Gillian's Do-Over Read Online Free PDF Page B

right?”
    “It means she takes the lead with questioning?”
    “Right. It’s her first big case, not just one of those little dorky ones. And she’s been really tense. She may stay in Santa Monica until it’s over, even if I’m already up here.” He was twisting his napkin tightly. “Then, when she thought maybe she was pregnant … well, it kind of threw her.”
    “Why d oes she think she’s pregnant when she hasn’t even taken a test? Nausea? No period?”
    “She’s late, and she says she’s never late.”
    “S tress can do that. Maybe she’s not pregnant at all.”
    “She’d be thrilled if that was the case.”
    Gillian frowned.
    “It’s not that she doesn’t want kids, Mom. It’s just … the timing is all wrong right now.”
    “And you’re not married .” She couldn’t help wanting to pinch her nose, her usual method of preventing tears from cascading down her cheeks. Instead, she stood up and reached for her son. “Let me give you a big hug. This must be very hard for you.”
    “It is. I wish you knew her better. You’d like her if you did. You two are a lot alike.”
    Gillian chuckled. “Kind of hard to know someone who doesn’t live close.” She stroked her son’s cheek then brushed a lock of hair off his forehead. “She’s so much better educated than me, hon. I’m sure I’d bore her to tears. But I’m thrilled you’re moving back to Seattle.” Would Bianca move? She had to think positively, for Quinn’s sake. “When Bianca joins you, that will give me a chance to get to know her. Before you get married.”
    She sauntered into the kitchen and pulled out the apple pie she’d made and held it up for him to see. Quinn’s favorite dessert. “I suppose you want a dollop of vanilla ice cream on your pie?”
    He grinned. “Don’t I always?”
    She watched him dig into his piece. She suspected his grin belied his worry. How committed to Bianca was he? They had yet to set a wedding date. At first, Gillian had suspected that had much to do with Bianca’s work schedule. But was there more to the young couple’s hesitation? They’d been living together for going on two years now.
    Her father would have had a fit had she done that. But he hadn’t known she was spending more time in Owen’s apartment than in her own. Or perhaps her father had suspected and chosen not to say anything. After all, Quinn was born a full month short of the requisite nine months after her wedding. Her parents hadn’t said a word to her when she’d presented them with her eight-pound baby, far too large to be considered premature. Gillian blushed, remembering how she’d worried about accusations, especially from her dad, but he’d said nothing. Instead, he’d reached for his new grandson and cuddled him close, his eyes full.
    She’d hoped Quinn would find a soul mate, and he seemed to have done that. But Bianca was so work oriented. Gillian shook her head. Well, so am I! At least she had been until Nick fired her. Did Quinn really want to be a father—before he was a husband? He hadn’t answered her question. Was that telling, or simply a less important concern than Bianca being so tied up with her big court case and then Quinn taking a new job, too—the way he described it, an opportunity he’d been waiting for—in Seattle? But now wasn’t the time to revisit the issue of the baby. Assuming there was one.
    “Your ice cream is melting, Mom.” Quinn’s comment brought her back to the reality of the evening.
    Gillian glanced down. “You’re right. Woolgathering. Sorry.” She took a quick bite of the pie. “What do you want to talk about now?”
    He smiled. “Have you logged onto that website for singles again?”
    “Not since the first time.” Her spoon pinged against the side of her bowl. “Did you know one of those men was married? He admitted it, even though it’s supposed to be a site for singles . That proves my point—you can never trust people you meet online.”
    Quinn