by Lea Coll
“How could I have been so stupid as to leave it in the glove compartment?” Lucy asked.
“It’s not an uncommon mistake. I do tell my patients to keep it at room temperature unless it’s over four months old, then you need to refrigerate it.”
Lucy seemed to be preoccupied with Dr. Kane’s explanation so I took the opportunity to ask questions I’d come up with—how to ease the morning sickness, the safety of the nausea pill, how to ease the tiredness, if Lucy should work, if she should exercise. During the exchange with Dr. Kane I felt Lucy’s surprised gaze on me. “Sorry, for all the questions. I researched everything online, but I wanted your opinion.”
Dr. Kane nodded. “That’s what I’m here for.”
As soon as the door closed behind Dr. Kane, Lucy said, “I can’t believe you asked all of those questions.”
“Sure. We’re expecting a baby. I wanted to know everything.”
“And earlier when you thanked me, what was that for?”
“Thank you for carrying my baby. Seeing our baby on that screen was the most amazing experience, and you gave that to me.” Tears filled my eyes.
Lucy
“You’re welcome.” That sentiment that he was happy and thankful I was carrying and taking care of his baby spread warmth through my body. I allowed myself a moment to bask in the feeling before I slid as gracefully as I could off the exam table to get dressed.
Wyatt didn’t stop smiling as we got into his truck and drove to get lunch. I know because I watched his face the whole time. He was so happy. Like it didn’t matter to him that we’d done this out of order and maybe with the wrong person. In fact, he’d said I always wanted a baby with you when I told him about the pregnancy.
When he caught me staring at him, he slid his hand across the seat grabbing for mine. “I wouldn’t want to do this with anyone other than you.”
“Yeah?” But why? Because you loved me in high school? Because you still love me now? I know he loved the baby, but he was showering care and attention on me too. It would be so easy to give in, to let him take care of me, the baby, everything, but he’d distract me from taking a job elsewhere if one was offered.
I couldn’t forget what happened to my cousin, Grace, when she was pregnant—her boyfriend acted just like Wyatt, but when the baby came, he realized he wasn’t ready or he didn’t want to be a father. He didn’t want custody or visitation—he just walked away and Grace was unprepared to do it on her own.
If Wyatt changed his mind, I’d be doing this on my own. I needed to be prepared.
“Let’s eat on the deck at The Fish House and we can iron out some of the details.” Wyatt glanced over at me.
“What details?” I choked out. Would he want to go to court, have something in writing?
“You know, birthing classes, do you want me in the room when the baby’s born? I want to be there but I understand if you’d rather it be your mom or a friend.”
“I’d like you to be there.” Every time I imagined being in the hospital, it was Wyatt’s face I saw, his hand holding mine, his soft words of encouragement. I had no idea how my family was going to react to our news, but I knew how Wyatt felt—he was all in for now. Who knows how he’d feel once the baby was here?
“Yeah?”
I looked at him to see his reaction. “I want you there.”
He pulled the truck into the gravel lot for The Fish House. When he turned off the truck he sat, not making a move to leave. “That means so much to me. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He acted like every moment of this pregnancy was precious. I shivered at the realization that he made me feel precious. It was a heady feeling.
“Hungry?” he asked.
“I’m always hungry when I’m not sick.” There was no in between these days.
“I read online that you should eat small snacks all day long to avoid feeling sick. Like saltines.”
“Yeah, I read that too.”
Wyatt
We got out of the truck and walked into the restaurant. It was odd because it felt like a date when it was actually a meeting between a future mom and dad to plan what the future was going to look like.
We sat at a two-person table on the outside deck, which wrapped around the restaurant and Lucy watched the boats glide effortlessly through the water.
“I love being on the water,” I said.
“It is peaceful. That’s why you live on the water?”
“I inherited my cabin but yes, I love it.”
“Makes sense.”
The euphoric feeling of seeing our baby waned as worries crept in about Lucy’s plans. “Have you decided where you’ll live when the baby comes?”
“No. After Samantha and Jack’s wedding, I might need to head back to Baltimore and try job hunting on foot—drop off some resumes in person, talk to some people. Maybe before the wedding, so I can get a job before I start showing.”
“Why don’t you find a job here where you’ll have my help and our families’ help?”
“We haven’t even told anyone yet. You can’t know that they’ll help for sure.”
“My parents will be ecstatic and eager to help. I don’t need to tell them the news to know that.”
“I caused a rift with my dad when I didn’t come home to help with the marina and Jack did. They never respected the demands of my career. To them, their business came first, so it’s hard to imagine them putting me or the baby first. They just retired. They said they want to travel. I don’t know if they want me living in their house with a baby.”
“This baby will bring our families together and they’ll step up. You’ll see.” Even as I said it, I wasn’t so sure. Her parents hadn’t been there for her in high school. Her dad said his priorities were straight but Lucy hadn’t experienced that. Hopefully, they’d prove her wrong when we told them about the baby.
I covered her hand with mine. “If not, it’s their loss. You’ll have me, my family, and our friends.”
