Nine Months Part Two

By Sylvia Plath

36 Hours Serial

As a devastating summer storm hits Grand Springs, Colorado, the next thirty–six hours will change the town and its residents forever….

Nine Months Part 2

Paige Summers's life hasn't been the same since she started her new job–and accidentally had sex with her boss during the night of the storm! She's always wanted a baby, and J. L. Montgomery might be the perfect husband and father–if he loves her.

Jared is used to getting what he wants, so he can't understand Paige's reluctance to marry him. Is she just a gold digger hoping to make him want her more by playing it cool? Or the most independent–and sexy–woman he's ever met?

What will it take for Jared to see Paige as more than an acquisition, and for Paige to get her elevator cowboy back?

The story concludes in Nine Months Part 3.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Australia
• Release date: Apr 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781488739989

Sylvia Plath

Sylvia Plath was born in 1932 in Massachusetts. Her books include the poetry collections The Colossus, Crossing the Water, Winter Trees, Ariel, and Collected Poems, which won the Pulitzer Prize. A complete and uncut facsimile edition of Ariel was published in 2004 with her original selection and arrangement of poems. She was married to the poet Ted Hughes, with whom she had a daughter, Frieda, and a son, Nicholas. She died in London in 1963.

Book preview

Chapter Four

Paige Summers couldn’t wait to get to her parents’ home on Juniper Lane, a neat two-story frame they’d bought shortly after her father’s retirement. She’d show her mother the sonogram pictures before dinner, and then afterward, they’d watch the video. Accepting the fact that his unmarried daughter was pregnant was difficult for her father, but he loved her and she knew she could count on his support during the months and years ahead. She didn’t think she’d ever be able to bring herself to tell him that she’d gotten pregnant by a stranger the night of the horrible June rainstorm when she’d been trapped in the Wellman Building elevator. Walt Summers was far too old-fashioned. If he had any idea about the identity of the man who had fathered Paige’s child, he’d go after the guy with a shotgun.

Paige giggled when she pictured her father holding a shotgun on L. J. Montgomery and demanding the man marry his daughter. But the image of her walking down the aisle with Jared quickly wiped the smile off her face. Nothing short of a wedding would satisfy her father or Jared.

If circumstances were different, if Paige thought there was a chance Jared might learn to love her and accept her for the woman she was, she’d willingly marry her baby’s father. If they loved each other, they could find a way to overcome their many differences. But any man who could map out his personal life the way he planned his business ventures wasn’t capable of real love. If Jared loved her, he wouldn’t be so concerned about her being such an unsuitable mate.

And even if she loved Jared—and that was a big if—her romantic heart would wither and die without having her love returned in full measure. Her soul needed a soul mate. Although she couldn’t deny that she was physically attracted to Jared, that she found him downright irresistible, she wasn’t sure whether what she felt for him was just infatuation or real love.

Perhaps she had been trying to convince herself that she’d fallen in love with Jared at first sight because loving him would justify her pregnancy. After all, what woman would want to admit that she’d done something so monumentally foolish for any other reason than love?

Maybe she had fallen for the cowboy stranger she’d made love with in the elevator, but L. J. Montgomery was a different man. He was her boss! How could she possibly love someone so domineering and arrogant?

She turned her white Chevy Malibu into her parents’ drive, directly behind her brother Austen’s mud-splattered Chevy pickup. The front porch light shone brightly, casting a creamy glow over the wide front yard filled with neatly trimmed shrubs and barren flower beds. Paige dropped her keys into her shoulder bag, double-checked the zippered side pouch to make sure the sonogram pictures and video were still there and got out of the car.

The moment she opened the door, the cool October wind chilled her to the bone. Adjusting her shoulder bag, Paige buttoned her wool jacket before she hurried up the drive and onto the porch.

Apparently her mother had been watching for her. Dora Summers flung open the front door, reached out and pulled Paige inside, then closed the door quietly.

Mama—

Shh! Dora put a finger to her lips, then yanked Paige into a corner of the foyer. He’s here!

Who’s here? Paige asked.

Him.

Mama, I have no idea what you’re talking about. Who’s here?

Your fiancé, of course.

