Insight

by Deborah Raney

  At the stoplight, he took time to put in his eyedrops. He’d gotten lax about using them as often as he was supposed to. Today, the sun reminded him. Even with his darkest sunglasses, the bright June sunlight stung his eyes. The light changed and he hurriedly put the lid on the bottle of eyedrops. He squinted against the glare, wiping away the moisture from the corner of his eyes with one finger. Maybe he should ask Olivia to drive today. His vision was probably better than half the people on the road. Scary thought. Still, he didn’t want to take any chances. But just thinking about explaining such a request to Olivia stung his pride.

  He’d been looking forward to this day all week, but now that it was here, his palms were damp and he fought back a tangle of nerves. It was two hours to St. Louis, and then they had to come back, too. That was a lot of time to fill with a woman who didn’t say a whole lot. It wasn’t like in the studio when they could pretend to be absorbed in their work. He’d never worried about what to talk about for a minute with Kristina. She’d always managed to fill every waking second with conversation—even if she was talking to herself half the time.

  He turned onto Glenwillow Road and craned his neck to read the house numbers. There it was. On the right. He brought the Escape to a slow stop as he took in the place. Nice house. The yard was a little overgrown and the planters on the porch were empty, but he could see the potential. Maybe he should offer to mow the lawn for her. With his new riding mower, it wouldn’t take him more than half an hour. But he didn’t want to insult her.

  He pulled into the narrow drive and put the car in park. He had the door open and one foot on the driveway when she appeared at the back door. Instead of her usual jeans and baggy shirt, she was wearing black slacks and a dressy silky-looking blouse. She looked great.

  He shut his door and leaned over to open hers. “Good morning.”

  “You found me.”

  He nodded. “Kind of hard not to find someone in the Falls.”

  She smiled and climbed in. He watched her as she buckled her seatbelt. She was wearing pale pink lip gloss and her cheeks had a rosy glow.

  He backed the car out of the drive and headed out of town. Okay, he was seriously going to have to keep his eyes on the road. The last thing he needed was the distraction of a beautiful woman sitting the perfect distance from him for his vision to be its sharpest. Funny… though he’d thought Olivia attractive before, he never would have described her as beautiful. But there was just no other word for her today. The idea of letting her drive was looking better all the time. More time to take in the view.

  “Or do you know yet?” Her mellow voice jolted him.

  He rubbed the place between his eyebrows. “I’m sorry. What’d you say?”

  She gave him a funny look and for a minute he was afraid he’d been thinking out loud.

  “I just wondered if you knew what time we’d get back.”

  “Oh. I’m sorry… I zoned out there for a minute.” He looked at his watch. “Unless we have to wait on Gavin, I don’t expect to be at the gallery for more than an hour. But I thought we’d catch lunch before we start back. There’s a great Mexican restaurant I try to eat at every chance I get.”

  Olivia didn’t say anything.

  “If that’s okay… But if you need to get back sooner, we don’t have to do lunch.”

  “No. That’s okay.”

  Oh, great. She was going to be as talkative today as she was lately in the studio. He reached for the radio. “What kind of music do you like?”

  She seemed surprised that he’d asked. “I usually listen to classical at home, but I like just about anything. Except country.”

  He grinned.

  “Don’t tell me. You like country?”

  His grin widened. “Well, four of the six dials are set pretty far west, and the other two are talk radio, but hey, I’m flexible. Why don’t you find a station you like.”

  “No, that’s okay. I can handle whatever.”

  He dropped his hand. “How about we don’t listen to the radio right now.”

  “No, seriously, country is fine. Maybe I’ll develop a taste for it.”

  “It is an acquired taste, they say. I wouldn’t know, since I grew up on it.”

  “Really?”

  “My dad played in a band.”

  “A country band?”

  He nodded, letting a slow grin spread across his face.

  She cringed. “Oops. Sorry if I insulted the family business.”

  He laughed at the hangdog expression on her face.

