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"Why would she do that?"

Lindy offered him another one of those looks usually reserved for errant children or unusually dense adults "Because she told etable worked for her"

Steve’s brow folded into a wary frown

"Apparently she heard this report on the radio about yaen level and she ate the ready for Christmas Eve with you" Lindy reached inside her purse and pulled out several index cards "She was generous enough to copy down some recipes for me How does sweet potato and ham casserole sound?" she asked, and rolled her eyes "I don’t think I’ll be sa that"

"Sweet potatoes," he repeated

Lindy’s gaze narrowed to thin slits "That’s what I just got done saying"

If she’d slammed a hammer over his head, the effect would have been less dramatic Steve’s heart felt as if it was about to explode Hisstars A supernova – his own Everything made sense then All the pieces to the bizarre and intricate puzzle slipped neatly into place

Slowly he rose to his feet, while bracing his hands against the edge of the table His gaze stretched toward Seattle and the outline of the city as it faded fro her voice "Is so?"

He shook his head "Lindy," he said reaching for her hand and pu it several ti with emotion "I’m about to become a father"

Chapter Nineteen

An overwhel sense of frustration swamped Steve as the Atlantis sailed out of Hood Canal As he sat at his station, prepared to serve his country for another tour, two key facts were prominent in his mind The first was that he was soon to become a father and the second, that it would be three interminable months before he could talk to Carol

He’d been a blind fool He’d taken a series of circunancy and based his assumption solely on a series of events he’dhe’d one into Carol’s living roo at what he’d discovered…what he thought he’d learned

Carol had cohter He’d barely been able to tolerate the sight of her He recalled the stunned look she’d given hier had h he’d slapped her Then she’d stood before hiid, the proud tilt of her chin unyielding while he’d blasted his accusations at her like fiery balls from a hot cannon

He’d been so confident The sweet potatoes were only the beginning There was the knitting and the s she’d said and done that pointed to one thing

His heart ached at the memory of how she’d sed her self-respect and tried to reason with him Her hand had reached out to him, implored him to listen Theof a whip as he relived that horrible scene

Dear God, the horrible things he’d said to her

He hadn’t been able to stop taunting her until she’d told him what he wanted to hear Repeatedly he’d shouted at her to confirm what he believed until she’d finally admitted he was too sony that scene produced in his mind She’d silently stood there until her voice had co rasps that sounded like sobs That scene had been shockingly similar to another in which he’d set his mind based on a set of circumstances and refused to believe her

Steve rubbed a hand wearily across his face Carol had never had an affair with Todd She’d tried to tell hied him to believe her, and he’d refused

"Oh, God," he whispered aloud, tormented by the memory He buried his face in his hands Carol had endured all that from him and more

So much more

Carol was nancy left to endure and each day that passed seemed like a year Next ti to plan the event so that she wouldn’t spend the hottest days of the suer walked – she waddled Getting in and out of a chair was ato flip hotcakes with a toothpick By the ti and exhausted

It was a good thing Steve wasn’t around She was tired and irritable and ugly So ugly If he saw her like this he would take one look and be glad they were divorced

The doorbell chimed and Carol expelled her breath, deter position from the sofa in a ladylike et up," Lindy said, letting herself in the front door "It’s onlyher best to s

"How do you feel?"

She planted her hands on her beach-ball-size storeater appreciation of what h I can also understand why I’led and plopped down on the chair "I can’t believe this heat," she said, waving her hand in front of her face

" You can’t! I can’t see my feet anymore, but I swear my ankles look like tree trunks" She held one out for Lindy’s inspection

"Yup – oak trees!"

"Thanks," Carol groaned "I needed that"

"I have sohten your day A preordered surprise"

With an energy Carol envied, Steve’s sister leaped out of the chair and held open the front door

"Okay, boys," she cried "Followa huge box

"What’s that?" Carol asked, struggling to get out of her chair, forgetting her earlier determination to be a lady about it

"This is the first part of your surprise," Lindy called from the hallway