placed a head of lettuce into her cart, then pushed it into the next aisle. Slowing her step, she let her gaze wander over the colorful jars of baby food lined up on the shelves. Strained green beans. Strained chicken and rice. Strained peaches. She smiled, wondering which her baby would like best. There was such a wide variety to choose from. And not only in the baby food section. Her gaze moved to the rows of disposable diapers, then to the different brands of formula.
So many decisions to make. Decisions she should be enjoying during this special time, instead of worrying about what kind of bribe Alan would try next.
She pushed the cart over to a small display of stuffed animals near the end of the aisle, intrigued by a cute little purple giraffe that rattled when you shook it. Rubbing the soft fur against her cheek, she sighed, then placed it back in the display bin. She had plenty of time to buy it before the baby was born.
Besides, the last thing she wanted to do was pique Phyllis Cooper’s curiosity about why she would buy such a thing now, before she’d even announced her pregnancy. Although she knew she couldn’t keep her baby a secret much longer, Rowena wasn’t about to make the announcement until Alan was out of the picture.
Rounding the corner, she almost bumped into another grocery cart. “Excuse me...” The words trailed off as she looked into the face of her nemesis.
“Hello, Rowena,” Alan said. He looked as handsome as ever in a pine green pullover sweater and faded blue denim jeans that hugged his narrow hips and muscular legs.
So much for her hope that he’d gone back to Canada. She sucked in a deep breath. No matter what he said today, she wouldn’t let him upset her. “This is a surprise. What are you doing here?”
“Just picking up a few necessities.”
She looked in his cart, dismayed to find it almost half full. She saw toothpaste, bananas, oranges, tomato juice, bottled water and three boxes of chocolate chip granola bars. Enough items to bring a big smile to Phyllis Cooper’s face. “Just how long are you planning to stay in Cooper’s Corner?”
“Awhile,” he replied vaguely, his gaze falling to her mouth for a moment, then meeting her eyes once more.
To her irritation, a blush warmed her cheeks. She hated the effect Alan seemed to have on her. “Are you stalking me now?”
“Hey, I was in the store first.”
“Why are you interfering in my life?” she asked, searching the shelf for the granola bars. When she saw it was empty, she glared at his cart. “And why are you hogging all the granola bars? Has it become your goal in life to try and take away everything I want?”
“I like granola bars,” he explained calmly. “And I don’t want to take your baby away from you. I just want to be a father.”
“Keep your voice down,” she admonished, then cast a look around. But the aisle was empty except for the two of them. She turned to him. “Why are you still here, Alan? Your home is Toronto. I won’t interfere in your life in any way. All I ask is that you show me the same consideration.”
A muscle flexed in his jaw. “This isn’t about us,” he said in a husky whisper. “It’s about the baby. I can’t just walk away.”
“Can’t or won’t?” she asked. “You don’t even want this baby, remember?” Just the memory of his arrogance infuriated her. “You wanted me to get rid of it!”
“That’s not true.” He took a step closer to her. “You made the wrong assumption the other day, Rowena. I would never ask you to terminate this pregnancy. I did some research before I came to Cooper’s Corner and found one of the best obstetricians in the state. I wanted you to go to him and I intended to pay for everything. That’s why I wrote out that check. To prove to you that I plan to support this baby. To help you out every step of the way.”
“We don’t need your money, Alan.”
“I know the baby needs a father,” he said, his voice rising.
So many decisions to make. Decisions she should be enjoying during this special time, instead of worrying about what kind of bribe Alan would try next.
She pushed the cart over to a small display of stuffed animals near the end of the aisle, intrigued by a cute little purple giraffe that rattled when you shook it. Rubbing the soft fur against her cheek, she sighed, then placed it back in the display bin. She had plenty of time to buy it before the baby was born.
Besides, the last thing she wanted to do was pique Phyllis Cooper’s curiosity about why she would buy such a thing now, before she’d even announced her pregnancy. Although she knew she couldn’t keep her baby a secret much longer, Rowena wasn’t about to make the announcement until Alan was out of the picture.
Rounding the corner, she almost bumped into another grocery cart. “Excuse me...” The words trailed off as she looked into the face of her nemesis.
“Hello, Rowena,” Alan said. He looked as handsome as ever in a pine green pullover sweater and faded blue denim jeans that hugged his narrow hips and muscular legs.
So much for her hope that he’d gone back to Canada. She sucked in a deep breath. No matter what he said today, she wouldn’t let him upset her. “This is a surprise. What are you doing here?”
“Just picking up a few necessities.”
She looked in his cart, dismayed to find it almost half full. She saw toothpaste, bananas, oranges, tomato juice, bottled water and three boxes of chocolate chip granola bars. Enough items to bring a big smile to Phyllis Cooper’s face. “Just how long are you planning to stay in Cooper’s Corner?”
“Awhile,” he replied vaguely, his gaze falling to her mouth for a moment, then meeting her eyes once more.
To her irritation, a blush warmed her cheeks. She hated the effect Alan seemed to have on her. “Are you stalking me now?”
“Hey, I was in the store first.”
“Why are you interfering in my life?” she asked, searching the shelf for the granola bars. When she saw it was empty, she glared at his cart. “And why are you hogging all the granola bars? Has it become your goal in life to try and take away everything I want?”
“I like granola bars,” he explained calmly. “And I don’t want to take your baby away from you. I just want to be a father.”
“Keep your voice down,” she admonished, then cast a look around. But the aisle was empty except for the two of them. She turned to him. “Why are you still here, Alan? Your home is Toronto. I won’t interfere in your life in any way. All I ask is that you show me the same consideration.”
A muscle flexed in his jaw. “This isn’t about us,” he said in a husky whisper. “It’s about the baby. I can’t just walk away.”
“Can’t or won’t?” she asked. “You don’t even want this baby, remember?” Just the memory of his arrogance infuriated her. “You wanted me to get rid of it!”
“That’s not true.” He took a step closer to her. “You made the wrong assumption the other day, Rowena. I would never ask you to terminate this pregnancy. I did some research before I came to Cooper’s Corner and found one of the best obstetricians in the state. I wanted you to go to him and I intended to pay for everything. That’s why I wrote out that check. To prove to you that I plan to support this baby. To help you out every step of the way.”
“We don’t need your money, Alan.”
“I know the baby needs a father,” he said, his voice rising.
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