Leopard's Prey

“Aren’t you happy about it? What’s wrong? Have you told Drake?” He’d kick his brother-in-law in the ass for leaving her when she was obviously upset.
    Saria shook her head. “I haven’t said anythin’ to him. I wasn’t certain before he left and after he was gone, I took a test. I wasn’t really sure I wanted to know, but the thingie came up positive, which I have to tell you was a little shockin’.”
    “So you were using birth control,” Remy guessed. “And it didn’t work for you?”
    “It certainly did not. Male leopards ought to come with a warnin’ label.” She gave a small sniff and kept her head turned away from him.
    Remy didn’t know if she was sniffing in disdain at male leopards, or if she was on the verge of tears—and Saria rarely cried. He was treading a minefield if Saria was crying. “Do you want a baby, Saria?” He asked the question straight out. Skirting around the issue wouldn’t do any good and would only make her clam up. She hadn’t told Drake and she could have called him, but she hadn’t. “Is everythin’ all right between you and Drake?”
    Saria pressed her hand to her forehead, leaning her elbow on the table in a gesture of weariness. “Drake and I are fine. It’s not that.” She sighed without lifting her head. “It’s me, Remy. I never had a mother, or father for that matter.” She did look at him then and there was stark fear in her eyes. “How would I possibly know how to be a decent parent? It’s not like babies come with manuals. You’re supposed to know all that before you ever have one. I was being so careful so this wouldn’t happen.”
    Remy didn’t make the mistake of reacting. He turned over what she’d revealed in his mind, studying her statement from every angle. She feared becoming a parent, and truthfully he didn’t blame her. She wasn’t old enough to remember their father as a happy man. He’d gotten drunk when his wife got sick and stayed that way permanently after she died. Saria had practically raised herself.
    “I can see what you’re thinking,” Remy conceded in a thoughtful tone. “You didn’t have the best example in the world of parenting, did you? I certainly wasn’t any help.”
    “I didn’t mean that,” Saria said hastily, her dark eyes meeting his. “Maybe I was angry at all of you for a few minutes there, but mostly it was because I felt left out, not because I was alone with
mon pere.
”
    “Still, I should have protected you more. He was never really present in your life.”
    “I never was very good at accepting protection, Remy,” Saria confessed. “And you were gone. In the service, travelin’. All of you had lives.”
    “That’s no excuse, Saria. But, the point is, you took care of
mon pere
. By yourself. When you were just a little girl. You kept the house and you cooked for him. You even ran the bar when he was too drunk to do it. You fished, shrimped, and you hunted alligators. You can do anythin’. Having a baby will be nothing for you.”
    “That’s nice of you to say, Remy,” Saria said. “I wish I could believe you. I’m absolutely terrified.”
    He frowned at her, trying not to be upset. “Are you thinkin’ of getting rid of the baby and not tellin’ Drake?” He couldn’t conceive of Saria doing such a thing. She was honest almost to a fault.
    She looked so horrified he had his answer.
    “Of course not. I’m goin’ to tell him. I just need to get my head right is all. And lately, it hasn’t been so right.” She rubbed at her temples as if she had a headache. “It was just as well Jake called and needed Drake to make the trip to Texas. I haven’t been so nice lately.”
    “To Drake?” Remy prompted.
    “It’s just that I’m horribly moody. Or edgy. I don’ know the right word for it.” She made a face, her eyes filled with self-loathing. “I found myself getting’ jealous of Bijou, and she’s one of my oldest friends.” She made the confession in a little ashamed rush. “I’m not a jealous person. I’m really not, Remy. Bijou’s—broken. She needs friends. She needs me and I’m actin’ like an idiot. Oh, not to her face, but inside, especially when Drake’s in the house, I find myself wantin’ to claw her eyes out.”
    Remy let his breath out and sat up straighter. There it was. The confirmation he was looking for. “It’s all right, Saria . . .”
    “No, it’s not,” Saria was adamant. “I don’ want to be that kind of person, especially