Page 43 of This Baby Business
“No. I’m not.”
Totally not jealous when Levi laughed as Joanne said something near his ear and my stomach fisted double time. I was simply concerned that things could get complicated if Levi started dating someone else. Feelings could get hurt. Not mine. The other woman’s.
“I think you’re jealous. And why wouldn’t you be? He’syourfiancé.”
“Shh!” I hissed and turned to see if anyone had heard.
I noticed Irene in the distance, walking with a man who looked about ten years older than her. He wore dark glasses and had a white beard.
Oh, God. Irene was here. With Frank, I had to assume.
“Carly!” Irene spotted me and waved in my direction.
They both walked toward me. I tried to catch Levi’s attention, hoping I could send a silent DEFCON 6 warning, but he was too busy drying off Joanne’s dog.
“Help.” I pulled on Jill’s arm and jutted my chin in Irene’s direction. “Mrs. Lane is here. With her husband.”
“Uh-oh,” Jill said. “Just…act engaged.”
“How do I do that?”
“I have no idea.”
“You’re a big help.”
We were ready for this, sure, but a little warning would have been welcome.
“Excuse me, dear,” a female bystander interrupted. “I see you don’t have a pet with you. Would you mind watching Petunia for a minute? I have to get something out of my car, and I don’t want to lose my place in line.”
I looked down. The woman had a pig on a leash. “Um…”
“It’s all right. She’s a potbellied pig. Trained, just like a dog. Better than a dog. She loves her bath. Very smart.” As if to prove it, she told Petunia to sit.
And Petunia did, just like a dog.
“Sure.” I took the leash. It would give me something to do besides have a silent, nervous breakdown. “I’d be happy to.”
I waited with Petunia. Maybe Irene and her husband were afraid of pigs and would wait until I could join them. It would be for the best if we could have any conversation away from any of Fortune citizens’ big ears.
“There you are, Carly, dear.” Irene walked straight up to me in line. “I want you to meet my husband. Frank, this is Carly, Levi’s fiancée.”
Frank grunted. “Pleasure.”
I didn’t know what I’d pictured for Frank Lane, but it certainly wasn’t this. He was dressed in Bermuda shorts and a loud, clashing polo shirt and appeared to have just walked off a golf course.
“What are you…you two doing here?”
“I read about the pet wash in the local newspaper and I love small-town stuff like this. It’s so Mayberry-like.” I glanced at Petunia. “Is thisyourpig?”
“No, I’m only helping the owner because she had to get out of line.”
“We’ll wait with you.” Irene planted herself next to Carly and away from the pig. “Did you get my message about dinner?”
“Yes.” I swallowed. “I—I need to ask Levi about when would be a good time.”
“While you women jibber-jabber, I’ll wait right over there.” Frank pointed toward a row of folding chairs that someone had set up under some shade.
“Fine, dear.” Irene patted my shoulder after Frank walked off. “He wasn’t as excited as I thought he’d be.”
