Page 60 of The Blessings of Christmas
“Sophomores will do it to you every time.” McKenna adjusted a crepe paper streamer and stood back to admire her handiwork.
“Can you blame them?” Amanda ran her fingers over the prickly pine boughs. “Only two more days of school and we’re all free.”
“What book are they reading?” Harper asked.
“To Kill a Mockingbird.”
“Whoa! Not exactly holiday reading!” Harper laughed.
Her sister-in-law was right. “Guess I was just too preoccupied. We should have read theGreat Christmas Pageantor something more fun.”
“You have a lot to be preoccupied about.” McKenna gave her a meaningful look. She knew more about their efforts than the rest of the family. Connor was intensely private about this kind of stuff, and they hadn’t shared many details. “Good thing you’re taking a maternity leave after Christmas. Are you going back when that leave ends?”
The whole family thought the city school was wearing her down. Connor wanted her to get another position in a suburban school but she wasn’t a quitter. She’d never throw in the towel on her inner city kids. “I’ll hang in there. Three months off for my maternity leave and then I’ll go back.”
“Your life’s about to change.”
“It is.” How she wanted to believe that.
“Girls, time to take a break. You’ve been at this since ten this morning.” Maureen bustled in with a tray of Christmas cookies and eggnog. Food was Maureen’s solution for everything.
“I’m watching my weight, Mom. Not that a diet will stop me when it come to your cookies.” McKenna snatched two of the chocolate confetti cookies. Maureen liked to serve them fresh from the oven. Harper was right behind her older sister. But Amanda took a pass. Her stomach had been off. Maybe her mother’s ulcers were hereditary after all.
“Need any help, Mom?” Harper asked between mouthfuls.
“Not really, but I always like to catch up with my youngest daughter. Come and keep me company.” Maureen led the way toward the back and Harper followed.
McKenna sank onto the sofa across from Amanda. “Any word from Angie?”
“We’re supposed to meet with her tomorrow night.”
“Have you been seeing her a lot?”
“Pretty much. It’s as if she wants to make sure that we’re the right couple for her baby. Like she hasn’t really decided yet.”
McKenna frowned. “The timing’s just not right for Angie. She’s so young and couldn’t support a child. Are you really worried about her backing out?”
“I’ve read about it happening.” Tears prickled. Amanda concentrated on counting the ornaments so she wouldn't cry. She’d been so emotional lately.
“You’re going to have to trust her. I think she knows what she’s doing.”
“She’s so skinny. I want to buy that girl groceries every time I see her. Is she eating enough vegetables?”
McKenna laughed. “Are you forgetting the raging metabolisms of girls under twenty? Sherry Barry, our nutritionist, is taking care of the diet in our natural childbirthclass. Believe it or not, Angie has filled out quite a bit since I first met her last summer.”
Amanda’s shoulders loosened a bit. “Good to know.”
Reaching over, McKenna squeezed her hand. “Can’t blame you for not feeling sure of this whole thing yet, but I don’t see any red flags. Aren’t you working with Logan on that other option?”
McKenna’s boyfriend, Dr. Logan Castle, was a fertility expert who specialized in the in vitro maturation process. They were both on staff of the obstetrics department of Montclair Specialty Hospital downtown. Amanda and Connor had been working with him, but they hadn’t shared much about that. After so many procedures that had not worked, they’d decided not to keep the family updated.
“We are working with him, but there’s only about a thirty percent success rate. Even less as you age. At least I’m not on those fertility drugs anymore. They made me feel so weird. Logan’s had great success. Let’s just leave it at that.”
“You’re right. There’s always a failure rate. Still…”
“I just don’t want to count on anything, McKenna. Hopefully this thing with Angie will go without a hitch.”
Her sister-in-law’s eyes swept the room and she erupted into laughter. “Well, you better count on something, lady. We didn’t plan this party and get that baby’s room ready to have it sit empty.”