I released her hand when the waiter came to take our order. What would I do if she moved to Baltimore? I brushed my fingers through my hair. I’d have to follow her. I didn’t want to miss time with my baby. I’d be a good parent whether she wanted me in her life or not.
Lucy
I rode with Wyatt to Baltimore a few weeks later for the combined bachelor and bachelorette party. We were together a lot lately and no one questioned it. He met me for lunch. He checked up on me to make sure I was feeling okay. There hadn’t been any more trips down memory lane, which I had to admit I missed. We’d both been really busy—me with wedding planning and Wyatt was trying to prove himself at work to get a promotion. People assumed we’d rekindled our relationship and I did nothing to dissuade them. He hadn’t made a move or said he wanted more. There were just inappropriate thoughts in my head.
“You ready for this weekend?” Wyatt asked, bringing my attention back.
“I’m a little worried about not being able to drink and people noticing.”
“We could tell them you’re pregnant and then it wouldn’t be an issue.”
I knew that’s what Wyatt wanted. He was excited to tell everyone, but I wasn’t ready for the questions, the assumptions, that we were together. “I’m not ready for that yet. They’ll want to know what our plans are and I don’t know. And I don’t want to take away from Samantha and Jack’s weekend with our news.”
He nodded but his face was tight. I knew my delay bothered him. “Stick with me at the bar, I’ll drink yours so no one will notice.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. “Okay, sounds good. Maybe I can say I don’t want to drink at the spa since I’m supposed to be organizing everything.”
“Yeah that works. And if they notice, who cares?”
“I’d like to keep it a secret a little longer.” I was eleven weeks now so we were almost in the clear but I was worried how people would look at me when they found out I was pregnant. Would they look down on me because I’d lost my job, moved hom
e, and got knocked up by my ex? It had been a long series of backward moves for me.
As long as this baby remained secret we could maintain this bubble we lived in. Wyatt was sweet, warm, and caring. Our current relationship was special—he made sure I ate right, did what the doctor said, and researched what we could do to prepare for the baby.
Once the truth came out, reality would hit. There’d be opinions about where we should live, how we should act, how we should feel, and I wasn’t ready for that. I didn’t want anyone else involved with this yet. I had enjoyed being the center of Wyatt’s attention these last few weeks.
I’d stopped looking for job openings. I’d fallen into this weird limbo. I planned the parties, the wedding, and spent time with my parents and Kristen. It was so unlike me. I was supposed to be motivated to find a job, earn money, and support myself.
I also ignored the new feeling that had arisen—hope. When I stopped moving at night and fell into bed I couldn’t stop visualizing what it would be like to have this baby with Wyatt. Would he burp the baby? Would he change diapers? Would he want to do it or do things solely out of obligation? Would he stay overnight or would he stop by for a few hours to visit and hand the baby back when he or she needed a diaper change? Would he walk away like Grace’s boyfriend?
“Lucy? You ready to get out?” Wyatt smiled at me.
I nodded and he opened his door, stepping out.
We’d arrived at the hotel parking garage when I was lost in my thoughts. I stepped out, rounding his Jeep watching him unload our luggage onto the ground. I scrolled through my phone pulling up the itinerary I’d sent everyone.
“Are you going to check that all weekend?” Wyatt asked in amusement.
“Yes. Yes I am. I’m responsible for a weekend of fun and happiness. It has to be perfect.”
Wyatt squeezed my shoulder before he picked up the luggage and walked toward the elevator. “It will be, don’t worry.”
It was like he found me amusing or cute and it brought me back to when we were teens and everything I did was wonderful. I could do no wrong. At least not with him. Back when we had no worries except for winning the next game, attending the next party, and what to do with the endless hours of summer. The answer was always to spend all of my spare time with Wyatt.
The longing to be that person for him again was strong. But he wasn’t mine. He’d expressed his desire to make me fall in love with the town again. He’d mentioned how he wanted me to remember that I loved him but why? So, we could be friends—so we could co-parent amicably or something else—something more?
“Hey, don’t worry. Everything will be great.”
I smiled weakly at him. “I hope so.”
When we arrived at the front desk, Wyatt handled checking us in and carrying the luggage to our rooms, which were next to each other. When I raised my brows at him, he said, “I wanted to be close by in case you needed me.”
“I’m eleven weeks, what could possibly happen?” I asked, but both of us worried about miscarriage. Even though this pregnancy was unplanned we both wanted this baby.
He knocked on the wooden doorframe next to my room. “Just in case. You better do it too.”
“Superstitious, much?” I did the same and smiled because his worry was sweet.
“So, what’s on that agenda of yours?” With his hand still on the doorframe above my head, my back against the door, I looked up at him, hyperaware of his scent, his proximity, and his heat.
“You didn’t read it?” I’d worked hard on preparing care packages for each guest to be placed in their rooms upon check-in, and I’d arranged VIP service at every event, restaurant, and club we planned on frequenting this weekend.
He leaned down saying softly, “I’m with you. Why would I need to read it when I have the audible version?”
When his lips tipped into a smile, I asked, “You think you’re funny, don’t you?”
“I do.” But his smile was gone and his eyes darkened.
