The Daddy Plan

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“She came up to the cabin on Saturday.”

Nathan’s brows arched and he waited.

“You’re not going to believe this, but she wants to have a baby. She wants me to donate my sperm.”

“You’re not thinking about doing it, are you?”

Sam remained silent.

“Sam?”

“I’m not sure how to say this, Nathan. I don’t want to compare my situation to yours, but you lost a baby when Kyle was born and I know you know how that feels.”

Nathan’s first wife had died in childbirth and Kyle’s twin had died with her. Colleen had had trouble conceiving. Although the couple hadn’t known it at the time, Sara had been the one to donate her eggs to help them. Nathan had returned to Rapid Creek with Kyle to recover from his loss. But he hadn’t truly recovered until Sara had come into his life this past November.

“You’re talking about Alicia’s abortion.”

“Yeah, I am. When I found out she’d terminated her pregnancy—It just tore me up. That was my baby, my son or daughter.”

“I do know how hard that must have been.”

“Let’s face it, Nathan. When our mother left, it damaged all of us in ways we didn’t even know. We saw what it did to Dad but we were just as affected. Somehow you managed to forget about her. When you married Colleen, you picked a good woman, and now with Sara you’ve chosen wisely again.”

“She’s the best.”

Sam knew Nathan meant that and he agreed. He liked Sara a lot. “I think you made up your mind that our mother was just one selfish woman who wanted a Ph.D., life in a big city and her future in England more than she wanted us. But Ben and I—I think we believe all women are like her—selfish, with their own agendas. I mean, why couldn’t I see just who Alicia was? Why couldn’t I see children were the farthest thing from her mind? Oh, sure, we talked about having kids and she said she wanted them someday. But to her someday was way off in the future and I didn’t realize that. I picked someone exactly like our mother. I just can’t see me ever getting married.”

“So you’re actually considering Corrie’s idea?”

“At first I thought it was ludicrous. I thought she was crazy to want me to father her child. But the more I think about it…I realize it would be a way to be a dad without all the complications of marriage.”

Nathan was already shaking his head. “You might not have marriage complications, but there will be complications. It’s hard enough to raise a child when two people are connected. Sara and I still have differences of opinion sometimes on what’s best for Kyle. She’s helping me see I’ve been way too protective. We keep reminding each other we’re looking in the same direction. We both want what’s best for Kyle. But for two people who are relative strangers to try to parent together—”

“You and Sara were strangers before November. If Corrie and I become friends, we’ll be able to parent.”

“Are you trying to convince me or yourself?”

“I just know the idea…appeals to me.”

“So what was the emergency today? Why did you need time off?”

Sam told his brother about the accident and what had happened at the clinic this morning.

At his brother’s concerned expression, Sam was quick to assure him, “She’s going to be okay. The doc at the E.R. said the seat belt bruised her. I picked up groceries and lunch for her.”

Away from Corrie now, Sam told himself he really wasn’t attracted to her. He was just finally over Alicia and he was coming alive again with the realization he hadn’t been with a woman for a long time. But when he closed his eyes, he saw those freckles on Corrie’s nose. He remembered how her curls fell around her face. He recalled the sensation of holding her in his arms.

“So what are you going to do?” Nathan asked him.

“I’m going back to the clinic and concentrate on work. I won’t do anything until I know for sure what I should do.”

“That sounds reasonable, but I just want to warn you, Sam—when kids and women are involved, reason doesn’t always do a whole lot of good.”

That was something Sam could think about while he was figuring out whether or not he wanted to be a dad.

Corrie relaxed in her recliner, Jasper on the floor right beside her, the nightly news flickering on the TV. She should get up and let Jasper out, but her ribs hurt and taking deep breaths wasn’t a whole lot of fun. The doctor had told her today would probably be her worst day. She hoped he was right.

