The wheels in Steve’s mind were spinning fast. "The best thing I can do is talk to her, and find out what’s happening."
"Do that, but for heaven’s sake be gentle with her. She’s too fragile for you to come at her like Hulk Hogan."
"I wouldn’t do that."
"Steve, I’m your sister. I know you!"
"Okay, okay. I’ll talk to you later." He hung up the phone but kept his hand on the receiver while he mulled over his sister’s news. Carol had said she wanted to have a baby, and she knew how he felt about the subject. He’d longed for a family since the first year they were together.
However, they weren’t married now. No problem. Getting remarried was a minor detail. All he had to do was talk to the chaplain and make the arrangements. And if what Lindy said was true, the sooner he saw the chaplain, the better.
Without forethought he jerked the receiver off the hook and jabbed out Carol’s number with his index finger. After two rings, he decided this kind of discussion was better done in person.
He showered, changed clothes and was halfway out the door when he remembered what Lindy had said about letting Carol know he was coming. Good idea.
He marched back over to the phone and dialed her number one more time.
No answer.
"Damn." He started pacing the floor, feeling restless, excited and nervous. He couldn’t stay in the apartment; the walls felt as if they were closing in on him. He’d spent the last three months buried in the belly of a nuclear submarine and hadn’t experienced a twinge of claustrophobia. Twenty minutes inside his apartment, knowing what he now did, and he was going ape.
He had to get out there even if it meant parking outside Carol’s house and waiting for her to return.
He rushed out to his car and was grateful when it started right away after sitting for three months.
He was going to be a father! His heart swelled with joy and he experienced such a sense of elation that he wanted to throw back his head and shout loud enough to bring down brick walls.
A baby. His and Carol’s baby. His throat thickened with emotion, and he had to swallow several times to keep from breaking down and weeping right there on the freeway. A new life. They were going to bring a tiny little being into this world and be accountable for every aspect of the infant’s life. The responsibility seemed awesome. His hands gripped the steering wheel and he sucked in a huge breath as he battled down his excitement and fears.
He was going to be a good father. Always loving and patient. Everything would be right for his son…or daughter. Male chauvinist that he was, he yearned for a son. They could have a daughter the second time, but the thought of Carol giving him a boy felt right in his mind.
But he had so much to learn, so much to take care of. First things first. Steve tried to marshal his disjointed thoughts. He had to see to Carol’s health. If this pregnancy was as hard on her as Lindy implied, then he wanted Carol to quit her job. He made good money; she should stay home and build up her strength.
The drive to Carol’s house took less than fifteen minutes, and when Steve pulled up and parked he noticed her car in the driveway with the passenger door opened. His heart felt like it was doing jumping jacks, he was so eager to see her.
The front door opened and Carol stepped outside and to her car, grabbing a bag of groceries.
"Carol." She hadn’t seen him.
She turned abruptly at the sound of her name. "Steve," she cried out brokenly and dropped the brown shopping bag. Without the least bit of hesitation, she came flying across the lawn.
He met her halfway, and wrapping his arms around her waist, he closed his eyes to the welcome feel of her body against his. His happiness couldn’t be contained and he swung her around. Her lips were all over his face, kissing him, loving him, welcoming him.
Steve drank in her love and it humbled him. He held her gently, fearing he would hurt her, and kissed her with an aching tenderness, his mouth playing over the dewy softness of hers.
His hands captured her face and her deep blue eyes filled with tears as she smiled tremulously at him. "I’ve missed you so much. These have been the longest three months of my life."
"Mine, too." His voice nearly choked, and he kissed her again in an effort to hide the tide of emotion he was experiencing.
Steve picked up the scattered groceries for her and they walked into the house together.
"Go ahead and put those in the kitchen. Are you hungry?"
She seemed nervous and flittered from one side of the room to the other.
"I could fix you something if you’d like," she suggested, her back braced against the kitchen counter.
Steve’s eyes held hers, and the emotion that had rocked him earlier built with intensity every minute he was in her presence. "You know what I want," he whispered, hardly able to speak.
Carol relaxed, and blushed a little. "I want to make love with you so much."
He held his hands out to her and she walked toward him, locking her arms around his neck. She pressed her weight against him and Steve realized how slender she was, how fragile. Regret slammed into his chest with all the force of a wrecking ball against a concrete wall. She was nurturing his child within her womb, for God’s sake, and all he could think about was getting her into bed. He hadn’t even asked her how she was feeling. All he cared about was satisfying his own selfish lusts.
"Carol…" His breath was slow and labored. Gently he tried to break free, because he couldn’t think straight when she was touching him.