1105 Yakima Street - Debbie Macomber [12]
Mack’s anger was justified, and Chad took it to heart. “That depends on Gloria. At this point she isn’t aware I know about the baby.”
“Why not?”
Mack glared at him and Chad looked over at Roy, hoping he’d supply the answer.
“The thing is, your sister specifically asked that Chad not be told. Your mother agreed to that, but I refused.”
“So you went behind Mom’s back?” Mack shook his head as if he already knew the answer and disapproved. “And Gloria’s!”
“I told your mother exactly what I was doing. She wasn’t happy about it. In fact, she still isn’t.” Roy leaned back in his chair, frowning. “I’ll take the books to Gloria and explain that I told you about the baby.”
Chad scowled. He wasn’t ready for Gloria to find that out….
“It’s time I told my daughter I went to see you.”
“Don’t,” Chad said bluntly. “Not yet.”
Roy blinked at him. “Why not?”
Chad tried to clarify his thoughts. “For one thing, I want Gloria to come to me. At some stage she’s going to realize she needs me. If for nothing more than signing the adoption papers. Times have changed, Roy. Fathers have rights, too. Besides, I’m thinking about raising the baby myself.” The idea had only occurred to him a few days ago. He wasn’t committed to it yet, but the possibility was gaining strength in his mind.
“Wait—Gloria’s decided to give the baby up for adoption?” Mack asked. He clenched his fists and stared hard at his father. “You wouldn’t let her do that, would you?”
“It isn’t our decision,” Roy reminded him.
“Yes, but… Okay, fine, whatever, but before that happens Mary Jo and I will raise the baby,” Mack said in clipped tones. “If Chad doesn’t want to do it.” He obviously considered Chad capable of shirking what he himself saw as a duty. “This child is our family’s flesh and blood.”
“More mine than yours,” Chad murmured. But no use debating the issue until they learned Gloria’s intentions.
Roy seemed slightly amused by Mack’s reaction. “Don’t you think you should talk this over with Mary Jo first before you make that kind of offer?”
“She’ll agree with me.”
“It’s a moot point,” Chad said. “No one knows what Gloria’s going to do. Once she’s made her decision, we may need to talk again.”
Both men nodded.
“For now, all I ask,” Chad said, “is for one of you or even Corrie to see that Gloria gets these books.”
“Who should I say gave them to her?” Roy asked.
Chad shrugged. “Let her assume they came from you.”
“You’re sure about this?” Mack asked.
“Very sure. I want—no, I need—Gloria to come to me. She’s the one who walked away. Maybe it’s just my pride talking, I don’t know, but I’d be more comfortable if she made the first move.”
Roy allowed Chad’s words to hang in the air for a moment before he responded. “I’ll hold off a bit longer if that’s what you want. However, for the sake of my relationship with my wife, I think it might be a good idea if I confessed sooner rather than later.”
Chad understood. “Okay. Go ahead and tell Gloria.” He didn’t like it but Roy had done him one favor already.
“I’ll take the books to her,” Mack volunteered. “We’ve had a couple of good talks recently.”
“Oh?” Roy raised his brows in question.
Chad was curious, too, although it wasn’t his place to ask.
“Gloria had to tell Sheriff Davis she’s pregnant, and as of next week she’s going on desk duty.” Chad was relieved to hear it. However, Mack looked away as he spoke, which led Chad to believe there was more to this than he was saying.
“Any particular reason?”
“Well, it’s standard protocol for pregnant officers.” Mack shifted in his seat, clearly uncomfortable with this turn in the conversation. “But, okay, the fact is that Gloria’s in her mid-thirties, so the obstetrician is being extra cautious.”
“Has she told her mother about this?” Roy asked.
“I believe so.”
Roy sighed, and Chad guessed that Corrie hadn’t said anything to Roy because she was still upset with him.
“The doctor’s scheduled an ultrasound.”
“For when?” Chad did his best to hide his own anxiety. He’d dealt with a lot of pregnancies and a lot of babies during his medical career—but