Page 28 (1/2)

"All right," Jon said, leaning against the wooden slats of his deck chair "That does it"

"What?" His determined words startled her

"Turn in your teek notice"

"Jon"

"You clearly want to be at home"

"Jon, I can't, not yet" While it was true she wanted to be hoer, she couldn't leave the gallery in the lurch The owners had always been wonderful to her; not only that, she couldn't abandon Lois during the busiest time of the year

"You're lass, he frowned at her, and Maryellen tried to reassure hi smile

"We were jammed this afternoon," she said, "and I hardly had a oes Anyway, Lois isn't ready to assuh"

"You aren't getting enough sleep"

"Would you stop trying to fix everything?" Although shesharp and impatient

Jon frowned ht a husband did"

"I'm sorry" Maryellen didn't dare , she collected the dirty dishes "I guess I'htened suddenly "Could that mean what I think it means?"

Maryellen shook her head She certainly hadn't had any proble birth control, she wasn't pregnant with their second child yet

Jon took her neith a light shrug "I guess we'll just have to try harder I want to experience this next pregnancy fro"

Maryellen was heartened by the prospect "That sounds good to me"

While Jon dealt with bills and paperwork downstairs, Maryellen bathed Katie and gently rocked her to sleep She brushed the soft curls fro her securely as Katie sucked energetically at her bottle Maryellen had gradually stopped breastfeeding theand at bedtilanced around the nursery, which always brought her a fresh surge of pleasure Jon had drawn and painted a series of wild aniround that reflected its natural habitat

Jon's parents would never see this Maryellen closed her eyes, discouraged by the hopelessness of the situation

"The object is to put Katie to sleep, not you," Jon whispered

She opened her eyes to see hi in the doorway, arms crossed He wasn't a handsoht of him stirred her e day," she said

"Then take a hot bath, relax, go to bed," Jon advised

"I've got the dishes"

"I already took care of that"

"But Jon" she protested Their agreement was that when he cooked, she'd do the cleanup afterward "You spoil rinned at that "I want to spoil you I love you, Maryellen You and Katie aretojoy, his words fell on her like stones It was her own fault, her own guilt; she'd interfered where she had no right to and cruelly raised his parents' hopes

"I think I will go to bed early tonight," Maryellen said and placed Katie in her crib She covered her with a light blanket, waiting to be sure their little girl was truly asleep before she silently left the room

Jon took the empty bottle downstairs while Maryellen ran hot water into the tub She scented it with lavender salts, then got in and sank into the soothing bath

Her decision was made She had no choice She'd answer Joseph Bow the impossible of her She'd mail photos of Katie from time to time and keep his parents updated, but that was all she could proain

The water had cooled by the time Maryellen stepped out of the tub She dressed in a cotton nightie and a short robe Jon atching television and she sat on the sofa beside hiratefully in his ar the top of her head

"Yes"

"Good"

"Re her head and kissing the side of his jaw

"About what?"

"Me getting pregnant"

She felt his mouth relax into a smile "I relanced toward the television "How interested are you in that program?"

"I can catch a rerun" He used the remote to turn off the TV, then kissed her as if he'd been waiting all day for just this moment

Maryellen entwined her arms around his neck and opened herhis hand inside the folds of her robe, and sought her breast Between soft kisses interthier ones, Maryellen reached over to snap off the laan to walk toward the stairs, but didn't athered her close and kissed her oncelove to you" He kissed the vulnerable hollow of her throat

"I should hope not" Maryellen laughed and, walking backward, advanced one step up froroaned and she ain seeking her breasts This tih of pleasure If they didn't hurry up these stairs, they'd never make it to the bedroom