Baby Makes Six Read online

  Wanting to be closer to Eddie, Shawn got up, crossed the room and finally stopped to lean against the white tiled countertop

  Eddie looked at her. Really looked at her.

  Shawn’s chin was tilted up, her mouth curved in a forced smile. And her eyes—those eyes he could read, always.

  Before he could think about what he was doing, he gave in to instinct. To what his heart wanted. To what he needed. Stepping back, he curved his arms around Shawn and pulled her close.

  Automatically she wrapped her arms around him, tucked her chin against his chest and leaned close. Her clean scent filled his senses. Her soft skin felt incredibly familiar.

  Right then, out of the blue, Eddie realized that all those feelings that he used to have for Shawn were still alive and well.

  Dear Reader,

  Though it seems not all that long ago, I remember the exact moment I met my husband. It was the second week of summer school before our freshman year in college. He was sitting at a lunch table in an old T-shirt and gym shorts and had a cast on his right arm. I had on a black sundress. Someone—I forget who—introduced us, and right then and there I knew he was the guy for me.

  This past July we celebrated our twentieth anniversary.

  I wish I could say that we’ve never had a single disagreement, but that wouldn’t be the truth. We’ve definitely had our ups and downs! But it’s because of them—not in spite of them—that we’re still happily married.

  When I got the opportunity to write about a couple having some trouble but still very much in love, I jumped at the chance. It was fun and challenging to write a romance about two people who’ve been through so much but still have a lot to learn—about themselves and each other.

  I hope you enjoy the book.

  I love to hear from readers. Please visit my Web site at www.shelleygalloway.com and let me know how you liked the book.

  All my best,

  Shelley Galloway

  Baby Makes Six

  SHELLEY GALLOWAY

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Shelley Galloway loves to get up early, drink too much coffee and write books. These pastimes come in handy during her day-to-day life in southern Ohio. Most days she can be found driving her teenagers to their various activities, writing romances in her basement or trying to get ahead of her pile of laundry. She’s also been known to talk to her miniature dachshund, Suzy, as if she actually has opinions about books.

  Shelley is the proud recipient of an RT Book Reviews Reviewer’s Choice Award for her 2006 release, Simple Gifts. Shelley attends several conferences every year and loves to meet readers. She also spends a lot of time online. Please visit her at eHarlequin.com or at www.shelleygalloway.com.

  Books by Shelley Galloway

  HARLEQUIN AMERICAN ROMANCE

  1090—CINDERELLA CHRISTMAS

  1134—SIMPLE GIFTS

  1156—A SMALL-TOWN GIRL

  1183—THE GOOD MOTHER

  1212—THE MOMMY BRIDE

  1244—MOMMY IN TRAINING

  This book is for Tom, of course.

  The past twenty-five years

  sure wouldn’t have been as wonderful without you.

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Epilogue

  Chapter One

  Shawn Wagner shifted an overstuffed beach bag from one shoulder to the other and tried to concentrate on how good the cool, damp sand felt underneath her toes. The Florida surf crashed gently against the shore, the waves foaming along the coastline, rhythmically calming her nerves and reminding her how much was inevitable.

  Just like the tide rolling in, she, too, would go on. Being pregnant again wasn’t the worst thing that could happen.

  But still…this pregnancy had caught her by surprise.

  She strolled along, frustrated that she couldn’t find the spot where they’d set up camp yesterday. It was so perfect, too. Quiet, near three big rocks. A wide patch of sand for the girls to build sand castles in.

  But…none of the rocks they were walking by looked familiar. As the girls giggled and marched in front of her, Shawn paused again. Had they gone left after the third green garbage can or right?

  “Mommy, what are you doing?” Mary called.

  “Trying to remember where we set all our stuff yesterday.”

  “Oh.” Ever eager to please, Mary stood by her side like a little sentry, looking this way and that.

  But really, every spot on the beach looked pretty much the same.

  “Kit, do you remember where we were yesterday?”

  Her five-year-old looked around. “Uh-huh.”

  “You sure?”

  “Uh-huh!” Grabbing three-year-old Elsie’s hand, Kit started walking again. “Come on. It’s this way.”

  Slipping her hand into Mary’s outstretched one, Shawn grinned. “Let’s follow our leader.”

  “How come Kit always knows where to go?”

  “I don’t know. I guess she’s got a lot of your daddy in her.”

  “I never remember.” Worriedly, Mary chewed on her lip. “Does that mean I’m like you?”

  It was humbling to realize that her middle child was actually worried about that possibility. “Maybe.” When they finally reached their destination and stopped in front of Kit, who was holding Elsie’s hand with more patience than usual, Shawn said, “Good job, honey. This is the exact place where we were yesterday.”

  Kit’s smile could have outshone the sun. “Hooray!”

