The Doctor's Baby by Cindy Kirk

grow up in such surroundings? To have that security? To be embraced by family and friends?
    After downing a third piece of pizza, John glanced at his watch. “Looks like it’s time for Emma and me to hit the road.”
    The patter of rain, which had began shortly after Lexi’s arrival, now beat against the roof.
    “We should go, too,” David said, making no move to get up.
    July didn’t blame him for being in no hurry. But she also knew Mary Karen wouldn’t allow a mere cloudburst to impact the first meeting of her book club.
    “You guys can stay if you want,” Mary Karen said. “I thought we’d meet in the kitchen, which means you can have the living room. We’ve got lots of DVDs. Perhaps Addie, since she’s the oldest, could choose the movie.”
    Addie’s pretty hazel eyes lit up. “Could I, Mommy?”
    Lexi hesitated. “I know you guys didn’t plan on watching my daughter—”
    “What’s one more?” David smiled. “In fact, we can take Adam, too. That way you ladies can talk uninterrupted.”
    July was about to politely turn down the offer when she saw Lexi’s face. If she refused to let David watch Adam, Lexi wouldn’t allow him to watch Addie, either.
    “Sure.” July rose and handed her son over to David. “Uh, thank you.”
    David shot her a wink. “Uh, you’re welcome.”
    “We’ll clean up in here.” Travis put a hand on Mary Karen’s arm. “You get ready for your book club.”
    July glanced at David, rounding up the children, Adam asleep against his chest.
    Yesterday or even earlier today, she’d have found the scene troubling, but tonight, for whatever reason, it felt…right.
    David turned back for a second and their eyes locked.
    “I’ll take good care of him,” he mouthed.
    July smiled. Of that she had no doubt.
     
    “That went quicker than I thought,” Mary Karen said as the last man left the kitchen and the four women took their places at the table.
    “This arrangement works out great for me,” Kayla said. “Because of Emma’s cardiac problems, I know John will feel more comfortable with me in the next room.”
    “How are the tube feedings going?” Lexi asked.
    “Good,” Kayla said. “It looks like we’ll have to keep the tube in until she’s big and strong enough for her heart surgery. Right now she doesn’t have the energy to swallow.”
    They talked for a couple minutes about Emma’s medical issues before Lexi spoke up.
    “I like this arrangement, too,” she said. “I’d brought some stuff along for Addie to play with, but I’m sure she’s having more fun watching the movie and playing with the boys.”
    July took a sip of the iced tea Mary Karen had set out and just smiled.
    “I’m not sure how this club is supposed to work,”Kayla said. “But I enjoyed the one you picked, Mary Karen. The chapter that dealt with adoption really hit home for me.”
    The book had been on July’s “to-do” list but the time just hadn’t been there. But from the back cover blurb and the inside of the dust jacket, the book appeared focused on successful parenting. It seemed odd that adoption would even be mentioned.
    “I’m curious,” July said. “Why did you find the topic so relevant? Were you adopted?”
    “No,” Kayla said. “But John and I struggled with infertility for years. We had our names in at a number of adoption agencies. Unfortunately there aren’t enough babies.”
    Lexi nodded. “Too many mothers keep them for all the wrong reasons.”
    July shifted uncomfortably in her seat and told herself she was keeping Adam for all the right reasons.
    “What you’re saying is they don’t look at what’s best for the child,” Mary Karen said. “They keep the baby because they can’t imagine their life without it or because of the welfare money.”
    “I can so relate,” Kayla confessed. She leaned forward and rested her forearms on the table. “My mother was a single parent with no marketable job skills. She struggled to put food on the table