Free Pregnancy Plan by Tina Gayle Page B

budge on the amount. Jillian didn’t usually make a habit of
arguing with him, but tonight she won’t compromise. “Okay, that
should get me by.”
    “ It’ll be deducted from the amount
I’ll owe you for the house. I’ll get appraisals on the house later
this week. Once we settle on a price and split the difference, I’ll
go to the bank and get a loan. Then, and only then, will you get
any more money. This will have to be enough.”
    She walked to her purse on the counter,
extracted her checkbook and wrote his name on the first line. “I
want a receipt.”
    Her face burned with resentment. When was he
ever going to grow up? She tore the check out of the book.
    “ I’m sorry. I really didn’t think this
house meant that much to you.” His voice soft, he worked to make
amends.
    “ Well, now you do.” She held the check
out to him, hoping he’d finally see that she wouldn’t give in to
his demands. He might not like the way she lived, because she
didn’t party every weekend like he did, but she had the right to
live the way she wanted without him interfering.
    She ripped off a slip of paper from the note
pad on the counter. “You can write the receipt on this.”
    He wrote in silence. “There you go. Now
we’re both happy.” He handed her the receipt and smiled.
    “ Yeah right, happy.” Jillian walked
toward the kitchen door. “I’m sorry, Michael, but I’m really tired.
Make yourself at home. I’m going to bed.”
    He frowned as she left the room. But for
once she didn’t care. He’d ruined her evening. Why should she have
to stay and entertain him?

 
     
     
     
     

Chapter Seven
     
    Jillian sat in front of her computer in the
small cubbyhole she called an office. After the chaos of last two
weeks, she felt much better about her future.
    The appraisals were done, the loan
secured. She only needed Michael to agree on a price. With the
extra funds, she planned to fix up the store, and the house. She
rifled through the bills on her desk while waiting for her email to
pop up. A subject line of Here drew her attention and she clicked on it.
    Made a few stops before I got here. But I
finally made it.
    Derek
    She read the message several times. “You’d
think he could’ve written more than that,” she grumbled, typing a
response.
    Glad you made it there safely. All is well here.
Been busy, hired a new part-time employee, arranged several
appraisals for the house, and secured a loan. All is well.
    Here she paused. How should she end it? I
love you, I miss you, I can’t wait to see you? None seemed right.
Just thinking about him made her body yearn. It felt like a
lifetime since she’d seen him. But she couldn’t tell him all of
those feelings in an e-mail and end with
    XXXXXOOOOOO,
    Jillian.
    She hit the send button, as her mind
conjured up a picture of him. His angry kisses, his rough words,
their fight. Was he still mad? Did he miss her? Or was he glad to
be free of her? Would he reply to her e-mail?
    Jillian wanted to cry but instead opened her
checkbook. She didn’t have long before she’d need to open the
store. Maybe paying bills would take her mind off Derek. She
checked her watch. “Damn,” she muttered and pushed back her
chair.
    Walking down the main aisle, she noticed Karen Ann
standing on the sidewalk, holding two cups of coffee and rushed to
unlock the door.
    “ I thought you might like a cup of
coffee to get your day started.”
    “ You must have read my
mind.”
    “ No, just know you’ve had a rough
week. What time does Michael get in this afternoon?”
    “ He said last night he’d be in about
five-thirty. After all, he has a hot date at seven.” Jillian sipped
her coffee.
    “ That’s right.” Karen Ann paused. “You
think he’ll show up?”
    “ I plan on making sure that he does.
After all a promise is a promise, but are you sure you want him
to?”
    “ Why not? I get a free dinner and a
movie.”
    “ Yes.” Jillian peered at her friend,
and read the true