  “It’s okay. My mom wasn’t a big fan either.”

  “Really? Even though that’s what your dad played?”

  “I suppose she liked it at some point, but Dad was on the road a lot…traveling with the band. I think that soured her a little. She and my sister and I spent a lot of time with my grandparents while he was on the road.”

  “Oh. That would be tough.”

  “I don’t think I realized until after Dad died what a bone of contention it was between them.”

  Olivia fell silent, and he started to regret that he’d brought up the subject. For once he wouldn’t have minded the distraction of trucks and semitrailers on this stretch of I-44. But traffic was light and he drove on.

  “Reed…I think…”

  He turned to see Olivia grasping the door handle. Her face had a greenish cast to it, and a glint of panic lit her eyes.

  He tapped the breaks. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

  She shook her head and gripped the door handle tighter. “Please…stop the car.”

  Reed rode the brakes until he came to a place where the shoulder was wide enough to pull over. The Escape had barely come to a full stop when she yanked at the handle and threw open the door.

  He sat in a half-stupor behind the wheel, listening to her retch in the ditch, out of his view. He opened his door and started to get out, then thought better of it. There wasn’t much he could do for her. Probably best to leave her in peace.

  He looked at the clock on the dash. Why didn’t she tell him she was sick? Now he’d have to take her all the way back to the Falls. They’d come a good forty miles and he had appointments he couldn’t break.

  He was just about to jump down from the vehicle and go see if she needed help, when she climbed back into the passenger seat, looking embarrassed, but far less green.

  “Are you okay? Do I need to take you home?”

  “I’m fine now.” She pulled her door shut, buckled her seat belt and stared straight ahead.

  “You sure? You didn’t sound fine a minute ago.”

  “I’m fine.”

  Traffic whizzed by them. He waited for an opening and eased back onto the highway. After setting the cruise control, he pulled the last few tissues from the box on the console and handed them to her. “Here.”

  “Thanks.” She took them, not meeting his eyes, and dabbed at the corners of her mouth.

  “I can take you home if you want.” He hoped she didn’t detect the insincerity of his offer.

  “No, Reed. I’m fine. This is…” She eyed him, as though weighing whether she could trust him. “This is a morning thing. I’ll be fine now.”

  “A morning thing? I don’t get it…”

  “Morning sickness. It passes. I’ll be fine…until tomorrow morning.”

  “Huh?”

  She sighed and closed her eyes briefly as if she were gathering strength. “Do I have to draw you a picture, Reed? I have morning sickness.”

  The light finally went on. He tried to keep his jaw from sagging, but he could see from her expression that he wasn’t succeeding.

  “You’re…?” He stared pointedly at her belly, which denied what she seemed to be trying to tell him.

  “Yes. I’m pregnant. With my husband’s baby.”

  He dog-paddled through the confusion of her words. “I didn’t… I didn’t think it was anyone else. I mean, I didn’t even know you were… I had no idea.”

  She gave an odd sm
ile. “I just found out myself. I’m sorry.”

  He stared at her. “What are you apologizing for? This is…it’s a good thing, isn’t it? I’d think you’d be…” He let his voice trail off because he truly had no clue how this news would make her feel. But it was her husband’s baby. Surely it was a gift to be left with a part of the man she’d loved. A way for her husband to live on, in a sense.

  He looked over to find her glaring at him.

  “Why does everyone think this is such wonderful news? How am I supposed to take care of a baby? I can’t even pay my mortgage!” Her voice cracked and she put a fist to her mouth.

  “I’m sorry. I just…I didn’t know.” He was starting to sound like a broken record. God, give me the right words.

  Boy had this trip turned out differently than he’d planned. He’d set out intending to woo the lovely Olivia Cline, and suddenly he was counseling a nauseated pregnant woman who wasn’t even sure she wanted to be pregnant. He wished his sister were here. Alissa would know exactly what to say.

