Bailey’s eyes widened. She swayed a finger back and forth. “Nuh uh, we’re not going there,” she said. “There’s absolutely no way I can be pregnant.”
Amelia crossed her arms on top of her oversized belly. She raised an eyebrow as she watched Bailey avoid eye contact. Bailey looked up at Amelia and tossed her arms in the air. “What?”
Amelia smiled. “How can you be so sure you’re not pregnant if you haven’t taken a test?”
Bailey fidgeted in her seat. “Benny and I are careful,” she explained. “Extra careful, if you know what I mean.”
Amelia leaned her head back and let out a light chuckle. She looked at Bailey, who sat silently in the seat across from her. “Uh huh, just like Zach and I were extra careful too.”
Bailey scooted to the edge of her seat. “Well, either way, I’m not pregnant.”
Amelia shrugged. “If you say so.”
Bailey narrowed her eyes. Amelia wondered if Bailey wanted children. She guessed it was a touchy subject for now, so she changed the subject. “How’s your mom doing?”
Bailey leaned back into her chair and dropped her shoulders. She let out an exaggerated sigh. “Well, Benny and I were discussing about her the other day.”
Amelia raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean? What’s there for you two to discuss about your mom?”
Bailey fiddled with something in her hands. When she looked up at Amelia, Amelia could see the tears that threatened to escape.
“Bai, what’s going on?” Amelia asked. She attempted to stand up, but was unsuccessful. She plopped back down in the swing. She rocked back and forth a few times and attempted to stand again. This time she was successful and she pushed herself away from the swing with her arm. Her other arm swung in a circle to help her catch her balance. She walked over to Bailey and sat in the chair next to her. Her hips slid between the arm of the chair and Bailey. It was a tight fit, but she managed to squeeze into the seat.
She reached out and placed a hand on Bailey’s shoulder. “Bai, you can talk to me about it,” she assured Bailey.
Bailey leaned forward and covered her face with her hands. Amelia rubbed her back and waited patiently for Bailey to tell her what had happened. Within a few minutes, Bailey opened up and told Amelia her suspicions.
“We think she’s drinking again,” Bailey said as tears spilled down her cheeks and stained her shirt. “The way she has been acting has us worried.”
Amelia wrapped an arm around her best friend and comforted her the best way she could. She silently prayed Bailey’s mother, Linda, had not fallen off the wagon.
Chapter Five
“I want to go back to work,” Amelia told Zach after Bailey left.
Zach dropped his work clothes in the hamper by the wash machine and looked at Amelia. “What made you change your mind?”
“Nothing made me change my mind,” Amelia stated.
Zach made his way through the kitchen without a shirt on. Amelia watched his muscles flex when he opened the refrigerator. He poured milk into a glass and chugged it. He refilled the glass and shut the fridge door. He walked to the table and sat down. He eyed Amelia as she leaned against the counter. “Something made you change your mind,” he said. “You were fine with staying home when we discussed it the other night.”
Amelia shrugged. She wondered why it was a big deal to him if she worked or not. She knew money was not an issue with the inheritance from Anna, but she wanted her own money. “Isn’t it a good thing I want to work?”
Zach set his empty glass down on the table with a thud. “I love the fact that you want to work. There’s nothing wrong with you wanting to work.”
Amelia pulled a chair away from the table and sat down across from Zach. “I think I can handle a few hours a day at the store.”
Zach shrugged. Amelia could tell he detested the idea of her going back to work. She wondered if he would give it anymore thought.
She watched him walk into the kitchen. It was clear to her he was trying to avoid the discussion. “What’s the big deal, anyway?”
Zach stood in the kitchen and leaned against the counter. When he did not answer, Amelia stood from the table and walked into the kitchen. She crossed her arms the best she could in front of her and waited for him to answer her question. When he did not answer, she asked, “Do you really think it’s going to make a difference if I’m working or not?”
