Finding The Way Back To Love (Lakeside Porches 3) by Katie O'Boyle Page A

toward her. “Have you always known that?”
    She shook her head. “My mother told me when she threw me out in June. Dad quit college, and it took years for him to get his degree.” She sat tall. “I talked to Dad about it, and he admitted it and told me about slowly becoming an alcoholic, drinking to escape his life with Ursula.” She reached behind her for her glass of iced tea and took a big gulp.
    He nodded for her to continue, his forehead creased with worry.
    “I looked really hard at how I’d gotten pregnant—forgetting my pills and drinking the eggnog, even though I knew I couldn’t handle anything spiked. Rick, you probably didn’t know I’d had some scary experiences with drinking last fall.”
    “Evidently, I wasn’t with you those times?”
    “No. I’d gone out with some of the girls from my art class, and it wasn’t good. This summer, when I stopped working at the diner, I had time to think about all of that, and I knew I needed to talk to Gwen. I don’t know if I’m crazy like Ursula, besides being pregnant like she was. And I don’t know if I’m an alcoholic like Dad, or just a potential one. But I know that I’m afraid about what happened.” She licked her lower lip and bit it. “And I’m really scared that you’ll . . .”
    “That I’ll what?”
    “You’ll feel an obligation to me and the baby that will mess up your hopes and dreams.”
    Rick walked the remaining distance and stood in front of her. “I have an obligation. I don’t know what I’m going to do about it.” He pushed a lock of hair away from her eyes. “Yet.”
    Haley searched his face. “I’m having a really hard time giving up this baby, but I know that’s what I need to do.”
    “So, you don’t want to get married and have us raise the baby together?”
    Haley’s eyes widened with fear. “No!” Tears spilled over. “I love you, Rick, but—”
    “Come here,” he coaxed.
    She slid off the stool and let his arms enfold her. She cried for what seemed like an hour but was probably just a minute.
    Rick rested his chin on top of her head and rubbed her back. “Let’s take it a little at a time. We’ll see your new doctor tomorrow. We’ll talk with Gwen. We’ll explore the options. And we’ll talk about it as we go along.”
    She nodded against his chest.
    “How about a walk right now? The moon should be up.”
    “What do you think of our host?” Gwen asked Peter.
    “Joel? He’s elegant, there’s no other word for his style. And smart, I think.”
    “Yes,” Gwen confirmed. “Shrewd, but with integrity.” She inhaled the warm breeze off the lake and waved an arm in the direction of the garden a hundred yards ahead, nearly to the lakeshore. “That’s where we’re going, by the way.”
    “Manda livens him up,” Peter said with a chuckle.
    “They’re good for each other.”
    “We’re good for each other. Don’t you think?”
    “I do.” Gwen stopped on the lush lawn and turned to face him. “The more I know you, the more I think so.” She took his elbow, and they continued their stroll.
    After a minute, Peter tugged at her hand and pointed to a lustrous bulge on the horizon across the lake. “Is that what I think it is?”
    “Ohmigod, it’s the moon rising. Can you believe how huge and orange it is?”
    “You’re sure it’s not Otto the Syracuse Orange?”
    “Oh, now, that’s romantic.” Gwen elbowed him playfully.
    “A little Syracuse levity. I can do romantic.”
    “I have no doubt. What new truths did Manda and Sara get out of you on the dance floor?”
    “They both think I should have my sister, Bree, come for a weekend, and they’ll show her around. They’ll take her shopping at their favorite thrift shops and show her the best ice-cream places.”
    “Take them up on it. I’d love to meet her.” As they continued their stroll to the garden, the moon lifted above the horizon and softened to gold.
    “I want her to move here and live with me for a while.” His