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"But, Colette, he has a right to know!"

"I’ll tell him," she promised and wiped the moisture from her cheeks "Just not yet"

"The prayer shawl?" Instinctively Alix kneasn’t a shawl Colette had been knitting, but a baby blanket

"It’s for the baby," Colette said "Christian’s and mine"

CHAPTER 17

Colette Blake

Colette prayed she’d done the right thing in telling Alix about the pregnancy She hadn’t intended to, but it had seemed so natural… Every day it became more difficult to conceal the news Her instinct was still to keep the baby a secret for fear Christian would somehow discover her condition before she was ready to let hi the pregnancy to her family and her in-laws What could she possibly say to Derek’s parents? Thank goodness they lived in Chicago! At least they wouldn’t find out until she chose to tell them--which she would Eventually They onderful people who loved their son and loved her Colette was their last link to Derek and they kept in touch with her Sooner or later she’d need to tell them the truth

Then, of course, there was Christian She expelled him forcefully from her mind He’d made his choice and she’d ht be, she’d break the news to hi to tell others and not the baby’s father; that, however, couldn’t be helped

Discussing her pregnancy with Alix had given her a sense of exhilaration and relief That old saying about confession being good for the soul--she’d certainly found it to be true

Her high spirits had continued during her afternoon with Steve Grisha wasshe’d assumed it had to do with her and the secret she kept But after Saturday she realized there was a lack of connection between therateful for his co And yet…

It surprised her that he didn’t notice anything a he’d kissed her tenderly and seemed disappointed when she didn’t invite hiain and they were

"That’s lovely," Susannah said, nodding at the arrangement of roses Christian had ordered for Elizabeth Sasser As if to prove heto her, she’d worked doubly hard to ement as attractive as possible Roses didn’t need lea the deep-red blooms

"Would you mind if I delivered this personally?" Colette asked She couldn’t explain why she felt the need to meet the neoman in Christian’s life Elizabeth had apparently made quite an impression on him Christian’s past relationships had never lasted more than a few months, and yet he’d left his credit card number and instructions for a full year of weekly flower deliveries

Susannah blinked at the unusual request "We have a service"

"I’ll do it on my own time" That would save Susannah the delivery fee

"I don’t see why you couldn’t," Susannah returned, not bothering to conceal her surprise "If you want to…"

"Thank you" Colette wasn’t so convinced she’d be thankful after she’d h Elizabeth was probably beautiful beyond description, talented and rich to boot Colette’s own shortcos overwhel herself up to feel like a pathetic little waif, insecure and ridiculous And yet her curiosity overrode common sense

Then she remembered her most recent conversation with Alix Her friend had talked about the ugly voices that shouted at her and dragged her into despair Voices that told her she orthless She’d referred to it as "stinking thinking" Colette was hearing voices like that now They were just as destructive as the voices Alix had mentioned Everyone heard them at one time or another, Colette decided She was determined not to listen

Before she left Susannah’s Garden, Colette refreshed her ht be Hollywood beautiful, but Colette wouldn’t allow that to influence her own feelings about her appearance or self-worth Or so she repeatedly told herself as she sought out the Capitol Hill address

When she pulled up in front of the huge three-story house--actually, mansion better described the residence--her confidence deflated faster than a balloon in a sticker bush The lawn and yard wereto the entrance was lined with bloo roses; their scent readily identified them as antique varieties and not hybrids How like a man to send dozens of roses to a woman who had a yardful!

It took Colette severalthe bell A full minute passed Then an elderly woman, dressed in a black uniform with a white apron, opened the massive front door

"Hello," Colette said with a friendly smile "I have a flower delivery for Ms Elizabeth Sasser" In all her life, she’d never known anyone rich enough to employ a maid

The other wo the arrangement with both hands "They’re especially beautiful this week"

"Is Ms Sasser at hoe

"Doris? Who’s at the door?" The voice was that of an older woain?" A wohtiesslowly but without a cane Her silver hair was piled on top of her head and she wore a light pink pantsuit with a diamond brooch pinned at the collar

"You’re Elizabeth Sasser?" Colette blurted out

The older woman’s eyes narrowed as she studied Colette "Doris, invite the young woman in for tea"

"Yes, Miss Elizabeth"

"We’ll take our tea in the library," she said, before turning away fro

The other woman nodded She set the copper tub of roses on a round marble-topped table that stood in the entryway