The Doctor's Baby(54)

The opening hymn sounded and July rose along with David and the rest of the congregation. David had taken the baby when they’d sat down and hadn’t yet given him back. The sight of her son nestled in the crook of his father’s arm brought tears to July’s eyes.

She couldn’t help wondering what it would be like to go to bed with David every night and wake up beside him every morning? To celebrate holidays together? To raise her son as part of this loving family?

The rest of the service passed in a blur. Everyone clapped when Granny got her service award. The little boys started to cheer until Mary Karen shushed them. When Granny thanked her family, for a second July felt as if she were one of them. Until she realized she wasn’t part of this family, not really. And she might never be…depending on how David took the news this evening.

Telling him tonight wasn’t optimum, especially coming so close on the heels of his wife’s betrayal, but she couldn’t delay any longer. Not only had she promised to do the DNA test tomorrow on Adam, her job in this area was completed and there was no longer anything holding her here.

Only David.

Maybe it was because she was in a church. Maybe it was because the lie had never weighed heavier on her soul. Whatever the reason, July found herself folding her hands and bowing her head.

Dear God. Please let David understand and forgive me. You know how sorry I am. You know how much I love him. Please, please…

“July.” David’s whisper was warm against her ear. “Everything okay?”

July popped her eyes open and smiled. She slipped her arm through his. “Everything is perfect.”

She only hoped she could say the same thing after this evening.



They couldn’t have ordered a better day for a party. With an abundance of sunshine, temperature in the mid-seventies and very little breeze, the celebration had been quickly moved outdoors.

David whistled as he helped his father set up the tables normally reserved for garage sales. The women put the food out the second the tables were up. With the baby strapped to her front, he noticed July was right out there helping, laughing and talking with his mom and sister.

Celeste had hated coming to family events, claiming she had little in common with his relatives. Most of the time she’d scheduled her work trips when the events had been planned. Now he had to wonder if her unease with his family was simply an excuse. Perhaps she just preferred to spend weekends with her lover.#p#分页标题#e#

His heart twisted. He’d thought Celeste loved him. Sure they’d had their issues—what married couple doesn’t?—but he’d never thought she’d cheat. Gary had taken full responsibility for the affair but Celeste had chosen to step outside her marriage vows. Why?

“July seems like a nice woman.”

His father’s words jerked David back to reality.

“She’s great.” He found her across the yard talking to his Aunt Bethany and let his gaze linger. She’d confessed to him on the way to the church that the stretchy brown dress she had on was one she’d worn while she was pregnant with Adam. Since she didn’t have much money, she’d jazzed it up with a wide belt covered in brightly colored stones.

Celeste may have been stunning, but David preferred July’s quiet beauty. It was more real, just like the woman herself. Someone a man could trust.

“You seem quite fond of her and her son.”

Was there a warning in his father’s tone?

“I’m very fond of her.” David pulled his gaze from July and shifted his focus back to his father. “You have a problem with that?”

“I just don’t want to see you rush into anything.” His father shifted from one foot to the other. “Mary Karen told your mother that July has already spent the night at your place a couple times and—”

“For goodness’ sake, Dad, I’m a grown man. I don’t need lectures about my love life.”

“This isn’t all about you, David.” His dad blew out a frustrated breath. “The woman just had a baby. She’s emotionally vulnerable. And there’s the father of the baby to consider. He—”

“I’m Adam’s father,” David said, the words right and true on his tongue. Even if it turned out that he wasn’t Adam’s biological father, the baby was his son in every way that mattered.

“How?” The look on his father’s face would have been funny at any other time. “When? I mean, you’ve never spoken of her.”

“She and I met when I was in Chicago last summer,” David said. “I love her.”