Page 20 of SEAL'S Baby Surprise
I pull outLittle Women. It had always been a favorite of mine. It had gotten me through three boarding schools, and finally into independent living in New York, where I had gotten a Bachelor of Arts in fashion design.
I like the sequel,Little Men, even better. I’m not Nan. I am more like Daisy, with maybe a little bit of Josie mixed in. But neither of them had to survive without parents, and with hasty messages and gifts from an older brother.
I take the book with me to my narrow little niche at the front of the van.
Maybe all those boarding schools are why I loveLittle Men. I so desperately had needed a Mother and Father Bhaer. Austin is an awful lot like Father Bhaer, although I couldn’t envision riding the hand of that august professor. The memory warms me.
Austin could have had me all the way, but he hadn’t. He’d satisfied what I was feeling, what I hadn’t even realized I needed.
And now, he is out there talking to my brother! I am not going back to my dismal existence, not when I’ve discovered a place where I don’t feel threatened.
I hadn’t read the mean girls books. I know what that feels like firsthand; I hadn’t needed to read about it.
Marriage had seemed like a way out. I would have had a husband, maybe after a while, a child. And I wouldn’t be sending her off to boarding school. I’d be there, and with her, just like Austin is with Julia.
Then I read through the prenuptial agreement. I hadn’t signed it. He had forged my signature on it and had told me what he’d done. He had told me while Rosalee was in the bathroom.
When he’d left the room, I had taken the scissors to the stupid, heavy train of the wedding dress, and then I’d run. LA is a terrifying place to be wearing a small fortune in jewels, but somehow, I’d managed to make it to the beach. I had been barefoot, but my feet are tough from the weekend nudist camps mother had loved so much.
Plus at that point, if the cost of freedom was just my feet, I’d be happy to pay it.
Waterfronts aren’t friendly. There are big ships, trucks, shipping cartons…even in a white dress I could slip between them. I blessed the skills I’d learned slipping out of dormitories, meeting boys on the sly, or — better yet — slipping into the public library.
The public libraries have all the books that were banned from the school libraries. I hadn’t taken out a library card. I’d known better — they would have just taken it from me. But I’d read the books. Sometimes I would have to wait for the books to be returned.
It had kept me sane. At least sort of. But books can only teach you so much. When I had fallen asleep on the sand of Freedom Beach, I hadn’t gotten swept out to sea as I had expected. Instead, I’d met Austin.
Austin, who cooks breakfast. Cooks not only for his daughter, but also for two neighbor kids. Austin, who buys stuff for me when the pawnshop guy won’t accept my string of pearls.
Austin, who had adopted a barking dog because he admired Ark’s tenacity and was grateful for being saved. Austin, who might have adopted out of compassion, but had won the loyalty and love of the big dog.
Now, Austin is talking to my brother. If he tells my brother that I’m here, I’m not sure what Richard will do.
Oh god.
What if he hurts Austin or Julia?
“I’m a danger to them,” I whisper to myself. “I should leave.”
I hear the door of the van open and close. The curtain in front of my narrow bed swishes. I pretend to be asleep.
I think that Richard and Kandis are gone, and from the general calm aura from Austin, I can tell that I’m in the clear as far as Richard is concerned.
That’s a relief for sure.
I make my decision in that moment.
I would have this afternoon with Austin and Julia. I would enjoy basking at the fire of their love for each other, and pretending that I’m part of it too. Then, tonight, I would slip away. Austin never locks his door. I’d noticed that, so it would be easy.
Austin peers in. “Hey, you.”
I smile back at him. “Hey.”
“Ready for the rest of the day?”
“I sure am,” I beam.
Every minute of this afternoon is precious. We have pizza ordered in and a fresh green salad from the market stand that is between the row of homes and the village. Austin has purchased more cream soda and more ice for the cooler.
