Page 110 of Lone Star Longing
Alicia smiled at Lacey. “I’m sure she will. Before we end class,” she added, stepping away to address the rest of the group. “I’d like to announce that Dorien and Don had their baby, a nice healthy boy. Everyone’s doing great.”
The class applauded lightly, and Lacey felt herself tearing up in appreciation that they’d gotten their healthy child.
“You ready for the shower?” Beck asked as he, Lacey and Poppy walked out to Poppy’s car.
Lacey was waddling more than walking these days, and during the two hour class, she’d had to pee three times. Not counting the visits to the bathroom when they arrived, and just now.
“Mom, Tanya and her husband Leonard are coming in tomorrow night,” Lacey said. “I haven't seen them since Christmas, so I’m excited.”
Also a little wary. They were staying in the motel, which was at best a two-star accommodation, even after Sofia’s renovations, and she knew her mother and sister would complain. She didn't know Tanya’s husband well enough, but she was prepared for that, too. She’d offered to help Sofia get the rooms ready, but Sofia assured her she would make them as welcoming as possible.
“I’ll come in Friday,” Beck said. “I don't have to go back until Monday. Anything you need me to do, I’ll do. My hands are yours.”
“Yeah, we saw how steady your hands were in there,” Poppy teased, motioning with her thumb over her shoulder. “We’re going to leave you out of it, I think.”
“I don’t know. I am good at lifting heavy objects. Not as great at small ones. But I’ll practice,” he promised Lacey, bending to kiss her, his hand resting on the curve of her belly. Then he bent down to her belly. “You guys take it easy on your mom. She still has another month of you guys wrestling around in there. Save it for when you get out.” He straightened and kissed her again. “I love you,” he said, and turned away.
Both Lacey and Poppy froze in their tracks. Had he just said...? Lacey turned to look at Poppy, then back at Beck, who was walking toward his truck.
No. If he’d said it, he would have acknowledged it.
Right?
“You heard that, didn't you?” Poppy asked when they were on the road.
“It couldn't have been. Why would he say it and walk away? He had to just have been, I don't know. Saying it to the babies? He was talking to them before he walked off.”
“That doesn't make sense. He doesn't love the babies. How can he love the babies?”
“So the alternative is that he loves me.” Lacey shook her head vehemently. “But why would he say it then walk away?”
“Because he knows you’re going to give him grief about saying it. Maybe he didn't want to argue.”
Oh, Poppy was right there. She would have given him grief. But he’d said it almost like a reflex. Like he’d said it before.
To her.
He hadn’t.
“Why didn't you go after him and ask him what he meant?”
“I was too shocked.” She thought about texting him—their text message stream was nearly constant most evenings. But she didn't want to discuss this through text. She needed to call him, and she didn't want to talk about it in front of Poppy, so she couldn't call him now, and when she got home, it would be too late. She knew he had to be at work early in the morning. So she was going to be up all night turning it over in her head.
He hadn’t meant it. That was all the importance she was going to give it. He didn't mean it, and she wasn't going to ask him about it.
*****
“IHAVEN’T SEEN YOUmove this fast in weeks,” Mrs. Nazareth said when Lacey heaved herself to her feet after cleaning the toilet. “What’s going on?”
“My mom and sister and one of my brothers are coming in today. I’m getting anxious to see them.”
“Oh, yes, for your baby shower. Where was my invitation, I’d like to know.”
“We talked about that,” Lacey admitted. “I didn't want my patients to feel like I was hitting them up for presents.”
“Well, I guess I can understand that,” Mrs. Nazareth said. “But it would have been nice to get an invitation.”
“Well.” Lacey wasn't sure what to do. She didn't know the etiquette here. “I know there will be plenty of food. Feel free to come on down.”
