An Unexpected Baby Read Online Free PDF Page B

what happened six months ago. After she hid the fact that they were really getting married instead of just pretending since the minister at the hospital would be licensed. Of course, she never planned it that way but it was so hard to come up with the truth to hurt Gramps who thought the wedding would be real and hurt Evan who thought their wedding would be fake.
    She reached over and planted a soft, passionate kiss on Evan’s lips. “I love you, baby. Please trust me on this one. I just need to go alone today. That’s all.”
    “Fine, if that’s what you want.” Evan kissed her forehead but without the sizzle she usually felt. Was he pissed off? Probably. He tightened his lips and she thought she saw a muscle twitch in his jaw. Oh, God, he was really pissed. A shadow of annoyance crossed his face.
    “Honey,” she tried to reach out to him but he strategically dodged her hand. She shivered at his sudden chilled reception. The warmth in his eyes had dissolved into ice.
    Shit!
    “You can reach me on my cell if you need me. I’m going to visit Pops at the center.” He walked away without looking at her.
    Emma felt her stomach lurch. A gamut of emotions rushed through her. Pain, disappointment in herself, guilt, torment. She was supposed to be overcome with joy but instead she was overwhelmed in desperation. Desperate to be pregnant and to have her husband’s baby. As fear and despair knotted inside her she could not even go after Evan. What would she tell him? She heard his footsteps rush down the steps, the sound of keys rattling and the slam of the front door.
    She’d really done it, hadn’t she? She ruined things between her and Evan.
    Again.
     
    ***
     
    Emma perused the book section in Walmart looking for her books. She wore dark sunglasses, a large brimmed hat and tucked her hair neatly beneath it. Hopefully, she would not be recognized since this Super Walmart was the only store that carried the book at the moment closest to home—and unfortunately close to the office. She should have driven out of town or out of state but Evan would notice the odometer reading as he usually did when he took the car in for washing, which he did often or filling it up with gas. He’d refused to let his wife fill up her own gas or go to a car wash. He took it upon himself to do what he thought of as a man’s job when in a serious relationship.
    She’d already filled her cart with What to Expect When Expecting , the mother of all Expecting books and some other stuff on nutrition for pregnant women (just in case) but she was looking for one particular book.
    Instant Conception: 100 Proven Techniques
    “Great! There it is!” Emma couldn’t believe her luck. She reached for the book as if reaching for an Olympic gold medal. This was her prize. This was the answer to all her dreams. Another friend of hers said that she got pregnant after following only a few of the techniques and they were so much fun, like trying out special positions she’d never heard of before and eating certain foods. Having hot sex during certain times of the month and all that stuff.
    She eagerly flipped the book open and began scanning the pages with glee as if a child had just entered a toyland and couldn’t wait to dive into all the fun toys!
    “Oh, hi there!” an achingly familiar voice called out to her.
    Emma jumped around dropping the book on the ground.
    Oh, my God!
     
    ***
     
    Evan sat in a chair across the room looking at his father lying on the hospital bed at the Dan Baker Center.
    Old man Fletcher looked out of it as he slept soundly but Evan’s thoughts kept swinging back to his newly pregnant wife, Emma.
    Emma. Emma. Emma.
    “Can I get you anything, Evan?” a nurse in orange scrubs came in with a syringe filled with medication.
    “No, I’m good, thanks. Just spending time with my old man. What are you giving him?”
    “Oh, this is his routine pain medication.”
    “But he’s sound asleep. He doesn’t look as if he’s in