Chapter Four
It was Jessica Baxter who answered.
“Why, Spence, I’ve never seen you so riled up. Is anything wrong?” Jessica’s gaze shifted between him and Melanie.
Melanie glared at him, as if daring him to say anything.
“Uh, no, I—Melanie wasn’t feeling well earlier, and I thought she was going to stay home and rest.”
Jessica turned to Melanie. “Are you too sick to work, Melanie? I don’t want—”
Melanie smiled at Jessica. “I’m fine. Some people are worrywarts. It’s best to just ignore them.”
Just ignore him? Spence thought steam was going to come out of his ears.
Jessica looked at Spence again, a smile quivering on her lips. What was funny? He—
“Why don’t I seat this party while you calm Spence down?” she suggested.
Melanie didn’t look pleased about the suggestion, but she nodded. Then she stepped outside.
Spence spun on his heels and charged after her. She was going outside without a coat on. The woman needed a keeper. By the time he reached her side, he’d taken off his coat. Draping it over her shoulders, he spoke at once.
“I thought you were going to rest! Why are you here working?”
“I did rest, if it’s any of your business. And tomorrow is Saturday. I don’t work at the drugstore, so I can sleep in. And what are you doing checking on me, anyway?” She had her hands on her trim hips, his coat draped over her shoulders and arms.
“I wasn’t checking on you! I bought you some groceries.” He remembered what he had in his hands and shoved the box of crackers toward her. “I bought you these!”
She grabbed the box, her cheeks red, as customers passed by them. “Good heavens, Spence, you might as well send out announcements!”
He was feeling rather unappreciated when she stepped closer to him and touched his arm.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful, but. . .I’d hoped to keep the baby a secret for a little while longer. Anyway, I told you today I’d be just fine.”
“How can you say that? You were exhausted. And you came out without a coat on,” he protested.
“Of course I was exhausted. But that’s normal for the first three months.”
He didn’t like the idea that she knew more about having a baby than he did. “It is? Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. And you’re the one standing here without a coat.” She slipped the jacket from her shoulders and handed it to him.
“No, you wear it.”
“Spence, I can’t stay out here. I have a job to do. Thank you for the crackers.”
He took back his coat, his hand covering hers briefly. “Uh, I left the rest of the groceries with your neighbor.”
She’d turned to go back up the steps, but his words stopped her. “The rest of the groceries?”
“Yeah.”
She glared at him again. Just when he’d gotten used to her sweet talk. “I told you I don’t need you to buy me things. And groceries? Everyone will think I’m begging!”
He tried to look at his behavior from her position, and he supposed the townspeople might think—Hell, he hadn’t meant to insult her. “I figured you’d need the crackers in the morning, and. . .and I picked up a few other things. Some more milk.” She didn’t look any happier. “It’s good for the baby.”
At that she rolled her eyes and stomped up the steps to the front door. “Goodbye, Spence.”
Did she think she was throwing him out? Jessica wouldn’t let her do that! He hurried after her. By the time he got back in the restaurant, she was already taking over her job from Jessica.
“You’re back, Spence?” Jessica said with a smile. “If you don’t have anyone to eat with, Cal will be here in a few minutes. Join him.”
Since Melanie wouldn’t even look at him, or give him the time of day, he accepted Jessica’s invitation. “Okay, sure.” He’d originally intended to fix an omelet or something at Melanie’s apartment and share it with her. In fact, he’d looked forward to spending some time with her.
Just the two of them.
“Melanie, would you show Spence to our table? And tell Nita to bring him some fried zucchini to keep him happy until Cal gets here.” Jessica waved to him as she headed across the restaurant to greet some customers.
With no emotion on her face, as if he were a stranger, Melanie said, “This way, Mr. Hauk,” and headed toward the back of the restaurant.
He hurried after her. “Melanie, we’ve got to talk.”
“I told you not to worry. I won’t bother you,” she said softly, walking even faster.
“Not bother me?” he yelled in frustration.
She stopped in her tracks and glared at him again. “Please control yourself.”
“I’ll control myself as soon as you agree to talk to me about—you know what. That’s not an unreasonable request.”
She avoided his gaze. “I’m working tomorrow from ten-thirty to three and then five to closing. You can come to my apartment at three.”
