Free Baby On The Way by Sandra Paul

patted her shoulder. “That’s a good idea. Talk it over. I’m sure you’ll see that your fiancé is right. After all, Libby, you don’t want to endanger yourself or the baby.”
    The doctor left the room. Barely waiting until the door closed after her, Del said, “What’s there to discuss? You need to quit working. If you need financial help, I’m willing to provide it.”
    Libby sat on the edge of the table, one hand clasping the sheet draped across her lap, the other clutching the front of the gown closed. “I don’t want to talk about this now.”
    “Tough. I do.”
    “I need to get dressed.”
    “We need to settle this first.”
    He stood and her heart jumped. He wasn’t playing fair. He seemed so big in the small room. He knew she felt vulnerable and helpless without her clothes on, but he didn’t care. He wanted this settled—and, as usual, he wanted it settled his way.
    She lifted her chin, knowing if she didn’t stand her ground now, he’d trample all over her. “You can talk all you want, but I’m not discussing anything until I get dressed.”
    He didn’t like that; she could tell by the frustration on his face. But he obviously knew better than to try to argue. With a sound of disgust, he strode out of the room.
    Only waiting long enough to make sure he wasn’t going to return, Libby climbed down from the table and hastily pulled on her blouse and jumper. She stepped into her shoes and sat down to tie the laces—a feat that grew harder every day due to her increasing girth. How could the doctor think she was underweight? There had to be some mistake. Surely she couldn’t get much bigger.
    She stepped out into the hall and found Del waiting for her. She didn’t protest as he grasped her arm to lead her out of the back rooms, but when they reached the reception area, she pulled up short. “Wait a minute. I need to pay my bill.”
    “I’ll get it.”
    “No! I’ll pay for it myself.”
    His jaw tightened. “Don’t push me on this, Libby. I’m losing patience.”
    So was she, Libby decided. “Fine. Pay it,” she said. Why argue? She’d simply write him a check and make sure Christine deposited it in his account. She flouncedout of the doctor’s office without waiting for him, anger blinding her so that she almost bumped into the white-coated figure just entering the building.
    “Whoa, there!” Strong hands caught her shoulders to steady her, and Libby looked up from the white coat her nose was pressed against to meet Dr. Dan’s smiling gaze. “Are you all right?”
    “Fine,” she said, forcing a smile. “Sorry to almost mow you down like that.”
    “No problem. I’ve never been one to object to pretty women running into me,” he said with a wink.
    Dr. Dan was a handsome man, tall and lean with pleasant gray eyes. Very easy to talk to, Libby had discovered from the few times he’d come into the store where she worked. Right now his teasing grin was wide and white and Libby couldn’t resist smiling back. She stepped away and the doctor reluctantly released her, saying, “And why are you in such a hurry to leave, Elizabeth? Do you have to get back to work?”
    She shook her head, but before she could explain that Del was with her, Dan asked smoothly, “Then how about lunch? There’s a little place down the street—”
    “Libby and I were just on our way there,” a deep voice said from behind her. Del wrapped a hand around the back of Libby’s neck, saying casually, “Would you care to join us?”
    A growing heat burned in Libby’s cheeks as the doctor’s gaze rested speculatively on that proprietary hold on her sensitive nape, before returning to scan Libby’s face. He said slowly, “Not this time, thanks. Take care, Elizabeth.”
    With a nod he moved on.
    Del stared after him, his eyes narrowing. So that was the wonderful Dr. Dan, was it? He didn’t look so wonderful to him. Couldn’t Libby see the guy’s hair was thinning on top? And just where did the guy