A Baby...Maybe? & How to Hunt a Husband Read online

  When she turned back toward him, he fully expected her to offer her name, address, vital statistics and phone number. Instead, she said, “You’re a very nice man. Thank you for being so understanding.”

  She shoved the plate of grassy wings at him, which he had no choice but to grab or they’d fall again, then she did an about-face and left him standing there.

  She might have run away for now, but Rex knew Kate Donetti. If the chicken lady was friends with Kate, he’d find her again in no time at all.

  3

  CARA’S FIRST THOUGHT was to confide everything to Kate. She wanted to tell her all about how she was thinking about using the sperm bank to get artificially inseminated, to have her heart’s desire, a baby—and outwit her mother. It wasn’t that she didn’t want her mother to win the bet, it was the fact that the bet shouldn’t have been made in the first place. Parents were not supposed to place bets on their children’s lives. It wasn’t done.

  Just as she was about to tell Kate her hopes and dreams for the future, something in her head told her, “Stop.” Instinct kept her from revealing her plan, at least for a little while. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Kate to keep a secret. It had more to do with not wanting to debate the pros and cons of her decision with anyone. She could debate herself down to the ground if she wanted. Cara just didn’t want anyone to burst her bubble. Not that Kate had ever been less than supportive, but right now there were so many people wanting to run her life, tell her what to do, make decisions for her. It was taking away the joy a woman should have when making her own choices, even if some of those choices might turn out to be mistakes. Not that having a baby would be a mistake. A baby would probably be the one decision that was right. It was having the baby out of wedlock that wouldn’t be right. Unfortunately, in life, sometimes a woman had to sacrifice what was right for what was in her heart.

  Still, Cara didn’t want to confide her intentions to anyone until she called Noble Sperm Bank, talked to one of the nurses and got as much information as she could. Once she had the information then she would be able to make an informed, not impassioned, decision. If she decided to go ahead with her plan, that would be the time to confide in Kate. So instead of talking about babies and creams, she told Kate about how she accidentally spilled her chicken on some great-looking guy. “Did you see him?” Cara asked. “He was to die for.”

  “I saw you talking to someone, but I was too far away. What’s his name?”

  “I don’t know. I thought you’d know.”

  “I probably would have known if I had seen him. What did he look like?”

  “He was very tall, dark hair, wearing cowboy boots.”

  “Oh, I know who that is,” Kate said.

  “Who?” Cara got so excited she practically jumped off the chair.

  “Let’s see.” Kate tapped her long fingernail on a front tooth. “It could be any one of the thousands of men who live here.”

  “He had blue eyes,” Cara added helpfully.

  “And?”

  Kate didn’t seem to find that piece of information helpful at all, which surprised Cara. She thought it was a good clue. “Piercing blue eyes?” she asked, hoping that would be better.

  Kate only shrugged.

  Maybe if Kate had seen how crystal clear the blue of his eyes were, how bright, then she would have known who Cara’s cowboy was. There was a piece of information that she was leaving out. She closed her eyes and thought hard. Then she remembered the most important piece of information, that’s all. “I know he’s a doctor.” Cara offered triumphantly.

  “That limits our scope to about five hundred men in this area alone. We’re narrowing him down. Anything else you remember?”

  What else was there to notice? Cara had soaked in the doctor’s handsome face and the body that looked as if it lifted thousands of pounds of weights. She had noticed everything important. “No. I guess that’s all.”

  Kate started laughing. “You goose.”

  “Not really. It’s probably for the best. I’ll be leaving in nine days anyway. No point in getting all flustered and lusty after some cowboy that I’ll have to leave behind with a broken heart.”

  Now Kate was roaring. “That’s the spirit. That’s what I like to hear. Not like you sounded on the phone last week. You sounded as if your mother had beaten you down.”

  “She almost has. I’m starting a new lease on life. I’m going to be independent. I’m going to be my own person. I’m going to fly.”

