Page 93 of Sloane

“You are? How long?”

“About a year.”

He narrowed his eyes as he studied me but didn’t ask anything more. I had the distinct feeling I knew exactly what he suspected, and if I was right, his suspicion would be confirmed soon enough.

~~~~

Tammy and I were having lunch in Seaport Village on the first Saturday in March, when she said, “Okay, I get why you don’t want to go to the beer festival this year, but we’re still going to the flower fields in Carlsbad, right?”

“Of course. Just say when.”

“How about two weeks from today?”

“It’s a date. I’ll get us tickets. I’m sorry I’m not going to the beer festival with you.”

“That’s okay,” she said as she tried to fight back a smile. “I found someone to go with.”

I felt my eyebrows go up.

“Oh yeah? Anyone I know?”

“As a matter of fact, yes. Josh.”

“Josh?” My pregnancy brain struggled to figure out who she was talking about. “Josh who?”

“Josh Kennedy.”

“Josh Kennedy?” I boomed.

She looked around like she was determining how many people heard me, then said in a hushed tone, “Yes, Josh Kennedy.”

I followed her lead and lowered my voice as I leaned closer to the table and hissed, “When did this happen? And why am I just hearing about it now?”

“Because there hasn’t been anything to tell. We’ve just run into each other a few times, and thought we’d go to the beer festival together.”

“Well, I didn’t see this coming, but I’m happy for you. He seems like a good guy.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself. We’re just going to the beer festival together.”

“I thought you hated him?”

“I do.” Then she corrected herself, “I mean, I did, the jury’s still out if that’s changed or not.” She ran a fry through a dollop of ketchup when she said, “Speaking of people we hate… have you decided if you’re going to tell Sloane about Peanut?”

“I haven’t. But even if I did, he’d probably just return my letter anyway.”

Yeah, I was still a little bitter about that, even though I’d been trying hard to move on. I had Peanut to worry about now.

“Well, you could call him. He’s being transferred to the Army’s Burn Center in San Antonio.”

“I’m assuming Josh told you that?”

She shrugged. “He mentioned it.”

“You didn’t tell him I’m pregnant, did you?”

Tammy leaned back in her chair and glared at me.

“No, I didn’t. And I’m offended that you’d even think I’d betray you like that.”

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