He ignored her question. She wondered why he had to make a big deal about her working and being pregnant. She understood he had a fear of her miscarrying, but she had the fear whether she worked or not. She had learned through the last few weeks to go with the flow. She knew she had no control over it. Dr. Bohage had told her that miscarriages were inevitable. He had told her miscarriages happen spontaneously and there was nothing that could be done. She figured she might as well work, because either way, if a miscarriage was bound to happen, it would happen no matter what she did.
Amelia leaned against the kitchen sink. “Zach, are you going to answer my question?”
He looked at her. Concern was etched in his face. Strict lines of worry were carved in his face. He shrugged a shoulder and pushed away from the counter. He opened the fridge and grabbed a pop from the shelf. He cracked it open and took a drink. “You know how I feel about it,” he finally answered. “We’ve talked about it. I thought we had both decided it was best for you to relax and stay home until after the baby is born.”
Amelia swallowed hard. She hated to disagree with him and cause an argument, which had happened a lot in the last few months. “Dr. Bohage told me it’s fine for me to work.”
Anger flashed across Zach’s face. His jaw clenched and his muscles tensed. After a few minutes, he said, “I don’t want you to work. You can stay home and take care of yourself and the baby. There’s no need for you to work.”
Amelia sighed. “Zach, I’m going to go crazy sitting in this house all the time. I don’t have anything to do when I sit here,” she said as she pointed to the living room. “And I’m sure this house can’t get any cleaner than it already is.”
Zach’s muscles relaxed and he walked to the living room. He found his spot on the end of the couch and grabbed the remote off the stand. He clicked the television on. Amelia sat down next to him and rested a hand on his leg.
He turned his head to look at her and said, “It’s not that I don’t want you to work.”
“Then what is it?” Amelia asked. “Because it seems like you’re trying to keep me from doing anything.”
Zach shook his head in disagreement. He clicked the television off and turned to face Amelia. He reached for her hands and held onto them. “Amelia, it’s not that I don’t want you to do anything. I love how ambitious you are.” He cleared his throat and continued, “I’m just afraid of losing this baby.”
Amelia leaned back into the couch. She looked into his eyes and said, “I’m afraid just as much as you are, if not more. But I refuse to sit around and stress out about it. If I’m going to miscarry, it’ll happen whether I’m here or at work or even at doctor appointments,” she said. She tossed her hands in the air. She watched his expression as everything she said sank in. “It doesn’t make a difference what I’m doing, Zach.”
She watched as he squeezed the bridge of his nose. Finally, he let out a long breath and slapped his knees. “Alright, then I guess you can do what you want.”
He stood up from the couch and grabbed his car keys. He walked to the front door and grabbed his shoes.
“Where are you going?” Amelia asked.
“I’m going for a drive. I need to clear my head,” he said as he turned and walked outside.
Amelia followed him out onto the porch. She sat in the swing as he stood at the edge of the steps. He looked straight forward while she gently swung.
“I’m sorry for making you upset,” she said.
He turned toward her and ran a hand through his hair. “I’m not upset.”
“Are you sure about that? You
seem pretty upset to me.”
“I’m frustrated. I’m not upset,” Zach assured her. “There’s a difference.”
Amelia shrugged. Either way, he was not happy – no matter what he said. Zach walked to the swing and sat down next to her. He grabbed her hand and interlocked his fingers with hers.
“I thought you were going for a drive,” Amelia stated.
Zach shook his head. “I don’t need to. I think it’s best if I stay here and we talk.”
Amelia moved the swing as she pushed with her legs. Zach leaned against her and kissed the side of her head. She turned her head and found his lips with hers. “I’m sorry.”
He pulled away and raised an eyebrow. “Why are you saying sorry?”
Amelia shrugged. Zach pulled her close to him as he wrapped one arm around her shoulders. “You don’t need to say sorry. There’s no reason for you to apologize,” he said and smiled. “I know you’re stubborn and you aren’t going to stay home, no matter what I say or do.”
