And Baby Makes Three Read Free

to feel obligated to be in my child’s life. I can be a good single mom. Hey, I come from a long line of single mothers.” She tried to sound flippant but inside she actually hurt. She thought she would break the mold in her family and be married when the children came along. The apple not falling far from the tree quote came into her head. So she’d be a mother alone, but she’d be a damn good one.
    “Marie, you really should tell him,” Ivy encouraged. “He’d do the right thing.”
    Marie shook her head. “I don’t want the right thing. I don’t want me or this baby to be a burden to his life.” She took Ivy’s hand and begged.
    “Please don’t tell him. Promise me as my best friend you won’t tell him.”
    “I won’t tell him,” Ivy promised.
    “I’m going to head home. Can you tell admin that I am sick?” Marie asked.
    “Already did it.” Ivy smiled. “I actually put in for your vacation time.
    You have a few weeks built up. Take it and come to terms with it all. Plus, by that time, hopefully the morning sickness will have subsided.”
    “I have to make an appointment with an OBGYN. Will you go with me, whenever the appointment is?” Marie asked.
    Ivy hugged her and Marie felt tears threaten. “Of course. I’m with you all the way.”
    “Thanks, Ivy. I really mean that,” she said.
    She gathered her things and walked out of Walter Reed into the fall sunlight. Pregnant. She was still in shock when she let herself into her house and went upstairs for a shower. She climbed into bed and tried to forget about everything by falling asleep.

Chapter Two
    Ivy pulled the decorative pillows from the bed while Rafe pulled back the blankets.
    “You seem quiet tonight,” he commented.
    “I know. It’s just been a long day,” Ivy said and sat down on the bed.
    “Rafe, if you knew something, a secret, and you promised not to tell a certain person, can you somehow get around it by giving the information to someone else who could then pass it on to the person who was not supposed to know in the first place?”
    Rafe chuckled and climbed into bed. He patted the space next to him, urging her to come closer. “Honey, I’m a bit confused. How about you explain?”
    “I have a secret that I promised Marie I would not tell.” She snuggled into Rafe’s arms.
    “That she and Brody have been sweating up the sheets? Honey, I already know that,” Rafe said.
    She slapped him on the chest. “You didn’t tell me, you rat fink.”
    “It’s the man code. You don’t tell your wife about your single friends’
    love lives,” Rafe explained.
    “Well, maybe I’ll keep my secret then,” Ivy said primly. She had an inkling something was going on. Marie looked a tad too pleased when Ivy had come back to work after her time off when Rafe was gone on mission.
    Who knew all that time she and Brody were sleeping together?
    “Does it help if I say that Brody is really into her, but Marie is the one who keeps pulling back?” Rafe said.
    “Kind of, but there is something bigger in the picture now.” Ivy took a deep breath and let it out. “Marie is pregnant and she made me promise not to tell Brody,” Ivy explained. “But since I told you, you can tell Brody, and then at her first doctor appointment if he happens to show up…”
    “I see where you’re going with this, you little minx. You’re using me as a messenger.” Rafe chuckled. “I love it. He is away at Pendleton for training for four weeks. I’ll call him and have a talk tomorrow.” 
    “Four weeks is perfect. They won’t be able to see a heartbeat till about ten weeks anyway, so it coincides with her first appointment. I knew you’d see it my way, darling Rafe,” Ivy replied, pleased with herself.
    Marie wouldn’t be happy, but in the end she hoped her friend would understand. Brody had a right to know and if he stepped aside then he would have her wrath to deal with. Ivy would not allow her friend to be hurt.
    “Baby, are you okay?”