For All Their Lives by Fern Michaels Read Free Book Online Page B

it.
    â€œWhat an insidious thing to say. You wait here and don’t you dare move. I’ll be right back.” She was off the sofa, her peignoir flying behind her, the heels of her mules clicking on the polished floor. She was back a second later with a plastic pouch in her hand. Her face was triumphant. She led her husband over to the table lamp, from which she removed the shade, and held the round piece of rubber against the light. A minute hole appeared as a bright little spot in the latex. “I knew you would say just what you said, that’s why I didn’t throw this away. It’s not my fault!”
    â€œIsn’t it going to bother you being alone in a strange country? If you stayed here, at least my father could look after you. All your friends are here.”
    â€œFriends? I don’t want them to see me looking like a blimp. I want to hide, don’t you understand?”
    â€œNo, I don’t understand.” He remembered Benny’s wife and the way she had trundled along, waddling like a duck, up until the day she delivered. She constantly made jokes about her appearance, and she had let him put his hand on her stomach when the baby kicked. He’d been awestruck, as awestruck as Benny. Benny had worn a sappy expression for the whole nine months. He’d loved the way his wife looked. But then Benny and Carol were in love.
    â€œIt’s not important for you to understand. As long as I do, that’s all that’s important. Anyway, why are you going to Charleston? What did your father say?”
    â€œI want to see my uncle Harry, and my father didn’t seem too interested in becoming a grandfather. I asked him to keep an eye on you. As for money, I took care of everything.”
    â€œI want enough, Mac. Make sure you understand that.”
    â€œI understand, and I said I provided for you. Now, I want to talk about us.”
    â€œNot again, Mac,” Alice said wearily.
    â€œYes, again. Because I’m not happy, and I don’t see how you can be happy. I don’t love you, Alice. I want you to think about this marriage. I meant what I said this morning. When I get back, we’re going to discuss a divorce seriously.”
    Alice felt a flutter of panic. He sounded different than he had this morning. She believed he meant what he said. Where would that leave her? Out in the cold with a kid, that’s where.
    â€œI never understood what it was you wanted from me, Mac,” she whined. “Tell me now. If I’m supposed to think about this while you’re away, I have to know what it is you think I did wrong,”
    â€œI wanted you to be, a wife,” Mac said coolly. “Do you know that in our entire marriage, you never even made me a cup of coffee?”
    Alice’s laugh was shrill. “Listen, Mac, you were the one who hired the cook. You said you didn’t want me to do anything but be here for you. That’s exactly what you said. And that’s what I did. I got used to this way of life to please you , and now you tell me you’re going to take it away from me when you get back? No you’re not. I’ll fight you. I’ve made a life for myself, and I’m going to keep it, and that’s all I have to say about it,” Alice snapped. “Is there anything else?”
    â€œOnly this.” Mac seethed. “If the baby is a girl, I want it named after my mother. If it’s a boy, I want it named after me, not my father.”
    â€œFine, I agree. Is there anything else?” Alice asked coldly.
    â€œGood-bye, Alice.”
    â€œGood-bye, Mac.”
    Mac fumed all the way up the steps. The television set was already back on.
    Â 
    A LICE REACHED FOR the little notebook she had stuffed under the cushion when she heard Mac’s car in the driveway. Her skin positively itched and the tips of her fingers tingled. Her heart took on an extra beat at what she’d done between the hours of five and