Our bodies were separated by only inches and I imagined how it would feel if I tugged his head down and kissed him now. Would he accept it? Would he stop me? How would his body feel against mine if I pressed against him? The thought made me dizzy, so I turned, breaking the connection, swiping my key card to open the door to my room.
I held the door open, leaning against the doorframe. “We’re going to the hotel spa and you have the ball game. We’ll meet up after at Pickles and then go from there.”
He’d lowered his hand from the frame, his stance now relaxed and easy. “Pickles, huh? That’s slumming it after the Four Seasons.”
“You have to go to Pickles after the game. It’s tradition here.” He probably expected everything I’d planned to be the best, but I wanted to give Samantha the full Baltimore experience.
“Alright.” Then he surprised me by stepping closer and my heart sped up wondering if he was going to kiss me.
I looked up at him in anticipation, my lips parting before his hand cupped the back of my head, chills traveled down my neck from the intimate touch. “Don’t overdo it and relax. This is supposed to be fun for you too.” I closed my eyes feeling his breath on my face. Then he shifted, placing a light feather kiss on my forehead causing tingles where his lips landed. I swayed toward him, but he’d already stepped back.
He’d been so respectful when all I wanted was for him to lose control. I stepped in the doorway leaning against the door watching him saunter back to his room, my eyes drawn to his ass accentuated by the worn jeans clinging to his muscles. He scanned his card, turning the knob, before looking at me and winking causing flutters to erupt in my stomach.
I heard the click of his door before I entered my room, closing the door behind me. Leaning against the door, I slid to the floor, resting my head back. I’d never been able to resist Wyatt. How would I survive this weekend rooming next door to him?
I answered my own question: by focusing on the reason we were here—to make sure Samantha and Jack had a fun weekend. I changed and headed down to the hotel’s spa to meet the girls. I stretched my legs out on the lounger, relaxing for the first time today as I waited for the girls to arrive. The pressure to plan the perfect weekend while hiding my pregnancy from everyone was getting to me.
After a few minutes, another woman sat on the end of my lounger. “Lucy?”
In a robe and her hair in a messy knot on her head it took me a few seconds to recognize my old roommate and coworker. “April? What are you doing here?”
“Spa day,” she said, rolling her eyes and gesturing at the robe covering her body.
“Well, yeah, but how are you doing?” I hadn’t heard from her since I’d moved out.
“Good. Living with Jeff has been great.” She sighed heavily as if something was on her mind.
“What’s wrong then?”
She chewed her lip. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you.”
“You have?”
“When you left work, everything went to shit.”
“It did?” I was pleased to hear that.
She glanced around as if she was worried someone might overhear and leaned over to whisper, “Yeah. I’m not sure how much I can tell you, but Elizabeth got in trouble for reading everyone’s emails and passing off other peoples’ work as her own.”
Elizabeth was the president’s niece and held the position of the traffic manager, which meant she oversaw the flow of work between the designers and the account executives. In order to do her job, she had access to everyone’s work product and emails. I’d always had the impression she wanted to be a graphic designer, but her degree was business.
“Carl moved her into your position when you left.”
“What? She’s not even a graphic designer.”
“She had access to everyone’s work. Word is she used someone else’s work to prove to her uncle she was good enough.”
My heart was pounding in my chest. “Whose work did she use to get the job, April?” But I knew. She’d used mine. Why
else would I have been fired? It had never made sense to me.
“She’d been switching your work with hers.”
“So that’s why Carl said I wasn’t creative enough.”
She nodded.
Relief flowed through me that it wasn’t that I hadn’t screwed up. “Does Carl know now?”
“I don’t know. This is all rumors.”
“So, I got fired for nothing.”
“That’s what it looks like,” April said.
“Hey.” Samantha stopped at the end of my chaise, and noticing April, she held her hand out to her. “Hi, I’m Samantha.”
“April.” Gesturing at me, she said, “We were roommates and co-workers.”
“Oh?” Samantha asked, her brow raised at me, as she settled into the chaise next to mine.
“Yeah.” I had no intention of telling Samantha what April told me. I couldn’t process what it meant myself yet.
An attendant came into the room telling April it was her turn for her treatment.
April got up to leave. “I thought you should know.”
I raised an eyebrow at that because if she thought I needed to know she could have called.
“What was that about?” Samantha asked.
“Nothing. Just catching up.” I smiled to cover my worry because this day was about Samantha, not me.
Wyatt
I settled into a seat at the ballpark with the rest of the guys here for the bachelor party, Logan, Luke, Jack, Sawyer, and a few guys from the fire station I didn’t know as well. It was crowded between the local fans and the nearby New York fans. I loved going to games. It was something my dad always did with me when I was younger and the sounds of the ball striking a bat and the smell of popcorn brought it back.
“You ready to get married?” I asked Jack.
“Definitely. I can’t wait.” Jack leaned back in his seat, holding his beer in his hand.
“That’s great. I’m happy for you.” I took a bite of my hot dog.
“What’s going on with you and Lucy?” Without waiting for an answer, he continued, “You guys seem to be spending a lot of time together.”