Seventeen, unmarried, and pregnant, Kim Sonkens has done something she never should have done. Melody Farr has done everything right, but is still unable to have a child of her own.
During the next six months, both women will be tested, as Kim decides whether to place her baby for adoption and Melody realizes adoption may be the only way she can ever have a child.
Will Kim have the strength to do what she knows is right even after she grows to love the child within her?
And can Melody ever love another woman's child?
During the next six months, both women will be tested, as Kim decides whether to place her baby for adoption and Melody realizes adoption may be the only way she can ever have a child.
Will Kim have the strength to do what she knows is right even after she grows to love the child within her?
And can Melody ever love another woman's child?
Excerpt from Baby Mine
Copyright © 2011 Heather Horrocks
CHAPTER ONE
Saturday, June 15 ~ 10:25 p.m. ~ Salt Lake City, Utah
Something jumped out from the shadows. A large man with a knife grabbed for the girl.
Kim Sonkens screamed, snatched her boyfriend's shirt and hid her face.
"You can't get away," the man rasped as music pounded out a wild warning.
Kim cuddled closer to Tyler Thomas, still clutching his shirt. "I hate scary movies. Why couldn't we have gone to see the new Sandra Bullock movie?”
"Because I wasn't in the mood for a chick flick, that's why.” Tyler chuckled and pulled her tight against his side. "Besides, you're really cute and cuddly when you're scared.”
Shivering, Kim risked a peek at the drive-in screen. The June heat left her too warm, even with the windows down. There was no breeze to cool her, but the heavy dark music chilled her, leaving her body tense. She was scared, all right. And of far more than the killer on the screen.
She didn't know why she'd waited so long to try to tell Tyler. Probably because she hadn't believed it for so long herself. Denial, her amateur psychologist mother would probably say. Kim knew Tyler wouldn't be happy when he learned the truth. Well, Kim hadn't been, either. But she knew he would be supportive and loving, like he always was. Like he was right now, with his arm around her shoulder, holding her close because she was frightened. Like he'd been at the Junior prom last spring, where it had felt great to be dating a popular football star. Like he was every single time he was around her.
She would tell him right after the movie. After he drove her out to Ketchum's Point where they would kiss a little before he took her home. Kiss a lot, probably. And that's when she'd tell him. In between kisses.
With his left hand, Tyler lifted his Coke can and took a swig. Setting the can back down on the dashboard of the new Mustang his parents had bought him, he let his other hand roam over her back and curl around her side.
"Hey, not here," she whispered as she moved her arm down to block his hand.
He laughed. "Why not? No one can see us."
She lifted her head and looked out the side windows. "Are you kidding? There are tons of people out there.” She smiled up at him. "Besides, I want to wait until we get to the Point. I have a surprise for you.”
"Oh, baby," Tyler said in a husky voice, "I like surprises. Show me now. And then show me again up at the Point."
"Actually, it's more of a telling thing than a showing thing.”
The volume of the movie's music exploded and Kim jumped again. She cuddled against Tyler and closed her eyes.
He wrapped both arms around her. "Okay, then, tell me your surprise."
"Not here.” She wanted it to be just right. And it wouldn't be, not here in the drive-in with millions of people walking around and dark music playing. She wanted it to be just her and Tyler. The way it would for the rest of their lives. She wanted it to be...special. She knew they had some embarrassing times ahead and it would only be the special moments between them that would get them through.
Tyler smiled and half pouted. "Oh, come on. I want to know now.” His voice grew deep and low, husky. "Tell me."
"Not yet.”
"Tell me what the surprise is, or I'm going to tickle you.” His voice warned her he was serious.
She was very ticklish.
As he reached for her, she quickly said, "No. That is such a bad idea."
He laughed and tickled her sides. "I think it's a great idea."
She squirmed and tried to slide out of reach. Laughing, she said, "Okay, okay. I'll tell you. Just stop.” Besides, she couldn't wait much longer. And, if she told him now, they could leave this movie and be alone. The music alone was getting on her nerves.
When he released her, she sat up and straightened her shirt to give herself a moment to compose her thoughts, to come up with some courage, to find the words. She turned slowly to face him and look into his eyes--those eyes that held such love and warmth that it melted her. "This is serious, Tyler. Really serious."
He sat up, too, and straightened his shirt, with a grin on his face. "There, is that better?"
"I mean it.”
He leaned over and touched her cheek softly. "You can tell me anything, baby. You know that.”
His tender gesture swayed her. "Tyler, I'm...” But she couldn't say the word.
Tyler lifted one eyebrow. "Yes?"
Okay. The only way to do this was to just say it and wait for his reaction. She took a deep breath and blurted out, "I'm pregnant.”
He pulled back. "That's not even funny."
"It's not a joke.” She could feel her face blushing. "I'm three months along.”
