An Unlikely Daddy by Rachel Lee Read Free Book Online Page B

have been living in a state of near paralysis for months now, but she was still capable of making a phone call.
    â€œBecause,” Julie said frankly, “you sounded like you didn’t want him to come.”
    â€œMaybe I don’t!”
    â€œToo late now.” Julie grinned. “I’m going to get you out of that shell before it hardens into an unbreakable habit. Anyway, I need to start cubing the chicken.”
    Marisa’s curiosity overwhelmed her irritation. It always did with Julie. “What did he say? Did he hesitate?”
    â€œNo hesitation. Just asked for time to shower since he was out running.”
    Marisa’s gaze drifted to the window, still frosty in many places. “In this?”
    â€œThe tough get going,” Julie tossed back as she rose and pulled out the cutting board. “Did you exercise today?”
    â€œI forgot.” The realization shocked her. What had happened to the entire day? Had she just sat here brooding for all these hours?
    â€œBad girl. If you want to ride your exercise bike while I cook, go for it.”
    Marisa had a recumbent bike to ride every day. It had become too risky to walk outside with patches of ice scattered everywhere, and the bike was designed so that she could lean back and leave plenty of room for her belly. “No. One day off won’t kill me.”
    â€œProbably not, but you know what the doc said. More exercise means easier labor.”
    â€œLike he knows for sure.”
    Julie giggled. “It’s got to be better, and you know it. For bunches of reasons. But you’re right, one day off won’t kill you. Now enjoy your cup of coffee and watch me slave after a long day of sitting in chairs that are way too small for me and listening to piping voices that never quiet down unless I roll out the nap mats.”
    However Julie talked about it, Marisa was certain that she loved teaching kindergarten. She’d had a chance to change grades more than once, but she stuck with her five-year-olds.
    â€œFormative years,” Julie had explained once, but Marisa had always believed that Julie got a kick out of the little ones. She also believed that getting them young gave her the best chance to instill a joy in learning. “Not that some other teacher won’t knock it out of them,” she had added wryly. “But I can’t do anything about that. All I can do is give them the best start.”
    â€œWell, they’ve sure lost their interest by the time they get to me,” Marisa had retorted.
    â€œThat’s your fault,” Julie had answered. “You should have majored in something besides the classics and dead gods.”
    Much to her surprise, Marisa felt her mood elevating. Having dinner with Julie and Ryker might well be enjoyable, especially since Julie never pulled her punches.
    But the instant she felt her spirits improve, she felt guilty, and her thoughts tried to return to Johnny and his death. For the first time, it occurred to her that she shouldn’t feel guilty every time she enjoyed something. In her heart of hearts, she knew Johnny wouldn’t have wanted that. She shouldn’t want it, either. Grieving was hard enough without adding guilt to the mix every time she knew a few moments of respite from the loss. Julie was right, fifty years was too long to waste.
    So she pushed the guilt down and focused instead on the here and now. Julie been trying to tell her for some time that there was no proper way to grieve, no set of requirements to be met. Her heart had been ripped wide open, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t allow herself to heal.
    Locking herself in a permanent purgatory helped no one. It didn’t bring Johnny back, and it wouldn’t be fair to her baby. Time for some stiff upper lip.
    â€œI was thinking it’s time to shop for the baby,” she remarked as Julie began to scoop chicken and vegetables into the casserole.
    â€œI saw the