Special Delivery by Danielle Steel Page A

incredible figure, Amanda. She blushed at what he said, and then they moved on to talk about their children. He said he had had lunch with Paul, and had brought the subject up casually, as casually as one could bring up a subject like that one. He had inquired about why they hadn't gotten around to having children, and Jack said that Paul had been pretty candid about it, and told him much the same thing as Amanda. He had also admitted that he really didn't want to go to a doctor about it. Paul thought it was embarrassing, and he felt as though his manhood and virility were being questioned. But after a lengthy conversation with his father, he had finally agreed to do something about it, even though he didn't want to. He had promised to go to the doctor with Jan right after Christmas. Apparently, her doctor was on vacation until then.
    So I would say, our mission has been accomplished. The first stage of it anyway. Operation Grandchild is in its early stages.
    Amanda was impressed with how good the results had been, and the fact that he had cared enough to do it, and she sat back in her chair and smiled at him in amazement. Jack Watson, you are terrific. I can't believe it. Poor Jan has been begging him to go with her for the last year, and he wouldn't do it.
    He's probably just afraid of me. I told him I'd disinherit him if he didn't. He smiled at her, pleased by her reaction. She was so obviously grateful to him.
    Seriously, Jack, thank you. Poor Jan wants a baby so badly.
    What do you suppose will happen if they can't? He looked worried as he asked her, and she looked concerned too, since Jan had told her that Paul was not in favor of adoption.
    I guess they'll have to face this thing one step at a time. They can always adopt if they don't conceive, but it's hard to believe that in this day and age, with all the fancy methods they use to resolve infertility, they couldn't help them. I'm sure something good will come from all this, with a little patience.
    Things are so damn complicated now, aren't they? In my day, if you were really lucky, it took you six months to get some girl in the back of your dad's car at the drive-in movie, and if you so much as shook hands with her, she got pregnant. Now everyone is being treated for infertility and having babies made in a petri dish, it sure takes the fun out of dating. Amanda couldn't help laughing at what he said. It was true, even in her marriage to Matt, she had frequently worried about getting pregnant. She just hoped that Paul and Jan got lucky now, and managed to have a baby. I'll keep you posted if I hear anything further, Jack promised.
    So will I, Amanda assured him, and then he offered to walk around the store with her. She couldn't resist trying a few things, and he finally left her with the manager of the store and the best of their sales force, and she showed up in his office to thank him again two hours later.
    Did you have fun? he asked her, as he stood up at his desk when she walked in the room. She looked happy and relaxed and she had had a great time shopping at Julie's.
    I had a ball, and I bought everything in sight, including half a dozen really great bathing suits for next summer from your cruise line. She had also bought several beautiful nightgowns, a new dress, and a sensational black alligator handbag. I bought everything in sight, she said again, with a degree of embarrassment. I haven't been this extravagant ever in my life, but I have to admit I enjoyed it. She laughed as she confessed, and he found himself staring at how beautiful she was, and wondering how he could get her to have dinner with him.
    Do you like Thai food? he suddenly asked her out of nowhere.
    Why, do you sell that too? Is there a department I missed? A deli? She was laughing at him, and she looked sensual and young and happy.
    Yes, actually, I'll show you where it is, he said convincingly. But it's at our other store, and you have to come in my car to get there.
    Oh, you're a terrible