Celia laughed. Youre right. But in this case, its true. Stress impedes ovulation, too. At some point, when your weight reached a certain level, your ovaries corrected themselves. Absent the stress of worrying about conception, perhaps you approached something like normal fertility. Only you never realized it, because you werent having unprotected sex.
I wasnt having any sex.
Well, clearly, youve had some.
Natalie groaned. What was she going to tell Josh? What was she going to tell Mary?
Then theres also the one-in-a-million theory. Yes, the chances of a woman your age conceiving are quite small. But the chance is there. Kind of like your chances of winning the lottery.
Great. Why couldnt I have won the lottery instead? But then it hit her. This was better than winning the lottery. She was going to have a baby. Right now, a life was growing inside her. She put a hand to her abdomen, and a sense of wonder replaced the shock and terror.
Will it be healthy? she asked in a small voice as her eyes filled with tears.
You know the risks as well as I, Celia said gently. Babies of older mothers do bear some additional potential problems. But I intend to keep a very close watch on you and the baby. First thing, well get you on prenatal vitamins.
Celia rattled on some more about the various things they would have to watch, the tests Natalie would have to take, but Natalie was hardly listening.
A baby.
MARY BRIGGS ADDED a pinch more curry to the sauce she was making, then took a taste. Yessss, I am so good.
As she heard the garage door go up, she checked her watch, pleased that her mother was on time. She pulled a bottle of cold Chablis from the fridge, uncorked it and poured a glass for her mom, knowing how much she liked to sit and unwind after a long day on her feet taking care of her babies.
As her mom entered the kitchen, Mary greeted her with a big smile and extended the glass of wine. But her smile fell as she immediately knew something was up. Her mothers eyes were glazed.
Mom, whats wrong?
Uhwhat makes you think somethings wrong?
Relief washed over Mary. You look funny. I thought youd had a wreck or something.
No, no accidents. Well, not auto accidents, anyway.
So something is wrong?
Not wrong, exactly. Just shocking. Her mom set down her purse on the breakfast bar and sank onto one of the bar stools.
Mary set the wine in front of her. You look like you could use this.
Her mom stared at the wine longingly, then shoved it away. Nope. No more wine. Mary, your mother has gone and done something very foolish. But at the same timewell, its kind of a miracle.
Concerned, Mary studied her mom, who looked kind of dreamy and misty. Are we getting a puppy?
Her mom laughed. Better than a puppy. Im having a baby.
Mary stared, stunned into silence.
Mary?
Youre pregnant? She should have guessed when her mom had called it a miracle. That was a word she used a lot whenever she talked about anyone having a baby. Holy guacamole. She hadnt thought her mother was even sexual.
Mary stepped around the kitchen island and enveloped her mother in a hug. This is so cool! Im going to be a big sister.
When they pulled apart, they both had tears in their eyes. Natalie grabbed a paper towel and wiped at hers, but they just kept coming. I feel so stupid, having to break the news to my own teenage daughter. Usually its the other way around.
Mary pulled up another stool. I thought you couldnt. Get pregnant, I mean.
I thought I couldnt, too. Which is why, you know, I didnt protect myself.
You should have anyway, Mary said primly. For other reasons. Oh, but who cares now. This is so cool. So, who is he? Youre not going to have to marry the guy, are you? That would be positively medieval.
Ah, no, Im not getting married. Her eyes shifted slightly so Mary knew there was more to come. But would it bother you if I did get married again?
Mary thought about it. She knew it was selfish of her, but shed had her mom all to herself for so long, the idea of some guy hanging around all the time, bossing her around, didnt sit well with her.
Still, she forced herself to be nice. Mom, if you fell in love with someone and wanted to marry him, that would be fine with me. You have a right to be happy. But I wouldnt want you to marry some guy just because he got you pregnant. Its just not necessary.
No, I agree, its not. But I will have to tell him. Its only fair.
Mary wasnt so sure. If there was to be a new baby in the house, she didnt want to have to share it or her mom with some guy. He wont, like, want custody or anything stupid like that, will he?
Her mom shook her head. I cant imagine he would.
So who is he?
