Special Delivery by Danielle Steel

running away to Brazil, or signing up as a merchant seaman, he said bluntly, and she laughed, but he didn't. He'd been through that often enough over the years, women who claimed they were pregnant by him, or called to say they were late, or had forgotten to take the pill. It was a constant headache.
    Well, wait a while, she smiled. One of these days, I guess it won't be a problem. She had thought about the change, but had no sign of it yet. Her doctor had said it might not happen for another year or two, or more. And unlike Jan, she had never had a problem getting pregnant.
    I can hardly wait, he grinned, but he also agreed with her. Even if technically she still could get pregnant, at fifty it didn't seem very likely.
    He cooked dinner for her that night, and they sat in front of the fire and watched the full moon hang over the ocean. It was easier for her here, she didn't have to think of Matt. Suddenly, it seemed like a whole new life with Jack Watson. It was amazing to her how, after the agony of the past year, and feeling as though her life had ended, she suddenly felt new again, and young and alive, and as though they had been meant for each other. She wondered if it was wrong to move on this way, but she knew that even if it was, she could no longer stop it. All she wanted was to be with him.
    They felt like orphans when he went back to work. She didn't know what to do with herself, and he called her half a dozen times a day, and came by the house for lunch, to make love to her, or just to be with her. And when he went back to the store, she always thought of a multitude of reasons to call him, or to ask him something.
    Am I being a pest? she asked one day. It was the second time she had called him in an hour. And he had only left her half an hour before that. They were going to their favorite Thai restaurant that evening. It was the perfect hideaway, and they knew they wouldn't run into anyone they knew there. She still didn't want to bump into their children. For the time being anyway, they had agreed to keep the romance a secret.
    You're never a pest. I love talking to you, he smiled, putting his feet on his desk, as Gladdie came in with a cup of coffee and he thanked her. And then he had an idea. Why don't we go to San Francisco for the weekend? I have another site I want to look at up there, on Post Street.
    I'd love that, she said. They decided to go that week, and after he hung up, Jack buzzed for Gladdie. She came in with a worried frown, and her notepad.
    Something wrong? He looked up at her. In the past six months, they'd had six shipments held up in customs.
    I probably shouldn't ask, she said with obvious concern, but are the kids okay?
    Sure. Why? He seemed surprised. Maybe she knew something he didn't.
    I've just noticed that Mrs. Kingston has been calling you. I thought maybe ' I wondered if Paul and Jan ' She was embarrassed to ask him. But they'd been married for three years, had no kids, and the world moved pretty fast in L.A. Maybe they were having problems, and Amanda and Jack were talking about them.
    No, they're fine, he said cryptically with a smile, and as their eyes met, Gladdie suddenly wondered. No one else had been calling him since Christmas. No one important anyway, and even when they did call, he had Gladdie tell the girls he was busy. It took her a minute, but sharp Gladdie got the picture.
    I see, she said, suddenly amused. Amanda was quite something. But Gladdie would never have thought ' life sure was funny.
    Just make sure no one else sees, Glad. We don't want the kids to know yet.
    Is it serious? She was so close to him, and had worked for him for so long, that she dared to ask him questions no one else would. She was privy to a lot of information.
    He hesitated for a beat before he answered. Could be ' And then he decided to be honest with her. He was crazy about Amanda. He had never felt like this for any woman since Dori, and Gladdie never knew her. All she knew were the