Page 62 of Just a Plot Twist
Inez catches up to him, rubbing her belly and breathing heavily. Discomfort simmers in her eyes.
“Oh my gosh! Is it time?” I ask, jumping out of my chair so quickly it bumps hard against my legs.
“I’m not inlabor, Claire,” Inez says roughly, rolling her eyes. “I’m just pregnant withtwins.” She starts ticking things off her fingers. “I can’t sleep. I can’t lie down. I can’t sit. I can’t stand. And basically, I can’tstandanything or anyone right now.” She blinks rapidly, coming to herself. “No offense.”
“Inez is a trooper,” Mayor Whitten says to both of us before turning to me. “You ready to take over the trailways project?”
“Absolutely!” I beam.
“She’s already doing most of it, to be honest, Mr. Mayor,” Inez says. “It’s in very good hands.”
“Good.” He nods. “It would be great to get the work crews going on repairs before it gets too far into the summer,” he adds before leaving on his merry way, sipping through the lid of his Styrofoam cup, saying something about needing to meet up with his golf buddies.
He’s right. With budgeting concerns and Inez not able to work as much, the project is behind.
“So.” Inez sighs after the mayor leaves. “Have you finished your application yet? The city opened the position up externally, so there are no guarantees. But we both know you’re going to make the best new Inez.”
“Mayor Whitten might not agree.”
“He doesn’t know how much you’re interested because you haven’t even finished the application yet, have you?” Her voice is veering towards exasperation. “But come on, everybody hates Rich.” Inez grimaces as she breathes in and out slowly and presses a hand against the top of her belly.
“The mayor loves Rich like a son,” I counter. “I don’t get it, but he does.”
Inez frowns with a tilt of her head. “He doesn’t see what we all see where Rich is concerned.” Inez slumps down in my chair…slowly…and takes a breather. “I need a sec.”
I smile. “Be my guest. Can I get you anything? A glass of water?”
Her eyes grow wide. “I’ve been drinking so much water, I’m sick. And I have to go to the bathroom every half hour. It’s torture.” She pauses to take a couple of deep breaths. “I heard you made quite the spectacle at your grandparents’ anniversary party.”
“Extravaganza.”
Inez gives me a look.
“Sorry. Reflex.” I shrug, before the embarrassment hits me all over again. “But yeah. I mean, what did you hear?”
“Just that some tall, dark, and handsome man carried you out of the ballroom after he—” She leans forward for emphasis. “—fell on top of you.” A wicked grin highlights her face.
“Who fell on top of you?” Elaine from Accounting asks as she walks past my office, her face buried in a screen. She’s using an e-pencil to scribble all over it.
I groan and rest my head in my hands.
“Just kidding. I already heard.” Elaine stops near my door, pressing her stylus into the little holder on the side of her tablet. “Are you okay? Two falls in a week? Are you having balance problems?”
“What? No. But thanks for the concern. Some people only care about the embarrassment I caused them.”
“It’s nothing to be embarrassed about!” Inez insists. “Who cares? People were probably thanking you for spicing up the party.”
“Thanks, Inez. But it was so extra.” I bury my face in my hands. “I don’t even want to know what my grandparents thought.”
“Don’t worry about them. There’s nothing to be done now but move on.”
I swallow and nod. She makes it sound so easy.
“You should get one of those ACE bandages and wrap it up,” Elaine observes, glancing at my ankle before continuing along to her own office.
Inez nods. “At least prop it up or something.” She gives a resolute sigh. “Alright. As much as I’d love to take a nap right here right now, I’ve got to get back to my office.” She rocks forward on the balls of her feet so she can heave her body up and out of the chair. “Lots to get done before I pop in a couple of weeks.”
And I admit it, Inez being so miserable might slightly curb my desire to have kids of my own, but it’s still there. Always.
