Free The Baby Jackpot by Jacqueline Diamond Page B

clothing and have multiple
piercings, but not Stacy or Ellie. After learning about Andrew’s infidelity,
he’d backed Stacy in the divorce, but had remained noncommittal on the subject
of egg donation, apparently unsure where that fit into his moral continuum.
    Out-of-marriage pregnancy was unquestionably on the low end.
He’d be terribly disappointed in her. Stacy had no idea how he’d feel about her
giving up the baby for adoption versus keeping it, and she wasn’t eager to find
out.
    Maybe she could avoid telling them altogether. That would
require avoiding them for the next eight months and lying about it, though. She
decided against dealing with the issue while she felt lousy.
    After a light lunch, she dragged herself to the supermarket,
then came home and put the food away. A note from Harper indicated she’d taken
Mia to a birthday party for her friend Fiona, the daughter of the hospital’s
embryologist.
    After surfing the internet for a bit, Stacy lay down on the
couch. She hoped her roommate would come back soon so they could talk. This
pregnancy was going to affect Harper, so she had a right to hear about it from
Stacy before word got out, or Harper picked up early signs of pregnancy on her
own.
    Stacy must have drifted off, because a ringing sound dragged
her from the depths. Disoriented, she groped for her phone. How long had she
slept?
    Two hours, according to her watch. It was nearly 5:00 p.m.
Harper must have stayed at the party, which, Stacy recalled from the invitation
posted on the refrigerator, ran from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
    “Stacy?” It was Cole.
    “Is something wrong?” she asked sleepily.
    “Wrong?”
    “Am I late for surgery?” No, wait, it was Saturday. Besides, if
she were late for work, a supervisor would be calling, not the doctor. “What’s
up?”
    “I thought I’d bring dinner.” Determination underscored his
words. “I’m partial to pesto ravioli from Papa Giovanni’s but, if you’re craving
something else, just say so.”
    She should refuse, but her stomach was crying out for food, and
she missed Cole. That melting expression, that special smile... Harper wouldn’t
be back for another hour and a half, so they could enjoy some privacy. “I’d love
that.” She gave him her address.
    “Great!” he exclaimed, as if she’d done him a huge favor. “See
you in a few minutes.”
    Stacy noted the toys and papers scattered around the room. What
a contrast to Cole’s scrupulously neat place. As if to compensate for the day’s
languor, a surge of energy sent her flying around the apartment to put away the
mess.
    Then she caught a frightening glimpse of herself in a mirror,
hair bristling like a porcupine’s, eyebrows askew, lips pale. She charged into
the bedroom to fix her hair and makeup.
    She was almost ready when she heard the scrape of a key in the
front door. Her roommate was back early. How was Stacy going to explain Cole’s
visit?
    With the truth, she supposed.
    Willing herself to be calm, she strolled into the front room.
Harper had dumped a sheaf of papers on top of the coffee table, which Stacy had
cleared only minutes earlier. The dark-haired nurse regarded her with excitement
and a touch of apprehension.
    There was no sign of Mia, who must still be at the party.
“What’s all this?” Stacy asked.
    “You’re going to kill me.” Her friend clasped her hands
together. “Don’t be mad, okay?”
    “Why would I be mad?”
    “Well, you know how Mia’s been longing for a kitten,” Harper
began.
    “You got a kitten?” Stacy glanced around. No furry little
animal. No bags of cat food or kitty litter, either.
    “That would violate our lease.”
    “Yes. So?” She didn’t understand why her normally forthright
roommate was beating around the bush.
    “Last night at the reception for Una—where did you go,
anyway?”
    “Never mind.” Stacy refused to be distracted. “Talk.”
    Harper waved her hands. “I told you I’m planning to donate
eggs,