Part 18 (2/2)

middle of the night. ”Of course he will. A man like Brian needs people

to listen to his music, and he needs to be there while they do. He'll.

often go away, but he'll always come back. He loves you, and he loves

me.” As much for comfort as to comfort, she took Emma's hand. ”And

there's one more thing. Do you know where babies come from?”

”Men stick them in ladies, but then they don't want them.”

Bev broke off an oath. She could cheerfully have throttled Jane at that

moment. Although Bev's own mother had always been reserved, unable to

speak of intimacy in more than a vague fas.h.i.+on, Bev firmly believed in

openness. ”Men and women who love each other make babies together, and

most of the time they both want them very much. I have a baby right

here.” She pressed Emma's hand against her stomach. ”Your father's

baby. When it's born, it will be your brother or sister.”

After a moment's hesitation, Emma slid her hand over Bev's stomach. She

didn't see how there could be a baby in there. Mrs. Perkins

across the alley had had a big bloated belly before little Donald had

come.

”Where is it?”

”Inside. It's very, very small now. It has almost six months more to

grow before it's time for it to come out.”

”Will it like me?”

”I think so. Brian will be its Dad just like he's your Dad.”

Enchanted, Emma began to stroke Bev's stomach as she sometimes stroked

Charlie. ”I'll take good care of the baby. No one will hurt it.”

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