"How could you let that happen?” He sounded shocked. She had been, too, when she finally accepted the truth. But she'd gotten over it. So would he. Without waiting for her to answer, he said, "Oh, Kim. Why'd you have to get yourself pregnant?” His voice was distant now, disapproving, something she'd never heard from him.
Ill at ease, she said, "It's not like I did it by myself.”
Tyler sat rigid in the seat beside her. "Let's not talk about it here, okay. I mean, we don't have to tell the whole world. Besides, you can't be pregnant.”
"But I haven't had a period in three months. And that's when we..." she could feel her face burning hot, "...we did it. The first time."
Tyler shook his head, slowly, like he still couldn't believe her words. "Have you been to a doctor?"
"I didn't dare. But I'm sure. I mean, I'm throwing up every morning. And my pants feel too tight.”
The volume and beat of the music increased. On the big screen, something dramatic must be happening again. In the Mustang, Kim's heart beat time to the pulsations of the music as she stared into the eyes of her boyfriend. She willed him to take her in his arms, to say it would be all right, to remind her that he loved her. She'd known he wouldn't be happy. Well, neither was she.
Tyler fished for his keys and started the car.
"Where are we going?”
He didn't answer but she could guess. He was driving her up to the Point where they could talk in private. Good.
Except that he didn't drive with his arm around her like he usually did. His jaw and lips were pulled tight in a grimace. She'd never seen him look like this, except for the rare times he missed a pass on the football field. But he'd never once pulled away from her. And his emotional distance chilled her. "Tyler, please talk to me."
As he left the drive-in and pulled onto the main road, he punched the gas and the tires squealed. But he still didn't speak.
As he took the first turn way too fast, she braced herself. "Tyler, please slow down."
Without even glancing at her, through his tight lips, Tyler demanded, "How do I know it's mine?"
Kim sat back as if he'd struck her. "Of course it's yours. I've never been with anyone else.”
"You gotta be able to prove that.”
She didn't even recognize his face as he nearly yelled at her. He'd never spoken to her with a raised voice. He'd always been sweet and thoughtful. He was a lot more upset than she'd thought he would be. But he'd come around. He had to. She had nowhere else to turn. Her parents would kill her when they found out. Everyone at school would laugh at her. And her friends at church would be disgusted with her.
Besides, Tyler had to support her. Marry her. They'd had sex together before marriage--she figured he owed her a ring. That would make everything all right. After a year they could even get married in the temple. So this was just a detour off the path for a short while. Perhaps her guilt would quit eating at her then.
"Tyler, you know I've never been with anyone else," she repeated. "I love you. I'd never cheat on you.” Kim touched his arm. "I need your help.”
He jerked his arm away from her touch. "Listen to me close. This is not my baby. And I never promised you we were going to get married or anything. Did I ever say anything like that?"
"No, but..."
"No, no buts.” He turned another corner, and she grabbed the door handle. He wasn't headed toward the Point. He'd just turned toward her house.
He couldn't be taking her home. Not yet. They hadn't talked. They hadn't connected. She reached over to touch his thigh--he'd always said how much he liked her touch. "But if I'm pregnant, that changes everything."
He slapped her hand away. "Girls do that all the time to trap a guy into marriage. Well, it's not gonna work on me, baby.”
"I'm not trying to trap you. I did not do this on purpose. It just happened.” Her eyes burned from the tears welling up, but she refused to cry. "This is your baby."
"No. No, it's not. I am not a father. You go find the other guy and get him to marry you. Marry Stewart. He's sweet on you."
"Stewart? I never even look at him. He's a nerd."
"Doesn't mean he doesn't look at you. Get him to marry you. I bet he'd do it."
Kim clenched the edge of the car seat in a death grip. "I'm not trying to trap you. I've never been with anyone else but you. You know that."
Tyler pulled in front of her house and parked. Finally, he looked at her, but with his eyes narrowed so much he looked hard and mean. "I've been with other girls.”
She sat quietly, in shock. "You said--"
"Don't believe everything you hear. And don't plan on something that isn't going to happen."
"Your parents--"
"My parents might tell me I need to marry you, but they can't make me do it. And if I'm forced to marry you, I'll still go with other girls. Go find someone else. Someone who's ready to be a dad. Sheesh, Kim. Pregnant. How stupid."
He leaned over, without touching her, and popped the passenger door open.
"Will you call me tomorrow?" she asked tentatively.
"Yeah. Sure. Now go inside. I need to think.”
She picked up her purse off the floor of the car and slid across the seat. "Tyler, it'll be all right. We can make it."
"Tomorrow.” He didn't even look at her.
"Yeah. Okay. Tomorrow.” She stood up and before she could close the door, he'd reached across and slammed it shut. He spun the tires in his hurry to get away from her.
