Read Online Secrets Rising by Sally Berneathy - Free Book Online Page A

"Something sure smells good."
    Mary rushed into his arms, lifting her face for his kiss.
    "Umm," he murmured. "I don't know whether you or dinner smells the best." He touched his lips to hers again, this kiss more intense, and she felt a response to his passion. He nuzzled her neck. "I know dinner couldn't taste any better than you do. I don't suppose it's one of those meals that could wait a few minutes?" He kissed his way back to her lips. "Better make that a lot of minutes. Maybe an hour or so."
    She pulled away from him with a small giggle and took his hand. "No, it can't wait. This is a very special dinner." She tugged him toward the kitchen.
    "Uh oh. Is this another new recipe?" he teased. "Are we going to be up half the night with heartburn again? Maybe we better go upstairs first just in case we don't feel like it afterward."
    "Oh, you! Stop that! Our steaks are under the broiler and they're going to burn if we don't get in there!"
    "Steaks, eh? Hmm." His face took on a mock-pensive expression. "Okay. I guess I can pass up making love with my wife for a big, juicy steak."
    Mary danced into the kitchen, Ben's hand clutched firmly in hers.
    "Candles and wine, too! Omigosh! It's our anniversary, isn't it? Your birthday? My birthday?" he teased.
    "Just sit down and pour the wine. Only half a glass for me." Mary gave him an enigmatic smile, then bent to turn the steaks.
    She went back to the table, sat next to her husband and lifted her half-full glass. She'd planned every moment of this evening for over a year, but now a lump in her throat threatened to interfere with her rehearsed speech, the eloquent toast she'd planned to propose.
    "Mar? Are you all right? Are you crying?"
    Mary smiled though her eyes were moist. "No. Yes. Oh, Ben! We're having a baby!"
    "A baby?" A look of wonder spread over Ben's face. He leaned around and touched Mary's stomach reverently. "Are you sure?"
    Mary's heart swelled with love for this man and for the child growing inside her. "Yes, I'm sure. Doctor Wilcox called me with the results today. I had everything planned so carefully, how I'd tell you, what I'd say, but then I forgot everything and just blurted it out! I'm sorry. I wanted to do this right."
    "Oh, honey, you can blurt out news like that any day. When? When's she going to...you know...be finished? Be born?"
    Mary laughed softly at Ben's flustered questions. "What makes you think it's going to be a girl?"
    "Because I'm her father and I know these things."
    "What if it's a boy?"
    "I guess we can keep him. But I don't think we ought to make him wear that pink dress and those booties you've been crocheting."
    Mary gasped. "How did you know about that dress?"
    "Because I'm her father and I know these...what's that smell?"
    Mary shot up from her chair. "The steaks! Omigosh!" She jerked them from the oven. "They're ruined!"
    "Nah. They're just a little black on one side." He took the broiler pan from her and set it on the stove top then turned her to face him. "For the second time, the first being when you said I do , you've made me the happiest man in the world. Right now, your hamburger casserole would even taste like gourmet food. Come on, Mother. Let's enjoy our steaks. You and Sharise need the protein."
    Sharise . The name of Ben's twin sister who'd died at birth, the name of his mother's dress shop. It thrilled Mary to know that Ben and his parents wanted to pass such a special name on to her baby, to give the child history and a place in a big, loving family. Her baby would never know the loneliness she'd known since her parents' deaths, the sense of belonging nowhere to no one. This baby would have lots of family to love her and keep her safe...her or him.
    "Sharise or—" She broke off, choking on the name Ben had selected for a boy. Charles .
    "Are you all right?" Ben asked, a bite of steak poised in midair halfway to his mouth, his brow wrinkled in concern.
    "Of course. I just...I'm sorry about the steaks. I wanted everything to