He’d have to cancel his plans to play pool with the guys tomorrow afternoon.
“Unless, of course, you have other plans,” she added coolly, obviously having seen his hesitation.
“No. I’ll be there,” he assured her. He’d think of some excuse to give the guys. She barely acknowledged his words before turning away.
He kept his gaze on her as she walked back to the front of the restaurant. From his seat, he’d be able to watch her while he ate, too. He watched her every move, while his mind thought of the plans they needed to make for the future.
Cal slid into his chair without Spence even realizing he’d arrived. “Howdy. Heard you’re joining me for dinner,” he said with a smile.
“Yeah. Hope you don’t mind.”
“You know I don’t. But by tomorrow evening, you may be tired of my face, three dinners in a row.”
Which reminded Spence of something he had to tell Cal. “Uh, I’ll be here for dinner, but I can’t make the pool game.”
“Why not?”
He faced one of his boyhood friends and thought about lying. That had never happened before. “Something came up.”
“Damn. When Jess and I got married, you and Tuck were worried that I wouldn’t be able to make our Saturdays, but the two of you are the ones who are backing out.”
“Tuck’s not going to be there?” Spence asked in surprise. “Where’s he going?”
Cal looked at him with raised eyebrows. “I don’t know. All he said was what you said. Something came up.”
MELANIE TRIED to remain calm, but she could feel Spence’s gaze on her wherever she moved about the restaurant. And tomorrow they’d have a talk.
He wouldn’t be happy. He seemed to feel that he should shoulder the responsibility for the baby. That was very sweet. And temporary. Her mother had talked about how her father had reacted, early on, to her pregnancy. It was after the baby came that her father had left.
She’d blamed Melanie’s crying. She’d blamed Melanie, and told her over and over again, “If it weren’t for you, your daddy would still be here and I wouldn’t have to work myself to death to pay for you.” Melanie heard those words still. No wonder, since her mother had repeated them until she left home. Now she only heard them when she called her. Which wasn’t often.
No, Melanie wasn’t going to base a marriage on an unplanned pregnancy. She was not going to be her mother.
“Melanie? You all right?” Jessica asked, and Melanie realized she’d forgotten to greet guests because she’d been dwelling on her problems.
“Yes, of course. I’m sorry.” With an apologetic
smile to Jessica, she turned to the patient customers. “I’m sorry to keep you waiting. How many in your party?”
When the guests had been seated, she returned to her post to find Jessica still there.
“I didn’t know you and Spence were dating,” Jessica said with a smile. “I think that’s terrific.”
“We’re not! No, we’re not dating.”
Jessica seemed surprised. “So he was checking on you because. . .” She waited for Melanie to fill in the blank.
“Because. . .because I was tired yesterday and he thought I was sick. So. . . as a friend, he thought he should.”
“Oh. Well, that was thoughtful of him.”
Melanie thought she looked skeptical. Fortunately, more guests came in.
This time when she came back to her post, Jessica said, “Since we’re closed Monday night, I thought I’d have a little get-together to thank some people at our house. Could you come?”
Melanie liked Jessica and was pleased to be included.
But there was the transportation problem. “I’d love to, but I don’t have a car and—”
“No problem. Cal can pick you up when he leaves the office. You can even meet him there at six, then you can help me when you get there early. See, there’s method to my madness,” Jessica assured her with a smile.
“Then, thanks, I’d love to.” When Jessica strolled away, Melanie took several deep breaths. She probably should stay at home and rest. But a party sounded fun. Especially a party before the entire town knew she was pregnant.
She had a lot of plans to make before that day came.
JESSICA JOINED CAL and Spence about halfway through their dinner for a few minutes. “Is the food good?”
“You know it is, sweetheart,” Cal said as soon as he finished chewing. “You wouldn’t have a packed restaurant if it wasn’t.”
“It’s great, Jess,” Spence added. He got distracted as Melanie led a party of four to a table near them.
When he turned back to his companions, he discovered Jessica watching him. “Uh—”
“Oh, before I forget,” she interrupted him, “I’m having a few people over Monday night and you’re invited, Spence.”
Before he could answer, Cal protested. “Baby, you need to rest. You know—”
“I’m fine. And I promised Melanie you’d give her a ride out to the house,” Jessica said.
“I’ll pick her up,” Spence immediately offered.
