Page 70 of Secret Baby
He gripped the steering wheel and paid attention to the empty road. He'd do whatever it took to convince Vicki to stay with him. "I'll talk to her when I get home."
"Do some fast talking there. I want you both to be very happy."
He had no idea how to ask someone to marry him. He bit his bottom lip and then asked, "Alice, how did you know that you wanted to marry John?"
"I've been in love with him all my life. Once we were actually together, it was easy to say yes. Are you going to ask Vicki?"
His heartbeat thrashed in his ears. He'd not tell Alice. He should ask Vicki first. "Bye, sis."
"That means you are."
He shook his head as he turned off the highway and returned to the side road that took him home. "Bye."
"Good luck. I'll be praying for you both."
Luck had brought Vicki to him. It was up to him to ask, and he flashed to planning exactly how he'd do so. Adrenaline pumped in his veins as he made his way onto the ranch. Vicki made the sun shine in his life. The question of why she might leave raced in his head.
If she married him, then she'd have his heart. He inhaled and crossed his fingers that it was enough. Then he parked the car. He was home. It was time to set the scene.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Vicki waited in the living room, and their daughter listened to her music. Colt had taken a long time at the hospital this morning. Vicki read a book, and wondered if her daughter might like piano lessons, as she seemed to love music. If so, Vicki would find her one.
Today had to be her last day here, if she intended to keep her heart strong. Her shoulders threatened to cave in, and her eyes would water if she thought that Colt might not love her. She'd have to be strong. Clara was a reason to stay, but that shouldn't be enough. She'd not push Colt if he wasn't ready for a relationship, and she had to protect her heart.
A knock at the door sent her heartbeat into a race. Vicki stood and told Clara, "I'll be right back."
Her daughter's head bopped, and Vicki hoped she’d heard her.
A few seconds later, she returned to the living room. She'd not sign Colt up for a church that came to the front door.
As Vicki stared at her daughter, Clara gazed at her with her big blue eyes. "Okay, and Mom, we're going to have to work on making you more sexy so you can marry Daddy."
Marriage without love wasn't possible for her, not that Clara would understand that. Vicki stared at her green tee shirt and sweats. "You don't like this outfit?"
"I'll pick out something for you to wear so Dad notices you." Clara scratched her head. "Then he can't resist you."
Dress-up was a fun game. Clara jumped out of her chair. Vicki nodded. "Okay, pick out my outfit, Clara."
If clothes kept Clara happy, Vicki had nothing to say. Her daughter walked past her and headed toward her room. Vicki smiled then and went to her room to pack her items.
To keep Clara happy, she'd wear just about anything, including a circus clown outfit.
Once she had everything ready, Vicki went into the kitchen and retrieved chicken pieces so she could make them lunch. No one must see that she'd break into a million tears and create a river from her sadness. Then she started the coffee pot. Colt hadn't come home from work to grab a morning cup and then head out again.
She swallowed and refused to think she would miss simple routines.
Clara came out of the bedroom. "Hurry, Mom. Change before Daddy sees you."
Vicki turned on the oven, wiped her hands on her sweats, and marched back to her room. She danced into the room and sang, "Gonna get pretty."
Clara wrinkled her nose. "Don't sing for Dad, Mom."
In the room, Vicki blinked. Her daughter had picked out a black designer glitter dress she’d worn for New Year’s once, two years ago. "Where did you find this?"
"At Aunt Alice's," Clara told her. "I took it from her to give it to you."
"I'll be sure to thank her later." Vicki kept the smile on her face then took her tee shirt off. "Can I wear my bra?"
