The Trouble With Angels Page 0,75

of times, is all. He'd been married before, and, well, I didn't like the kind of father he was. I figured if he ignored his children, then he wouldn't treat a woman any differently, so I broke it off before it ever got started."

"Smart woman."

"You're only saying that because you'd rather I wasn't dating Jack," she said, cocking her head to one side.

"True." He wasn't going to lie about it. He'd be damn uncomfortable if she were involved in a relationship now. Of all her concerns, it was the one about Blythe he understood best. Ironically, she refused to discuss the other woman, although he'd broached the subject a number of times. Joy wouldn't let him explain what was going on between him and his fellow engineer.

Two hours later, after leaving Joy, he discovered he was still smiling. After their busy morning, he decided to spend a lazy afternoon in front of the television. He kicked off his shoes and flopped down on the sofa, contemplating a nap. Although the college football game was supposed to be between the top-rated national teams, he found his attention wandering.

Was he in love with Joy? Hell if he knew. But he felt like standing up on the coffee table and pounding his chest and letting loose with a yell that would rival Tarzan's.

When the doorbell chimed, he leaped up, hoping it might be Joy. It was impossible, but damn it all, he wanted it to be Joy. It didn't seem right that the two of them were apart.

When he opened his door, the last person he expected to see was Blythe. Well, all the better. It was time they sat down and talked. Not that he hadn't tried. One would think it would be a simple matter to clear the air, but she'd put him off a number of time.

"Hello, Blythe."

"Ted." Her hands were buried in the pockets of her jacket. "I'm sorry to drop in unannounced this way. Do you have a few moments?"

"Of course." He stepped aside to let her into the apartment. Something was wrong. She was pale and quiet, and her eyes were red and blotchy as if she'd been crying.

"Thanks," she said. She sat on the edge of the sofa, and Ted sat next to her. He reached for his remote control and turned off the television.

"Is something wrong?" he asked. He'd never seen Blythe like this.

"I haven't seen much of you lately, so I'm not sure how you're going to feel about this."

"It's true we need to talk," he said, not yet registering the second part of her statement. Then it hit him. "How I'm going to feel about what?" he asked.

She pulled a ragged tissue from inside her pocket and blew her nose. "I went to the doctor recently. As you know, I haven't been feeling well."

"What's wrong?" Ted asked, growing concerned.

She covered her face with both hands. "I can't believe I was so stupid." Slowly she lowered her hands and with effort composed herself. She started to speak once and then stopped, briefly closed her eyes, and began again.

"Blythe?"

"I'm pregnant, Ted, and you're the baby's father."

"Do you want me to leave the night-light on for you?" Karen's grandmother asked.

Karen hesitated. "No, that's for little kids. I don't need a night-light."

"How about the nightmares?" Beverly Shields sat on the edge of the mattress and carefully tucked the blankets around Karen's shoulders.

"I haven't had one in a while," Karen told her. She didn't mention the one the evening her dad had phoned. It was the first time Paula had spent the night. She'd awakened everyone with her crying and felt terrible afterward, wondering what Paula would think of her. But Paula had told her about the nightmares she'd had after her mother had died. That made Karen feel better. She'd liked Paula even better afterward. There wasn't anything she couldn't tell her new friend, she decided. Paula understood.

"Your mother will be back before you know it."

Karen nodded. "Dad wants me to spend Christmas Eve with him," she said in an effort to detain her grandma. She really did want the night-light on and regretted flippantly saying she should turn it off.

"Your dad called?"

"No, his attorney wrote Mom a letter."

Her grandmother's shoulders made a funny little up-and-down movement. "I imagine your mother's upset about that."

"Big time," Karen assured her. "Luckily Thom was there. He's a calming influence?"

Beverly's pencil-thin eyebrows arched expressively. "A calming influence?"

"Yes. He drove her to the airport. You know what, Grandma? I hope Thom