Not one to mince words, Hannah said, “Oh, honey you are a hot mess.”
What little bravado Becca had going for her left and she wilted. “It’s that obvious?”
“Right about now a raccoon could take some tips on how to have the perfect circles around its eyes.”
Becca stepped back to look in the mirror. Hannah was right. There was not enough makeup in the world to cover up her lack of sleep and the general feeling of malaise. Since it was just the two of them in the bathroom, Becca felt comfortable telling Hannah the truth. “Marriage is not all hearts and flowers.”
“From what I’ve heard it can be a test,” Hannah agreed. “Not that I’d know. My husband passed away after we were married for six months.”
Hannah worked in the same building as Becca for years. She’d seen Hannah’s son, a tall and handsome guy, pop in for a visit over the years. If he was fifteen years older, Becca might have made an effort to get to know him more.
“Why didn’t you remarry?” Becca wondered.
“I wanted a husband, so we could have been more of a family. But I was so busy with Marcus and my family that there never was time. The next thing I knew he was grown and I had gotten used to having the bed and bathroom to myself.”
Hannah’s story brought a glimmer of what the future may hold for Becca. While it may not be the best of circumstances, she found herself able to follow suit. Her parents would be glad to have another grandchild. And there would be cousin gatherings over the summers and holidays. She may have to raise her child without a husband, but she wouldn’t be alone.
“It may not help solve your problems, but I do have chocolate covered pretzels on my desk. I’d be more than glad to share, and it’ll help get you through the last hour of the day.
Becca hadn’t been hungry all day. Maybe it was the kind words; maybe it was the idea of sweet combined with the salty flavors. Regardless, chocolate covered pretzels became the equivalent of gastronomical gold to Becca’s taste buds. “I would forever be in your favor.”
They hadn’t got too far from the bathroom when Hannah stopped. “I forgot that I actually went in there for a reason.” She rolled her eyes and said, “I’ll be right back.”
“I can always stop by your desk later,” Becca offered.
“Or, you can meet me at my desk. Katie knows where my secret stash is.” Hannah hurried to the bathroom and went through the door with one last glance.
Becca considered her options. She could go back to her desk and fight sleep over a stack of property tax files, or she could wander to the Cooperative Extension Office and find out what events were forthcoming in the community. Donovan was out at meetings, so there was no risk of bumping into him at the office. She was going to need things to occupy her time, and there was no better time than the present to get started.
I Never Said...
Keane’s eyes scanned behind Donovan to find Becca. When his search proved fruitless, he asked, “Where is the Mrs.?”
“Turns out that you were right.” Donovan took an empty seat at the bar.
“Right about what?” Kent was standing at the bar behind Abigail who sat on the stool. Donovan was so caught up in his thoughts he hadn’t noticed her.
Motioning toward the tables of the restaurant, Abigail added. “For the record, we’re actually going to eat tonight.”
“She’s pregnant! I called it,” Keane crowed. “Drinks on me.”
The curse where his life took a left turn when he wanted to take a right taunted Donovan. “I meant Kent was right. But we can talk about it another time.”
Kent held up his beer to make a toast. “Congratulations. It couldn’t have happened to two more deserving people.”
The bile rose in Donovan’s throat. “No, I meant about her seeing someone else.” He almost choked on his words. He expected Abigail to offer some sort of apologetic expression. One that said, “I just found out myself, but hadn’t had the chance to tell you.”
Again, he got the left turn when things were supposed to go right. Abigail’s widened eyes confronted Kent. She gasped, “You accused Becca of cheating?”
He held his hands up in surrender. “I never said she cheated,” Kent went on the defensive.
Then she directed her attention to Donovan, “Is that why she hasn’t returned my calls?”
There was no way he was getting out of this. Kent was his wingman. “You did.” Donovan made a rolling motion with his fingers. “Remember there was something keeping her from being fully invested in the relationship.”
At some point, Kent was supposed to say, “Oh, that. Yes.” Instead, his expression began to mirror Abigail’s. “I said she wasn’t fully invested in the relationship. I didn’t say she was seeing someone else.” He turned and began pleading his case to Abigail. “They’ve been married five months, and she hadn’t moved her things into the house.”
Donovan should have seen this one coming. As soon as the pressure began to pinch people, their true nature came out. Impressing Abigail was more important than his friendship with Donovan. Donovan was about to call him on it when Abigail interrupted.
“She left her furniture in the house because she turned it into a seasonal rental. People pay good money to rent houses for a vacation. Some of us want a little more than a tent or a cot for a trip.”
Kent held out his hands to point at Donovan. “He never said any of that. He just said they didn’t argue about moving in together because they didn’t have to make room for her things.”
Keane interrupted the conversation. “Is anyone going to say anything about me being right?” Silent stares from the triangle of controversy silenced him.
Kent, Abigail, and Donovan waited for him to catch up to the argument.
Keane grumbled, “That’s what I figured,” and turned to go help other patrons.
Free to continue their conversation, Abigail leaned in toward Donovan. “Where is she now?”
