the baby gave her, her daughter’s periodic hiccups that jiggled her tummy.

In return, she longed for someone to reassure her that her fears were unfounded. Motherhood was as natural as waking up in the morning. She and the baby would both be fine.

But she couldn’t lay all of that on Danny. She wasn’t carrying his baby; he wasn’t responsible for either her or her daughter. He wouldn’t want to be.

He’d made it pretty obvious that he wasn’t comfortable around kids. They made him nervous. And unless things had changed since his high school days, he didn’t lack for women in his life. No way would he want to be saddled with a pregnant woman who he still thought of as the pesky kid down the street.

No, he wouldn’t want her and her baby any more than Edgar had. In their own way, they were too much alike—playboys who were too damn bossy.

Stephanie would simply have to get on with her life without that special someone. Single moms managed on their own all the time. She would, too.

“Guess we’d better get home,” he said, taking a step back.

She struggled not to miss his touch, to ignore the tender ache of longing that filled her chest. “Fine by me. Dad’s likely to be home soon and looking for his dinner.”

His dark brows pulled together. “Don’t you think you ought to take a nap or something? You had a long day.”

“Evidently you haven’t heard that old story about a woman’s work is never done.”

“Yeah, but—”

“Home, Daniel. I’m fine.” Which didn’t mean the thought of a nap lacked appeal. A chance to put her feet up for a while was equally tempting.

He closed her door and walked around the truck to the driver’s side.

“You and your dad still like to go up to San Francisco to take in a baseball game now and then?” he asked as he pulled the truck away from the curb.

She smiled at the memories his question brought back. “I haven’t been in years. I don’t think Dad has, either.”

“Your, ah, boyfriend didn’t enjoy sports?”

“Not likely. He was more into opera and the theater. Opening night box seats right next to the ones his parents had held for years. Formal attire. Dinner afterward at whatever place was currently in with the wealthy crowd.”

“Big spender, huh?”

“Very. New Jaguar every two years. Weekend flights on the Concorde to Paris whenever the urge struck him, at least he did before the planes were grounded.” Everything he did designed to sweep a woman off her feet, which is exactly what he’d done to Stephanie—to her great regret now.

Danny glanced at her. “Funny. For my money, baseball is a lot more fun than listening to some screeching soprano.”

She laughed. “Let’s say the experience broadened my horizons.” Just as the pregnancy was broadening her hips.

“I remember your dad taking me along to Giants’ games with you and your sister. It was great. You know, freezing our buns off in that cold wind coming off the bay at Candlestick Park. The Giants always managing to lose their big lead against the Dodgers and blowing the game.” He laughed softly. “Your dad stuffed us with popcorn and pizza and sodas until I could barely walk back to the car.”

“And I’d eat so much I’d get sick on the ride home.”

Danny shuddered. “Yeah, I remember that, too.” He glanced over at her and winked. “You were such a wimp.”

“I was not!” She huffed dramatically. Despite the car sickness, those trips had been fun. More so than a lot of the operas she’d attended. “I simply had a sensitive stomach, not a cast-iron one like some folks I know.”

“Speaking of your sister, how’s Karen doing these days? I don’t see her around much.”

“Fine, I guess. Her husband’s stationed in Texas now, when he’s not being deployed to some hot spot around the world. She’s pretty busy with the kids, I imagine.”

About the time Stephanie was graduating from college, her younger sister had announced she was getting married. The reason for the hurry-up nuptials had become apparent six months later when Christopher Malone was born. Eighteen months after that Bryana arrived.

Apparently the Gray sisters hadn’t paid close enough attention in the sex education classes at Paseo High School. They’d missed the meaning of “Just Say No.”

Never once had Stephanie’s father criticized either of his daughters for their slips in judgment. He simply gave them a hug and said he loved them. Pretty terrific guy.

She slid her gaze to Danny as he turned onto their street. With a father who had deserted him, he hadn’t had the breaks she and her sister had enjoyed. Still, he’d made the most of what he’d been given. She’d give him credit for that.

But that didn’t mean she could rely on him any more than she’d been able to rely on Edgar. Once burned, as they say, could happen to anyone. But twice burned, shame on me! Stephanie wasn’t going to risk getting burned again anytime soon.