Page 63 of Always Be Mine

Pregnancy.

She’d managed to forget that Ross’swifewas pregnant.

“It’s a babymoon or something.” Mandi was still talking. “One of the hostesses mentioned that she’s been under stress, so the doctor recommended rest and relaxation. It wasn’t until she said Trickle Creek that I even paid any attention, Lucy. I just needed to give you a heads-up.”

“I appreciate it.” She looked over in time to see Meri racing down the slide. She landed on her feet and thrust her arms up in the air. “It’s not that small of a town, I’m sure I won’t run into him.” Even as she said it, she didn’t believe her own words. Trickle Creekwasthat small of a town. But it didn’t make it an impossible task. All she had to do was avoid the touristy, busy spots for a few days. No problem.

“I’m sorry, Lucy. I know it shouldn’t matter anymore because you’re doing so well there, and I know you’re over him and everything.”

Was she?

To Lucy’s surprise, the feelings of hurt and sadness that had always lingered when it came to Ross were gone.

She was over him. But that didn’t mean she wanted to run into him. Then he’d know that she’d fled to the one place he’d always talked about taking her.

And there was no way she was going to subject herself to that kind of mortification.

“I am over him.” She said the words aloud more for herself than Mandi’s. “But I really do appreciate you letting me know.” Meri had waved goodbye to her friend and was heading her way. “I gotta run. But thanks for calling. I’ll lay low for a few days so I don’t have to deal with him.”

She ended the call as Meri joined her, breathless and exhausted from her time at the park.

“So. Fun.”

Lucy laughed. “You look like you could use a break.” She handed Meri her bottle of water, which she quickly downed.

“Well, I guess we should probably go in search of some more water, huh?” She dusted off her pants and gathered up their water bottles, stuffing everything into her backpack. “And maybe a snack.”

“Can we say hi to Dad on the way home?”

The plaza wasn’t really on the way home, but in a town the size of Trickle Creek, it wasn’t far out of the way. Besides, it was a beautiful day and because it was a professional development day off school, they had all the time in the world.

“Why not?” She held her hand out for Meri. “Come on. You can tell him all about how high you went on the swings.”

ChapterSixteen

Craig saidhis goodbye and began to make his way toward the mouthwatering scent of sugar and cocoa when his eyes caught on the sight of his older sister struggling to maneuver a large urn out the door of her flower shop, Alpenglow.

“Let me help you with that.” He rushed over and handed her his cup of coffee to hold.

Charli groaned and leaned back against the brick wall of her shop. “I can’t decide if this coffee smells amazing, or awful. No shade to the Bean Bag, but pregnancy hormones have me messed up. I miss coffee.”

He glanced over to see her, eyes closed, inhaling the coffee.

Craig shook his head. “What are you doing trying to move this?” He easily maneuvered the large clay urn out the door into place. “You shouldn’t be doing this type of thing in your?—”

“Careful.” She shot him a warning look that made him laugh.

“Okay, but seriously. You have to ask for help.”

“You know I hate doing that.” Charli handed the coffee back. “It’s such a beautiful day, I wanted to get started on some spring flower arrangements.”

Charli had a booming flower business that included providing unique seasonal arrangements for most of the shops in the plaza, as well as everlasting bouquets created from her dried flowers and, of course, the fresh blooms she grew in her own local fields in the summer months. It was a lot for one woman to do. Especially a woman who was going to be having a baby in a few months. But Craig knew better than to point that out to his sister.

“It smells amazing out here.” Charli pushed up from the wall and tipped her head back. She inhaled deeply. “Damn. How have you not gained a thousand pounds by now?”

“Easy. She won’t let me taste it.”

“I can appreciate that.” Charli laughed. “She keeps to herself, doesn’t she?”

---