Kim's insides twisted, rage and grief intermingling with nausea. Tyler couldn't mean it. Surely if she gave him enough time, he'd change his mind. Surely his parents could talk him into doing the right thing. Surely he'd get over the shock--just like she had--and remember that he loved her.
But she remembered the look in his eyes before he'd driven off--and she started to cry.
She wished she could die.
Saturday, June 15 ~ 10:25 p.m. ~ Salt Lake City, Utah
Something jumped out from the shadows. A large man with a knife grabbed for the girl.
Kim Sonkens screamed, snatched her boyfriend's shirt and hid her face.
"You can't get away," the man rasped as music pounded out a wild warning.
Kim cuddled closer to Tyler Thomas, still clutching his shirt. "I hate scary movies. Why couldn't we have gone to see the new Sandra Bullock movie?”
"Because I wasn't in the mood for a chick flick, that's why.” Tyler chuckled and pulled her tight against his side. "Besides, you're really cute and cuddly when you're scared.”
Shivering, Kim risked a peek at the drive-in screen. The June heat left her too warm, even with the windows down. There was no breeze to cool her, but the heavy dark music chilled her, leaving her body tense. She was scared, all right. And of far more than the killer on the screen.
She didn't know why she'd waited so long to try to tell Tyler. Probably because she hadn't believed it for so long herself. Denial, her amateur psychologist mother would probably say. Kim knew Tyler wouldn't be happy when he learned the truth. Well, Kim hadn't been, either. But she knew he would be supportive and loving, like he always was. Like he was right now, with his arm around her shoulder, holding her close because she was frightened. Like he'd been at the Junior prom last spring, where it had felt great to be dating a popular football star. Like he was every single time he was around her.
She would tell him right after the movie. After he drove her out to Ketchum's Point where they would kiss a little before he took her home. Kiss a lot, probably. And that's when she'd tell him. In between kisses.
With his left hand, Tyler lifted his Coke can and took a swig. Setting the can back down on the dashboard of the new Mustang his parents had bought him, he let his other hand roam over her back and curl around her side.
"Hey, not here," she whispered as she moved her arm down to block his hand.
He laughed. "Why not? No one can see us."
She lifted her head and looked out the side windows. "Are you kidding? There are tons of people out there.” She smiled up at him. "Besides, I want to wait until we get to the Point. I have a surprise for you.”
"Oh, baby," Tyler said in a husky voice, "I like surprises. Show me now. And then show me again up at the Point."
"Actually, it's more of a telling thing than a showing thing.”
The volume of the movie's music exploded and Kim jumped again. She cuddled against Tyler and closed her eyes.
He wrapped both arms around her. "Okay, then, tell me your surprise."
"Not here.” She wanted it to be just right. And it wouldn't be, not here in the drive-in with millions of people walking around and dark music playing. She wanted it to be just her and Tyler. The way it would for the rest of their lives. She wanted it to be...special. She knew they had some embarrassing times ahead and it would only be the special moments between them that would get them through.
Tyler smiled and half pouted. "Oh, come on. I want to know now.” His voice grew deep and low, husky. "Tell me."
"Not yet.”
"Tell me what the surprise is, or I'm going to tickle you.” His voice warned her he was serious.
She was very ticklish.
As he reached for her, she quickly said, "No. That is such a bad idea."
He laughed and tickled her sides. "I think it's a great idea."
She squirmed and tried to slide out of reach. Laughing, she said, "Okay, okay. I'll tell you. Just stop.” Besides, she couldn't wait much longer. And, if she told him now, they could leave this movie and be alone. The music alone was getting on her nerves.
When he released her, she sat up and straightened her shirt to give herself a moment to compose her thoughts, to come up with some courage, to find the words. She turned slowly to face him and look into his eyes--those eyes that held such love and warmth that it melted her. "This is serious, Tyler. Really serious."
He sat up, too, and straightened his shirt, with a grin on his face. "There, is that better?"
"I mean it.”
He leaned over and touched her cheek softly. "You can tell me anything, baby. You know that.”
His tender gesture swayed her. "Tyler, I'm...” But she couldn't say the word.
Tyler lifted one eyebrow. "Yes?"
Okay. The only way to do this was to just say it and wait for his reaction. She took a deep breath and blurted out, "I'm pregnant.”
He pulled back. "That's not even funny."
"It's not a joke.” She could feel her face blushing. "I'm three months along.”
"How could you let that happen?” He sounded shocked. She had been, too, when she finally accepted the truth. But she'd gotten over it. So would he. Without waiting for her to answer, he said, "Oh, Kim. Why'd you have to get yourself pregnant?” His voice was distant now, disapproving, something she'd never heard from him.
Ill at ease, she said, "It's not like I did it by myself.”
