From the Heart

it.” She reached above her head into a cupboard. “It’s herbal tea. Pop’s cut off my caffeine.”
    “Kasey, please, keep still a minute.” She stopped and turned to face him. Jordan drew together all of his words. He had to say everything quickly and get out while he could still stand. “First, I promise you, my mother will never come anywhere near our—your baby.” He felt the pain rolling around in his stomach as he relinquished his rights. “I won’t make any demands. I’ll give you financial support if you’ll take it. I’ll understand if you won’t.”
    “Jordan—”
    “No, don’t say anything yet.” He knew he had to get it out quickly. “The baby’s yours, completely yours; I accept that. You have my word I won’t ever make any claim. I know how much Alison means to you. I’ll leave her with you for a few days if you like while I go back to deal with my mother.”
    “It doesn’t matter, Jordan—”
    “It matters to me!” He lifted a hand as if to stop himself from breaking free of control. “When I’ve found a place for us, and we’re settled, I’ll send your grandfather our address. All I’d like is to know when the baby comes and that you’re all right.”
    His words were changing everything. What had made sense an hour before seemed absurd now. People who love should be together. “Jordan,” she began, then made a slight sound and pressed a hand to her side.
    “What is it?” Panicked, he grabbed her arms. “Are you in pain? Is it the baby? Oh, God, I should never have come. Ishould never have upset you this way. I’ll call your grandfather.”
    “That’s not necessary.” Kasey smiled at him. “The baby’s kicking, that’s all. He’s very active.”
    Jordan looked down. Slowly he brought up his hand to place his palm on the mound of her stomach. Life quivered impatiently beneath it. Simple wonder flooded through him. Part of himself was growing in there. Part of Kasey. Between them, they’d created a human being. He could almost feel the outline of a tiny foot as it pounded against his hand.
    When he lifted his eyes to hers, Kasey saw the swimming emotion, the dazed awe. She smiled and laid her hand on top of his. “You should feel it when he really gets going.”
    The pain swept down on him immediately, stealing his color. That would be his first and last contact with his child. The last time he touched the woman he loved. Kasey saw the change before he turned to walk to the door.
    Don’t let him go, her heart shouted at her. Don’t be a fool. It’s a risk, her mind reminded her. For you, for all of you. Take the risk, her heart insisted. You’re strong enough. You’re all strong enough.
    “Jordan.” She called to him before he reached the door. “Don’t go.” When he turned, she was halfway across the room. “We need you.” She threw her arms around his neck. “I need you.”
    He wanted to take what she offered but held himself back. “Kasey, you don’t have to do this for me. I don’t want . . .”
    “Oh, shut up and kiss me. There’s been too much talk. It’s been so long.” She found his mouth, then heard his quiet moan of relief.
    “I love you.” He rained kisses over her face. “You’ll never go a day without hearing me say that again. I love you.”
    “Really kiss me,” she murmured, trying to halt his roving mouth. “You won’t break the babies.”
    He pulled her against him, losing himself in her taste. She was his—finally, completely his. “Babies?” he said suddenly and drew her away. “ Babies? ”
    “Didn’t I mention there were two?”
    Jordan shook his head and gave a quick, astonished laugh. “No.” He laughed again and crushed her against him. Hecould feel the lives inside of her shifting and stretching. “No, you didn’t mention it. How did I live without you for more than half a year? It wasn’t living.” He answered his own question. “I’ve just started to live again.” He gave her a feverish kiss as though he could fill six months of emptiness with one embrace. He drew her back again, and his eyes were intense. “Strings this time,” he told her. “I want strings this time, Kasey.”
    “On both of us,” she agreed and went into his arms.

EPILOGUE
    T he fire roaring in the hearth had the living room cozy with heat. Outside there was two feet of snow, and it was still falling. Kasey slipped a last-minute present under the Christmas tree, then stood back to admire it. Strings of