Created In Fire (Art of Love Series) by Donna McDonald Read Free Book Online Page B

Michael told her, walking toward the house and away from her family as fast as he could.
    “I’m not really crying. It’s just—stress,” she said, sniffling hard against his shoulder. “I can walk now. Put me down. I’m too heavy to carry all this way.”
    Michael stopped at the patio, set Carrie on her feet, and stood there until he was sure she wasn’t going to faint. By then, his temper had cooled at least a couple of notches.
    “Now that I’m calmer, let’s try this again. You want to sit and let me go back to see if I can straighten this out with your father and brother? Maybe they were just caught off-guard by the news.”
    Carrie shook her head. “No. There’s no use. They won’t listen to reason. All they care about is what the people in the church are going to think when they find out I’m pregnant and getting married again. In their eyes, I keep making mistake after mistake. I feel like that myself sometimes, but I can’t undo things to save their reputation.”
    “Honey, you’re just living your life the best way you can like the rest of us. Those men need to learn some life lessons about compassion,” Michael said fiercely. “Regardless of their opinion, they still had no right to talk to you that way. Everyone deserves to be treated respectfully. They’re lucky my Dad didn’t hear them.”
    “They don’t hurt my feelings much anymore. I’m just embarrassed for you. I need to make a quick restroom stop, and then I’ll be ready to go,” she said, escaping from him as he followed her into the house.
    Carrie was just coming out of the hallway restroom when her mother walked back in and came straight to her.
    “Carlene. Are you okay?” she asked. “Ethan—your father—he said you were having a child.”
    “Yes. I am. I’m a little over two months along,” Carrie said, lifting her chin once again, finding it harder to do each time. She was so tired of being on the defensive with everyone in her life. “I came to tell you all about the baby, and that Michael and I were getting married. I’ve moved in with Michael already because I’ve been so sick. He’s—he’s taking care of me.”
    “Carlene—please try to be patient with your father. It’s just a lot to accept. You know he has trouble with your unconventional life,” Maggie said, her voice as conciliatory as she could make it.
    “It wasn’t like I chased Michael down and got pregnant just to make Dad’s life miserable. Michael’s family gave their support in a single instance of meeting me. It’s hard not to compare how accepting they are with the way Dad and Kevin go out of their way to make sure I feel bad about my life,” Carrie said, her voice sad. “I didn’t mean to get pregnant, Mom. Whether you and Dad believe it, it’s still the truth.”
    “What happened between us happened because of how passionately we feel about each other, Carrie,” Michael stated firmly, his gaze fierce on hers. “It’s not shameful. It’s not wrong. And you know I think the baby is a gift. I meant that when I said it.”
    Carrie couldn’t stop the tears from spilling over and flowing so hard that they fell in the floor at her feet. It’s what Michael told her the night she told him about the baby. She didn’t believe him then, but there was no disputing his sincerity now. His every action since had proven to her that he sincerely wanted the baby. If there was a silver lining to the cloud of her pregnancy, that was it for Carrie. The father of her child at least wanted it.
    Margaret swung a respectful gaze to the man standing at her daughter’s side. “Well, for what it’s worth you have my blessing, Michael Larson. I believe you.”
    “Best offer I’ve had so far today,” he said, surprising Carrie’s mother with a quick, uninhibited hug. “I love your daughter, Mrs. Addison.”
    “Maggie please—and I believe that too,” Maggie stated, saying a quick thankful prayer, and then another behind the first that one