  “Hooray is right. Let’s get settled, ladies.” With little fanfare, Shawn set down the beach bag, dug around for the king-size quilt, then shook it out over the soft-as-powder surface. Grains of sand flew up in its wake.

  Once the wrinkles were smoothed out, Mary and Kit set up their towels, toys and floats. Elsie occupied herself by scooping up sand and watching it run through her fingers.

  Shawn wondered just how in the world she was going to manage four girls. Because really, some days, she wasn’t so sure she managed all that well with three.

  Well, that was an understatement if she ever heard one. No matter what she did, things just seemed to naturally go awry. She forgot where she parked because she was thinking about grocery-store coupons. She was late for almost everything because three girls didn’t always follow directions right away.

  Being late, a little scattered and sometimes absentminded didn’t bother her. She figured it was a temporary thing, and probably not uncommon. After all, hadn’t she just read about other moms contracting “momnesia,” too? It had to be fairly prevalent for someone to have made up a new term to describe moms who forgot things.

  And, well, with three kids under six, Shawn figured she was entitled to have a bit of momnesia every now and then.

  Unfortunately, her faults had long stopped being endearing to Eddie. In fact, he’d only seemed amused by her antics when they were dating. Soon after they’d taken vows, it became apparent that he wished she was a little more on the ball.

  But they’d been in love and they’d had three beautiful girls together. Then she’d lost the baby. Though the d
octor had promised that there was no reason for the miscarriage, both she and Eddie had tried to find a cause.

  She’d started blaming Eddie for not helping enough. And he, well, Eddie had mentioned the way she’d carried Elsie around nonstop. Even though he knew Elsie had pretty much clung like a koala from the moment she was born.

  After that big fight, they’d both apologized. Eddie had been particularly remorseful, saying he’d had no right to ever say such things. That of course the miscarriage had been nobody’s fault.

  But some things couldn’t be forgotten.

  So after Elsie turned two, neither could take the arguing anymore. They’d separated. Six months later they’d divorced.

  Funny how that divorce hadn’t made things between them any easier. One night four months ago they went a little too far back down memory lane. And now she was pregnant again.

  “Mom, where’s the sunscreen?” Kit fumbled through the mesh beach bag, tossing toys out carelessly. As two bright red shovels landed at Elsie’s feet, she looked Shawn’s way again. “I can’t find it.”

  “I know I packed it today. Let’s see what’s under these toys.”

  “Daddy doesn’t like it when we empty toy bags and bins like that,” Mary said. “He said it makes a big mess that’s hard to clean up.”

  “Then I guess it’s a good thing he’s not here, hmm?”

  Though she’d already doused them in sunscreen, she dutifully helped them apply another layer. Then, after a warning to mind the surf, she watched her two oldest grab pails and shovels and run to the water.

  And when she finally sat down, it was next to Elsie, who was now looking very grown-up in one of Mary’s old suits.

  This was supposed to be a new year, a new beginning. The divorce was final, the girls were finally adjusting to seeing one parent at a time, and Elsie was out of diapers.

  Funny how things weren’t going as planned. Now, instead of taking the changing table and crib over to Goodwill, she was going to have to pull it out of the attic again—this time by herself. No way was she going to get Eddie involved—at least not for a while. The difficulties a new pregnancy would bring were just too harmful.

  Tugging on the hem of her tank top, Elsie claimed her attention again. “Momma, I’m thirsty.”

  Shawn handed her a juice box, followed by the requisite Goldfish crackers. When her baby was happily sipping and munching, Shawn watched Kit and Mary do their favorite beach activity—building a giant sand castle.

  Oh, they loved coming to the beach—thank goodness for Bill and Sharon Wagner. Just months after she and Eddie had separated, his parents had stopped over out of the blue.

  After catching up for a few minutes, they’d given her a key to their condo. “Eddie may be breaking up with you, but we’re certainly not,” Sharon had said. “Promise us you’ll come to Bishop’s Gate with the girls at least once a month.”

  Shawn had been thrilled, but reluctant to make things uncomfortable for Eddie. “You sure about that?”

  Bill had placed the key in her hand and curved her fingers around it. “Very sure.”

  The girls loved the weekends in the tiny beach community just thirty minutes outside Destin so much that Shawn agreed to the arrangement, even thought it meant that they saw Eddie a little bit more than she’d like. Eddie had bought a condo at Bishop’s Gate almost as soon as they separated.

  When snack time was over, Shawn walked Elsie to the castle construction zone and dropped onto the damp sand next to the other girls.

  They sat for a few minutes, Elsie content to watch her sisters, Shawn happy to sit in silence and watch the waves crash along the shore.

  Looking up, Kit narrowed her eyes. “Momma, is that Daddy?”

  Shawn’s head popped up. There was only one man who could fill out a T-shirt like that. Only one man who walked with such confidence. “I believe it is.”