  He took a deep breath and shot up another prayer. “Olivia, I don’t know what your circumstances are, but I do know that God wouldn’t have put you in this kind of a situation without already knowing exactly how it was going to work out. I guarantee He has it all figured out, even if we don’t.”

  “We?”

  “Well… I just mean… I’ll help you however I can. You’ve got a job with me for as long as you need it. I can even give you a small raise if that’ll help.” Lord, I’m really going out on a limb here. He needed good news at the galleries today or he might not be able to keep Olivia on, let alone give her the raise he’d just promised.

  “Reed… You don’t have to do that. I would understand completely if you need to let me go after…”

  “No. Of course not. There’s no reason you couldn’t bring the baby to work.”

  “Have you ever been around a baby?”

  “Sure. My niece and nephew.” He shrugged. “All they did was eat and sleep.”

  “For the first few months, maybe. But babies turn into toddlers. If you think I was bad spilling your coffee, you don’t have an inkling of what a crawler could do to your studio.”

  He hadn’t thought of that. Ali and Mason weren’t allowed in his studio even now that they were in school. “We can worry about that when the time comes,” he said lamely.

  Olivia put her head against the window, kneading the space between her eyebrows with two fingers.

  He slowed the car. “Are you sick again?”

  She didn’t look at him. “I’m fine. I really don’t want to talk about it anymore.” She sounded near tears.

  “Okay.” He reached between the seats for the jacket he kept there. Wadding it into a messy lump, he handed it to her. “Here. Use this for a pillow.”

  She smiled wanly and took it from him. “Thanks.”

  He flipped the radio on and tuned to a station that played classical music. It wasn’t exactly his style, but he had to do something to fill the silence.

  She looked over her shoulder and smiled again. “That’s nice. Thanks.”

  “No problem.” No problem? He smirked to himself at the irony of his words. Olivia was pregnant. He’d meant everything he said to her. God probably did know how this was all going to work out, but it had sure put him in an awkward tailspin.

  Chapter 17

  Olivia washed her face at the tiny sink in the stylishly appointed restroom and dried her hands on a towel from the basket beside the sink. She leaned into the mirror and studied her face. She was feeling much better after her little nap in Reed’s car, but her pale complexion didn’t reflect that fact.

  She rummaged in her purse for some blush, but had to settle for a daub of lipstick smudged into her cheeks. She checked the mirror again. A little better.

  Smoothing her blouse, she took a deep breath and then opened the door. Reed was bent over, inspecting a marble carving—a Pegasus-like creature—perched on a pedestal in the lobby.

  She walked up beside him. “Very nice. Do you know the artist?”

  He shook his head. “I’ve always wanted to try carving. Marble would be a challenge though. Maybe I could work in sandstone…” He ran his hands over the smooth surface of the sculpture. A faraway look came to his eyes, and she wondered if he’d forgotten she was even in the room with him.

  “Reed?” A voice from behind startled them both.

  Reed straightened and turned to greet the graying, ponytailed man coming toward them with hand extended.

  Reed reached to shake his hand. “Hey, Gavin. How’s it going?”

  “Going good, bro. I hope you brought me some work.”

  “I did.”

  “Good because as soon as I hang it, it’s sold.”

  “Really? Well that’s good news.” Reed turned and put a hand on Olivia’s arm, drawing her into their conversation. “Gavin Chambers, I’d like you to meet my assistant, Olivia Cline.”

  “Well, now I didn’t know you’d gone and got yourself a partner.”

  Olivia shuffled her feet and cleared her throat. “Oh, no… I’m just Reed’s assistant.”

  Gavin winked at her. “Well, you must be the best assistant he’s ever had because this guy’s work is flying out of here.”

  She grinned. “I’m pretty sure I’m the only assistant he’s ever had.”

  “Well, then you are the best, aren’t you?”

  Reed laughed politely and changed the subject. “Gavin started The Chambers— What is it…six years ago now?”

  “Eight. You were just a pup back then.”

