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"Sweetheart, this is his baby, too He’s on his way"

"Was he upset?" Maryellen knew he’d blah she felt certain their love to do with it

"Jon’s only concern was for you and the baby"

"You told him I was fine, didn’t you?"

"Of course I did"

Her mother walked her into the physician’s office and Maryellen was quickly ushered into a cubicle Grace stayed with her until Jon got there and then announced that she’d be out in the waiting rooed her "I love you, Moh She’d been blessed with a wonderful mother, and she knew this was a difficult time for Grace because of the breakup with Cliff

Grace returned her hug "Love you, too, sweetie"

Once her mother had left, Jon sat next to Maryellen and held her hand

"I’ not to break into sobs

Her husband drew her close She kneas struggling with enancy, Maryellen was afraid there wouldn’t be another Jon would refuse to risk it She wasn’t sure she could go through this again, either

Reading her chart, Dr DeGroot stepped into the cubicle, and s to each other physically and emotionally

With his nurse at his side, he exa the baby?" Maryellen cried, unable to keep silent

He shook his head "If you , the answer is no"

"Is the baby safe?" Jon asked

"For now"

Maryellen didn’t like the sound of this Involuntarily she stiffened and tightened her hold on Jon’s hand

"Your cervix is weak and there’s a danger you’ll lose the child unless you have coasped "But how can I?" Katie demanded constant care and like a typical two-year-old was into everything In addition, Maryellen had a job and with her ee that covered medical care Jon was self-employed and had no benefits

"If you want your baby to live, you’ll find a way," Dr DeGroot insisted "I can stitch up the cervix and that’ll offer some protection, but you’ll need to stay in bed and off your feet"

"This is ht"

"It’s impossible to know for sure, but frankly I doubt that’s the cause," Dr DeGroot told hi until after we deliver your baby"

Maryellen nodded and so did Jon He raised her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it

"We’ll be fine," he assured both the physician and Maryellen

She didn’t kno that could be true

"I’allery," she lamented after Dr DeGroot had left

"She doesn’t have a choice," Jon said, unwilling to yield

Maryellen kneas right, but she couldn’t help worrying Hoas Jon going to be able to work, take care of her and look after Katie, too?

Jon kissed her forehead "All you need to think about," he whispered, "is taking care of yourself and our baby"

Maryellen atte to set her rateful for that, but even his loving words weren’t proof against her doubts and fears

Thirty-Four

Linnette could hardly iine Cedar Cove without awhich she wasn’t on her feet for the full eight hours She loved her job and was responsible for a variety of cases

She’d adjusted to life in Cedar Cove surprisingly well Naturally, it helped that she was familiar with the town, since her parents had lived there for six years Andfriends with Gloria Ashton had boosted her sense of welcome

Thursday afternoon, Dr Ti within inches of her He nodded politely and she smiled back They worked side by side nearly every day and he’d been guarded but friendly He always treated her with respect But not once--not even one tiiven any indication that he’d be interested in seeing her outside the clinic Linnette had finally accepted the truth, finally stopped deluding herself It was all too apparent that Chad had no romantic interest in her

Linnette wanted to kick herself for being so coldhearted and callous toward Cal Washburn Despite the fact that her , she liked hi didn’t bother her What did bother her was how much she enjoyed his co about it In the weeks since their last date, she hadn’t stopped thinking about Cal and where their relationship er to cast him aside