Free Vivian by Bernadette Marie Page B

Pregnant.”
    “ Maybe.”
    “ Happy?”
    “ Deliriously so.”
    She could feel both excitement and jealousy run through her. She wasn’t sure which one she was supposed to embrace. “What does he say?”
    “ To keep quiet until the wedding.”
    She decided that the happy feeling was going to win today. There was no room in her life for negative. “I think that’s wonderful.”
    Amelia rested her hands on Vivian’s. At that moment, Vivian was sure she was pregnant. Only something like that would soften Amelia enough to offer such a gesture.
    “ Something is bothering you. It isn’t this new found love for Clayton. You’re not even mad that I might be pregnant.”
    “ You’re pregnant.”
    “ Unconfirmed.”
    “ Hmmm,” she hummed out. “Something crossed my mind yesterday when I was talking to Clayton.” She looked at Amelia. “Adam asked for a divorce.”
    “ Right. He wrote to you.”
    “ Why? Why did he need a divorce? We weren’t ever legally married.”
    She watched as Amelia’s eyes opened wide. “He didn’t know that.”
    Vivian shook her head. “I can’t vouch for what he knew about his marriage to Penelope. For all we know that marriage was a sham so he could sleep with her.”
    “ You can’t ever tell her that.”
    “ I never would.” And that was a promise she’d forever keep. True or not. “Something happened to that marriage certificate.”
    “ How could she do this to you? All these years?”
    “ When I went to Oklahoma City the other day I was looking for information on where she might be in rehab. I, of course, am no one, so I can’t find her. And Frank won’t return my calls.”
    “ Maybe Darby has contacted them and he knows we think she’s up to something.”
    “ Maybe. I’ll have to talk to him.” She heard the stirring in the other room. “For now I’m going to focus on this business and getting moved in here. And Clayton living with us.”
    “ He’s living with you?”
    “ When I realized Adam had asked for a divorce I think I was on a bit of a rant. He wants to stay close until we know what’s going on.”
    “ And that’s why he brought the girls.”
    “ He slept on the couch.”
    “ Really ?”
    “ Really. He’s that kind of gentleman.”
    “ Maybe he’ll never go back.”
    Vivian felt the smile that pushed at her cheeks. “Maybe not.”
     

Chapter Eleven
     
    Clayton packed up at school and drove by his house. He collected his mail, more clothes, and whatever was about to go bad in the refrigerator. He had nine more months on the lease. Perhaps he’d better assume Vivian was safe and move home, or move her in with him.
    No. She needed to be at the old house. The girls should be enveloped in something that had a part of their father. The house would offer that. He’d run through these halls as a boy. They’d have a connection to it.
    He’d promised Brock an hour of his help on the bedroom in the old house. Vivian would just be cleaning up and then they could head home.
    He liked the thought of it. They. Home. The male hormones running through him wondered if she’d solidified a date for Amelia and Penelope to watch the girls. He had romantic plans for dinner and whatever she wanted to do after, but he was man enough to hope she really wanted to go home and do what men and women do.
    It had been two years for him and at least as long for her. They both were two sexually pent up people.
    When he pulled up in front of the old house, he climbed from his car and pulled out the bag of items he’d taken from his refrigerator. He’d store them in the kitchen until they headed to Vivian’s.
    The days were growing shorter and the daylight was already slipping away. Streetlights were already turning on and the house in front of him was illuminated. As he approached the house, he could hear small voices and laughs coming from inside. There was a lock on the front door, so he’d have to be buzzed into the house now that it had kids in it. He liked