Page 39 of Time Out

If I wasn’t mistaken, her eyes flicked to my stomach and up. Happened so quick I might have imagined it, but even if I had, her implication was clear.

“I’m pregnant,” I confirmed.

Her lips went round into a perfect circle and her eyes matched the size of her mouth. “Are you serious?”

“Nine weeks.”

“You’re dating someone?”

“Um. No.”

Wasn’t this awkward. Madison knew who I was, knew my past. Belle might have called the owner to help me out, but she had also told him who I was. It wasn’t often I was recognized, but it happened occasionally. It’d been four years, and I looked so different. More often than not, I got comments along the lines of, “you look familiar, do I know you from somewhere?”

“Oh. Well, this is surprising. I wish you would have told me.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know how it’d be received, but I can still work, Madison, I swear.”

“Of course you can work. That’s not the concern, but had I known, I would make sure things like last night didn’t happen so you could get some rest. You have to be taking care of yourself.”

“Ohh. I’m sorry. I didn’t think.”

“It’s okay. Are you okay? I mean, I’m guessing this was a surprise? How are you doing with all of it?”

Madison had been kind to me since the day I started at Julio’s. She hadn’t treated me any differently because I got the job as a favor of a friend, nor had she questioned my abilities. Sure, it was only serving tables, but Julio’s was one of the most expensive restaurants in Nashville, and it wasn’t uncommon where we had tables filled with a variety of musicians, artists, or athletes.

The gentleness in her voice made my chin wobble in a way it hadn’t since I got over my initial surprise. I adored Belle and was so thankful for her, but a friend’s love was different than this… almost a mother’s love I’d never really had. “It’s a lot, but I’m doing okay with it. Adjusting, still, I think.”

“The father?”

“Wants to be involved. I’m pretty sure.”

“Well, that’s good. I should let you go, but if you need anything, or aren’t feeling well, please let me know. We can adjust your schedule as much as we need to. You’re most important right now.”

Important. I wasn’t sure I’d ever felt like it. Invisible, required to work and serve. I’d been a child with a purpose forced on to me before I knew the definition of the word. I’d been needed for sure. Needed to help cook and clean and teach my youngest siblings and I’d been needed to help bathe and diaper them.

My parents would have called those important tasks.

But they were things.

I’d never been treated as if I was important.

“Thanks, Madison. I really appreciate it.”

My chin was still shaking, and she’d gone a bit blurry. When I stepped back and sniffed and grabbed my purse, she moved back into the hallway. As I passed her, she squeezed my shoulder and flashed me a smile so warm I almost collapsed into the sobfest I was trying to avoid.

“Take care of yourself, honey. And I mean it, call me if there’s anything you need.”

“I will.”

“Have a good night.”

“You too.”

I burst into the cool afternoon air and inhaled a cleansing breath several moments later. That had felt good. And it wasn’t often I’d had that feeling. Only Davis and Belle as of late. There was a boy I’d dated for a while shortly after showing up in Nashville, but I wouldn’t say he left me feeling good—more used, but I learned from that. I hadn’t even considered I could talk to Madison about being pregnant and not get fired. Waitressing jobs were a dime a dozen. They could get anyone to take my spot.

My phone rang, and I reached for it, assuming it’d be Belle. She’d called and texted before I left for work. I hadn’t had time yet to give her a hard time for handing my information to Davis—not that I was mad about it. But she didn’t need to know that yet.

“Hello, Annabelle.” I drawled out her full name. She deserved it, even if the night with Davis had gone better than I could have expected our third time meeting to go.

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