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“Jolene’s not upset,” Bruce said. “You aren’t, are you?”

She didn’t respond. Instead, she glared straight ahead, avoiding eye contact with both her father and Rachel.

The waitress brought the bill and Bruce reached for his wallet. “How about a movie?” he suggested as he slid his credit card into the holder.

Rachel couldn’t imagine Jolene agreeing to spend any more time with her than necessary.

“Can we just go home?” the girl asked.

“Sure.” Bruce was more than eager to appease his daughter in any way he could.

They left the restaurant and drove back to the house. Bruce stopped to set the garbage cans by the curb while Rachel and Jolene went inside. Jolene immediately raced to her bedroom.

Rachel slumped down in a living room chair. This had gone exactly as she’d expected.

“Where’s Jolene?” Bruce asked as he threw his car keys on the kitchen counter.

“Her room.” Rachel guessed she was on her cell, talking to her friends, spilling the disastrous news to anyone and everyone who’d listen. And once Bruce was out of the house, the silent treatment would start. It was either that or a tirade against Rachel because of how she’d single-handedly ruined the girl’s life.

Bruce stood in the middle of the room, hands on his hips. “Why’s everyone so miserable?” he asked. “I couldn’t be happier about the baby. I’m thrilled to death. Okay, I know we agreed to wait for Jolene’s sake, but the deed is done. She’ll get used to it.”

Rachel feared that was simply wishful thinking on his part. “I hope so,” she whispered.

“Give the kid some credit,” Bruce said. “Jolene is flexible. It might take her a while to come to terms with the fact that we’re adding to the family, but eventually she’ll be as happy as we are.”

“Eventually,” Rachel echoed. She wasn’t a pessimist by nature, but she didn’t share his optimism about Jolene.

He studied her for a moment. “You look tired.”

“I am,” she said. It was a mild exaggeration, but she needed time alone to think. “Would you mind if I went to bed?”

Glancing at his watch, he arched his brows. “It’s only seven-thirty.”

“I know.”

He smiled slowly. “Interested in company?”

She smiled back. “Sorry, not tonight.”

His face fell. “Is it going to be like this during the whole pregnancy?” He sounded like a little boy who’d been deprived of dessert.

“Bruce,” she snapped, in no mood to deal with this.

“All right, all right, I apologize. It’s just that it’s been a while.”

“Three days,” she reminded him.

“Are you keeping track?” he asked. “Isn’t that like closing the barn door after the cow gets out?”

“It’s a horse.”

“Whatever.”

“I suppose you’re right. We should’ve paid more attention before now.” She stood and started toward their bedroom.

Reaching out, Bruce grabbed her hand. His eyes were dark. “Are you saying you’d rather you weren’t pregnant?”

“Oh, honestly, Bruce. You have to know the timing’s all wrong. Jolene is upset and—”

He released her hand. “Fine. If having my baby is such a hardship, then I won’t trouble you again. I’ll move into the spare bedroom and you can rest assured I won’t interrupt your precious sleep.”

So it had come to this. The two of them were at odds, attacking each other. This should be the happiest time of her life and it was all Rachel could do not to break into tears.

“Did you hear me?” Bruce demanded.

“If moving into the spare bedroom is what you want, then don’t let me stop you.”

Thirty-Four

Roy McAfee wasn’t a man who got involved in other people’s affairs. In his line of work, he’d seen enough to make any man skeptical of the human heart. Because of that, he tried to stay away from divorce cases, especially those that included child custody disputes. Most of his work concerned background checks and insurance investigations. In his opinion, people had a right to live the way they wanted, unless they hurt or swindled others.

The reason he was making an exception now had to do with his daughter Gloria. She’d made her decision not to tell Chad