Dare to Love Read Online Free

like any of them? You don’t even know their names, and you’re ready for me to bear their children. They could all be fifty years old and bald, for all you know.” She could feel the tiny lines of frustration forming across her brow even as she spoke. By the time her mother was done with her she’d have so many lines on her face she’d look fifty years old herself.
    â€œYou’re twenty-nine, Andrea. You can’t afford to be so choosy. If you don’t hurry up and find a husband, you’re going to end up an old maid.”
    â€œI’ve already had a husband, Ma, remember?”
    Gloria snorted loudly, expressively. “That sorry excuse for a man didn’t deserve you, Andrea. He didn’t know what a treasure he had. And you’re a bigger fool than I thought if you let him keep you from finding a man to father my grandchildren.”
    Andrea smiled at the double-edged compliment, warmed in spite of herself by her mother’s fierce loyalty, and maybe even by the older woman’s tenacity. Deep down, she understood that her mother was just trying to help her find forgiveness.
    â€œI’ve got time, Ma,” she said, knowing that all the time in the world would never be enough to convince her to marry again. She always seemed to let down the people she loved.
    â€œI can hear your clock ticking from here, Andrea Lee. It’s not safe to have a first baby much past your early thirties.”
    Andrea sighed, refusing to think about the babies she would never have—the babies she had once wanted more than anything else in life. She hadn’t even been able to handle being a big sister. She wasn’t going to risk failing at motherhood, too. “Times have changed, Ma. Women are having babies, even first ones, in their forties.”
    â€œYou are not going to make me wait another ten years to have babies to play with, young lady. Do you want to have to pull me up off the floor every time I get down to tickle their tummies?”
    Andrea thought of her mother’s considerable girth and grinned in spite of herself. Only Gloria could be tickling infants that didn’t even exist.
    â€œThere’s always artificial insemina—”
    â€œAndrea! That’s enough. A baby needs a father. It’s your duty as its mother to provide it with one.”
    Andrea gave up with a resigned chuckle. Now she was failing the baby before it even existed. See, she was no good with those she loved. And why was it that she could hold her own with six cops at a time, yet still couldn’t win a single verbal skirmish with her mother?
    â€œI’ll keep my eyes open for potential daddy material, Ma. Now how’s Scotty?”
    â€œHe’s just fine. Found himself a girlfriend. At least there’s one child of mine who knows his duty.”
    Andrea laughed out loud, the first genuine amusement she’d felt since stepping into the suite next door earlier that evening. “Ma, he’s only thirteen. You’re not starting on him already, are you?”
    â€œI’m not starting on anybody, Andrea Lee. I only want for you what you always wanted for yourself. One of us has to keep trying.” Her mother’s tone was becoming strident again.
    â€œI said I’d keep my eyes open, Ma, and I will,” she said, crossing her fingers. Someday she’d convince herself that her mother was wrong about things, that she could be happy without a family of her own. And then she’d convince Gloria.
    â€œJust make sure you do more than look when the time comes.” the warning in her mother’s tone of voice was clear.
    Again a vision of Doug Avery flashed before Andrea’s eyes. She thought of her initial reaction to the man, of her urge to accept the challenge he’d offered, of the brief instant of stunning desire she’d felt.
    â€œTell Scotty I love him.”
    â€œI always tell him. Don’t you think it’s time you