Page 43 of Bountiful
An involuntary shiver climbed up my back. “Hi.” We’d never spoken on the phone before, and I was suddenly self-conscious. “I know I gave you quite a shockyesterday.”
“You sure did. I’m sure sorry if I was abrupt with you. Never had a conversation like thatbefore.”
“So…” I cleared my throat. “Do you have any otherchildren?”
“God, no.” He chuckled uneasily. “Anyway, I’ve had some time to get over myself. My plan for today had been to start researching things like child support. But then my sister surprised me by showing up in Vermont for a couple of days. And she was really hoping we could meet your little girl whileshe’shere.”
One hundred butterflies converged in my stomach. “Are you sure you want to do that before you confirm paternity? You seemed a little hesitant about thatyesterday.”
“Zara.” His voice was low and steady. “Is it mychild?”
“Yes,” Iwhispered.
“Then even if my lawyer insists on confirming paternity, I already know what the test will say. And my sister is probably only here a dayorso.”
“Okay.” I swallowed hard. “This is my morning off,” I said, feeling like my life was rushing forward at a speed out of my control. “Nicole is napping right now, but she’ll probably wake up aroundeleven.”
“Then we’ll come at eleven, if that’s allright.”
“Sure,” I agreed, although the idea filled me with panic. I wasn’t at all sure that having David walk into our lives was a good idea. “We’re in an apartment over The Gin Mill. There’s a separate entrance on the left-hand side. I’ll see you ateleven.”
“Seeyouthen.”
With a shaking hand, I pocketed my phone. And then I did what anyone in my position would do. I went inside and kicked my sleepy twin brother in thethigh.
“Ow,” he said, opening tired eyes. “What’s theproblem?”
“Dave Beringer, with an ‘e,’ wants to bring his sister over to meetNicole.”
“And yousaidyes?”
“Yeah. So get up. We have worktodo.”
“What kind of work?” He sat up and yawned. We’d sat up late into the night talking, and then he’d slept on his couch until Nicole got him up at six. Now they were both ready foranap.
“We’re paniccleaning.”
“Bummer,” he said. But he stood up tohelpme.
“Can you make that stack of toys look less trashy?” I asked, waving at the corner of the big room. “I’ll tackle thekitchen.”
There were breakfast dishes in the sink. I rinsed everything, and was just sponging down the countertops when I looked at the time. “Heck, I’ve got to change myclothes.”
“Why?” Ben asked, opening the dishwasher to load it. “You don’t need to dress up forthisguy.”
Seriously? Had my brother evermeta woman? I wondered what Dave would see when he looked at me. In the first place, I was heavier than I used to be. Nursing made me hungry all the time, so I hadn’t lost all the baby weight. Also, I probably looked tired, because I was alwaystired.
And what would his sister see? I looked down to give myself a cursory scan. “I can’t wear this T-shirt to meet his sister.” It featured a drawing of a maple tree, with the words,I’d Tap That. “This shirt says, ‘I sleeparound.’”
“Nah!” Ben argued. “That shirt says, ‘I’m from Vermont and I don’t mind dorkyjokes.’”
Either way, I wasn’t taking any chances. “I need a quick shower. Will you listen forNicole?”
“You think I’d just let her howl from the crib? Goalready.”
I was halfway out of the room when he delayed me with a question. “Hey, Z? Do you want me to stick around for this littlevisit?”
“Would you?” I begged immediately, even if it made me achicken.