I suppose youll find out sooner or later. Her mother sighed. Its Josh.
Mary hadnt thought she could be any more surprised, but shed been wrong. Josh? As in Josh Carlson, your ex-husband?
Fraid so. Honey, I smell something
Oh, my sauce! Mary rushed around to the stove and turned off the flame under her saucepan. She stirred the contents. It looked okay, if a little thick. I think its fine. Are you hungry? What am I saying, of course you are. Youre eating for two.
Natalie smiled. Im starving.
She watched her daughter move confidently around the kitchen stirring various things. This hadnt been nearly as difficult as shed feared it would be. Shed anticipated Mary being horrified that her mother would get herself into such a compromising situation, or jealous at the idea of another child in the house. But she seemed to be happy about it.
She and Mary were closer than most mothers and daughters, perhaps because it had always been just the two of them. Natalie had shared a lot about her past with Mary, including the basic facts of her youthful marriage and her infertility. Maybe she shared too much, but confiding secrets to each other had come naturally.
You saw Josh at the class reunion? Mary asked as she set a plate in front of her mother.
Unexpectedly. Im afraid we let all the nostalgia sweep us away.
Thats kind of sweet, really, Mary said, sitting down at the bar beside her mother with her own plate of food.
It was a lot of things, but sweet wasnt an adjective Natalie would have used. When shed awakened naked in Joshs hotel room the next morning, depraved had been the first word that came to mind.
What the hell were we thinking? had been the first words out of her mouth. In hindsight, perhaps her outburst had been ill-considered. Josh had been insulted by her insistence shed made a terrible mistake, and their parting had been awkward.
Another wave of terror washed over her as she thought about telling Josh the news of his impending fatherhood.
Mom? Is the curry too hot?
Oh, no, honey, it tastes wonderful. You truly are gifted. She took another bite of chicken, really noticing the taste this time.
Im gonna be a big help when the baby comes, Mary said. Ill help you take care of it.
Thats really sweet of you, honey. She caressed her daughters smooth cheek and stroked her shiny black hair. Mary was so beautiful, inside and out. Im sure Ill need lots of help. But Im not going to stick you with babysitting all the time.
Thats really sweet of you, honey. She caressed her daughters smooth cheek and stroked her shiny black hair. Mary was so beautiful, inside and out. Im sure Ill need lots of help. But Im not going to stick you with babysitting all the time.
Well work it out, Mary said in her sometimes unnervingly adult way. So when are you going to tell him?
Natalie set down her fork. I suppose I ought to get it over with. She would have to do it in person. Delivering this sort of news in a phone call just wouldnt do. That meant a trip to Houston and an overnight stay. Ill aim for next week.
She would need at least that long to figure out what she was going to say to Josh. Hi, Josh. Remember how I laughed at you for being worried about birth control? The jokes on me.
IM VERY SERIOUS, MONTY, Josh said into the phone. He was speaking to a colleague, and he was playing hardballthe only kind of ball he ever played. Ten million plus medical expenses is a perfectly reasonable demand. My clients life will never be the same.
His client was a seventeen-year-old boy, a classmate of his son whod been attacked and badly injured by a Rottweiler. The dogs wealthy owner was claiming the boy had provoked the dog, but it turned out the dog had a history of at least three attacks on visitors to their home. The dog owner did not have a leg to stand on.
Unfortunately, neither did Joshs client, and he meant that in a very real physical sense. The dog had severed multiple tendons in the boys leg, which would require surgery and physical therapy, and even then he might not ever walk without a limp. The kid was going to suffer for years and his baseball scholarship was out the window.
This was the kind of case Josh loved, one where there was a clear-cut bad guyand it wasnt his client. He would almost welcome taking this one to court. A jury would have a field day.
My client says one million, the other attorney said. Not a penny more.
Josh laughed. Call me back when you want to get serious about negotiations. He hung up without waiting for Monty to respond. He wasnt worried. This one was in the bag.
He loved his work. Even after all these years, he loved crusading for the underdog. Now that he was a full partner, he could be a bit more selective about the cases he personally took on. This one he was doing as a favor to a friend, but it was the kind of case he would have taken anyway.
