that was impossible.
When Teresa came out to get in her car Wednesday for her doctor’s appointment, she remembered wondering what Jim had meant when he said he’d see her Wednesday.
Now she knew.
Jim’s luxury car was parked in her driveway behind her own economy car. His window was rolled down and he sat behind the wheel.
She slowly walked over to him. “Jim? What are you doing here?”
“I’m here to take you to your doctor’s appointment.”
Teresa frowned. “Why?”
“Because I thought you sounded a little apprehensive talking about the appointment when I was here on Monday. I didn’t think you should have to go through it alone.”
Teresa fought back the sudden tears that filled her eyes. She turned away from Jim so he couldn’t see them. “I’m afraid that’s not possible, Jim. Everyone at the doctor’s office would think you were the father. Rumors would start. Your mother would be appalled.”
“My mother will survive. We’ll tell everyone at the doctor’s office that I’m your brother. It’s almost true.”
That brother thing again, she thought. Why did he torture her with that? “No. Please back out so I can leave.” She turned and headed for her car.
Jim jumped out of his car and beat her to the door of her own. She thought he was being sweet and was going to open it for her. Instead, he leaned against it. “I’m not leaving.”
“Jim, you’re being unreasonable!”
“No, you’re the one being unreasonable. I just want to help you.”
“I don’t need your help.”
He stepped forward and put an arm around her shoulders. “You need someone’s help, and I’m the only one here. If your sisters had shown up, I’d back off. But they didn’t.”
“I told them I’d be fine. There was no need for them to take off work.”
“I agree. Come on, Teresa. Let me go with you.”
“Okay, you can drive me there, but you have to stay in the waiting room while I’m examined.”
“If that’s what you want,” he assured her as he opened his passenger door for her.
Once they were on their way, his gaze kept flitting to the side to catch a glimpse of her face. In a casual voice he said, “It seemed to me you were worried about what the sonogram might show. Am I right?”
“It’s going to be fine, I’m sure.”
He reached out and took her left hand in his, cradling it on his thigh. “Of course it is.”
When Teresa tried to withdraw her hand, he held it fast. Finally she stopped fighting him. After all, no one else could see, and it did give her some extra courage at the moment—and she needed that.
When they reached the doctor’s office, Teresa signed in, then sat down beside Jim. “It shouldn’t take too long. I’ll be his first patient after lunch.”
“That’s good. Does it embarrass you to be seen by a man?”
When she stared at him, he clarified. “I mean, the doctor is a man, isn’t he?”
“Well, yes, but…you know, the nurses drape me. He’ll only see my stomach today.”
“I’ve seen your stomach before, Teresa,” he whispered, watching her closely.
She turned a bright red. “Not like it is now.”
“Come on, Teresa, let me come in with you. I’ve never seen a sonogram before.”
“I—I don’t—”
“Miss Tyler?” the nurse called from the just-opened door.
Jim followed Teresa to the door. “I want to come in when the doctor does the sonogram. She’ll be properly draped, won’t she?”
“Yes, of course. But that decision is Miss Tyler’s, unless you’re the father?”
Jim looked from the nurse to Teresa, and she could feel her heart start to race. How was she supposed to answer that?
In Jim’s expression she could see how much she wanted to come in, to be a witness to the first sight of her baby. Their baby. Even though she couldn’t tell him he was going to be a father, she couldn’t in all good conscience deny him this opportunity. She swallowed the fear she tasted in her mouth and said to the nurse, “He’s just a good friend, but it’s okay with me if he comes in for the sonogram.” Then, without a glance in his direction, she headed down the hallway toward the examination rooms.
“All right, Miss Tyler, I’ll let the doctor know you’re ready. Are you excited?”
Teresa rubbed her damp hands on the white cloths covering her naked body as she lay on the exam table. “Yes…and a little apprehensive.”
The nurse reassured her. “I’m sure you have nothing to worry about. Shall I show your friend in now?”
“Oh, I—I—”
Before she could complete her thought, the nurse reminded her, “You did say he could come in, didn’t you?”
“Yes, but—”
“It will make you feel better to have him with you. I’ll go get him.”
She whisked out of the room, leaving Teresa even more alarmed than before. What if there was something wrong with her baby? The nurse said she’d gained quite a bit of weight, and the doctor might be concerned.
Now that she thought of it, she didn’t think it would be good for Jim to hang around. She might weaken and tell him it was his child. But she’d promised herself she wouldn’t do that. She didn’t want a man who had to be trapped. He should know about his child. But not now. Later, when she wasn’t pregnant.
The door opened and Jim came in smiling at her. “I appreciate you letting me come in, honey.”
Teresa tried to smile at him, but she didn’t quite pull it off.
He immediately came to her side and took her hand in his, as he had in the car. The warmth his hand provided began to seep through her. She would’ve been greatly embarrassed if his gaze had not remained on her face. But it did.
“It will be all right,” Jim promised.
She didn’t try to respond because the door opened again to allow Dr. Benson to enter, followed by the nurse.
“Mr. Schofield, if you’ll move to the other side of Miss Tyler, it will make our job easier,” the nurse assured him, smiling at him.
Teresa wondered if she was flirting with Jim. He was an attractive man,