“Her house. I guess.”
“I guess?”
“She won’t answer my calls either.” He tried calling her after she left to make sure she made it to the house safely. After what he said, he wouldn't answer his calls either. When she didn't reply, he left a text. He figured if something really was wrong, she knew how to get a hold of him.
After the initial shock of their argument wore away, he still didn't want to talk to her, but he needed to know that she was okay, so he called her office. The receptionist said that she was in the bathroom and Donovan told her not to bother with taking a message. He'd call back later.
Abigail huffed. “I’m going to go check on her.”
Kent threw Donovan a dirty look that said thank you for ruining my Friday night. He asked Abigail, “Do you want me to come with you?”
She got out of the seat and put her hand in the crook of her back. “No, I’ll call you later."
Donovan didn’t care what Abigail thought of him. If the look of disgust she threw in his direction was any indication, it wasn't good. As he watched her walk out the door, Donovan sensed that his three lefts were going to make a right. With Abigail gone, he could tell his side of the story. Becca may have been a cheater, but she wasn’t a liar. She’d tell Abigail the truth and thanks to the prenup; they’d quickly wade through the mess she’d created. She had said as much before she left.
He whispered, “There is no way I am the father of the baby. I had a vasectomy over five years ago.”
“So you kicked her out?” Kent asked. “No checking to see if perhaps the internal plumber reconnected some pipes?”
“For the record, I did not kick her out. She left. And, what do you mean?”
“You know about Bernard’s heart right?”
When was Kent going to get a clue and follow the script? Donovan was familiar with creating an agenda and people gladly following it. These diversions, especially when it pertained to his life bothered him. “What does Bernard’s heart have to do with my wife getting pregnant by another man?”
/> “Fifteen years ago.” Kent paused and looked toward the ceiling. “At least I think it was fifteen years ago. Bernard went in to have his heart checked. His brother had just died of a heart attack and our friend wanted to do some preventative maintenance. To get to the end of the story and make my point, he did have a clogged artery. Except it didn’t kill him like it did to his brother. His body had made a vein that bypassed the clog. The internal plumber added a pipe to keep things in working order. It happens.”
“But this isn’t my heart,” Donovan argued.
“It’s something bigger,” Kent answered, “It’s your chance to leave an enduring legacy.”
The words hit him Donovan like a punch in the gut. Without meaning to. Or maybe he had, Kent had confirmed Donovan’s worst fear. He accused Becca, but it was him who may have ruined the one thing he had wanted for his entire adult life.
All Four Food Groups
Granted it had only been sixty-three hours and twelve minutes, not that she was counting, and Becca’s plan to survive without Donovan had proved to be unsuccessful thus far. It was harder than she thought it would be. Usually, when she needed to talk through a serious problem, Donovan was the first person she called. Obviously, that was removed from her list of solutions. She was too embarrassed to call her family, so she struggled through the motions of life while trying to figure out what she was going to do next.
Abigail stopped by the house on Friday night and kept Becca company for a while. She also convinced Becca, who thought that maybe she should move to another country, to wait out Donovan. “He’ll come to his senses. I know it,” Abigail encouraged. “Besides, I want to share food cravings with you. It will be the closest I ever get to experiencing pregnancy.”
The next morning Hannah was at her front door with homemade bread and tea. “Abigail told me what happened. I’m not skilled enough to knock some sense into Donovan, but I can help with morning sickness.” Hannah pretty much said the same thing as Abigail. Give Donovan time. If he didn’t pull it together, she’d have a community of people to support her through the pregnancy.
In a moment of desperation, Abigail considered calling Donovan’s grandmother and telling on him. The moment passed as quickly as it struck, and she found herself reading on Google what she already knew. Men who professed their distaste for fatherhood did not magically change their perspective. In other words, she gained a child but may have lost a husband and a best friend in the process.
There were no ifs, and, or buts about it. Life was about to get rough. And, life set out to remind her, beginning with Jadine Renton, the town crank. A month ago, she proclaimed Becca a disappointment to independent women.
Becca ducked to hide in the cracker aisle. She thought she avoided the confrontation with Jadine when she passed the aisle without saying a word. Engrossed in trying to choose between the rosemary and garlic crackers or cheddar Chex Mix, Becca never saw Jadine coming. As far as Becca’s mind was concerned, the woman materialized out of thin air.
When Jadine said, “Have I ever told you how much I appreciate that man you were smart enough to marry?” Becca questioned her reality. She blinked twice to make sure it was Jadine and not an alien that had taken over her body speaking. “Dononvan? Donovan Garrison? The one you said I shouldn’t have married.”
Jadine shooed away Becca’s restatement. “I was just hungry at the time. You can’t blame a woman for what she says when she needs to eat. Besides, last night I was talking to his grandmother. She says he's a different man since you two married.”
Twice, in the time span of two minutes, Jadine stunned Becca to near silence. First for recanting a criticism and the second for half apologizing for something she said. According to Jadine, she never was wrong.
