Have Baby, Need Beau by Rita Herron Page B

mind-numbing feelings he’d had when he’d held Mimi in his arms, when they’d made love? He and Hannah had never had that wild physical spark between them, the very reason they’d never really moved past the platonic stage, despite their engagement. Not so with Mimi. The chemistry was there, but they had nothing else in common.
    A knock on the door jerked him from his thoughts, and he invited Delores Flat to come in and sit down. She got straight to the problem. “Georgie’s asking about his father again. He wants to know why he didn’t show up to take him to the ball game like he promised.” She ran a hand over her necklace, the pearls clicking as she stroked them. “It was easy to pacify Georgie when he was little. But now that he’s getting older, he doesn’t buy the excuses I make up.”
    “Have you tried telling him the truth?”
    “What? That his father doesn’t care about him? That he never wanted to be a part of his life?”
    Seth swallowed. If Mimi was pregnant and decided not to include him in her life, what would she tell their child? Although taking responsibility for a baby of his own scared him, he would never let her bring up the child alone. He’d seen enough kids suffer because of broken families.
    “Dr. Broadhurst, what should I do?”
    Seth shook himself. “That’s not what I meant. Perhaps your husband does care, but he doesn’t realize how much he’s hurting your son.”
    “I’ve sure as hell tried to tell him.”
    Seth frowned. “Let me talk to Ralph.”
    Mrs. Flat’s fingers jerked on the necklace. “What should I do in the meantime? Ralph says he’ll pick up Georgie, but sometimes he doesn’t show up at all.”
    Seth steepled his fingers together. “Focus on the fact that his dad is busy and that he does love him, but he isn’t always dependable. Explain that adults have flaws, too. We don’t want Georgie to think his father’s absence is his fault.”
    “No, no, I don’t want that.” Tears seeped from her eyes. “It’s just that I feel so alone. No one understands how hard it is to be both mother and father to little Georgie.”
    Although every situation varied, Seth had heard the same comment from other single parents. “Look, Mrs. Flat, I’m forming a support group for single parents, and I’d like you to come. It’ll be a chance to meet other men and women facing similar problems.”
    Seth glanced at his calendar. “I’ll let you know when the first meeting will be. Maybe you can get Ralph to come, too.” He scribbled a reminder to phone her husband and urge him to attend.
    The woman finally dropped her hand from her pearls and stood. “All right, Dr. Broadhurst. Let me know the time and place and I’ll be there.”
    Seth watched her leave, his mind sorting through the details. He’d need a relaxed place for the meeting, maybe one of the rooms in the community center neighboring the hospital, a few chairs, some food. A plan formed in his head. Mimi’s café was near the hospital. She catered most of the hospital functions. Maybe he’d hire her to cater the informal gathering. After all, it would be the perfect excuse to keep an eye on her—and any other developments that might pop up from their night together.
    * * *
    Mimi settled into a corner booth with her father, two pieces of chocolate cheesecake between them, well aware her father had that worried look on his face. But she was an actress, so she plastered on a cheery smile.
    “Are you all right, honey?”
    Mimi sipped her cappuccino. “Yep. I’m working on a new recipe. Something even better than that mudslinger pie.”
    Wiley’s eyes lit up. “That’s my favorite. My gosh, you can cook, honey.”
    “It was all those easy-bake ovens you got me when I was little.” She patted her dad’s hand. “Thanks for being so tolerant, Dad. You were great to put up with my messes.”
    “Honey, you’ve always been so much fun. I enjoyed watching you be creative.” Wiley cut into his cheesecake,