The Baby Bonanza

In view of the doctor’s wistful expression, it didn’t take a genius to recognize that they’d suffered a blow. They must have been counting on the New York conference for some reason.

Zora tried to shrug off Lucky’s absence while she and her fellow moms-to-be opened gifts. Most people had contributed money, but Betsy’s gifts were special.

Zora’s throat constricted as she held up the soft pink and blue blankets. Her former mother-in-law had created these precious heirlooms even without being sure of her relationship to the twins.

Zora was glad now that Lucky had invited Betsy. To learn she’d been excluded from the baby shower would have been an undeserved slap in the face.

Catching Betsy’s eye, Zora said, “These mean more than I can say.”

“I’m glad.” Wedged among the other guests, the older woman added, “If you need anything, please call me.”

“You’re a sweetheart.” But Zora wouldn’t ask for the other woman’s help, not until after the babies were born and she revealed the truth to Andrew. When she did, she hoped Betsy wouldn’t resent having been kept in the dark.

Her gaze drifted to the diamond-and-emerald ring on her ex-mother-in-law’s right hand. Zora had worn the family heirloom during her marriage, treasuring both its beauty and its significance. After the divorce, she’d returned it, with regret. Neither of Andrew’s other wives had worn it; there’d been a special bond between Betsy and Zora that had begun in her high school days.

Now, its glitter reminded Zora of how much she’d lost. Not only her husband, but a woman who’d been as close to her as family. Well, perhaps someday she and Betsy could be close again.

She hoped her children would meet her twin sister, too. That depended on whether Zora was ever secure enough to handle Zady’s inevitable gloating at her downfall. For now, distance was best. Nobody could inflict as much pain as the people nearest your heart.

After the last guest departed, the adrenaline that had powered Zora all afternoon faded. She collapsed on the living room couch while, inside her, the babies tussled.

What a blessing it would be when they were born and her body returned to normal. And what a joy to hold them and see their sweet faces.

At this point, Lucky should have arrived to offer her refreshments. She missed his coddling, even though it was often seasoned with criticism.

Instead, he bustled about collecting trash as if she weren’t there. From the kitchen, Zora heard Karen opening and closing the fridge to put away food, while in the den, Rod ran the vacuum cleaner. Zora would have pitched in if she’d had the energy.

As Lucky removed the white linen covers from the folding chairs, his dark eyebrows drew together like storm clouds. The dragon protruding from beneath one sleeve appeared to be lashing its tail.

Zora broke the silence. “Won’t you tell me what happened?”

He tossed a cover onto a pile of laundry. “What do you mean?”

“You’ve been upset since you talked to Dr. Rattigan.”

Lucky snapped a chair shut. “Doesn’t concern you.”

Zora tried a different tack. “Laird speculated you might move out of town to take a better job. He’s angling to get your suite.” She deliberately baited Lucky with that reference to the obnoxious psychologist.

Lucky grimaced. “I’d rather not discuss that lowlife.”

“Then let’s discuss what’s eating you.”

“Like I said, it’s none of your business.”

Any second, flames were going to shoot out her ears. “Oh, yes, it is!”

“How so?” he growled, wielding a chair as if he was prepared to thrust it at her.

The guy sure was prickly. “It’s obvious Cole brought bad news from the conference.”

Lucky set the chair down. “I can’t discuss anything involving a patient.”

He was right to safeguard the man’s privacy, Zora conceded. Medical personnel were required to do that, by law and by hospital policy as well as by simple decency. Still, he’d dropped a clue. Now, why would a patient’s condition bother Lucky so much?

From the kitchen, Karen’s voice drifted to her. “I’m looking forward to having your girls in town next Saturday. Should we invite them and Helen for lunch?”

“I doubt there’ll be time,” Rod replied dourly. “They’re only being dropped off at their grandma’s for an hour or two while Vince sees his doctor.”

“Is he having problems?” Karen asked. “I don’t usually wish anyone ill, but he’s an exception.”

“You can wish that jerk as much ill as you like.” Rod’s voice rose in anger. “Tiff and Amber loathe the man. He may not physically abuse them, but he’s a bully, and emotional scars can be the worst kind.”

As the rumble of the garbage disposal cut off further eavesdropping, Zora put two and two together. Everyone knew—because the billionaire had discussed it openly—that Dr. Rattigan was treating him. And the men’s program counted on his support.

“It’s Vince Adams,” she said. “No, don’t answer. I realize you can’t confirm it.”

Lucky stacked the chairs to one side. “Are you still mad at me for inviting Betsy? Is that why you’re harassing me?”

Zora tried to hug her knees, but her bulge was in the way. “I’m glad you invited her.”

“So we’re good?” His fierce brown eyes raked over her.

“No. What if you leave?” she burst out, surprised by her rush of emotion. “We’re having enough trouble finding one roommate, let alone two. We’ll have to take Laird.”

A knot in her chest warned that she was less concerned about Laird than she was about Lucky staying until the babies were born. Until Andrew hopefully came to his senses and fell in love with his children. Until hell freezes over. No, but if hell did freeze over, she’d counted on Lucky to be there with a warming blanket.

As a friend, of course. He’d been just as helpful to Anya—maybe more so—when they’d moved into this house. It was in his nature.

Lucky stopped fiddling around. “You shouldn’t upset yourself. It might shoot up your blood pressure.”

“Then talk to me.”

He plopped his butt on the arm of the couch. “About what?”

“You’ve been delving into your phone all afternoon, trying to find a solution, right? But if Dr. Rattigan can’t fix Vince—I mean, Patient X—neither can you.”

“So?” Lucky folded his arms. They were muscular arms, and he folded them across a broad, powerful chest. Too bad the movement also flexed the shapely legs of a cartoon woman, which rather spoiled the effect for Zora.

“We have to figure out another way to keep the Adamses involved with Safe Harbor,” she blurted.

“We?” Lucky was addicted to monosyllables today.

She’d surprised herself by saying that. But didn’t she owe Lucky a favor, considering how much support he’d given her?

“Yes, we,” Zora retorted, and, to cut off any argument, she added, “Some people have a ridiculously hard time accepting help, to quote a person I know.”

That produced a tight smile. “What do you imagine you, or we, can do regarding this alleged situation?”