already out with an investigator—a real one,” he added with a twinkle in his eyes, “looking for the witnesses that he swears will point to you as the murderer. This should be very interesting. We’re also interviewing people.” He smiled smugly. He didn’t share why.
“What if they come and arrest me?” Esther asked, frightened.
“They won’t arrest you,” he promised. “You have to trust us, Mrs. Matthews. This isn’t our first walk around the courtroom.”
“You sound very certain of that,” she replied warily.
He smiled. “I am.”
She drew in a breath. “Okay, then. You’ll keep me posted, about what’s going on?” she added as they started to leave.
“You may count on that,” Mr. Thornton told her.
* * *
Later, when they were curled up in bed together, Esther hinted about her mother’s estate and what Darrin was actually after.
“You said that your mother just had a few stocks and bonds,” Butch began.
She drew in a breath. “Yes,” she said, retreating. He didn’t sound encouraging. “A few minor ones, here and there.”
“Then why are the lawyers worried that your mother’s boyfriend might send someone down here after you?”
She thought fast. “The will,” she said.
“Oh. I see.”
She felt him relax. She moved closer with a sigh, resting her cheek on his chest. “That was all I was worried . . . about . . . oh, dear . . . !”
She was on her feet and running for the bathroom. She barely made it. She lost her supper, her lunch—even, apparently, her breakfast.
Butch was right there with her the whole time, a wet washcloth held in his hand to mop her up afterwards.
He kept a strong arm around her, back to the bedroom and eased her onto the bed, dropping down beside her.
He looked very sexy in the soft light of the lamp. Even when she felt nauseated, he was deliciously attractive to her.
She laughed softly. “Even when I’m sick, you’re soooo sexy, Mr. Matthews,” she teased weakly.
He wasn’t laughing. She had the wet cloth over her eyes when she felt his big hand rest lightly above her flat stomach.
She moved the cloth away, her eyes suddenly glued to his pale face. He looked . . . she couldn’t decide how he looked.
Her breath drew in sharply. “Do you think . . . ?” she faltered.
“My God.” He wasn’t swearing. His voice held an odd reverence. His big hand smoothed so tenderly over her stomach. He looked up at her, and there was wonder in his eyes, in his face.
She relaxed. She smiled. She beamed. She laughed with pure joy.
He slid down next to her and cradled her tenderly against him. “Oh, glory,” he whispered into her hair. “Daddy Matthews.”
She laughed again. “Mommy Matthews.”
He nuzzled his face against hers. “We’ll have to start thinking about names and a good college, and when she’ll get married,” he began.
“When he’ll get married. I want a boy,” she said. “And he has to look just like you!”
He fought tears. His life had been empty, cold, almost savage. Now, suddenly, he was part of a family. He loved it. He wished he could put it into words. He didn’t know how.
“Life takes things away from you. Then God gives them back, in the sweetest way,” he whispered.
Her arms tightened around his neck. “I’m glad you aren’t angry.”
“Angry!” He lifted his head and looked down at her. “I’ve just won the lottery. Hit the jackpot. Climbed Mt. Everest.” He looked down at her stomach, concealed by the pretty, thin, blue lacy nightgown she was wearing. “Glimpsed heaven,” he added reverently.
She sighed, lying back on the pillow. “It might be a false alarm,” she said, and looked worried.
He pursed his lips. “When was your last period?” he asked.
She started, because she hadn’t been keeping track at all. She counted. Her eyes widened. “Six weeks!” she exclaimed.
“Almost to the day we married,” he chuckled.
“Wow.”
“Double wow,” he murmured. “You don’t mind? We haven’t been married long.”
“I don’t mind at all,” she said dreamily. “I never wanted to travel the world or become famous in a profession. I just wanted a man to love, who was a good man, and children, and a real home where I wasn’t moved around every month to someplace else.” She looked up at him with wonder. “And I found it all, right here, almost overnight.”
He bent and kissed her eyelids shut. “So did I. You’re my whole life. If I lost you, I couldn’t go on,” he said huskily.
Her arms tightened around his neck. “You’ll never lose me,”