Wedding Rings and Baby Things

“Shoot,” he said, and braced himself.

“Why would you want to get married again? Since your divorce you’ve been swearing that no woman would drag you down ball-and-chain lane again. So why would you do this?”

“Why should I marry thee, let me count the whys.”

“You’re not a poet, Mike. And you’re not funny.”

“I’m not trying to be funny.” He put his hands on his hips. “I’ve got a proposition for you.”

“Is this one going to be more outrageous than the last one?” She rolled her eyes, but couldn’t help laughing.

“I’m going to ignore your sarcasm, Ms. Walker. How about this? If I can come up with ten good reasons why we should get married, you’ll say yes to my proposal.”

Kelly had him now. There was no way he could come up with one really good reason, let alone ten. “All right. You’re on. Is there a time limit?”

He looked offended. “This isn’t ‘Jeopardy.’”

“That all depends on your point of view.” She settled herself comfortably against the cushions of the couch and looked at him, waiting for him to start. “Any time you’re ready. Reason number one.”

He leaned a shoulder against the oak mantel and thought for a minute. “You don’t hate football. My first wife couldn’t stand it, except for the so-called celebrity perks.”

“Remember, these have to be good reasons.”

“What’s better than football? But if you don’t think that’s good enough, I’ve got nine more.” He started walking back and forth in front of her. Then he stopped and said, “Okay, I’ve got it. If I’m married, women will leave me alone, and I won’t have to beat them off with a stick. And we could use two-for-one coupons at restaurants.”

“Will you stop being ridiculous? Marriage is not a prerequisite for a dinner date. And don’t forget I live across the driveway. I haven’t seen more than a babe or two beating a path to your door. That doesn’t seem like a problem that requires this drastic a solution.” She folded her arms and looked at him sternly. “I need serious, personal reasons.”

“All right. What about repaying your family for taking me in as a kid when I needed discipline and guidance? What about the fact that the night before she died, I promised your mother I’d look out for you? And the fact that I didn’t keep that promise or you wouldn’t be in this situation now?”

His commitment to that vow touched her deeply. He was a wonderful guy and it was comforting to know she had someone like him in her corner. But she had to convince him that he wasn’t to blame for everything that happened to her.

“My.parents wanted you to live with us because they cared about kids and you were in trouble. They knew you’d turn out all right, all you needed was a firm hand. They were absolutely right.” She placed her palm on her stomach. “My mother didn’t expect you to be my keeper. I’m not your responsibility, Mike.”

“Yeah? Then why do I still feel responsible? You called me the night after the funeral, right after your brother went back to Phoenix. I wasn’t here.”

“And I called Doug because I needed someone to talk to. What I didn’t know was that he didn’t have talking in mind when he came over.”

“I’d still like to break his neck for taking advantage of you the way he did.” Mike looked angry, furious in fact She was surprised that he still felt that strongly after all these months.

What would he do if he knew Doug was trying to get in touch with her? He’d left messages at school and on the answering machine at home, but she hadn’t returned any of his calls. For Mike’s sake she decided it would be best not to tell him.

“Guilt is not a good reason to marry, Mike. Let’s go at this from a different angle. What would I get from marrying you? Besides the obvious reason,” she said looking at her stomach.

He thought for a minute. “Joint tax return. You could be the official team tutor.”

“I’m that, anyway. Why would anything change?”

“Then what about a name for the baby?” he asked.

“I’ll pick out names. I don’t need help for that.”

“No. I mean a last name.”

Kelly’s gaze met his, and she knew what he was thinking. Mike’s mother had never married his father. In school he had gotten into fights because of what the kids had called him. “Bastard.” A dirty, filthy name. All the more hurtful because it was true. He was politely telling her that if she wasn’t married when her baby was born, the child would be a bastard. She felt a tightness in her chest, a small pain around her heart

“That was hitting below the belt, Mike.”

“You don’t have a belt anymore, Kel.”

She blinked and looked away. “You’ve gone from ridiculous to the Dark Ages. This is the nineties. A lot of women are choosing single parenthood.”

“I may be old, but I can still remember how it feels to be different from the other kids. That hasn’t changed.”

“I don’t want to play this game anymore.” Kelly stood up and started toward the kitchen.

Mike took her arm to stop her, then turned her to him. “I’m not trying to hurt you, but there are some things you should think about. I’ve given you a lot of outstanding reasons why marriage is a practical solution to your situation.”

“You haven’t given me one that’s good for you. And don’t tell me about running interference for Bambi and Fawn, or the guilt factor or football. Why in the world would you want to get married?”

He sighed and dropped his hand from her arm. “As you pointed out, I’m old. Old men get tired of living alone.”

Mr. Bachelor Mike Cameron tired of living alone? For just an instant she saw a trace of loneliness on his face. She’d never seen him this way and it warmed her heart that he would share that with her.

“I didn’t say you were old. I said you were living in the Dark Ages.”

“Means the same thing.”

“All right, you’re ancient and you want someone to share the rocking chair with. Why me, Mike? I’m going to have a baby. Doesn’t that make you want to kick that rocker into high gear and run the other way?”

“No. You want to know why?” He looked into her eyes and she nodded. His expression told her he was being completely serious now, and that got her attention in a big way.

“We’re friends, Kelly. The best. That’s more than most people ever have. You know what else?” She shook her head. “It’s all. I ever expect to have. So that makes it pretty good.”

“But it’s not all I ever expect to have.”

“You said you’ve sworn off men.”

“Not forever. Someday I want to find real love, romantic love.” She walked back into the kitchen to continue dismantling her personal possessions. She climbed onto a chair and reached for her cow picture with the words Feeding Time.

“What are you doing on that chair?” Mike took her elbow and helped her down. “Don’t ever do that again. I’ll get that stuff for you.”

He reached the things she couldn’t—the clock her mother had made, the brass plaque that said, “On this spot in 1897, nothing happened,” and the picture of her newest words to live by, “Success is the intelligent use of mistakes.”

“You’re holding out for something that doesn’t exist, Kelly. There’s no such thing as true love.”

Her eyes filled and she turned away so that he wouldn’t see. “I think it exists. My parents had it. I don’t want to settle for less. Thank you, Mike. Someday I’ll probably kick myself for being a stupid fool. But I have to say no to your proposal.”

He let out a long breath. “If you change your mind, the offer’s open.”