My what?

L. J. Montgomery, Dora replied, her brown eyes huge as saucers. Your daddy was fit to be tied when he told us that he was your baby’s father—

He did what?

But it’s all right now. The minute he showed us the diamond ring he’s going to give you and told your daddy that he wanted to ask his permission before y’all made it official, Walt’s attitude changed completely. Land sakes, they’re in the den now with Austen, the three of them talking about football and skiing and the army. You know, all that man stuff.

Paige had noticed over the years that whenever her mother got excited, her Mississippi accent became more pronounced. And Dora was quite excited now. Happily excited. But why shouldn’t she be? Why shouldn’t her entire family be delighted? After all, they’d been told that their unmarried, pregnant daughter was engaged to one of the wealthiest men in the Southwest.

She should have known that Jared wouldn’t abide by their agreement and let her handle their situation. He was too accustomed to being in charge, to issuing orders and having them instantly obeyed. He planned and arranged every element of his life to his liking. He didn’t leave any room for other people’s feelings, other people’s hopes and dreams.

He had screwed up his precisely made plans for the future, but he was adapting quickly, altering his plans to include a wife and child, neither of whom he loved or wanted. He was so determined to have his own way that he didn’t care what she wanted. And he was in the den with her father and brother right now, cleaning up the mess he’d created four months ago.

Paige hung her bag on the pine coat tree, then removed her jacket and hung it over her purse. He’s not going to get away with this, she murmured.

What did you say? her mother asked.

Nothing, Mama. Just muttering to myself. Paige wrapped her arm around her mother’s shoulders. How long has Jared been here?

About an hour, dear. A taxi brought him. And Mr. Montgomery…I mean Jared…he told us to call him Jared. Well, anyway, he brought flowers and wine and told us who he was and that you had invited him to join us for dinner. Dora slipped her arm around Paige’s waist. Why on earth didn’t you tell us about Jared, that the two of you were planning to get married?

Because I haven’t agreed to marry him.

Why on earth not?

Because he doesn’t love me, Mama. He just wants to marry me because of the baby.

Well, in my day, that was a darn good reason.

Paige had never heard her sweet, gentle mother say a curse word, no matter how angry or upset she became. Dora Elkins Summers was a sparkling ember from the dying fire of Southern gentility.

Mama, please. I’m going to need you to be on my side. Paige grasped her mother’s hands. I know Daddy will want me to marry Jared, no matter what. But I can’t.

Don’t you love him, Paige?

She looked into her mother’s dear, worried face and accepted defeat. Temporary defeat. After this little family dinner party ended, she was going to get Mr. Wonderful Future Son-in-law alone and give him a piece of her mind. When she got through with him, he would be sorry he’d ever tried to get the best of her.

Jared Montgomery wouldn’t be an easy man to love. You can’t imagine how infuriating he can be. Half the time he acts like an infuriating jerk.

Oh, sweetie, he’s a man. Most of them are like that. Being infuriating is a male trait. Clasping Paige’s hand, Dora tugged gently, urging her daughter to follow her. Let’s go on in. We all heard your car drive up, but I told them I needed a few minutes alone with you for mother-daughter time.

Thanks, Mama. Paige plastered a phony smile on her face, tilted her chin high, squeezed her mother’s hand, and together they paraded into the den.

There you are, sweetheart. Walt Summers held his arms open.

Paige caught a glimpse of Jared standing near the rock fireplace beside Austen, but she didn’t glance his way. Instead she rushed into her father’s arms.

We’ve been getting to know your Jared. Walt gave Paige a bear hug, then released her.

So Mama told me, she said.

Paige’s heart sank when she saw her father’s broad smile. Dammit! He liked Jared. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Jared wasn’t supposed to be here.

Without any warning, Jared slid his arm around Paige’s waist and drew her to his side. He nuzzled her ear. She shivered. Honey, I hope you aren’t upset with me for showing your folks your engagement ring and springing our good news on them before you got home.

Smiling politely, her jaws aching from the effort, she patted Jared’s cheek, barely refraining herself from slapping him. Why, no, darling, how could I ever be upset with you when your every thought is of what’s best for me.

"I knew