The moment he hung up, his intercom buzzed and he picked it up. Yes, Rachel.
Mr. Carlson, you have a visitor. She doesnt have an appointment, but she said its a personal matter.
Josh frowned. Whats her name?
Natalie Briggs, from Dallas.
Natalie. What the heck was she doing here? He was surprised, yet not displeased. Ever since their crazy night together in June, hed been thinking about hera lot. He hadnt understood or been very sympathetic to her panic the morning shed awakened in his room, though. In fact, hed tried to interest her in more lovemaking. After a couple of hours of sleep, hed been raring to go.
But Natalie had looked at him as if hed suddenly grown scales and horns. Not that shed blamed him for their salacious behavior; no, shed heaped blame on herself for being impulsive and irresponsible and not at all like the sensible woman shed become.
Josh hadnt seen it that way. They hadnt behaved irresponsibly, and what harm had it done, reliving a few happy memories? He would never understand women.
Mr. Carlson?
He shook his head to clear his thoughts. Yes, Rachel. Go ahead and bring her back.
He couldnt wait to see what she had to say.
Less than a minute later, the receptionist showed Natalie in to his office. She wore beige linen slacks with a matching jacket, a pale lilac top underneath. Her long hair was pulled back from her face so tightly it looked as if it would cause her a headache. Her face was pale, her brown eyes full of doubt.
Josh smiled at her, trying to put her at ease. Natalie. Its good to see you again. He meant that. Though theyd parted awkwardly, he wasnt angry about it. Shed obviously been confused and overwhelmed. Can I get you something to drink?
She smiled tentatively. Actually, if you have any water, Im parched. Its a scorcher out there.
Ill get you a water, Rachel said. Mr. Carlson, anything for you?
Ive got coffee, thanks.
Rachel withdrew, and Josh stepped around his desk. Would a hug be out of order?
Instead of warming up to him, she took a step backward. I cant think when you get that close to me, Josh. And I need to think clearly right now.
Josh felt the first real tendrils of concern. Is something wrong?
Sort of. Well, not wrong, exactly. In fact, once I got over the shock I started to feel pleased about it. But I dont know if youll agree.
Lets sit over here. Josh had a love seat and a couple of plush chairs in his office for more informal meetings. He led her to the love seat, snagged his cup of coffee from his desk and took one of the chairs for himself. Rachel returned with bottled water and a glass of ice for Natalie, then quietly departed.
Natalie busied herself opening the water and pouring. He could tell she was composing what she would say, and he let her. In his business hed learned that silence was often more powerful than words.
She gulped down several swallows of water, then set the glass down with a clunk. So, heres the deal. Now, this came as a complete shock to me, because I really thoughtI mean, given our history
Oh, God, was she ill? Did she need money for treatment? Was it her daughter, or her sister?
Natalie, whatever the problem is, Ill help you if I can.
I thought youd be kind of mad at me after the way I acted at the reunion.
He couldnt help smiling. Hey, when a woman gives you the best night of your life, it doesnt tend to make you angry.
She blushed and stared down at her lap. I got a little freaky about it. I didnt mean to.
Its okay. I dont understand womens emotions and I probably never will, but I accept that you must have had a good reason for hightailing it out of the Holiday Inn like your underwear was on fire.
No, that was the night before. She grinned sheepishly and he returned the favor, but her smile fled almost immediately. This isnt easy.
Nat, this is me, Josh, remember? We used to tell each other everything.
She nodded. That night, at some point you commented that Id filled out, that I looked more womanly.
I always thought you looked fantastic, but a few extra pounds did nothing but improve you.
Well, apparently the fact I was too skinny years ago was affecting my, um, fertility.
She let that revelation sit for a minute between them until Josh figured it out for himself. Oh, my God.
She nodded. Yeah. Then she gnawed on her lower lip and waited for his reaction.
Youre sure?
She nodded again. Im eight weeks along. So far, everythings fine.
Youre sure its mine? The instant the words left his mouth, he wanted to slap them back, but it was too late.
Josh! Of course. What, you think Im running around sleeping with all the doctors at the hospital?