Gabi winced. “I was afraid you might put that spin on what I said.”
“It is the natural conclusion to be drawn from your comment,” Samantha said a little too gleefully.
Yeah, Gabi was afraid of that, too. She hated the thought of Samantha, Emily and Grandmother being right about the two of them, almost as much as she wondered what it would be like to have a man as rock solid as Wade in her life.
“I don’t know why all of you think he’s right for me,” she said with exasperation. “He’s annoying. He thinks he knows me. He keeps pushing all this nonsense about me not really wanting to go back to the life I had.”
Samantha regarded her with surprise. “He said that?”
“He did,” Gabi said indignantly. “Can you believe it?”
“Interesting,” Samantha said. “I think he might have a point.”
Gabi scowled. “He does not have a point. The man barely knows me. I don’t think we had one single conversation that lasted more than a minute when I was here last August.”
“Which gave him lots of time to observe you,” Samantha suggested. “And we all know he rarely took his eyes off you. Sometimes it’s these quiet ones who have fantastic insights. You probably ought to listen to him, or at least think about what he’s saying.”
“And what?” Gabi asked incredulously. “Not go back to Raleigh? Not go back into public relations?”
“I don’t know,” Samantha responded. “After all, you did choose that particular path in order to prove something to Dad. Did you truly love the work?”
“Of course I did. I doubt I’d have been any good at it if I wasn’t fiercely dedicated and excited about it.”
“Or determined to show Dad he’d made a mistake,” Samantha suggested slyly. At Gabi’s indignant huff, she held up a hand. “Okay. I know that, in the end, the decision has to be yours. I’m just saying if you’re ever going to change directions in your life, now could be the right time.”
Gabi thought she was crazy. “Now? When I’m expecting a baby and have just told the father I don’t want his support? Come on. If I decide to keep my child—and I’m not saying that’s what I’ve decided to do—don’t you think I should be looking for the best possible job in a field in which I have outstanding credentials?”
“And go back to working eighteen hours a day while a nanny raises your baby?” Samantha asked gently.
That question brought Gabi up short. She knew what it was like to be neglected by a workaholic parent. She and her sisters had had their mom to balance things, but who would her child have? A well-paid nanny? How could that be fair?
She sighed heavily. “I’m going to bed,” she told Samantha.
“It’s not even nine o’clock,” Samantha said, looking surprised. “Are you okay?”
“I need to get up early.”
“Why? You’re not even thinking of going back to Raleigh tomorrow, are you?”
“No, but I need to start making some plans first thing in the morning and I want a clear head.”
Samantha smiled. “Ah, yes. I was wondering when the yellow legal pads were going to come out.”
“And now you know,” Gabi told her.
She just wished she had even the tiniest clue what the first item on her list ought to be.
7
Spending Saturday with Gabi and her family had been a revelation to Wade. Though he’d intended to drop by again on Sunday, he recalled his promise to his sister. If he failed to show up for Sunday dinner with all the answers she wanted, he’d never hear the end of it.
He was also struck by another thought, a surefire way to silence the questions and maybe to make a point with Gabriella at the same time. Since he knew Louise would never object to him bringing a woman along for Sunday dinner, he started with the tougher sell. He called Gabi.
“What are your plans for today?” he asked when she answered her cell phone. He thought she sounded half-asleep, her husky voice incredibly sexy, even though it was after ten in the morning.
“Well, I came outside a couple of hours ago to make a few lists, but I think I fell asleep,” she admitted.
He smiled at the exasperation in her voice. “Thwarted again, huh?”
“I’m beginning to think there’s something wrong with me. I just can’t focus. Do you suppose pregnancy saps your brain cells?”
She sounded so serious, so bewildered, he couldn’t help chuckling. “I wouldn’t know about that, but you know my theory about your lack of focus,” he reminded her.
“You think I don’t want to make any decisions.”
“Pretty much. But since you’re not totally engrossed in making a list, how about joining me for a traditional Sunday pot roast dinner? I’m due at my sister’s at one o’clock. You can see for yourself how she juggles things. You can ask her about that brain cell thing, too.”
“You told me she counts on you,” Gabi responded. “And she has a husband. I’d say the situations aren’t even remotely the same.”
“But you’re smart. So is she. I’m sure you can pick up a few tips.”
“What does your sister think is going on?” she inquired suspiciously. “With us, I mean.”
“To be honest, I’ve only mentioned you to her in passing. You’re not going to be walking into a roomful of people with high expectations. That would be your family.”
That earned him a chuckle. “Point taken. Okay, I’m at the point when any distraction sounds idyllic. Shall I meet you there?”
“Nope. I’ll come for you around twelve-thirty. No need to dress up, by the way. You’ll just be getting all messed up. These kids show no mercy.”
“Gee, you make this sound really special,” she said dryly. “Maybe I should reconsider.”
“It’s not the kids who should have you reconsidering. Louise is an attorney, remember? She may not have expectations, but she will have questions, I’m afraid. Brace yourself. She didn’t get a tough courtroom reputation for no good reason.”
Gabi laughed. “Are you