Amelia nodded.
Zach leaned back against the swing and let out a long, exaggerated sigh. “Can you promise me something?”
Amelia turned her body to face him. “What do you want me to promise you?”
Zach leaned forward and squeezed her hand. “Promise me that you’ll quit if it gets to be too much. I want you to promise me that you won’t overdo it,” he stated. “We’re fine whether you’re working or not. I make enough to support us. And if Tony and Courtney can’t handle the deli, then I can always pick up some hours there too.”
Amelia smiled. She was happy he had finally agreed to allow her to venture out of the house. It was time for both of them to let go of their fears and face their future, no matter what the outcome would be.
* * *
Amelia pulled a pad of paper from under the pile of mail on the table. She clicked a pen and wrote Invitations for Baby Shower. She listed her family members first, with her mother and Bailey at the top of the list. She listed her aunts and cousins. A few of them she detested the idea of their presence. She reached across the table for her purple address book. She was sure her mother and Bailey had figured out where to send the invitations, but just in case they hadn’t, she would write the addresses down for them. She needed to do something to help.
The conversation with Zach from last night haunted her. She wanted to know why he had been so insistent on her not working. She understood he wanted her and the baby to be okay, but that gave him no right to determine whether she worked or not. She looked at the calendar on the wall. She had already been away from the deli for a couple weeks. She was positive she would go stir crazy by the time she had this baby if she did not go back to work.
She walked to the counter and picked up the phone. She needed to make sure the deli was fine without her there.
“Thank you for calling Anna’s Deli. How may I help you?” Courtney answered the phone.
Amelia smiled. Throughout the last few months, Courtney had grown on her. They had gotten along since their last argument. Amelia believed her and Courtney could be considered good friends, not just co-workers.
“Courtney, it’s Amelia,” Amelia said into the mouth piece of the phone.
“Hey, Amelia,” Courtney said. “How’re you feeling?”
“Pretty good, actually,” Amelia replied. “I was thinking about coming back to work.”
Courtney chuckled. “Oh, Amelia, why are you such a workaholic? Don’t you know how to take time off?”
“Actually, I have taken time off and I don’t like it.”
Courtney laughed and said, “I think you should take advantage of the time off and rest before that baby is born. You won’t get much rest once she’s here.”
“I’m tired of resting. I’m going crazy just sitting here,” Amelia stated. “If I don’t do something, I’m going to go insane.”
“What does Zach say about you coming back to work?” Courtney asked.
“He doesn’t like the idea, but he told me last night I can do whatever I want.” Amelia thought of their conversation and the disappointment she had seen on Zach’s face when she had disagreed with him. She had realized last night how much she drove Zach crazy, and not just the good kind of crazy either.
“If I had a man who let me stay home while I was pregnant…”
“You’d go crazy too,” Amelia said. “Trust me.”
Courtney laughed. “Well, maybe so. When are you coming back?”
Amelia glanced at the calendar. “Maybe as soon as tomorrow?”
Courtney hesitated. “Amelia, we’re fine here. Everything is running smooth. Tony and I can handle it.”
“That’s beside the point,” Amelia stated firmly. She was irritated with everyone who tried to baby her. She was pregnant. She was perfectly able to perform duties at work and around the house. Although, she loved the extra help Zach had given with the housework lately.
“I think being a stay at home mom would be fun,” Courtney said. “I’d do it if I was given the choice. It sounds like Zach is giving you the opportunity.”
Amelia grumbled, “Don’t make it sound so easy.”
Courtney chuckled. “I’ll see you when you get here. I know you won’t be able to resist this place,” Courtney stated. “Make sure you get extra baby furniture for home and work.”
Amelia shook her head. She could not believe Courtney believed she would bring her baby to work with her. “There’s no reason for me to do that. There are people who can babysit. That’s what babysitters are for.”
“Good luck with that.”