“Thanks, Spence, but Cal’s office is right here, so I’m sure he won’t mind,” Jessica returned.
“Sure,” Cal agreed. “No problem.”
Spence was disappointed, but at least he’d see
Melanie there. And maybe she’d still be speaking to him.
“We’d accept an offer to take her home, though. That way Cal won’t have to go out again,” Jessica said.
Spence almost swallowed his tongue to accept the offer. “Oh, yeah, sure, I’ll be happy to—”
That’s when he noticed Jessica’s cat-that-swallowed-the-canary smile.
“I thought you would,” she said softly.
“What’s going on?” Cal asked.
“Nothing!” Spence snapped.
“I think something is,” Jessica followed, still smiling. “I think Spence is interested in a lady.”
“Melanie?” Cal asked his wife. “She seems like a nice lady. Spence, are you thinking of joining the married ranks, competing in the baby lottery?”
“No! Yes! I mean—Melanie is a friend,” Spence finished, unsure what to say. He could feel his cheeks burning. But what could he say? In a few months, everyone would know about the baby. You could only hide one so long.
“Uh-huh,” Cal said, staring at him.
Jessica slipped out of her chair. “Time for the band to play in the other room. Are you two going to stay for a while?”
“I’m staying until you’re through, baby, and it had better not be too late,” Cal warned.
“I’ll hang with you for a while,” Spence hurriedly added. He intended to walk Melanie home, to make
sure she was safe. Hanging out with Cal would give him an excuse to be around.
“Great,” Jessica said, turning to leave. Before she did so, however, she added, “Oh, by the way, Melanie gets off work at nine-thirty.”
Cal stared at his wife in surprise, then turned to Spence. “Why—”
Jessica leaned over and gave him a brief kiss, stopping his question. Then she left.
“What was that about?” Cal asked. “Why’d you want to know when Melanie was free?”
Spence shrugged his shoulders. “She’s been walking home by herself when she finishes here. It worries me.”
“She lives in the old Mercantile building, doesn’t she?” Cal asked. “She should be all right, but I’ll have the deputy on duty watch out for her.”
Spence didn’t want someone else watching out for her. He wanted to take care of her. “I’ll walk her home tonight,” he said, trying to sound casual.
Cal had a look on his face that reminded Spence of Jessica’s reaction, but he wasn’t going to deny his interest in Melanie. Everyone would know soon enough.
They had a lot of plans to make before then.
IT WAS A BUSY NIGHT. Melanie was glad she’d bought some comfortable shoes that still looked nice.
She was also grateful for the nap she’d taken. It
was just a matter of adjusting. She’d be all right once she was past the first three months.
When she’d seated the last guests, she headed for the kitchen. There was a room behind the kitchen where she’d left her coat and purse.
“Say, Melanie, you want a steak before you go?” one of the waiters asked.
“No, thanks. I ate before I started work.” And besides, she had a box of crackers to take home. She’d hidden them in the employees’ room.
One of the chefs handed her a sealed jar. “Take some of this steak soup. It won’t be so heavy, but it’s got good nutrients.”
“Thanks, Peter, I will.” That might taste good after a brisk walk across the square in the night coldness. She retrieved her coat, tucking the crackers inside it, hoping no one would notice and ask about them. She hurried back through the kitchen, calling a good-night. When she got to the front door, however, she discovered she hadn’t escaped.
“Ready to go home?” Spence stood by the door, waiting for her.
“Yes.” She ducked her head and kept walking, hoping his question was casual. He held the door open for her, but his gallantry didn’t stop there. He came down the steps with her.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Seeing you home,” he said, as if his behavior was normal.
“That’s not necessary. It’s only a few steps.”
“I need the exercise.”
She dared a glimpse of his determined face, then took a deep breath. Too bad he was being so wonderful because of the baby.
“Really, Spence, I can—”
“Manage on your own. Maybe so, but I’ll have nightmares if I don’t know you got home all right.”
She didn’t know what to say, so she remained silent.
“You got the crackers?” he suddenly asked.
She pulled them out from under her coat to show him. “I really do appreciate you getting these for me. I didn’t wake up in time before work, and the store is closed now.” She managed a smile even as she sped along the walk.
They crossed the street and reached the door to her apartment building. She turned and extended her hand. “Thanks for coming with me. But as you can see—”
“To the door, honey, just like before.”