  “Oh, Cara.” Kate’s voice softened and her smile seemed bittersweet. “Sometimes making that decision is the hardest thing to do, but the rewards are well worth it.”

  Kate would know, too. She had walked out of her wedding and left the groom at the altar, a groom picked by her meddling mother, Brigit. Brigit, the woman who had the bet with Cecilia.

  Cara held up her fisted hand, only her pinkie sticking out. Kate linked her own pinkie with Cara’s and together they said, “Kindred spirits.”

  “What do you want to do while you’re here?” Kate asked, breaking their sisterhood moment.

  “Lots of things.” Like get pregnant. “Do you have any suggestions?” If only she had thought to get the cowboy’s name.

  “We’ll find plenty to do. Starting with shopping.”

  By the time they finished a lunch of smoked brisket so tender it melted in Cara’s mouth, potato salad made with hard-boiled eggs, sweet relish, green and black olives and onions, fried okra and homemade garlic bread, they were beyond stuffed. Cara and Kate rolled out of Mama Jo’s and waddled toward their cars.

  “I’ll never eat another bite of food,” Cara said. Her stomach hurt from squeezing so much down, filling up spaces she didn’t even know she had. Too many more meals like that one and she’d have to buy a second ticket for the flight home to accommodate the extra bulk in her hips and thighs. The food was too good. Way too good.

  “I know. I say that every time I come here. And then I’m right back again.”

  “I thought you didn’t eat meat.” Cara remembered Tony and Kate’s heated debates about the hazards of eating beef and sushi. Kate was sure everything Tony served at his restaurant was unhealthy and would kill the clientele. This opinion didn’t sit well with Tony.

  Now however, Kate was blushing. “Don’t mention this to anyone, but Mama Jo’s beef is an exception. My one and only dip into meat.”

  “I can see why.” Cara clutched her stomach and nodded in agreement.

  “You just don’t know,” Kate whispered conspiratorially, although there was no one around to hear. “I’m only glad Mama Jo’s is miles down the road from Donetti’s or we’d go out of business. I’m telling you, that woman can cook.”

  Cara dug in her purse for a roll of antacids. She had been carrying an extra-large supply of them since her mother had started the marriage campaign in earnest. She took four, and offered the rest of the roll to Kate, who unceremoniously dumped all of them into her mouth and quickly chewed.

  “Ooh, that was good,” Cara said, which was about the biggest understatement of the year.

  “Nothing like a big barbecue lunch topped off with antacids for dessert. God, we’re pathetic,” Kate groaned.

  “Next time, I think I’d like to try the fried turkey.”

  “Ooh, Cara, that’s a very good choice. In fact, I’ll bring the dessert next time. A roll of antacids apiece. That should cover it.”

  As they walked to their cars, Cara was absolutely positive that Noble’s cow with the flirty eyelashes called out to her, “Mommy, Mommy-to-be. Hurry up. I want to be born.”

  Cara, as nonchalantly as she could, pointed to the cow, and said, “Cute, isn’t it?”

  “Did you see the bull on the other side of the freeway?”

  “A little.”

  “Did you see the way he was hung?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “You’d know if it you had. Oh, baby. His thin-gee—” She held her hands wide apart, then stretched them e
ven wider. “It would give any mortal man a definite inferiority complex.”

  “I guess I wasn’t paying attention.” Cara’s heart started to beat a little faster. She hadn’t been around many naked men, and the few she’d seen hadn’t particularly impressed her. Maybe the bull would give her something to judge her next boyfriend by. An instant replay of all the men her mother had paraded before her recently made her doubt she’d ever have a boyfriend again. Not if those were the choices. She thought of the cowboy, her cowboy, covered in barbecue sauce and chicken wings. Those piercing clear blue eyes. She only wished she’d jumped on him—literally—when she’d had the chance. If she were ever going to do anything daring and out of schoolteacher character, this was the time to do it. Before she had to go back and be Miss Romano again.

  “Is this sperm-bank business reputable?” She held her breath, hoping against hope.

