Free Baby on Board by Lisa Ruff

his shoulder, then back to his face. Patrick couldn’t read her expression, she had closed herself to him completely.
    “I don’t see how we can go anywhere.”
    He opened his mouth to dispute her words, but was interrupted by the man who had gotten out of the car.
    “Kate! Hello.”
    Patrick turned to look at the tall, barrel-chested man coming up the walk. He had a round, cheerful face with a wide smile and bright blue eyes. Those eyes glanced at Patrick for a second, then returned to Kate. He climbed the steps of the porch and took her hands in his, kissing her on both cheeks. Patrick’s fists clenched.
    “You look gorgeous,” the man said.
    “Hello, Steve,” Kate said with a slight smile. “Are you early or am I late?”
    “I’m a bit early,” the man admitted. “I couldn’t wait to see you.”
    Kate unlocked the front door, then glanced at Patrick. “Thanks for stopping by, Patrick.”
    “Aren’t you going to introduce us?” Patrick asked.
    Halfway through the door, Kate turned around, obviously reluctant. “Steve, this is Patrick Berzani. Patrick, Steve Craig.”
    “Pleased to meet you.” Steve shook Patrick’s hand.
    “Let me guess. You’re one of my replacements.”
    Steve looked puzzled. “Replacements? What do you mean?”
    “Leave it alone.” Kate glared at Patrick, but he ignored her.
    “Congratulations. You’re Kate’s first choice,” he told Steve.
    “Well, that’s good news,” Steve said jovially. “I’ve been working on her for two years.”
    “It’s taken you that long?” Patrick raised an eyebrow.
    “Just leave,” Kate said. She took a position between the two men, facing Patrick.
    He looked over the top of her head at Steve. “I’m really honored to meet you. It takes a heck of guy to volunteer to raise another man’s child.”
    “Kate, what’s he talking about?”
    “You mean she hasn’t told you?” Patrick asked.
    “Shut up, Patrick,” Kate said stonily.
    “ What is going on here?” Steve asked.
    “Well, you see, Steve, Kate’s pregnant.” Patrick smiled disarmingly at his rival. “I’m the father, at least biologically, but since I’m not quite up to her standards, you’ve been selected to take my place.”
    Patrick watched with satisfaction as Steve’s eyes widened and his mouth opened and closed several times like a fish gasping for air. Kate flushed bright red.
    “Of course, I don’t intend to just disappear. I’ll be hanging around, keeping an eye on things in case—”
    “That’s enough.” Kate’s arms were folded tightly across her chest as she scowled at Patrick.
    “I suppose you’re right. I’d better be going. You two have a lot to talk about.” Patrick smiled slightly as he brushed a finger over Kate’s cheek and nodded at the other man. “Nice meeting you, Steve.”
    He turned on his heel and walked back to his truck. As he got in and drove off, anger once more burned a hole in his heart. She might think that it was over, but it wasn’t. Not now and not ever.

Chapter Five
    With her safety goggles strapped in place, Kate scooped up a glob of molten glass from the crucible with the end of a blowpipe. She kept the pipe turning as she placed the ball onto the flat steel marver and rolled it into an oblong shape. The glass glowed a bright orange as she worked, losing color slowly as the heat dissipated. When it was smooth, she rested the pipe on a floor yoke, thrusting the glass-covered end of it back into the oven. Rollers on the tall, Y-shaped stand kept the pipe rotating and balanced the weight of the glass. Even through the dark goggles, she had to squint as she stared into the glowing flames of the oven.
    A swell of strings from the stereo followed the choreography of her work. The baby kicked in time to the music, as if demanding to be a part of the creative process. Kate laughed and patted the small life inside her. From the first, the baby had been most active whenever Kate worked in the studio. She wondered if her