No Strings Attached

Christy glanced toward Clara's stomach and lowered her voice with a conspiratorial wink. "You're dressed down today, more than usual. Is there, by any chance, a little bun in the oven?"

Clara's eyes brimmed with unshed tears, a tender smile tugging at her lips as she gave a subtle nod.

Christy's jaw dropped in excitement. "For real? Does Mr. Hayes know yet?"

"I haven't told him."

"Is it that you haven't told him, or you don't want to tell him? Are you taking the split seriously? You don't know this, but Roger didn't come home the night you and lan broke up. He said lan got totally plastered. He's never seen lan take it so hard."

Clara felt a sting in her heart at those words. How could she not know how much lan was hurting?

Every night after work, he'd be lingering outside her place. Sometimes, he'd get in the house, chat with her dad, and check on her. Other times, when he was too late for visits, he'd just stand at her door, smoking alone.

dash outside and throw herself into his arms, to tell him, "Ian, let's make up, please." But

"I can't risk

shoulder sympathetically. "Don't you worry, your secret's safe with me. And hey, I've got a stash of prenatal stuff from back in the day-you can have it." While Christy played

He snapped a photo on the sly and sent it to lan. [Your ex-fiancée's at my place. Want me to stage a 'casual' run-in?] lan, fresh

nabbed a fine bottle of wine at

his teeth. [Taking advantage

giving you a leg up in front

[Be there soon.]

hour later, Clara carried Della and descended the stairs to play. As she

holding a doll and with a softer smile than usual, approached them. "Got this for you, Della. Mind if I

doll and more fascinated by lan's face, gazing up at him

stingy. Her godmother showers her with jewels and clothes, and you think a rag doll will do the trick? Dream