You're My Baby Read Free

the wine.”
    Darn. Pam had hoped she’d sidestepped the issue of drinking. Her TGIF buddies Connie and Ginny would be the first to suspect something when she turned down chardonnay. She poured herself a glass of ice water.
    â€œNo wine? You must be sick.” Connie made a show of laying her palm on Pam’s forehead.
    â€œMaybe later. I’m really thirsty from my rush to arrive more or less on time.”
    â€œWell, now that you’re here, let me introduce you to our new faculty members.” She leaned closer. “Is it my imagination, or do they get younger every year?”
    Pam raised her eyebrows in mock horror. “Surely it couldn’t be that we’re getting older?”
    Grateful to be led away from the wine and the potential for discovery, Pam circulated through the crowd. Without fail, several colleagues asked her the standard question: “Are you ready for school?” Ready? It would be miraculous if she could overcome her morning sickness each day before her first-period class.
    By the time the food was served, Pam had no trouble downing the curried chicken salad, fresh fruit compote and three of the lemony poppy-seed muffins. She refused to feel guilty about her gluttony—she was eating for two, after all. Thankfully no one noticed that water remained her beverage of choice.
    Jack Liddy’s very pregnant wife, Darla, sat at Pam’s table, reveling in talk of babies. “The only problem is that Jack’ll be in the middle of football season when Junior makes his appearance. Let’s hope I don’t deliver on game night.”
    â€œNot the best planning, huh?” Carolee Simmons, the French teacher said.
    Darla winked mischievously. “You have to do something in the off-season, you know.”
    â€œWill you be teaching until the baby comes?” Pam asked, as much for herself as because of her interest in Darla.
    â€œI’m trying to make it to the end of the first quarter, then a substitute will take over until I can return at the semester.”
    Carolee, single herself, leaned forward. “Won’t it be hard to leave the baby to come back to work?”
    Darla shrugged. “It’ll be awful. But what choice do I have? We’ll need the money.”
    Pam pursed her lips. “Occupational hazard of educators.” She, too, would have no option but to work. Otherwise, how could she afford her condo, car, insurance and day care?
    â€œAnyway,” Darla continued, “my doctor says I should be fine by January.”
    Pam’s mouth felt dry. “Who is your doctor?”
    â€œBelinda Ellis. She’s wonderful!”
    Pam stored the name in her memory. Initially she would have to find a doctor in another part of town, one with no connections to the school—if that was possible. So Dr. Ellis was out. At least for now. Despite the Texas sun, her hands had turned to ice.
    When the party broke up, Connie fell in beside Pam as they walked to their cars. “Inquiring minds want to know. Did you meet any interesting men in Austin?”
    Pam knew Connie and Ginny worried about her. Each had tried sporadic matchmaking attempts, with disappointing results. Finally she had met someone—a man she could happily have followed to the ends of the earth. And she couldn’t say one word. Even to her best friend. “Interesting? They were all interesting, sexy, and, naturally, hot for li’l ole me.”
    â€œGive me a break,” Connie said, calling her bluff. “No one?”
    Pam opted for a half-truth. “There was one.”
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œHe’s gone home, I’ve come home, and that’s that.”
    â€œNo letters? No scheduled visits?”
    Pam shrugged. “Nope. The cookie has crumbled, as they say.”
    Connie laid a comforting hand on Pam’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. Someday your prince will come. I just know it.”
    Well, he’d better hurry the hell