  “Sure it is, Cara. Rex has one of the finest reputations in the country. If there was a person considering artificial insemination, you couldn’t get any better than Noble Sperm Bank. They’ve been in the business for years.”

  “Interesting…” Cara’s thoughts trailed off to baby powder and booties.

  “I have to tell you, Rex is a to-die-for single guy who isn’t dating anyone and doesn’t want to.” She stopped and pulled Cara’s arm, stopping her, too. “He’s got pretty, blue eyes, too,” Kate teased. “Want me to fix you up?”

  “You said he didn’t want to date.”

  “Cara, you have so much to learn. They all say that. It’s a man’s way of playing hard to get, when they all want to be gotten. I’m telling you, these Texas cowboys—” A big smile crossed her lips and she sighed.

  “I don’t think so.” At this point, after all the men her mother had tried to set her up with, and figuring that single men were all the same just with different accents, she had no use for any of them until they grew up a little. Besides, she’d seen the only cowboy she was interested in, and if she couldn’t have him she’d have no one. “Anyway, I don’t want anyone to know I’m here.”

  “He wouldn’t call your mom and tell her you were hiding out in Texas.”

  “I’ve never met the man. How do I know he wouldn’t? The fewer people who know I’m here, the safer I’ll feel. My mother has ways of finding things out.”

  “Just think about it. If you change your mind, you’d like a Texas man. I know they take some getting used to, but these guys have been raised right. They’re gentlemen.”

  “Okay, Kate. I’ll think about it.” Cara stopped in front of the Mustang. “Here’s the car.”

  “Hey, if this isn’t a guy magnet, I don’t know what is.” She stroked the hood. “Now all you need is a cowboy to give you the ride of your life.”

  “You’re terrible.” Cara punched her friend on the arm, wishing all the while that she could find that cowboy one more time and work on getting that ride.

  “I know, I know. I’m sorry. I miss that very dry Erie sense of humor,” Kate said wistfully. “People here in Pegleg are nice, but they just don’t get it, you know what I mean?”

  “I think so. Kate, I know I’m going to have a great time this week.” Life-altering time is more like it.

  “Not without a cowboy of your own.”

  “As far as getting fixed up with a cowboy, we’ll see.” Cara laughed.

  That seemed to satisfy Kate. She said, “Great. Don’t think too long. I’d hate for you to change your mind on the plane ride back.”

  “I won’t.”

  “I’m there.” Kate pointed several rows over. “Follow me to Mandelay, I’ll introduce to you Rosey, and you can get yourself settled in and rested. How’s that?”

  Cara gave Kate a hug. “Thank you so much. You’ll never know how much I appreciate what you and Tony have done for me. I sprang all this on you yesterday and you just…just…” Tears were suddenly burning in the back of her eyes and she didn’t know why. Maybe she was tired, or stressed. Or maybe she just needed a good cry and a good friend. Or maybe her tummy hurt from so much food. Or all of it. “You’ve been wonderful.”

  Kate’s smile disappeared from her face and she stared intently at Cara. “No. It’s me who has to thank you. If it hadn’t been for you, Tony and I would never have gotten married. I can never thank you enough. I love him more than life itself.” She walked toward her car, stopped and turned around, shouting out to Cara, “Except when he’s being a jerk about the food he serves in that restaurant.”

  Cara followed Kate through the streets of Pegleg, finally turning off one tree-lined country road and onto a long laneway. She could see the red-tile roof from where she was, but little else. Live oak trees lined both sides and were so big and old their branches and leaves met in the middle and formed a majestic canopy over the lane.

  When the trees broke, the mansion came to view. Three stories, stained glass, white pillars and a wraparound veranda made Cara feel as if she had walked back a century into another life.

  Rosey Sullivan greeted Kate with a big hug, and when Kate introduced Cara, she received a welcoming hug as well.

  It felt like being at home in the middle of her hugging, kissing Italian family.

  “I’m giving you the best room,” Rosey said. “It’s a corner room, with windows on the east, south and west. You’ll be able to see the sun rise and set. You’ll love it,” Rosey said.