  “I’m still just a pup compared to you.”

  Olivia enjoyed the men’s banter. It struck her that she’d never seen Reed interact with others. Every minute they’d spent together had been in the studio, just the two of them. She saw a side of him now that surprised her. She’d never pictured him as outgoing and fun-loving. But he was holding his own with the gregarious gallery owner.

  Gavin gave them a quick tour of the gallery, pointing out new pieces to Reed, and cuing him in on what was selling in the St. Louis market. “Your nautical stuff is good. I’d like to see more of that. Maybe some smaller pieces…things we could price a little lower, yet still let people own an original van Gogh…er I mean an original Vincent.” Gavin laughed at his own joke.

  Olivia could tell Reed was embarrassed by the comparison, but he humored the older man, laughing softly. “We’d better get down to brass tacks,” he said finally. “I promised Olivia I’d have her home in time for a nap.”

  She didn’t exactly appreciate his condescending comment, but she merely smiled and followed the men into what appeared to be Gavin’s office. The smallish room held a desk with a couple of chairs positioned in front of it. But the chairs were stacked high with framed art and boxes bearing Fed-Ex labels. Gavin cleared off one of the chairs for her, stacking the artwork carefully against one wall, but Reed waved off his offer of a chair and leaned against the doorjamb.

  Gavin perched on a corner of his desk, crossing an ankle over his knee. “So what can you bring me and how soon can you get it here?”

  “Well, I’ve got a couple larger pieces—seventeen by twenty-four—that I can deliver as soon as Olivia gets them framed.” He turned to her. “Would you mind driving down with them some day next week?”

  “Sure. That’d be fine.”

  “But it’ll be a while before I can get some smaller ones to you.”

  “I’ll wait, but not very patiently. You’re in demand.”

  Reed’s raised eyebrows told Olivia he was pleasantly surprised by this news. A full-time artist, no matter how talented, didn’t live in a house like Reed’s with that fabulous studio unless he was either selling well, or had inherited a fortune. From what he’d said about his parents, she’d assumed the former. But maybe business hadn’t been so good recently. Maybe that eye surgery he’d mentioned had put him behind schedule.

  But if things were tight, he’d have been lo
oking for an excuse to lay her off, not offer her a raise. She wasn’t sure what to think about that. It had touched her, his offer. But even if he doubled her wage, she couldn’t raise a child on that kind of income. Lord, what am I going to do?

  “How’s your stomach?” Reed gave her a sidewise glance from behind the steering wheel.

  “I’m fine.” She really didn’t want to talk about it anymore.

  With every mile, she was regretting that she’d revealed her pregnancy. She’d thought he would probably regret that he hired her, and instead he was going all mushy on her. It was sweet of him, really it was. But she didn’t need someone fawning over her. Her emotions were too tentative for that. She was afraid she might dissolve into tears if he showed one more speck of concern.

  “Would you want to stop and get some lunch?”

  She glanced at the clock on the Escape’s dashboard. It was almost one-thirty. The poor man was probably starving. “I didn’t realize it was so late. Sure. We can stop whenever you want to.”

  “Would you rather just hit a drive-thru?”

  “If you don’t mind.” She didn’t feel like going in anyplace, and somehow it seemed easier to avoid making conversation in the car. She hated that she’d made herself so vulnerable. All she wanted to do now was get back home.

  He took the next exit and drove slowly past a frontage road with a smorgasbord of fast food places. “What do you think? Sandwiches, a burger…?”

  “I really don’t care, Reed. You choose. The only thing that doesn’t sound good is Mexican food.”

  Reed turned into a sandwich shop’s drive-thru lane. “This okay?”

  She nodded.

  He got in line behind two other cars. “See anything on the menu you like?”

  “I’ll just have a turkey sub, please.”

  Back on the road, she opened the bag and arranged their drinks on the console. She laid a napkin on Reed’s knee under the steering wheel, unwrapped his sandwich and handed it to him.