Becca decided on the rosemary garlic crackers. As soon as she finished the conversation with Jadine, she’d go get some provolone cheese and salami to complete the meal. Ever since she’d been pregnant, chips didn’t agree with her stomach, but she still craved salty snacks.
She shouldn’t have taken Jadine’s bait. But she took it: hook, line, and sinker. Instead of saying okay, and agreeing with Jadine, Becca threw Jadine the side eye. “What is going on?”
“I’m sure you know being single can be hard in a small town. While you young couples, and old couples, for that matter, get together, I’m sitting at home watching television, or hating you all for finding the happiness that always seemed to run away from me.” The growl from Becca's stomach had little influence over Jadine. She continued with what Becca expected to be a long drawn out explanation. “Anyway, did you know there are classes, so people like me can meet up with other women, married or single, and pass the time talking about cooking or crafts or whatnot?”
Seeing where the conversation was headed, Becca smiled in appreciation. Somehow, Jadine figured out that Donovan was in charge of coordinating activities for the community. Most of the time he worked on collaborations between organizations and the local businesses and farmers. However, he always put aside time for people to find the hidden treasures in their own community.
She expected the explanation to end there and motioned to leave aisle.
Jadine rushed to keep a hold of Becca's attention. “Did you know there is a chef from Austria that has a class tonight? He makes the fancy food for all of us to eat. To make us feel like we accomplished something, he lets us help with the dessert.” Jadine grinned. “If you want to know my opinion, the man’s not too hard to look at either.”
Becca wasn’t all that excited about the man’s attractiveness. Getting out of the house with a group of people to help her forget that she missed the man who according to the rules of a breakup was going to serve her divorce papers at any time—that was what made the class appealing.
“I’d love to see you in the class,” Jadine suggested. “I’m finding myself wanting to connect more in a positive way with people. You should join us.”
It was the first time in four days Becca’s stomach hadn’t fought her. That had to be a sign that perhaps Jadine’s suggestion was the beginning of her starting life anew in some state of peacefulness. “I’ll think about it,” Becca answered.
“Good, I’ll tell the chef you are coming.” Jadine headed down the aisle for whatever it was she sought after. Her voice drifted as she walked away and continued the one-sided conversation.
The class seemed like a good idea. The immediate plan of adding pickles to the salami, cheese, and crackers lunch seemed like an even better one. Grasping at anything to keep her from falling into a state of depression, Becca found food to be the most effective at taking her mind off Donovan. The distraction of having something to do freed her mind to consider other things—like whether or not the addition of raw carrots and ranch made it a meal that covered all the food groups.
Listen to Love
Donovan heard through the grapevine that things had gone from bad to worse for Becca. She hadn’t said anything about their fight, but couldn’t hide that the stress of the situation was getting the best of her. Katie from the office stopped to talk to Donovan in the coffee shop on Saturday morning. “You need to remind your wife that she has sick days.”
“She’s in one of those moods where she is not listening to me right now,” he confessed.
In the days before they dated, both of them expected arguments. Couples do. What never crossed his mind was the possibility of him taking his worst side and giving it all to Becca in one fell swoop. As he explained what happened to his grandmother, Donovan said, “I wouldn’t be talking to me either.”
He drove by Becca’s house a couple times and saw the dim light from her bedroom, but never stopped in. After the third pass by, Jadine Renton waved him down. From there she told him the truth as she saw it. He was acting like a teenager and needed to man up and go apologize to his wife. She was right.
Jadine figured out there was more to the problem when Donovan knocked, and Becca didn’t open the door.
“Married people
don’t have to knock to enter their own houses.” She had been watching from the front gate.
“I lost my key,” Donovan told her a bold-faced lie.
“Or you didn’t know she left a half hour ago with Abigail Cahill to go to Great Falls.”
“You could have said something before you watched me make a fool of myself,” Donovan griped.
“And miss out on the opportunity to find out what the Sam Hill is happening,” Jadine crowed.
Donovan may have growled. His mood darkened. He wanted his wife at home with him where she belonged. She had responded to his text with a polite, “Thank you for checking on me.” However, he knew that the longer they were apart, the more time she had to build an argument towards regretting she married him.
Jadine’s smile faded into a look of authentic concern. The transformation happened so quickly Donovan felt a little guilty. “It’s nothing that won’t solve itself.”
“Or, it’s something I can help you with.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re never going to find your wife without some help. She’s had an army of women coming in and out of here. Fort Knox needs the support that wife of yours has had this past couple of days.”
He never thought it possible, but he was living it, so it had to be true. The same Jadine Renton who had antagonized Donovan for his entire life became an ally.
NOTHING ANYBODY TOLD him prepared him for what he saw when he walked into the community cooking class and saw his wife looking worse than the time she caught the flu and stayed in bed for a week before letting anyone know she was sick. It had only been three days since he’d seen her, and she looked like she easily lost five pounds. Despite her eyes widening in what he at first thought was surprise when she saw him, he saw the haggardness in her face. Fatigue gave way to fear, and she beelined for the bathroom.
Get Well Soon Page 8