A Baby by Easter by Lois Richer Read Free Book Online

by the way she challenged him. “Which is?”
    â€œWhen you disagree with my suggestions, and you will disagree,” Susannah said, her smile kicking up the corners of her pretty lips, “will you at least try to understand that I’m making them for Darla’s benefit?”
    What did she think—that he was some bitter, angry, power monger who had to lord it over everyone to feel complete?
    â€œI’ll listen,” David agreed, staring at her midriff. “As long as you promise you won’t take any undue chances.”
    â€œWith the baby?” Her face tightened. “No,” she said firmly. “I want my baby to be healthy. I won’t risk anything for that. That’s one thing I don’t intend to mess up.”
    â€œThen we have a deal.”
    David turned and walked away.
    That’s one thing I don’t intend to mess up.
    For the rest of the day, David couldn’t stop speculating on Susannah’s comment. What—or who—had let Susannah down, making her believe she had to earn love?
    He found no satisfactory answers to stop his thoughts about Darla’s newest caregiver—at least, that’s how he should be thinking of the beautiful Susannah Wells.

Chapter Four
    T wo weeks later Susannah stirred under the November sun, stretched and blinked. The scene in front of her brought her wide awake.
    â€œDo you like it?” Darla preened, scissors dangling from one finger.
    â€œUm, it’s different.” Susannah slid her legs to one side and slowly rose. Thankfully her recent light-headedness seemed to have abated. She lifted the scissors from Darla’s hands and put them on the patio table. “Let’s put these away.”
    She’d slept a full eight hours last night. It wasn’t as if she was tired. And yet, one minute of sun and she went out like a light. Sleeping on the job. David would be furious.
    â€œWhy did you cut off the bottom of your dress, sweetie?” Susannah asked.
    â€œI don’t like this dress,” Darla grumbled. She flopped down into a chair. “Davy says it’s nice but I think it’s ugly.”
    â€œBecause it’s black?” Susannah asked. “But you look good in black. You have the right coloring.”
    Darla didn’t look at her. Instead she drew her knees to her chin and peered into space.
    â€œWhy so serious?” Susannah laid a hand on the shiny dark head. “What are you thinking about, honey?”
    â€œWhen my mom died, it was like today,” Darla whispered. “There were leaves falling off the trees.”
    And you wore a black dress.
    â€œBlack isn’t only for funerals, you know, Darla,” she soothed. “Evening wear is often black because it looks so dressy. And a lot of women wear black to look slimmer.”
    â€œAm I fat?” Darla asked, eyes widening.
    â€œNo! Of course you’re not. I didn’t mean that.” Susannah couldn’t tell what was going on in the girl’s mind, so she waited.
    â€œBlack clothes don’t show marks when you spill stuff,” the whisper came a minute later.
    â€œOh?” Something told Susannah to proceed very carefully.
    â€œDavy and me went out for pizza last night. It was good, but I spilled.”
    â€œI’m sure the pizza people didn’t care. Restaurants are used to spills,” Susannah encouraged. “Besides, everyone gets messy eating pizza.”
    â€œDavy didn’t. He had on a white shirt.” Darla wouldn’t look at her. “I wore my soccer shirt. It got stains. I looked like a baby.”
    Darla was worried about her appearance?
    â€œDavy was embarr—” She frowned, unable to find the word.
    â€œEmbarrassed? I don’t think David gets embarrassed.” Susannah wasn’t sure she completely understood what was behind these comments. But it was time to find outwhy her clothes bothered Darla. She held out a hand.