  “Of course she will,” Kate agreed. “Only the best for us Erie people.”

  “It seems like everyone is moving down here to Pegleg,” Rosey said. “And not one of the transplants is a Texan.”

  “You’ll get over it, Rosey.” Kate smiled then turned to Cara. “I’ve got to get home, but I’ll call you later. If you feel like staying here tonight and doing nothing, I’ll understand. It’s an incredibly peaceful place.”

  Cara picked up one bag, Rosey took the other and they walked side by side up the huge spiral staircase to the second floor, then down a long hallway until they reached the corner room.

  Rosey swung open the door. Cara took one look and knew she had come home. The room was bigger than her whole apartment in Erie. The four-poster canopy bed was covered with a white eyelet quilt, big, fluffy embroidered pillows and a lace dust ruffle. A colorful wedding-ring quilt had been folded over the back of a bentwood rocker.

  “It’s beautiful,” Cara told her.

  “It’s the way I had always hoped it would look.” Rosey went to the door. “Enjoy your stay.”

  As soon as Cara heard Rosey’s footsteps fade away, she pulled the sperm bank’s phone number from her wallet and punched in the numbers. When the woman who answered the phone gave Cara an appointment for noon the next day, Cara was stunned. “We’re open on Sundays. The doctor sees clients after church,” she said.

  Cara carefully wrote down the directions then left her room. A few minutes later Rosey had given her directions to the local public library. Cara sat herself at one of the computer terminals and spent the rest of the afternoon on the Internet researching artificial insemination.

  The more she read, the more excited she became. It really seemed like a viable idea. That is, if she could get through the not-having-a-husband issue with her family. And since the way she got pregnant wouldn’t be through sex, she didn’t think that would be a problem.

  The procedure itself should be a breeze. The way she figured it, all they would have to do would be to sell her a frozen vial or two. From what she read, she’d be able to fill up a tube, shoot it inside her and voilà, instant pregnancy.

  A flash of worry hit her when she thought about buying the semen and not getting pregnant the first time. But, when she thought about it, with her luck she’d become pregnant almost instantaneously, if not sooner. After all, wasn’t it true single women became pregnant without even trying, while the married women who were desperate for babies could go on for years and years without ever getting pregnant? Then, instead of taking a vacation and relaxing, letting nature takes its course, they went through
in vitro fertilization. That was all well and good for them.

  For herself, though, she preferred the home-implant method. She didn’t think she should have to go into a hospital and undergo a long procedure, since she had no reason to believe she wasn’t fertile.

  Cara knew exactly the kind of baby she wanted, too. A cowboy baby. She’d even make sure her baby knew his heritage. She would teach him Texas words like reckon and fixin’ and ain’t, which everyone who had any kind of schooling at all knew weren’t proper words, but there were some, including Texas cowboys, who insisted on using them anyway. This would be so perfect.

  She had it all narrowed down. All she needed was to head down to the Noble Sperm Bank and look through their catalog of the eligible cowboys who had donated sperm. She would read their descriptions carefully. She wanted to make sure he had gone to college. On second thought, she didn’t know how much stock cowboys put into going to college. After all, would they need a degree to ride the range? She thought not. Okay, she was flexible. High school. He would have to have finished high school. The rest of her child’s education she’d take care of herself. Environment was very important. More important than genes.

  She wanted her cowboy to be tall and slender, with broad shoulders and blue, blue eyes. Curly hair—or at least wavy—would be most desirable. Dark brown hair.

  Cara’s insides fluttered with butterflies of excitement. With the cowboy’s sperm and her egg, a clear shot into the womb and—bam—nine months later, her new name would be “Mom.” She couldn’t wait.

  When Tony and Kate called later to ask her to dinner, Cara declined. She wanted to go to bed early. She didn’t tell them that a good eight hours made her complexion seem brighter and the bags under her eyes—the ones that had appeared since her mother had gone on a find-Cara-a-husband rampage—would disappear.