Tyler sat rigid in the seat beside her. "Let's not talk about it here, okay. I mean, we don't have to tell the whole world. Besides, you can't be pregnant.”
"But I haven't had a period in three months. And that's when we..." she could feel her face burning hot, "...we did it. The first time."
Tyler shook his head, slowly, like he still couldn't believe her words. "Have you been to a doctor?"
"I didn't dare. But I'm sure. I mean, I'm throwing up every morning. And my pants feel too tight.”
The volume and beat of the music increased. On the big screen, something dramatic must be happening again. In the Mustang, Kim's heart beat time to the pulsations of the music as she stared into the eyes of her boyfriend. She willed him to take her in his arms, to say it would be all right, to remind her that he loved her. She'd known he wouldn't be happy. Well, neither was she.
Tyler fished for his keys and started the car.
"Where are we going?”
He didn't answer but she could guess. He was driving her up to the Point where they could talk in private. Good.
Except that he didn't drive with his arm around her like he usually did. His jaw and lips were pulled tight in a grimace. She'd never seen him look like this, except for the rare times he missed a pass on the football field. But he'd never once pulled away from her. And his emotional distance chilled her. "Tyler, please talk to me."
As he left the drive-in and pulled onto the main road, he punched the gas and the tires squealed. But he still didn't speak.
As he took the first turn way too fast, she braced herself. "Tyler, please slow down."
Without even glancing at her, through his tight lips, Tyler demanded, "How do I know it's mine?"
Kim sat back as if he'd struck her. "Of course it's yours. I've never been with anyone else.”
"You gotta be able to prove that.”
She didn't even recognize his face as he nearly yelled at her. He'd never spoken to her with a raised voice. He'd always been sweet and thoughtful. He was a lot more upset than she'd thought he would be. But he'd come around. He had to. She had nowhere else to turn. Her parents would kill her when they found out. Everyone at school would laugh at her. And her friends at church would be disgusted with her.
Besides, Tyler had to support her. Marry her. They'd had sex together before marriage--she figured he owed her a ring. That would make everything all right. After a year they could even get married in the temple. So this was just a detour off the path for a short while. Perhaps her guilt would quit eating at her then.
"Tyler, you know I've never been with anyone else," she repeated. "I love you. I'd never cheat on you.” Kim touched his arm. "I need your help.”
He jerked his arm away from her touch. "Listen to me close. This is not my baby. And I never promised you we were going to get married or anything. Did I ever say anything like that?"
"No, but..."
"No, no buts.” He turned another corner, and she grabbed the door handle. He wasn't headed toward the Point. He'd just turned toward her house.
He couldn't be taking her home. Not yet. They hadn't talked. They hadn't connected. She reached over to touch his thigh--he'd always said how much he liked her touch. "But if I'm pregnant, that changes everything."
He slapped her hand away. "Girls do that all the time to trap a guy into marriage. Well, it's not gonna work on me, baby.”
"I'm not trying to trap you. I did not do this on purpose. It just happened.” Her eyes burned from the tears welling up, but she refused to cry. "This is your baby."
"No. No, it's not. I am not a father. You go find the other guy and get him to marry you. Marry Stewart. He's sweet on you."
"Stewart? I never even look at him. He's a nerd."
"Doesn't mean he doesn't look at you. Get him to marry you. I bet he'd do it."
Kim clenched the edge of the car seat in a death grip. "I'm not trying to trap you. I've never been with anyone else but you. You know that."
Tyler pulled in front of her house and parked. Finally, he looked at her, but with his eyes narrowed so much he looked hard and mean. "I've been with other girls.”
She sat quietly, in shock. "You said--"
"Don't believe everything you hear. And don't plan on something that isn't going to happen."
"Your parents--"
"My parents might tell me I need to marry you, but they can't make me do it. And if I'm forced to marry you, I'll still go with other girls. Go find someone else. Someone who's ready to be a dad. Sheesh, Kim. Pregnant. How stupid."
He leaned over, without touching her, and popped the passenger door open.
"Will you call me tomorrow?" she asked tentatively.
"Yeah. Sure. Now go inside. I need to think.”
She picked up her purse off the floor of the car and slid across the seat. "Tyler, it'll be all right. We can make it."
"Tomorrow.” He didn't even look at her.
"Yeah. Okay. Tomorrow.” She stood up and before she could close the door, he'd reached across and slammed it shut. He spun the tires in his hurry to get away from her.
Kim's insides twisted, rage and grief intermingling with nausea. Tyler couldn't mean it. Surely if she gave him enough time, he'd change his mind. Surely his parents could talk him into doing the right thing. Surely he'd get over the shock--just like she had--and remember that he loved her.
But she remembered the look in his eyes before he'd driven off--and she started to cry.
She wished she could die.
