Free Something Unexpected by WENDY WARREN Page A

wryly.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œMmm-hmm. I’d say it’s more a matter of when they find out, not if. ” He watched her closely, his breath held, feeling clear as a bell that he’d never asked a more important question or waited for a more seminal answer. “Wouldn’t you?”
    She pressed her lips together, taking time before she answered, and he felt as if he were hanging from the edge of a cliff, waiting for someone either to pull him to safety or pry his fingers loose, one by one.
    â€œIf I can find another job,” she said, “we might not have to discuss it with anyone for the time being. It could be between the two of us while we figure out the details.”
    â€œAnother job where?” he asked, hearing the tension in his voice.
    â€œThe Tacoma Public Library is looking for someone.”
    â€œTacoma.” Dean frowned. “Washington.”
    She picked at her sandwich, pulling out the tiniest piece of turkey, chewing carefully and swallowing before she explained, “Tacoma is a much larger city. No one there will care if a librarian is single and pregnant.”
    â€œAh.” He nodded, setting aside his sandwich. “Right. Because we’re pretty provincial here. Burned a witch just last week.”
    She didn’t smile. Just as well. He wasn’t feeling particularly good-humored, either.
    â€œI mean that I don’t know anyone there, so I won’t have to explain anything,” she said, her voice stronger now. “And the baby won’t have to worry about being the object of curiosity, or worse. When I interviewed for my job, I was told I’d be working with the community a great deal, and it was made abundantly clear that a large sector of that community is conservative.” Dean opened his mouth, but she overrode him. “I don’t mean ‘conservative’ as in ‘I’d better hide all my copies of Catcher in the Rye. ’ But I was asked how I felt about stocking an abundance of G-rated books. In large print.”
    He frowned, but Rosie only shrugged. “A return to old-fashioned values was one of the things that appealed to me about moving to this town.” She slid him a glance that was both wry and regretful. “I didn’t get off to a great start. With regard to the old-fashioned values, I mean.”
    Dean felt a tiny, figurative knife stick him in the gut. He was the indiscretion she regretted.
    â€œI have friends and family in Portland,” Rosie continued.
    â€œIsn’t Portland several hours from Tacoma?”
    â€œOnly three.”
    â€œAnd Portland is three hours from Honeyford, so I’d have a six-hour drive one way to see my child,” Dean pointed out, not even mentioning seeing her at this point. “There’s no easy way to fly in, either.” She started to respond, but this time he overrode her. “But putting the issue of visitation aside forthe time being, you’re proposing to move to a city where you don’t know anyone, when you’re on the brink of one of the biggest changes in your life.”
    â€œI told you, I have family—”
    â€œThree hours from Tacoma. Right.” Controlling his mounting frustration, Dean, too, set his sandwich aside, abandoning the notion of a friendly picnic. “Listen, Rosie—”
    â€œNo one calls me, Rosie. I meant to tell you in the library.”
    He had a clear memory of her introducing herself as “Rosie.” Rosie Jo, to be exact. Noting the spreading blush on cheeks the color of vanilla ice cream, he had to smile. “That night really was an anomaly for you, wasn’t it?”
    â€œI’ve been cautious my entire life.” She wagged her head, raising a hand to swipe at the tears that were spilling over her lashes. “And obviously I was right to be careful. One misstep and now both of our lives are in complete turmoil. I don’t even understand how it happened.”