Page 14 of Lone Star Longing
“I don't know.” And he didn’t.
She was lovely, sure, with dark hair and dark eyes and full lips, but he had no business thinking about a local girl when he was heading out of town as soon as possible. And he hadn’t been very nice to her...no reason to think she would respond positively to him anyway. But there was something about her that appealed to him. There always had been.
“Don't complain about her,” his mother said abruptly.
“What?”
“You said you were going to complain about her to her employer. Don't do that. She’s a good girl and she works hard. She takes care of a lot of people, and her father just had a hip replacement on top of that.”
He stared at his mom for a moment. He’d never heard her come to someone’s defense before. Maybe Lacey was right, his mom didn't like change. He couldn’t explain otherwise why she was speaking up for Lacey.
“All right, I won’t say anything.” And he should know, if his mother was unhappy with her services, she’d be quick enough to complain.
*****
THE CONOVERS LEFT BEFORELacey and her dad, and Beck Conover offered her a nod as he walked past. Was that supposed to be an apology? She didn't have time to think about it. She had been waiting until they left to go to the bathroom again.
Not until she got her dad into the car and was driving home did he ask, “Is there something you want to tell me?”
Oh, God.
“There is something I want to talk to you about, but not now.” Not while she was driving. Not when she was so tired.
“You know you can talk to me about anything, Lace. We’ve been through a lot together. There’s nothing we can’t do, you know?”
She hated the tears that welled in her eyes, blurring her vision, and she eased her foot off the accelerator. May as well come out with it, instead of trying to find the perfect time. “I’m pregnant.”
“Yeah, that’s what I figured,” he said without missing a beat. She’d expected a long-suffering sigh or something, but his voice was gentle.
“How did you know?”
“Small house. And with four kids, I know the symptoms. Have you told Jesse?”
“I did, and he’s not very happy about it.” That was an understatement. She hadn’t heard from him since she’d told him.
“Maybe he’ll come around,” her dad said.
But she’d already decided to do this on her own. She’d rather have her child know he or she was loved than to be under that man’s thumb. She owed her child the love and support of one parent, one happy parent. She was going to end things with Jesse. She wasn't going to ask him for anything for this child, or herself.
“When are you due?”
“October, I think. I have to make an appointment to see the doctor.” She’d have to go to San Angelo to see an ob-gyn, and she wasn't really looking forward to that trip. “I’m sorry, Dad. I didn't mean for this to happen.”
“Don’t apologize. I know the timing isn’t what you wanted, but this is a good thing, a happy thing. Your mother will be happy to have another grandchild.” The fondness in his voice caught Lacey off-guard.
“I hadn’t even thought about telling her,” she groaned, dropping her head toward the steering wheel before straightening to turn onto the road going home.
“Why not? When was the last time you talked to her?”
“Christmas.”
“Lace. I don't want you to have that kind of relationship with your mother. I want you to be close.”
Her parents had divorced a dozen years ago. His mother had remarried, lived in Houston, and her younger siblings lived near her. The opposite side of the state may as well be the other side of the world.
“I’ll tell her after I go to the doctor and have a better idea of when.”
Now he did sigh. “I guess that makes sense.”