  “Who’s that he’s with?”

  “I don’t know.” With effort, Shawn looked away from her former husband and concentrated on the woman by his side. All Shawn could see were long legs and long blond hair.

  Kit frowned as she dug a moat. “Why’s he here now? Tomorrow is when we’re going to the aquarium.”

  Keeping her voice calm and reassuring, Shawn said, “I don’t think he planned on seeing us.”

  “Because he’s with that pretty lady?”

  “Yep.” Forcing a smile, Shawn added, “I’m sure Daddy’s still taking you tomorrow and that you’ll have a great time.”

  Mary packed wet sand in her pail. “Are you going to come?”

  “Probably not. Daddy likes having the three of you to himself.”

  “I don’t think so.” Mary widened her eyes. “He says when we’re all together, we’re like a pack of wild animals.”

  “Y’all can be—but only sometimes.” Ruffling Mary’s wispy hair, she said, “Other times I think you’re just fine.”

  “But you still love us?”

  “Always. Daddy loves you, too.”

  Standing up, Kit looked knowingly at Mary and Elsie. “Daddy loves us, he just doesn’t want to live with us no more.”

  “Daddy doesn’t want to live with me,” she gently corrected. “Daddy and I are the ones with the problems. Not you three.”

  Kit frowned. “That’s what you always say.”

  “I say it because it’s the truth.”

  As the girls pondered that and stared at their daddy—who seemed oblivious to them—Shawn did some pondering herself.

  What had happened, anyway? First they were living the dream. Next it felt as if they were constantly fighting. He’d come home exhausted and only want to sit and watch TV, instead of helping to get dinner on the table.

  His patience with her hadn’t been at an all-time high, either. He got frustrated when he came home to a messy house and crying kids. Even though he well knew she couldn’t be perfect if she’d tried.

  For a little while she had tried real hard—but then she’d lost the baby and nothing seemed to matter.

  However, in her heart, Shawn knew she still loved him. There was something about him that struck her fancy and held on tight.

  And, oh, but he could kiss.

  And he was certainly capable in a crisis. Four months ago, when they’d been spending the weekend at the beach and Mary had contracted a fever, she’d called him, asking if he could run to the store for Popsicles and another bottle of children’s Tylenol. He’d ended up staying until all three girls fell asleep.

  They really should’ve known what was going to happen. One hug had morphed into one kiss—which had never been enough. Before her mind could put a stop to shenanigans, their clothes had been off and they’d been sprawled sideways on her king-size bed.

  “Mommy?”

  “Sorry. What, Kit?”

  “Daddy’s coming closer!”

  There was no reason for her heart to start pounding. No reason for her to care at all. Everything between them was over. O-v-e-r.

  It was just such a shame that she couldn’t turn those feelings off.

  Swallowing hard, she firmly told herself to move on. It was time. It really was. “Well, girls, let’s see what happens when he notices us. I bet he’s going to be real surprised.”

  Mary beamed. “I’m gonna say ‘Boo’ and then he’s gonna jump up high and be surprised! That will be real fun to see.”

  “Yes, it will,” Shawn agreed, brushing back a tender wisp of hair from her brow. “It’s going to be a sight to see, I just know it.”

  “EDDIE, AREN’T THOSE your girls? I swear they look just like the girls in the pictures you showed me.”

  Eddie turned away from admiring the way Jayne’s thick blond hair curled on her shoulder to glance in the direction she was staring. “Yep. And with them is my ex.”

  “Shawn?”

  “Uh-huh. That’s her.”

  Crystal-blue eyes looked faintly accusing. “You didn’t tell me she was so pretty.”

  “She’s okay.�
� Eddie knew he was lying. Shawn was downright beautiful, even after three kids. Long tan legs. Soft feminine arms and shoulders. Rounded hips. A waist that practically yelled for hands to encircle it.

  Even after everything they’d gone through, he was still drawn to his ex. Some days he’d wondered if that tender feeling—that attraction—would ever go away.

  Some days he wondered if he even wanted it to. From the moment he’d first talked to Shawn on the phone, she’d made him feel more alive. Those feelings had intensified during their courtship and marriage.

  And then, of course, it had dissolved into only a shadow of its former self.

  Jayne’s steps slowed. “So…those really are your kids?”

  “Yes. All girls. I told you I had three.” For a moment the statement hit him hard. Once, they’d been going to have more.

  “They’re so close in age.”

  Pulling himself back to the present, Eddie nodded. “I know.” He and Shawn never had been good at spacing things—not schedules, not arguments, not babies. When Jayne still looked at them warily, he did the inevitable. “We can turn around if you want.”

  “We can’t do that—what if they saw us?”

  “They haven’t.” If they’d seen him, his girls would be on their feet, and Shawn…well, Shawn would be looking him and Jayne over without an ounce of shyness.