What a stubborn man. She stared at him, but he didn’t budge an inch. With a sigh, she turned and walked up the stairs, knowing Spence was behind her.
Unlocking her door, she turned to face him again. “All right, we’re at the door. Thank you.”
“Tomorrow, I—”
“Melanie, is that you?” her neighbor’s voice called through her door.
“Yes, Mrs. Myers, I’m sorry I disturbed you.”
The door across the hall opened. “Oh, no, you didn’t. I was listening for you. Oh! It’s you!” the lady exclaimed as she noticed Spence standing beside Melanie. “It’s that nice man who brought you groceries. I thought you might want them tonight.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Myers.” She stepped toward her neighbor’s apartment, but Spence still didn’t leave.
“I’ll carry them. I appreciate your taking care of them,” he said to the old lady. Melanie wished he wasn’t so sweet and thoughtful. It’d be easier to get rid of him.
When he emerged, escorted by Mrs. Myers, carrying two large, full grocery bags, she was appalled. “What did you buy? Everything in the store?”
He shrugged his shoulders, shifting the bags. “I thought you’d need some breakfast once you—” He broke off as Melanie glared at him. The man seemed determined to announce her pregnancy to the world.
“Mrs. Myers, why don’t you take some of this food? I brought soup from the restaurant, so I don’t need all of it.” Particularly when she found sliced turkey, eggs, bacon, cheese, fruit, even chips and cookies. She hurriedly divided the groceries, knowing- Mrs. Myers wouldn’t have to shop for another week with what she was giving her.
“Oh, mercy, I can’t take all that. Not when your gentleman friend wants you to—”
“Get fat,” Melanie substituted with a smile.
“Don’t worry about it, Mrs. Myers. I can’t eat all this before it ruins. You’ll be helping me out.”
Spence said nothing, but he carried the food for her neighbor back into her kitchen, and Melanie heard him reassuring the sweet, elderly woman that he appreciated her helping him out.
Melanie shook her head, wondering how a goodlooking bachelor, wealthy, surely spoiled, could be so sensitive to an elderly woman’s pride.
The two came back out into the hall. After saying good-night and thank you again, Mrs. Myers went inside her apartment and closed the door.
Spence faced her, his expression telling her he expected a chewing out. Had she become that big a shrew? Instead she smiled at him.
“You’re not mad?”
Shrugging her shoulders, she said, “You shouldn’t have bought all that food. I have money for food. But—but your kindness to Mrs. Myers makes it hard to be mad at you.”
“She seems nice, but she didn’t have much in her kitchen, either.”
“She’s on a fixed income, Spence. It’s not easy for her.”
“There are groups in town that help.”
Melanie smiled again. “There are. But she has her pride. Before I started throwing up, I’d cook enough for two and share with her every once in a while, but I’m afraid I haven’t been doing any cooking. The
food you gave her will help her out a lot. Thank you.”
“I did it for you,” he said, frowning.
“I know. But I told you I can manage.” Impulsively, she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “But the thought is sweet. Just don’t do it again.”
His hands automatically caught her shoulders as her lips touched his skin. As she pulled away, he lowered his lips and caught hers. Their mouths clung, and he pressed her closer, longing to feel her against him. The magic he’d experienced was still there, more potent than ever.
She pulled away, her tongue sweeping her lips as he stared at her. “We. . .we mustn’t—there’s no need to—”
“Ah, yeah, there is,” he whispered, and kissed her again. Though the kiss was more intense, it was shorter. Melanie pulled away again.
“Spence, I told you, you don’t need to be concerned. The baby and I—”
“You think that was concern? I must be losing my touch.” Her hands were pressed against his chest, and he wanted them to circle his neck. He wanted to feel her body against his.
Instead, she took a step back, her gaze down, avoiding his. “Thank you for walking me home and . . . and bringing me groceries.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” He knew she had no intention of inviting him in. “Three o’clock, right?”
“It really isn’t necessary.”
He took her chin between his thumb and forefinger and lifted her face to his. “Yes, it is, honey. We’ve got some talking to do.” He dropped a brief kiss on her lips, then released her to head for the stairs. “Tomorrow.”
And tomorrow he wouldn’t be satisfied with staying outside her door.