Wedding Rings and Baby Things

“I can’t think of anything that would make me change my mind. But I appreciate it. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a lot to do. The apartment management company is going to check out my application and let me know in a day or two if I have the apartment.”

He stacked the things he’d taken down. “You’re determined to move out?”

“I think it’s for the best.”

He shook his head, and she expected an argument But all he said was, “See you later, Kel.”

“Good night, Mike.”

The sight of him walking away, then the sound of the front door closing behind him were just about the loneliest things Kelly could imagine. She slumped into a chair and stared at nothing in particular. Mike Cameron had just asked her to marry him, and he was serious. Not only that, he was angry that she’d refused his proposal. His kindness made her heart ache. A tangle of emotion tightened her chest and clogged her throat.

She was pregnant. She was unemployed. She was moving. She was probably crazy to boot. What woman in her right mind would say no to a hunky, handsome sweetheart like Mike? Tears gathered in her eyes and she sniffled. She reminded herself that she was doing this to protect him. But she couldn’t stop the single teardrop that slipped from the corner of her eye, rolled down her cheek and plopped on her chest.

If she was doing the right thing, why did it feel so wrong and so awful?

Mike was in a bad mood the next day. At football practice the players couldn’t do anything right. In his office afterward, he sat behind his desk and tried to figure out why. It didn’t take him long to realize that it was him, not them. He was tired. Thanks to Kelly he hadn’t slept well. She had made him mad as hell. Partly because she was moving out, but mostly because she had refused to marry him.

Once the idea had taken hold, he’d really warmed to it. He wasn’t quite sure why he wanted it so much until he glanced around his office. Everywhere he looked were reminders that without the Walker family, he wouldn’t be where he was today. In the glass trophy case across from the door were high school, college and professional awards. There was a photograph of the football banquet during his senior year in high school when Frank Walker had insisted on giving Mike the most valuable player award. Even though the man had suffered a heart attack shortly after that night, Mike had tried never to let Frank Walker down. That had to be the reason why he wanted to marry Kelly and why he was so ticked off that she wouldn’t.

Maybe his ego was bruised. But he had thought about that and was pretty sure that wasn’t the case. Glancing at the wall again, he spotted a picture of him after college graduation. Kelly had talked him into attending the ceremony which he had thought a waste of time. Kelly had asked him why he didn’t want to show off how smart he was. She had blitzed his cockiness when she had told him she couldn’t stand guys whose IQ matched the circumference of their biceps. He respected her for that. Unfortunately he had married a woman who wasn’t so discriminating.

The elbow injury that had ended his football career ended his marriage, too. The saying that things come in threes had never been more true. For him it was surprises. The first was that he hadn’t really missed Carol after she left The second was the realization that he was happier without her. The third that he hadn’t liked her much.

That wasn’t the case with Kelly.

He knew he would miss her if she moved. He liked having her around. He just plain liked her. The more he had thought about it the more he was convinced that marrying her would be good for both of them. He just didn’t think he could make Kelly see that

A knock on his office door interrupted his thoughts.

“It’s open,” he said.

Jake Saterfield, a blond, blue-eyed, husky seventeenyear-old, walked in. He handed Mike a piece of paper. “There was only one message in your box in the office, Coach.” The look on his face said he expected to be chewed out for that fact. Mike felt bad about taking out his problems on the players.

“Thanks for picking this up, Jake.” The boy nodded and started to turn away. “That was a good run you had today. Keep it up and you’ve got a shot at breaking the school record for yards rushing.”

Jake grinned. “You got it, Coach.”

“How’d English go today?”

“Mrs. Wishart said she’d let me know my test grade, first, thing tomorrow.”

“How do you think you did?”

He shrugged. “I knew most of the answers.”

“Good. Hey, see you tomorrow.”

“Right”

After the boy had gone, Mike checked the message. It was from the Southern California Real Estate Management Co.

He dialed the number and a woman’s voice came on the line. “Miss Anderson.”

He leaned back in his chair. “This is Mike Cameron. You left a message for me. I’m assuming this is about my tenant Kelly Walker?”

“That’s right, Mr. Cameron. She listed you as a reference on her application for an apartment.”

Mike wasn’t quite sure when the idea hit him, he only knew that it seemed like a good one. If Kelly didn’t have a place to go, she couldn’t move.

“How long has Miss Walker been a tenant of yours, Mr. Cameron?”

“Not long.” He put just a hint of disapproval in his voice.

“Oh?” He heard a hundred questions in that one syllable.

“I guess you’d like me to be specific. She’s rented from me for just under eight months.”

“And you’ve had problems with her?” The tone was definitely suspicious.

Mike reminded himself that he owed it to her family to watch out for her. He could do that better if she stayed in the guest house. He propped his feet up on his desk. He didn’t like doing this to Kelly, but there were times when she was too stubborn for her own good. “I wouldn’t say problems,” he said, putting just a hint of hesitation in his voice. “Did you know she’s pregnant?”

“Yes, she gave us that information. The building accepts children, so that’s not an obstacle. Is there anything else we should know about Miss Walker?”

Mike winced, but he had to do it. “She’s unemployed.”

“She put on her application that she’s a teacher with the Newhall High School District”

“She is, but just until the end of the school year.”

“Does she have another position lined up?”

“Not that I’m aware of.”

“Is there anything else that you think I should know?” she asked.

“No. I think I’ve said enough.”

“Yes, I think you have Mr. Cameron. I appreciate your candor.”

“Glad to help, Miss Anderson.”

Mike hung up the phone and couldn’t help feeling like he’d drop-kicked a kitten. It had been a splitsecond decision. He hadn’t said anything that wasn’t the truth. She didn’t need to move out; he was doing this for her. His mouth pulled tight as he shook his head. No matter how he tried to whitewash it, he was a little surprised at how low he’d sunk. Still, a little guilt was a small price to pay. He wasn’t sorry he’d sabotaged her.

Kelly carried another batch of boxes from her car into her bedroom, then went to the kitchen. The red light on her answering machine blinked twice. She pushed the button and after rewinding, a male voice came on. “Kelly? If you’re there, pick up the phone. It’s Doug. Either you’re not there, or you’re not talking to me. Probably the latter. I don’t blame you, but I need to speak with you. Since you won’t return my calls, I’m going to drop by. See you later.”

Kelly groaned. “Great. What else could go wrong?”

Then she heard the second message. “Miss Walker, this is Leigh Anderson. I wanted to let you know the apartment you looked at has been rented, and I’m sorry to say there are no other vacancies. Give me a call if you have any questions.”