Page 52 of Lone Star Longing
She didn't want to cry in front of him.
But she didn't know what else to do.
She picked up her phone and carefully dialed on the broken screen. He answered on the third ring.
“He didn't come,” was all she could manage.
“I’ll be there in half an hour,” he countered. “Want me to come in?”
“I’ll wait on the sidewalk.” Where she’d seen so many others waiting, people who had been somewhere, been on a journey.
Yeah, well, she’d been on a journey, too, hadn’t she? A stupid foolish journey. And she and her child were going to see the world differently because of it.
She disconnected and stood before slinging her overnight bag over her shoulder and trekking down the escalator. She made the mistake of looking a the hospitality woman, who frowned.
“The surprise didn't work out?”
“Not the way I wanted, no.” She was the one who’d been surprised. And hurt. So deeply hurt. Stupid, because she’d seen the signs. All the signs. He hadn’t called her since she told him she was pregnant. He hadn’t been all that excited about the sonogram. Why hadn’t she read the signs? Why had she fooled herself into thinking seeing her in person would make a difference?
“I’m sorry, sweetie. You want—can I get you a water or a soda or something?”
“No, I’m fine, but thank you. My friend is coming to get me.”
“Why don't you wait in here where it’s cool until your friend gets here? I remember expecting, and feeling like I was carrying around my own personal furnace. Terrible to be pregnant in the summer.”
Lacey hadn’t thought she was showing that much, but she appreciated the words. “Thanks. It hasn’t gotten to that point yet, thankfully.”
“Oh, it will. And summer’s barely started. Are you from here?”
“West Texas.”
“Lord. I imagine it’s worse out there.”
“We’re used to it.”
“Lived there all your life?”
“The past fifteen years.”
“On purpose?”
“My dad was stationed out at the Air Force base and fell in love with the town. I stay because he’s there.”
“It’s good to have family. I lost my dad when I was just a girl, but I was his princess while he was living.”
Lacey didn't consider herself his princess, but she counted herself lucky to be close to her dad, to have him in her life. Jesse didn't have that, and she thought that was part of the reason he was reluctant to become a dad.
Not that she wanted to offer him an excuse. No. Men who didn't have father figures became fathers all the time. He was selfish, plain and simple, which she knew about him anyway.
Yeah, all the signs had been there. She just hadn’t allowed herself to see it.
*****
BECK DIDN'T KNOW WHAThe expected to see when he pulled up to the airport, scanning the sidewalk for Lacey. Maybe she’d be curled in a ball crying. Maybe she’d be pissed, stomping up and down waiting for him.
He did not expect to see her walking out of the sliding doors, laughing and waving at someone behind her. She adjusted her bag on her shoulder, gripped a plastic water bottle in her hand and marched toward the truck, her expression sobering as she opened the door.
“I’m so sorry about this,” she said as she climbed in, tossing her bag over the seat into the back. Her tone was more resigned than distressed, which surprised him. “I should never have dragged you into this. I should never have tried a surprise. I—now I just don't know what to do.”
