Read Online A Baby in His Stocking by Laura marie Altom - Free Book Online

On a positive note, he’d soon be gone for a nice, long time.
    â€œSo what’s your plan for handling your parents?”
    â€œThere’s nothing much I can do.” Handing Josie her second pint-size carton of milk to open, she added,“Unless you consider a marriage of convenience to be a viable option. In which case, I’ll hire a husband—but it’ll have to be on credit, as what little cash I have is earmarked for the baby.”
    â€œYou know Dallas and I will help any way we can. From clothes to a crib to diapers, you name it and it’s yours.” Josie, being a kindergarten teacher, was a master at opening milk. Unfortunately, she’d been so busy with her task that she’d missed Natalie’s sour expression. “Here you go.”
    â€œThanks.”
    â€œPlaying devil’s advocate,” Josie said, “let’s say you were able to find a man who wanted nothing more than to love you and be a father to your child. Are you saying you wouldn’t marry him?”
    â€œI’m not saying that. And I’m more than a little miffed you’d even suggest it. But read my lips—men are scum.” Natalie wadded the remains of her lunch into a ball of brown paper bag and plastic wrap. Standing, she pitched her trash in the bin alongside the microwave stand. “See you later for bus duty.”
    â€œAw, Nat…” Josie went to her, ambushing her in another hug. “I’m sorry. Don’t be mad. The thing is, now that I have kids, I know how impossible it would be for me to raise them without Dallas’s help.”
    â€œThat’s you. Like I told my folks, Craig destroyed what little remained of my heart. I was a fool to believe I could change him. Even more of a fool to try. Maybe I’m just as delusional to believe I can raise this baby on my own?”
    â€œCalm down,” Josie urged when Natalie was finally getting to the core of the matter. Was she capable of endless rounds of early morning feedings and furniture assembly and deciphering every little noise the babymade? “We still have plenty of time to figure things out. And if by your third trimester you happen to meet Prince Charming, I’ll help with that, too.”
    Palms pressed to the wood door, Natalie pushed it open, welcoming the hall’s cooler air.
    â€œNat, wait,” Josie pleaded.
    The professional counselor in Natalie knew she shouldn’t be among students until regaining control of her emotions, but at the moment the sad, scared, exhausted pregnant woman she’d become lacked the energy to care.
    Why did everyone in her life seem to think all she had to do was hook up with a guy and her every worry would vanish at the end of a rainbow-crowned unicorn trail? Why couldn’t they understand that while the mere thought of raising her child alone could send her racing to the bathroom with another bout of nausea, the prospect of losing herself in another dead-end relationship hurt even more.
    Â 
    T HREE DAYS .
    That was all the time Wyatt had remaining until he could get the hell out of town. If he possessed one lick of smarts, he’d have hopped an early flight out of Tulsa bound for a sunny interim beach. As it was, in anticipation of an upcoming winter storm, he battled the crowds in Reasor’s grocery, stocking up on enough toilet paper, milk, Doritos and beer to get him through the next few days.
    Used to be, he would’ve used a snowstorm as an opportunity for an extended sleepover at the home of his most current blonde. After all, if he had to be stuck inside, riding out a storm, he might as well have someone cuddly on hand to keep him warm.
    Maybe he was getting too old for short-term hookups, or maybe he had a case of boredom, but try as he might Wyatt hadn’t made a single call to secure a storm buddy. Truth was, he was antsy to get started on this new chapter of his life and until then, he wanted to be left