A Baby by Easter by Lois Richer

She’s not too much for you?” David asked in a careful voice.
    â€œI’m fine. Darla’s wonderful. She goes out of her way to watch out for me,” Susannah told him. “She’s always bringing me a cushion or a glass of water. She fusses too much. She shouldn’t waste her attention on me.”
    He’d been packing items into a cooler, but he stopped and turned to study her, his brow furrowed.
    â€œWaste?” He shook his head. “Darla loves you.”
    â€œShe shouldn’t.”
    â€œWhy?” His eyes were wide with surprise.
    â€œYou wouldn’t understand,” she murmured, trying to think up some way to get out of this conversation.
    â€œBecause you think I’ve had the perfect life?” His dark eyes flashed with intensity. “I’m a spoiled rich kid because I never went through foster care like you and Connie?”
    â€œNo.” She did meet his stare. “I don’t believe anyone has a perfect life. No one I know anyway.”
    â€œThen?” He stood where he was, waiting, palms up, for some answer.
    â€œLook, you had your life mapped out in front of you and you followed that map.” It frustrated her to have to put into words what hurt so deeply. “You weren’t like me. You didn’t mess up over and over. Your choices were smart. Mine weren’t.”
    â€œBut you were a kid and that was ages ago,” he said. “You’ve changed.”
    â€œHave I? I hope so. But the results of my stupid decisions live on,” she said, laying a hand over her stomach as if she could protect her baby. “They’re certainly not the decisions a mother wants to tell her child.”
    â€œSusannah, that’s ridiculous. Everyone makes mistakes—”
    â€œYou didn’t,” she said, daring him to contradict.
    â€œI’m ready.” Darla stood in the doorway, her smile fading. “Are you arguing?” she asked, her voice worried.
    â€œNo. Just discussing.” David touched her nose. “You look very pretty,” he complimented.
    â€œIt’s the same color as Susannah’s shirt,” she said proudly. “We both like pink.”
    Susannah’s heart lifted, as it always did in the presence of this lovely girl. “Connie made this shirt. She’s decided she is going to sew me a whole new wardrobe and she won’t take no for an answer.”
    â€œConnie’s like Davy.” Darla peeked through her lashes at her big brother. “He doesn’t take no, either.”
    â€œHey! No dissing me.” He smiled at Susannah. “You look very nice.”
    â€œThank you.” She fought to keep from blushing again, but that didn’t stop her heart from bouncing with pleasure at the compliment. How stupid was that—to be glad a man who looked down on you thought you looked nice? Pregnancy was fooling with her brain.
    â€œDarla, why don’t you go put on your coat?” David said. When she’d left, he turned to Susannah. “Would you like to come to the potluck with us?” he asked as he closed the lid on the cooler. “I’m sure the presentation will be worth seeing.”
    â€œGo with you?” Susannah didn’t understand for a moment. “Oh, you mean to watch her? Sure, I—”
    â€œNo, that’s okay—Darla will be fine. I meant would you like to come to the potluck supper and presentation with Darla and me.” He leaned back against the granite counter and waited, lips tilted up in a quirky smile.
    Susannah debated. It might be okay for tonight, but later, when the baby was showing more, everyone would wonder. Maybe the speculation would ruin his business and then she’d be responsible…but she was tired of hiding out at Connie’s or the mall.
    â€œI didn’t realize it was such a major decision,” he chuckled.
    â€œI would like to go,” she said so fast her tongue