If the Ring Fits. Cindy Kirk
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but Travis had been clear—he didn’t want children. And she had three of them. Three little boys she adored.
If she ever did marry again, it would be to someone who loved and wanted not only her, but her sons as well. Her ex had taught her a valuable lesson. If love wasn’t there in the beginning, if the desire to be a part of a family wasn’t there, either, it wasn’t going to show up later.
Steven had never wanted to be a husband to her or a father to their boys. She’d tried hard to make their marriage work but from day one he’d blamed her for “trapping” him. And he’d missed no opportunity to throw that in her face. Her heart twisted at the memory.
If Travis found out she was pregnant, he would insist on taking responsibility. He was just that kind of guy. But Mary Karen couldn’t let him. She refused to go down that road again. Which meant she was in this alone. Oh, her parents would be supportive. But they were busy with their own lives. And her brother, who’d been such a help when Steven had walked out on her, now had a family of his own. No, the children she had—and any additional children she might have—were her responsibility. Hers and hers alone.
You don’t have to have this baby.
The thought was like a whisper on the wind.
Mary Karen refused to let it take hold in her head. She couldn’t end this tiny life growing inside her.
“You’re a dodo head,” she heard Connor yell from the other room.
“Mo-om,” Caleb called out. “Connor called me a dodo head.”
The words were followed by a crash then the sound of Logan crying.
Mary Karen closed her eyes for a second and took a deep breath. After a heartbeat she opened them, then squared her shoulders and headed for the living room. Later, she’d think about the mess her life had become. For now she had three little boys who needed their mommy.
Travis Fisher pulled his car in front of Dr. Kate McNeal’s apartment complex—just a few buildings down from his—and was overcome once again with the feeling that giving her a ride to his welcome-back party was a mistake.
Last night he’d barely gotten into town, when he’d received a call from the hospital. A woman needed an emergency C-section and the other ob-gyns were busy. As the on-call pediatrician, Kate had been in the delivery room.
After the birth, they’d grabbed a quick cup of coffee in the doctors’ lounge. They got to talking and she’d mentioned the party.
When she asked if he could pick her up, he hadn’t known how to respond. Like she said, she lived close and they were going to the same destination. Riding together made perfect sense. Except he wasn’t the guy she’d known before he left for Cameroon. He was … married.
Married. Travis still found it hard to believe. He could only imagine David Wahl’s reaction if he heard the news. Though his friend loved to tease his sister, he was her staunchest supporter. No, David would not be pleased.
Thankfully, the annulment would take care of the problem. No one—including David—would ever know.
Travis shut off his BMW Roadster and opened the door. He still couldn’t believe he and Mary Karen had been so reckless. The sex he could understand. There’d always been a strong physical attraction between them. But even way back when she was in college and he was in residency, they’d acknowledged that they weren’t right for each other. He was live-for-the-moment. She was home-and-hearth.
She was also his best female friend and the one he’d thought of most when he’d been in Cameroon.
Kate stepped out of the front door of her building. He acknowledged her wave with a smile. Though she wasn’t as pretty as Mary Karen, Kate was easy on the eyes. Her hair hung to her shoulders in a sleek bob, jet-black and silky. Long dark lashes framed hazel eyes. Tall and lean, she had a fashion sense that made her look more like a model than an up-and-coming pediatrician.
While she didn’t make his insides go all crazy like Mary Karen did, Kate was a nice person. There was no reason he should be feeling guilty for giving her a ride. No reason at all. After all, he and M.K. were really married only on paper. The annulment should be as quick as the wedding ceremony.
Travis started up the walk and met Kate halfway. Her summer dress accentuated her willowy figure and full breasts. When he drew close, she opened her arms to him. “I’m so happy you’re back.”
Obligingly he stepped in and pulled her near, appreciating the clean fresh scent of her. In Cameroon, such common staples like deodorant and toothpaste had been in short supply. Kate was a sweet reminder that he was home. While training other doctors to better help their patients had been a powerful experience, he was very happy to be back.
Kate lifted her face and he realized she expected a kiss. They’d kissed once before he left but this was different. He hadn’t been married then. And even if that marriage would be over the second he and Mary Karen had a chance to sign the appropriate forms and let the lawyers do the rest, to participate in even such simple intimacy with another woman felt wrong.
Travis took a step back.
A momentary look of confusion crossed Kate’s face. “Is something wrong?”
He smiled and pretended to misunderstand. “Don’t want to be late.”
Kate started down the sidewalk, and he fell into step beside her. “Will there be people I know at this party?”
“Probably. It will be an eclectic mix. David has invited everyone from colleagues at the hospital to my ski buddy Joel Dennes.”
“Joel Dennes?” she asked in a tone that seemed a bit too casual. “The contractor?”
Travis slanted a sideways glance as they reached the car. “You’ve met?”
“No,” she said quickly. “Why would you think that?”
“He has a daughter.” Travis shrugged. “I thought she might be one of your patients.”
“She may be. I haven’t met all the patients in my new practice yet.” Her eyes remained focused ahead, her tone noncommittal. “I did meet someone who knows you at the hospital last week.”
He opened the passenger side door and helped her into the car. “Who was that?”
“Mary Karen Vaughn,” Kate said. “Did you know David Wahl is her brother? I wonder if she’ll be at the barbecue.”
Somehow Travis managed a smile as he shut her door. “Undoubtedly.”
Chapter Two
Mary Karen’s brother, David, and his wife, July, had been blessed with a perfect night for their backyard barbecue. The sun shone bright in the blue Wyoming sky. Blooming patches of wildflowers rimmed the large yard. The linen-clad tables had each been adorned with bouquets of sunflowers. For an outdoor event, it felt surprisingly elegant.
“I thought everyone would be dressed a little more casual.” Mary Karen glanced down at her blue chambray skirt and scoop-necked lace top, and then back at her friends.
Her sister-in-law, July Wahl, wore a darling tropical-print dress while her friend Lexi Delacorte’s cherry-red one-shoulder maternity dress managed to look stylish and comfortable at the same time.
“You look so cute,” July said. “I love what you did with your hair.”
Mary Karen smiled wryly. “You mean … wash it?”
“Shut up.” July gave her a little shove. “I’m talking about pulling it back from your face in those cute little clips.”
“I love the look, too,” Lexi said. “And, just so you know, we’re super jealous of your flat stomach.”
“It’s hard to be sexy with your belly out in front.” July glanced down. “Thankfully,