The Pregnancy Promise. Barbara McMahon

was as nondescript as most modern buildings. The elevator was quiet and quickly rose to her floor. Ringing the doorbell brought no response. He leaned against the door to listen. He could hear nothing. He tried her phone again. No service. Where was she?

      After eating her soup, Lianne perused the books in the shelves. She’d read all of them, a couple more than once. Light summertime reading, none would hold her attention today. She considered going to bed, but it was too early—though darkness had fallen. Sighing softly, she went to the cottage phone and called her sister. Time to tell Annalise what was going on.

      Lianne felt marginally better after their conversation. Her twin had been as shocked with the news as Lianne had and wanted to jump right in the car and drive over, but Lianne had convinced her talking on the phone was good enough. So then her sister had come up with a dozen of different scenarios all in which Lianne was miraculously cured.

      When they’d exhausted those options, they settled into a heart-to-heart.

      “Mostly I wanted a family one day, like ours,” Lianne told her. “Can you imagine life without all the kids running around and grandparents and aunts and uncles?”

      “Actually, I can. That’s what Dominic and I have.”

      “But if you did want children, at least you’re married. I’m not even seeing anyone,” Lianne said.

      “That’s because you’re too involved with Tray.”

      “I’m not involved with my boss,” she denied quickly. Immediately his image came to mind—tall with dark brown hair and a body to die for. He turned the heads of lots of women, but never settled on one. She could picture his concentration at work. The serious focus of his eyes on the reports. Running his hands through his hair when frustrated. His laughter if they took a break and ordered pizza while staying late because of some crisis.

      “Not that way, silly. I mean too caught up in work. You’re more of a workaholic than Dominic is. If Tray says he needs you, there you are. I’m surprised you’re not at work right now.”

      “Now you’re being silly. I’m not there all the time.” Though she did work more closely with Tray than any other analyst. But that was because he needed her. “I enjoy what I do. I thought I could have my career for a little longer and then think about getting married and starting a family,” Lianne said pensively.

      “Well, you’d enjoy finding someone with lots in common and falling in love. Set some boundaries—let Tray know you can only work for eight hours a day, not twenty-four. You have time. Just not as much as you always thought. The doctor didn’t say get into hospital next week.”

      “She did say soon. There’s always so much to do at the office. The business keeps expanding as Tray’s reputation grows. He’s really providing a terrific service with fabulous results.”

      “Great, he can hire some more help if business is booming. Let him deal with that. Your next assignment is to find a husband, get married and start that family,” Annalise said.

      Lianne sighed. “That sounds so calculating. These days a woman doesn’t really have to be married to have a baby.” She always thought she’d fall in love like her twin, with a man who was perfect for her. One who also wanted a large family. Was that a pipe dream?

      “You’re not thinking of a sperm bank?” Annalise asked, the incredulity coming clearly across the phone line.

      “No. I can’t imagine raising a child alone. Wait, before you say a word, I know you’ll be there for me as will the rest of the family. But I want my baby to have a father. Can you imagine our lives without Dad? That wouldn’t be fair to a child, to deliberately bring him or her into the world with no father.”

      “You have five brothers, each would be a perfect father figure. Dominic would as well.”

      “It’s not the same thing as having your very own. So even if I don’t marry the father, I want a man who will be a part of the child’s life forever.”

      “Women who fall in love and get married don’t even get that guarantee,” Annalise said.

      “I want it anyway.”

      Her sister thought for a moment. “I guess it’s worth a shot. Maybe you’ll fall for a man and get married and end up with a dozen kids.”

      “Or maybe just find someone I really like, who is good father material and wants a baby without all the ties and commitment of marriage,” Lianne said thoughtfully. “I mean, how much do I really want to be tied down? I’d be there for the baby, but I still want to work. What if a husband didn’t want that?” She didn’t even want to think about giving up her career.

      “Ties and commitment are necessary with a child,” Annalise said. “And you’re strong enough to stand up for yourself married or not. It’s not an either-or decision.”

      “You’re right. Still, I’d have to choose a daddy carefully, whatever else happened.”

      Lianne rose early the next morning. The sun was peeping above the horizon, below the clouds that were rapidly dissipating. She hoped it would be a better day than yesterday, but the pain that woke her didn’t hold much promise. Staying another day meant she’d need to visit one of the grocery stores. The canned goods that stocked the cottage cupboards didn’t offer the variety she craved. But she couldn’t face that now. Groaning slightly, she curled up in a ball.

      Waking an hour later, she felt awful. She made it to the bathroom and her pills. After a few minutes, she headed back for bed when someone knocked on the front door. She debated letting them stay there, she longed for bed. But curiosity more than anything won out and she went to the door.

      Opening it, Lianne stared at Tray Elliott standing on the porch, towering over her. His expression was impossible to read. He wore a suit, the tie loosened. He hadn’t shaved yet that morning and the shadow of his beard made him look more rugged and masculine than normal.

      “What are you doing here?” she asked.

      “I came to see you.”

      “How did you find the place?”

      “Interesting story, that,” he said, glancing at her attire. “You getting up or going to bed?”

      She pulled the lapels of the warm fleece robe closer and shook her head. “Today isn’t a good day, Tray.” She began to push the door shut.

      He held it open easily and stepped inside.

      “You look like you need some help.”

      “More than you can give.”

      “Meaning?” He studied her closely. Lianne was conscious she hadn’t even washed her face that morning. Her hair probably looked like the wreck of the Hesperus. She hated not projecting her normal cool demeanor. But at the moment, none of it mattered.

      “I went to your sister’s home and she gave me directions to here. Which seems like a good thing, now. I didn’t know you two were twins. That was a shock.”

      Lianne nodded wondering how much longer she could remain upright. She always kept her family life separate from work. “I’m surprised you even knew I had a sister, much less where to find her.”

      “She’s listed as the person to notify in case of emergency.”

      “And you count this as an emergency?”

      He looked at her. “You tell me. Why aren’t you in bed? You look terrible.”

      “Gee, thanks. Actually I need to be.”

      He scooped her up and asked which way. Lianne almost protested, but it felt so good to relinquish control for just a second. And being off her feet eased some of the discomfort—or the pills were beginning to work.

      “Talk to me,” he said as he walked up the stairs to the bedroom she used.

      Lianne didn’t