Everything She Wanted Read Free Page A

kissed Alex’s head andgave Kate a look that clearly said, “You’re too serious.”
    “I’ll take the bags down to the car,” Donald volunteered, grabbing the diaper bag and a small suitcase.
    “I put two cans of formula and extra bottles in the suitcase. More than enough for the few days you’ll have him.” Margo picked up the blanket from Alex’s crib and a soft puppy. “These are his favorites. Donald will also put theplaypen I left downstairs in your car. He can sleep in that.” Margo scanned the room. “His pacifier is pinned to his shirt, but let me run downstairs and grab a spare just in case.”
    Kate sat in the rocking chair with Alex in her arms and let him finish his bottle. “Go. We’re good here.”
    Margo stopped at the door and turned back. “You’re going to be a wonderful mother someday.”
    Kateplastered on a smile for Margo’s benefit. “You were always the sweeter, kinder, gentler one of us. Alex is in the best hands. I’m better by myself.” The lie sounded convincing but tasted sour and made her heart ache.
    “Anything is possible, Kate. Just look at what I have with Donald.”
    “You two seem happy together. I’m happy for you.”
    “I hope you have something even better than whatI’ve found. You just have to learn to trust and have a little faith.”
    This from the woman who fell in love with a married man and went to extreme lengths to have his child and the family they never had growing up, including sharing him with his wife—­though he swore he hadn’t slept with Christina in the last few years, especially since he met Margo. Kate dropped her cynicism and admitted the­couple seemed happy. Kate wanted them to get past the impending divorce, marry, and be a family. They deserved it. Alex deserved to have his two loving parents together and happy without all the hiding of their relationship and the drama.
    “Come downstairs when he’s finished.”
    Margo left the room. Kate sat in the waning sunlight and rocked Alex back and forth. She studied his sweet facefrom his wide forehead to his softly rounded cheeks. He caught her watching him and took time out of gorging on his milk to smile at her with his mouth still wrapped around the nipple.
    “Charmer. You know I can’t resist you. Don’t tell your mother, but I really am looking forward to having you all to myself for a few days.”
    Dangerous, dangerous ground. Her heart might not be able to takeletting him go again. She loved the little boy. He almost made her think dreams do actually come true and don’t always turn into nightmares. Almost.
    Kate put Alex up to her shoulder and patted his back. He let out a huge belch and settled his cheek back on her shoulder. “That’s my big boy. You sound like every guy I’ve ever met in a bar.”
    Actually, it had been a long time since she’d beena part of that scene. She’d given up playing the party girl, the tough girl who liked even tougher guys, the girl who didn’t care about anyone or anything and all she wanted to do was have a good time. Nothing about that scene or that girl seemed fun anymore.
    At twenty-­two, she’d turned a corner and got serious about herself and her life. For all her negativity about what happened to herin the past and the rotten way she’d been raised and treated, she’d never done a damn thing to change things for the better. A hard realization to wake up to on her birthday, look back at her life, and realize all she’d been doing is surviving. She wanted more. So she went back to school and got her degree in social work. Used the supervised hours she worked in the field to gain experience and honeher skills to work with teenagers. She worked during the day and attended school at night to finish her master’s this past year. Twenty-­eight now, she finally had a job and a purpose in life that filled her up most days, even as the daunting task of helping others who sometimes didn’t necessarily want it dragged her down, but never