“When will you and Adam be heading home?” John filled July’s glass with more soda from the pitcher on the table.
July felt David’s eyes on her. They hadn’t talked about her leaving since the day after Adam was born. Back when she promised him she’d have the DNA test done before she left town. “I’ll be here a couple more weeks.”
“I wish you’d stay.” Kayla reached across the table and gave July’s hand a squeeze. “The book club meetings won’t be the same without you. And you’re the only friend I have who has a newborn.”
Friend. Tears stung the back of July’s lids. Kayla considered her a friend.
July returned the squeeze. “I’m going to miss you, too.”
“Isn’t there any way you could stay?” Kayla asked, casting a curious glance in David’s direction.
“Maybe.” July kept her response deliberately vague. “I’m exploring several possibilities.”
“Like what?” Kayla leaned forward resting her forearms on the table.
“Like seeing what kind of positions I could get that would allow me to stay. Stuff like that.” July gave a dismissive wave. “It’s all very preliminary.”
“I hope something works out,” Kayla said.
“Me, too.” She kept her eyes on Kayla and off David. “Me, too.”
David waited until he and July were on their way back to his sister’s house before he brought up her leaving.
From the beginning he’d known she wouldn’t be in Jackson for longer than a month or so. But somewhere along the way he’d lost track of the time. What had she said to Kayla—a couple more weeks? That meant that in as little as fourteen days, she—and Adam—could be gone. The knowledge was a boot-kick straight to the heart. “So you’re thinking about staying in Jackson?”
She hesitated for only a second. “Considering it.”
David could feel Adam’s heart against his chest. Since July had carried the baby on their way downtown, he’d offered to take him on the way home. To David’s surprise, July had agreed.
He reached down and adjusted the stocking cap on the little boy’s head and felt a warm rush of emotion. The time he’d spent with July and Adam these past few weeks had brought a richness to his life he’d never known. They’d filled the empty places in his heart with joy. He couldn’t imagine his life without them in it.
“If you’re wondering about the DNA testing,” July said when the silence lengthened. “I’m going to do it next week.”
David didn’t know why the offer disturbed him. After all, this was what he wanted, what he’d once demanded. Maybe it was because he’d begun to equate the test with July leaving Jackson. Once it was done, she’d fulfilled her promise and there was nothing holding her here.#p#分页标题#e#
“David?”
“Just let me know when you’re ready,” he said almost brusquely. “I’ll bring the testing vials home with me.”
“How about Monday?”
“That will work.” David remembered how eager he’d been to find out whether Adam was his son. Now he realized that the love he felt for this little boy didn’t have a thing to do with the blood running through Adam’s veins.
“Got any big plans for the rest of the week?” July asked.
David twisted his lips. “I’m meeting with Celeste’s old boss after work tomorrow.”
“Really?” Her head cocked. “What about?”
“I’m not sure.” David shrugged. “He called and said he was going to be in town and wanted to get together.”
She glanced both ways down the side street then stepped off the curb. “Were you two ever friends?”
“I barely knew the guy.” In fact, he could count on one hand the number of times he’d even seen Gary. “He was at a couple of parties we attended when we lived in L.A. That’s about it.”
He took July’s arm as they crossed the street, but didn’t let go when they reached the other side. Strolling down the sidewalk with Adam sleeping against his chest and her hand in his was pure heaven on earth.
“Are you eating dinner together?”
For a second David wasn’t sure what she was talking about then he made the connection. “With Gary? Absolutely not.”
He could handle Gary for an hour or so but beyond that, forget it. David had a mental image of the man from their previous encounters. Sharp dresser. Big boozer. And stuck on himself. No, an hour would be more than enough.
“Well, since you don’t have plans…”