She just hated the fact that Sam had seen her like this, had seen her helpless. She hated feeling that way, always had and always would. She’d been helpless to stop the string of events that had occurred after she’d found her dad being unfaithful. She’d thought about not telling her mother, about not ever, ever telling anyone. But her dad had admitted to his wife what had happened, and everything had gone downhill after that. Corrie had been helpless to prevent the divorce, to prevent her mother’s sadness, to prevent the crumbling of the life their family had known. And in some way she’d felt as if it were her fault. If she just hadn’t gone looking for her dad that day—

She’d also felt powerless when her mom was diagnosed with cancer. That had been the worst kind of powerless. By quitting school and taking care of her mom, she’d known she was doing something to help. She’d never regret those two years. Never. She and her mom had gotten closer than they’d ever been before.

Corrie’s doorbell startled her and Jasper. On guard instantly, the dog stood at alert then ran to the door and barked. Corrie lowered the recliner’s leg lift and went to the foyer to peer through the peephole.

It was Sam. Why had he returned? She certainly had enough food in the house now, thanks to him.

After she unlocked the dead bolt and the doorknob, she pulled open the door. Patches sat beside Sam’s leg, his tongue lolling out of his mouth. She only had a glance for the dog. Sam looked serious but oh, so handsome. His hair had seen a day of disheveling. He often ran his fingers through it when he was working.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

Instead of fighting against his concern, she answered honestly, “Like I want to curl up in a ball until I can face the world again feeling better.”

At that he smiled. “I thought I’d check on you before I settled in for the night. I can take Jasper for a short walk.”

“You don’t have to—” She stopped herself. “Thank you. I’d appreciate that and I’m sure Jasper would, too. Come on in. Have you been at the clinic until now?”

As he followed her into the living room, she was aware of everything about him, from his hair dipping over his brow to his terrifically broad shoulders to his slim hips in jeans to his black-booted feet, which were very big. This was Sam and she didn’t know why she felt so awkward around him, but she did. Maybe because he’d seen her in a hospital gown!

She sank down onto the sofa trying not to jar her ribs.

Sam frowned as he watched her. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay by yourself here tonight?”

“I’m not by myself. I have Jasper.”

He gave her a get-real look.

“I can sack out on your couch,” he offered.

That offer was tempting. On one hand, she’d like to have him around. Yet, on the other, she’d probably rest a lot better if he wasn’t here.

“Not necessary.”

Opening his jacket, sitting down beside her on the sofa, he rested his palms on his jeans-clad thighs.

“You might want to get used to having me around,” he quipped. Then, more seriously, he added, “Because I’ve decided to be your sperm donor. I want to be a dad to your baby.”

Chapter Four

“Have you told anyone yet?” Corrie broke the silence between her and Sam as they sat in her obstetrician’s office early Thursday morning.

On Monday night Sam had agreed to help her have a baby. Yesterday she’d gone back to work. But ever since he’d given her his answer, there’d been an awkwardness between them. Because they were entering uncharted territory? Because Sam might be having second thoughts? Because she couldn’t sleep at night, considering the fact that if she used a stranger’s sperm, the process could be a whole lot easier?

After a glance at a pregnant woman who seemed to be engrossed reading a magazine, and a look toward the receptionist behind the glass window who was busy typing on a keyboard, Sam leaned closer to Corrie. “I told Nathan I was considering donating my sperm.”

“Let me guess,” Corrie returned in the same low voice. “He didn’t approve.”

Sam’s brows arched. “It wasn’t that he didn’t approve. He just wanted me to understand how complicated this could be. Even he and Sara don’t always agree on what’s best for Kyle.”

“Nathan and Colleen tried in vitro, didn’t they?”

Scuttlebutt in a town the size of Rapid Creek echoed from one end to the other. Even before Nathan had moved back to Rapid Creek with Kyle, the rumor that he and his first wife had wanted children badly but had had problems conceiving had made the rounds. Whether Galen, Nathan’s dad, had told a friend and that friend had told someone else, it was common knowledge that Nathan and Colleen had used an egg donor.