Dr. Horatio vs. the Six-Toed Cat Read Online Free Page A

Florida in June, three months ago. The trip with friends from college had been a celebration of receiving her bachelor’s degree in English Literature at Purdue. Since her return she’d told Millie many things about the trip, all the sites she’d seen, the sailing excursions she’d taken, and how she’d learned to scuba dive. Not once had she mentioned meeting a boy.
    Three months. And they were discussing baby names? Could it be?
    Albert put his fork down and leaned across the table to look her straight in the eye. “Are you pregnant?”
    Trust her straightforward husband to get right to the point.
    â€œDaddy!” Alison stiffened, clearly outraged. “Of course not. Why would you ask such a thing?”
    â€œIt’s the obvious conclusion when you just announced that you’re marrying a man your parents have never even heard of, much less met. And you’ve already decided on a name for your baby.”
    She straightened in the chair, her expression settling into the stubborn one that Millie knew presaged an argument.
    Before the girl could reply, Millie spoke in a voice calmer than she felt. “Your father’s right, dear. It’s unlike you to keep secrets at all, much less about something as important as meeting a man you intend to marry. Why haven’t you mentioned Nicholas before?”
    Alison didn’t reply immediately. She drew a deep breath, her gaze fixed on her plate, while a struggle showed plainly on her face. “Because there are a couple of things you won’t like, and I couldn’t bear to have you try to talk me out of this.”
    â€œThings we won’t like?” Beneath the table Millie slipped off her shoe and extended her foot to rest against Albert’s leg. Somehow touching him enabled her to draw on his strength. “Things about him, or your plans?”
    â€œBoth.” She cleared her throat and then looked directly at her father. “Daddy, Nick is from Colombia.”
    Albert’s eyes narrowed. “Okay. What else?”
    â€œHe joined the army, and he’s being assigned overseas.” She bit her lip and rushed on. “It’s a good thing, because we’ll be near his extended family, some distant cousins and uncles he’s never met.”
    Millie’s heart stuttered as her attention snagged on a word. “We?” she managed to choke.
    Alison gave a hesitant nod. “We’re going to be married before he leaves so I can go with him.” A pause, during which she bit down on her lower lip and winced. “In three weeks.”
    It took a few seconds for the news to register. Even then, Millie thought she must be numb from the shock of learning that her daughter had met a man three months ago and kept their relationship a secret. The news that they planned to marry in three weeks and then leave the country didn’t strike her nearly as forcefully as it would have five minutes ago.
    â€œI…see.”
    Albert’s face jerked toward her. “You see? Is that all you have to say?” He looked back at Alison. “Do you want to hear what I have to say? No. Absolutely not. I refuse to allow you to marry some guy I’ve never met and flee the country.”
    â€œI knew you’d say that.” Alison tossed her napkin on her plate with a savage gesture. “This is exactly why I didn’t want to tell you.”
    â€œI’m surprised you bothered.” His voice rose, and a flush suffused his face. “Apparently you’ve made a decision without us. You don’t want to face the facts you knew we’d bring up, didn’t want to have an adult discussion to consider your options, so you kept it a secret. Why not continue the deception? Why not elope? Leave us a note?”
    â€œI thought about it,” Alison snapped. “But I decided you might want to come to my wedding. Maybe I was wrong.”
    Tears stung Millie’s eyes. Not see her