href="#litres_trial_promo">Chapter Twelve
Prologue
Teresa Tyler wearily eased away from the toilet. She’d been sick every morning for the past two weeks.
At first, she’d thought she had a touch of the flu. But now she had more than a niggling feeling her first guess had been wrong. Steadying her nervous hands, she withdrew the small box from the drugstore sack and carefully read the directions. They were supposed to be easy, or so the manufacturer said. Right now nothing seemed simple.
After she followed the two-step process, she paced the floor of her house, waiting the allotted time. But she knew what the results would show. To be honest, she’d figured it out pretty quickly, even though it hadn’t happened to her before.
Nor had she planned for it to happen. Not at all, which was stupid on her part. She’d been so wrapped up in the throes of love that her actions had seemed so natural, absolutely perfect.
Time was up. She picked up the test strip and looked at her fate.
She was pregnant.
Chapter One
At four months pregnant, Teresa Tyler didn’t move as quickly as she used to. So when the phone rang she needed three rings to answer it.
“I just realized I haven’t seen you for more than a month. Why don’t you come for dinner this evening?” It was her sister Tommie. She took being the eldest of the triplet sisters seriously and at times acted more like Teresa’s mother than her sibling. “I’ve invited Tabitha and Mom, with Joel, of course, and Pete’s mother and brother. It’ll be a family night. Say you’ll come.”
Panic instantly filling her, Teresa replied immediately. “I can’t.”
“But, Teresa—”
Teresa drew a deep breath. She’d known this day would come sometime. Tonight was probably as good as any to reveal her secret. “I’ll come on one condition.”
“What’s that?” Tommie asked.
“If you and Tabitha come to lunch today. Just us girls.”
Tommie hesitated. Then she said, “Okay. I’ll call Tabitha.”
“Great. I’ll see you both at noon.”
After she hung up the phone, Teresa sighed deeply. It was almost a relief that she finally had to tell her sisters the truth. It was inevitable. She couldn’t avoid them forever. Besides, she needed Tommie and Tabitha on her side when she faced her mother tonight.
But first things first. How was she going to tell her sisters that she was pregnant and had every intention of raising her baby alone?
On the way, Tommie Tyler Schofield picked up her sister Tabitha. “Have you actually seen Teresa lately?”
“Why, no. She’s spending all her spare time working on her book. Which isn’t easy after teaching all day.”
“So she is teaching? One of the women who moved with Pete’s company told me Teresa wasn’t at the same school anymore.”
“What? She never mentioned a change of school to me. Isn’t that strange?”
“Pete thinks it’s because we keep trying to interfere in her life. He warns me about that all the time,” Tommie said with irritation as she parked her car at Teresa’s small but well-tended house.
“He just doesn’t understand,” Tabitha said, getting out of the car. “We’ve always taken care of Teresa. I know she’s only six minutes younger than me but…it’s just like you taking charge though you’re only two minutes older than me.”
“Well, I’m glad we’re going to see her today, so we can figure out what’s wrong.”
They walked up the sidewalk and knocked on the front door.
Teresa swung open the door, wearing jeans and a long work shirt over a white T-shirt. “Come in,” Teresa said as she hugged her sisters. She’d missed them the past few weeks.
“How are you?” Tommie asked.
“Fine,” Teresa said as she turned to go to the kitchen.
“You look like you’ve put back on the weight you lost,” Tabitha commented. “We were concerned.”
Ignoring the remark Teresa waved them toward the breakfast table that was set for three. “Have a seat. I’ll explain everything to you.”
Taking the homemade quiche from the oven, she cut it into slices and put it on individual plates next to a fresh garden salad. After she’d poured iced tea for all of them, she sat down at the table, only to find both her sisters staring at her.
“I have a lot to confess,” Teresa began. “First of all, I’m not teaching.”
That revelation took both her sisters by surprise.
“Not at all? We’d discovered you weren’t at your old school, but—” Tommie’s voice trailed off.
“How are you supporting yourself?” Tabitha asked, getting to the bottom line quickly.
“I’m living on my savings. I took a sabbatical from my job so I could devote myself to my writing.”
“So you invited us here to tell us you sold your children’s book?” Tommie asked, hoping for the best.
“No, not yet. My other piece of news is…is a little more dramatic. You see, I’m pregnant.”
Stunned silence filled the room and echoed in her ears for a full minute.
Finally Tommie asked, “Are you getting married?”
“And to whom?” Tabitha wanted to know.
Teresa stared at the quiche rather than her sisters. “No, I’m not going to marry.”
“Why not?” Tommie asked.
“Because the baby and I are a family. We don’t need anyone else. Other than you two and Mom, of course.”
“But I don’t understand,” Tommie said. “You loved this man enough to make a baby, but you don’t want to marry him?”
“Things didn’t work out, Tommie. It happens.” She rose from her seat and did some busy work at the counter. Then she turned back to her sister. “Look, I didn’t want to come to your house this evening and shock you in front of other people.”
“Do you need anything?” Tabitha asked. “What can we do to help?”
“I didn’t tell you because I needed your help. I told you because I wanted you
