A Stranger In Texas

Zach called her in a month. He asked in a husky voice, “Are you okay?”

Toplofty, she replied, “Of course. Are you?”

He replied, “It’s strange to go into a silent house.”

Another week went by and nothing changed. Well, some things stayed changed. Jessica could tell something was going on. Her breasts were fuller. She continued to be picky with food. She finally went to a doctor…in Corpus. She was, indeed, pregnant.

She drove back to Sea View slowly and in some acknowledged shock. How could she do this to a child? Life was rough enough as it was. How could she face her parents? They’d be embarrassed and loyal.

Her sister Alice would be avidly curious. A stranger? How could Jess give in to a stranger! Miss Goody-Two-Shoes dallying with a stranger? Who was it!

Even the doctor had asked her that one. He was young, pleasant looking and interested. If she would for someone else, why not for him?

Being pregnant in Sea View’s intimate, gossipy limitation was not going to be easy. How strange that she didn’t even consider canceling the baby. Why not?

She wasn’t sure why not. Being pregnant really wasn’t real to her. She had to assimilate the fact first. Then she considered her situation.

She was self-supporting. No one had to donate to her health and welfare. She was on her own and could manage.

It would be rough on her family. They would be supportive and loyal, but it would be rough for them. And for her.

Would she find out Zach’s address and let him know?

No.

Why burden him with such a problem?

He was the father. It might help him over this terrible time of being alone.

Actually, the fatal trip had been to bond him with his son. He hadn’t been much of a part of his other family. Why would he be interested in sharing a surprise child?

He ought to be told.

She’d figure that out another time. He could get a DNA test and see how careless he’d been. He was—careless? What had she been doing in his room?

Don could have gone up with Zach. Actually, no one needed to go up with him. He was an adult. He could have handled himself. He was handling himself. She’d just gone along with him and been available.

A woman accompanying a man to a hotel room isn’t all that smart. Some conduct is necessary for a woman under all circumstances. As her mother had always told her: If you don’t walk on the tracks, you won’t get hit by the train!

It was good advice.

So. She was just as responsible. She hadn’t made one protest. Instead, she’d gone with him and sorted out his problems and even given him the pill so that he could sleep.

She had given more than a pill. She had given herself.

Had being twenty-nine triggered her foolish behavior? What would this do to the town? To her place in the town? To her family? To her? To the child? Yes, the child.

It was a little late for such thoughts. She ought to have figured it out sooner.

It was three months later, on a Friday morning, and Jessica had gone to the hotel. She was girding up to face the family’s doctor, when who should walk into The Horizon but Zachary Thomas!

Him!

For some strange reason, she’d taken her eyes from the computer monitor. She looked through the open door past the desk as he approached the door and came through it.

He was more alert.

That was an interesting observation for her to have. She’d not thought, there he was, or what was he doing there, but that he was alert.

He looked wonderful! He was a really well-set-up human male animal. Her shocking body noticed. Her knees became subtly restless. Her breathing changed. Her eyes were enormous.

As he approached the desk, he looked through the door and saw her. He grinned and kept his eyes on Jessica.

When Don came to the desk, Zach shook his head and grinned as he continued to look at Jess. He lifted his chin and said, “I’ve come to see Jessica Channing.”

Her lips suddenly puffy and parting, Jess pushed back her swivel chair and walked to the desk’s counter like an uncontrolled robot.

He didn’t say hello or anything normal; he asked, “Are you free?”

She could have replied in any number of ways, but she nodded.

He said, “Come walk on the beach with me.”

It was raining. It was a nice early summer’s rain. She put on her raincoat because Don held it for her. As she walked around the end of the counter, Don gave Zach an umbrella.

The two walkers didn’t say anything. They just went out of The Horizon and down onto the beach. Zach was in very casual clothing. He’d just gotten off a shuttle plane. He was there.

Jess looked at him now and again. His face was relaxed. His eye crinkles crinkled as he smiled down at her. He breathed deeply and sighed in contentment.

In three months, he was back to see another woman? That was quick.

He said, “Some of the recipients of the Donor Harvest are coming to the hospital tomorrow. I was invited to meet them. This was an opportunity to see if you are real. You are.”

Grieving for his wife, he’d noticed another woman?

She looked at the TEXAS sky, which was in shades of gray. It was beautiful. The rain was misty and touched her hot face. Her metabolism had changed and she was generally too warm.

He said, “You’ve lost some weight. You’re skinny. Are you all right? Your cheeks are hot. Are you well?”

She replied, “Yes.” That was for whatever he’d said. She didn’t mention that the skinniness wouldn’t last.

As they went back toward the hotel, he asked awkwardly, “Could you take the afternoon off and…be with me? Tomorrow would you go with me? I’m not sure…how to handle…all this. You were so logical last time. I will never be able to repay you for your help.”

She blushed scarlet just about all over, but he saw her face redden. He was startled. “Are you all right?”

She assured him, “Yes.”

His hand caught hers. “I’m glad. You were such a help to me. You were so calm. I don’t think I could ever make it up to you. If you should ever need any kind of help, I’d be grateful if you’ll let me be the one, or at least be in the crowd that would help you.”