Free Because of the Baby by Debbie Macomber

more at stake now.
    â€œNo,” Matt echoed, his face tense. He stood and moved to the living room window, staring quietly out for several minutes. When he turned around, anger and frustration seemed to radiate from him. The tightness around his mouth and eyes made his expression piercing and grim.
    â€œI’ve never understood what I did that was so terrible,” he said, his voice low. “Okay, I agree I fumbled around for a while looking for the right career. I knew that bothered you but, Karen, I’m not your father. You complained about my tendency to bounce from job to job, but was that really so bad? We never went hungry, the rent was paid and we had a decent life.”
    Karen wanted to argue that it was pure luck he found work so easily and you couldn’t always count on luck. It was the uncertainty of the situation that drove her crazy. She’d worry about the rent, although somehow, they’d always managed, just as he’d said.
    â€œI’m faithful and loyal. I never drank or abused you in any way.”
    â€œMatt, please—”
    â€œI’ve always loved you. The day we stood before the judge and he pounded his gavel and proclaimed that we were no longer married, I still loved you. You’re carrying my child, and I love you more than ever—but I can’t force you to care for me.”
    Karen covered her face in an effort to hold back the words that would tell him how much she cared.
    â€œYou want to shut me out of your life,” he said starkly. “You want to ignore the fact that the child you’re carrying is mine, too. I never thought I’d say it, but maybe you were right—having my attorney talk to yours might be the best way to handle this.” Without another word, he walked to the door and left.
    The sharp and sudden pain in Karen’s abdomen took her by surprise. The unexpectedness of it was one thing, but the intensity of the attack took her breath away. She gasped and doubled up.
    Something was very wrong.
    Darkness crowded her vision, and she was afraid she might faint. With what little strength she had, Karen heaved herself from the sofa and stumbled to the door.
    â€œMatt.” She screamed his name, frantic now with fear.
    He was halfway to the parking lot when he heard her.
    â€œHelp me…” she pleaded, sobbing uncontrollably. She stretched one arm toward him and clutched her stomach with the other. “I think I’m losing the baby.”
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    Matt sat in the waiting area outside the emergency room at Oakland Hospital. He’d tried a dozen times in the past two hours to see Karen but had been told the doctor was still with her. Two hours!
    The waiting room was packed. There were several crying, sick children, a man with a bloody towel wrapped around his hand and a young mother singing a lullaby to her fussing two-year-old. A couple of girls were staring at the fish in an aquarium, while two or three men seemed glued to the TV, which was tuned to CNN.
    Matt hadn’t glanced at the television or the aquarium once. He was too worried about Karen and the baby. He was afraidthe length of time she’d been with the doctor didn’t bode well for the pregnancy.
    He closed his eyes and forced himself to concentrate on breathing. A crushing sadness lodged in his chest. He’d known about the baby less than twenty-four hours, yet he deeply grieved the loss of his son or daughter. He would never hold this baby in his arms, never change a diaper or hear his child’s first word.
    Glancing toward the swinging doors, Matt willed someone—anyone—to come and tell him what was happening with Karen.
    What he’d said earlier about loving her had never seemed truer than at this moment. He hurt more now than he had when she’d served him with the divorce papers. She’d made it clear that she wanted nothing to do with him, and heaven help him, he’d abide by her wishes. But no matter