Amelia jotted a note on a piece of paper. Find a babysitter. She tapped the pen on the pad of paper a few times. She wondered how hard it would be to find the perfect sitter.
“Are you there?” Courtney asked.
“Yes, I’m here,” Amelia replied. “I’m just thinking.”
“Okay, well, I have customers,” Courtney said. “So I’ll see you when you get here.”
“Okay, I’ll see you if I decide to come in.”
Amelia hung up the phone and glanced at the clock. She had a few hours until Zach came home for lunch. She would prepare his lunch after a while. She sat down at the table and continued her list of people to invite. She added Courtney Drake to the list.
The knock at the door startled her, and caused her to smear the ink on the paper. “Dang it,” she said as she stood up. She wobbled to the door. She rubbed a hand over her belly when she felt the baby move.
She approached the door and peeked out the window. She could not see a car in the driveway or in the street by the curb. She wondered who could be at the door. She wanted to walk to the kitchen and call Zach, but dismissed the thought as she shook off her paranoia.
She unlocked the door and cracked it open. A tall man faced toward the street at the edge of the front steps. The man stood uninterrupted by her as she peeked through the crack in the door. From the side, she could see a mustache and beard. His skin was dark tan. His hair matched the color of Zach’s. His clothes were ragged and holey, even though he appeared to be clean.
She tried hard to settle her nerves. She had the thought of closing the door and calling Zach. She wished he was home now. She was unsure of the vibe the man had given her, but she would have felt safer with Zach at home. She silently closed the door and leaned against it. She calmed her breathing and focused her attention on her nerves.
The door rattled behind her with a knock. She took a few deep breaths and opened the door. She had no doubt she looked distraught with sweat beaded against her forehead. She faked a smile and said, “Can I help you?”
The man stepped back and returned a smile. “Is Zach home?”
Amelia wondered if she should tell this man Zach was not home. She ignored the man’s question and said, “Do you need something?”
The man must have sensed her nervousness. He took two steps back and smiled. “I’m his father.”
Amelia’s eyes widened. She recognized the man who
stood before her. He had been the man she had seen at Anna’s funeral. She had described this man to Zach and Zach had confirmed it might have been his father. Zach had been correct. His father now stood on their front porch.
“My name is Amelia,” Amelia said. “What’s your name?”
“My name?” the man asked as he pointed a finger into his chest. “Zach hasn’t told you my name?”
Amelia shook her head. Zach had not told her much about his parents, except the fact they abandoned him for drugs and other bad habits.
“I’m Isaac Gallagher.” He held out his hand to her and offered to shake her hand.
She nodded and extended her hand. He gently took her hand in his and squeezed it while he shook it. She wondered how a man with his past could be so polite. She knew better than to judge a person by their past, but this one time she could not help but wonder.
“It’s nice to meet you, Amelia,” Isaac said as he stepped back away from her. He watched her as he leaned on the railing of the porch.
Amelia nodded. She was at a loss for words. She really wished Zach could be here. She was unsure if she should invite this man into her home or tell him where to find Zach. She was unsure how much this man knew.
“I can come back another time,” Isaac said. “I don’t want to impose on you.”
Amelia stood still by the door. She wondered why it was her who had to go through these awkward situations all the time. She pulled open the door and said, “Let me give Zach a call. He’ll be home in a minute once I call him.”
As if on cue, the man sat still and did not move. Amelia watched him from the corner of her eye as she walked inside. She hoped he would stay outside. She felt rude, but she did not want to take chances. She shut the door and turned the lock on the handle. She drew in a deep breath through her nose and blew it out slowly from her mouth. She pushed away from the door and waddled to the phone. She picked up the phone and dialed the number to the furniture store.
“Gallagher’s Furniture, this is Zach.”
She was relieved to hear Zach’s voice. “Zach, I need you to come home, now.”
Fair Chances (Fairshore Series Book 3) Page 3