A Family Come True Read Free

adventure complete with animals performing on cue.
    “Holy...”
    She knew the feeling. On that morning a lifetime ago, when she had finally dragged her gaze away from the test stick in her hand to stare at herself in the bathroom mirror, she had seen that same horror-movie expression now appearing on Xander’s face. Yet when she looked closely, she saw in his eyes that same contradictory hint of amazement that had gripped her, as well. That had to be a good sign. Right?
    “I did try to find you. To tell you,” she added quickly. “But Ian said he hadn’t heard from you since you left, and I—”
    “Wait a minute.” He backed up an inch or so. “We only— It was just that one night. Once.”
    She didn’t need to remind him that one drunken night and one ancient condom didn’t always add up to zero consequences.
    “And you were with what’s-his-name, the jerk who dumped you—”
    “Jonathan.” Thank heaven she could say his name calmly now, as opposed to the way she had shrieked it, cursed it and blubbered it back then. “I thought that myself at first, but I did the math, checked when he had been out of town and the last time he and I— Anyway, there’s no way it could have been him.”
    “You’re sure?”
    “Positive. But you’re more than welcome to have whatever tests done that you would like. I wouldn’t blame you.”
    The lazy grace she had come to associate with Xander that summer had disappeared. “I don’t need— Well, yeah. Maybe I should... Jesus.” Long fingers scrubbed his face. “I don’t know what to say, Darce.”
    “It’s kind of a shocker, I know.”
    “Yeah, I guess you would.”
    His short attempt at a laugh reassured her. At least he wasn’t going to pass out. Nor had he run away screaming or shown more than an understandable uncertainty about his role in Cady’s conception. So far, so good.
    She glanced toward the back door, hoping against hope that Ian and Cady would be watching from the window. Of course, they weren’t. Ian most likely had Cady in her high chair, zooming spoonfuls of yogurt toward her mouth while she slammed her “practice” spoon on the tray. Or he would be changing her diaper, making up another installment in the Saga of Lulu and Cady that he was forever spinning for her. Normal. Familiar. Comforting.
    Except...oh, that awful blankness on his face when he’d taken Cady from her...
    “So, I don’t know where you were, but you could teach classes in disappearing, because seriously, I couldn’t find you. Ian had no idea, either.” Not that she had told Ian why she’d wanted that information, of course. She had told him she was worried about Lulu.
    Was that why he had looked so hurt? Because she hadn’t told him the truth?
    “I thought about hiring a private investigator, but you know, those guys cost a lot of money and I...well, I had a lot of unexpected expenses, as I’m sure you can understand.” Unexpected expenses coupled with a drastic readjustment of her job. Not that she minded, really. Accompanying her mother around the globe had had its moments, but if Darcy had to spend her life catering to a diva, she would take Cady over her mom any day.
    “Expenses. Right.” Xander’s face grew a couple of shades paler. “Oh, shit. I’m going to have to pay child support. And it’s all retroactive, isn’t it?”
    “I don’t— Look, that’s important, but, believe it or not, it’s not my biggest priority right now, okay? So don’t freak. I’m not going to sic a bunch of lawyers on you.”
    His quivering eased the tiniest bit.
    “What did you— Jesus, I didn’t even catch her name. Katie?”
    “Cady. Short for Cadence. Cadence Joy Maguire.”
    “That’s pretty.”
    “Thanks.”
    She hazarded another glance at the door. Foolish, she knew. Even if Ian wasn’t juggling child and dog, even if she had completely misread him, he would never spy on her.
    But, damn, it would be nice to see his face for a second.
    “So