Temptation - Brenda Jackson [57]
“You’re thinking about getting married?” Again? Sheila really should not be surprised. Her mother hated being single and had a knack for getting a husband whenever she wanted one…
“Um, I’m thinking about it. I really like Charles.”
You only met him last week. And wasn’t it just a couple of weeks ago she’d asked her about Dr. Morgan? Sheila decided not to remind her mother of all those other men she’d liked, as well. “I wish you the best, Mom.” And she did. She wanted her mother to be happy. Married or not.
“Thanks. And what’s that I hear in the background? Sounds like a kid.”
Sheila had no intention of telling her mother the entire story about Sunnie. “It is a baby. I’m taking care of her for a little while.” That wasn’t totally untrue since she was considered Sunnie’s caretaker for the time being.
“That’s nice, dear, since chances are you won’t have any of your own. Your biological clock is ticking and you have no prospects.”
Sheila smiled, deciding to let her mother think whatever she wanted. “You don’t have to have a man to get pregnant, Mom. Just sperm.”
“Please don’t do anything foolish. I hope you aren’t thinking of going that route. Besides, being pregnant can mess up a woman’s figure for life.”
Sheila rolled her eyes. Her mother thought nothing of blaming her for the one stretch mark she still had on her tummy. She was about to open her mouth and say something—to change the subject—when her doorbell sounded.
“Mom, I have to go. There’s someone at the door.”
“Be careful. There are lunatics living in small towns.”
“Okay, Mom, I’ll be careful.” At times it was best not to argue.
After hanging up the phone, she glanced over at Sunnie, who was busy laughing while reaching for a toy that let out a squeal each time Sunnie touched it. She was such a happy baby.
Sheila glanced through the peephole. There was a woman standing there holding an arrangement of beautiful flowers. Sheila immediately figured the delivery was for her neighbor, who probably wasn’t at home. She opened the door. “Yes, may I help you?”
The woman smiled. “Yes, I have a delivery for Sheila Hopkins.”
Sheila stared at the woman, shocked. “I’m Sheila Hopkins. Those are for me?”
“Yes.” The woman handed her a huge arrangement in a beautiful vase. “Enjoy them.”
The woman then left, leaving Sheila standing there, holding the flowers with the shocked look still in place. It took the woman driving off before Sheila pulled herself together to take a step back into the house and close the door behind her as she gazed at the flowers. It was a beautiful bouquet. She quickly placed the vase in what she considered the perfect spot before pulling off the card.
I am thinking of you. Zeke.
Sheila’s heart began to swell. He was away but still had her in his thoughts. A feeling of happiness spread through her. Zeke, who claimed he loved her, was too real to be true. She wanted to believe he was real…but…
She turned to Sunnie. “Look what Zeke sent. I feel special…and loved.”
Sunnie didn’t pay her any attention as she continued to play with the toy Zeke had won for her at the carnival. Sheila was satisfied that even if Sunnie wasn’t listening, her heart was. Now, if she could just shrug off her inner fear that regardless of what he did or said, for her Zeke was a heartbreak waiting to happen.
A few days later, during a telephone conversation with a Denver detective, Zeke’s hand tightened on the phone. “Are you sure?” he asked.
“Yes,” the man replied. “I verified with a hospital in New Orleans that Diane Worth gave birth to a baby girl there five months ago. We could pick her up for questioning since abandoning a baby is a punishable crime.”
Zeke inhaled a deep breath. “She could say the baby is living somewhere with relatives or friends, literally having us going around in circles. We need proof she’s Sunnie’s mother and have that proof when she’s brought in. Otherwise, she’ll give Miguel Rivera time to cover his tracks.”
Zeke paused a moment and then added, “We need a DNA sample from Worth. How can we get it without her knowing about it?”
“I