Читать книгу Accidentally Expecting - Michelle Celmer, Michelle Celmer - Страница 9

Chapter Four

“Another furniture store truck just pulled up,” Lianne, Miranda’s next-door neighbor, called from her perch on the couch by the front-room window. She had been sitting there for the past twenty minutes giving Miranda a blow-by-blow of the activity going on at the condo across the street.

Miranda stood around the corner in the kitchen, fixing herself a cup of tea and a plate of saltines, hoping it might ease the nausea brewing in her stomach. This was the third morning in a row that she’d woken feeling sick.

She knew that technically, morning sickness was a good thing. It meant her body was producing enough hormones to sustain a healthy pregnancy. That didn’t make her feel any better when she was kneeling to the porcelain gods, yacking up her breakfast. From now on it was tea and crackers every morning until her stomach settled.

“They’re unloading the furniture!” Lianne squealed. She was like this whenever someone new moved into the complex. Fresh meat, she liked to say.

Like Miranda, she was divorced. Bitterly divorced. But always in the market for a temporary distraction. She’d divorced her most recent temporary distraction three months ago.

“So far so good,” she reported. “Nothing kid related. No toys or baby furniture. Nothing too feminine, either. Could be a single man.”

The kettle began to whistle, and she poured boiling water into her cup. “You know that the first rule of dating is to never get involved with a neighbor,” she called back.

Lianne knew. She’d read Miranda’s book. But she still slipped back into her old ways from time to time. Hence her three ex-husbands—the latest of whom still lived around the corner.

“There’s no harm in looking,” she called back.

Miranda carried her tea and crackers into the front room. She set them on the coffee table and eased herself into the recliner where she’d been spending most of her mornings sacked out in her pajamas in front of the television.

Lianne sat curled up on the couch across the room, her nose practically touching the window. “Don’t you want to see?”

Miranda didn’t care about anything but making the nausea go away. “I’ll look when I can safely move.”

She momentarily peeled her eyes from the window to shoot Miranda a sympathetic look. “Still feeling sick, huh?”

“It’ll pass,” she said, nibbling the edge of a cracker. It was a catch-22. If she didn’t eat, she felt sicker, and if she ate too much, that was even worse. The trick was finding just the right balance.

So far, no luck.

“Just be happy you’re not like I was with Brandon,” Lianne said, referring to her nineteen-year-old son, who was currently in Houston attending college. “Sick as a dog from the day I got pregnant to the minute he was born.” She turned back to the window. “Oh, crud. We have baby stuff. They’re unloading a box with what looks like a crib…yep it’s a crib, all right. And here comes the changing table.”

“It’ll be nice to have a new family in the complex.” Miranda placed a hand over her still-flat stomach. “Someone for the baby to play with when he or she is old enough.”

Lianne sighed and turned from the window. “Have you decided if you want to find out the baby’s sex beforehand?”

“I’m not sure yet. On one hand, I love a good surprise, on the other, I could be more prepared if I knew.”

“What about the baby’s father? Does he want to know?”

Lianne knew the basic events surrounding Miranda’s pregnancy, but not the identity of the man involved. No one knew. Most people, including Miranda’s family, didn’t even know she was pregnant.

She knew exactly what people would say, what her family would think, and while she had stopped playing by their rules a long time ago, she just didn’t have the energy to deal with them right now. She was giving herself permission to be selfish for a while.

Miranda sipped her tea. “We haven’t decided yet.”

And not for lack of debate. Since her return from Chicago nearly a month ago, she’d spoken to Zack daily. His insatiable curiosity sometimes kept them on the line for an hour or more. And though at first she figured it would rapidly become annoying, now she didn’t mind so much. After all, what expectant woman didn’t love talking about her pregnancy?

“Well, I think it’s pretty cool that he’s moving here all the way from Chicago to be close to you. I can’t wait to meet him.”

Which could be a problem. Especially if they planned to keep this from the media. Zack was an empire. If he came to her condo, someone was bound to recognize him, and eventually, someone would talk.

The more she thought about it, the more complicated it was sounding.

“The woman we thought was the decorator is back,” Lianne said, nose to the window again. “She must be the wife, although I don’t see a baby anywhere.”

Miranda set her half-full cup down. She’d managed that and two crackers. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes, waiting for the sickness to pass.

“We’ve got a black car pulling up to the curb. Holy cow. It’s vintage. A Mustang, I think. In mint condition. And it’s a guy behind the wheel.”

Miranda rocked gently, only half listening. She was starting to feel better. The crackers and tea were working.

“He’s getting out. Wow. Talk about tall, dark and handsome,” Lianne said wistfully. “And he’s got a body to die for. Come here, you need to see this guy.”

“Not yet.” She couldn’t move yet. If she got up too soon, she would just get sick all over again. And honestly, she didn’t care what the new family across the street looked like.

“He’s got to be at least six-one. Maybe even taller. He’s wearing a baseball cap, but I can tell his hair is short and dark. Dark brown, I think. He’s wearing cut-off jeans, a T-shirt and sandals. Very casual. I’m guessing midtwenties. Thirty tops.”

She could feel the nausea subsiding. Little by little.

“His wife just came outside. They’re chatting. You would think he would give her a kiss or hug or something.”

“Maybe he doesn’t like public displays of affection,” Miranda said, feeling obligated to contribute to the conversation. She actually appreciated Lianne’s morning visits. It helped keep her mind off how miserable she felt.

A writer like Miranda, she worked from a home office, so it wasn’t uncommon for her to drop by three or four times a day. Sometimes, when she developed a case of writer’s block, she would even bring her laptop over and set up shop on Miranda’s couch. She claimed the change of atmosphere would sometimes get the creative juices flowing.

“He’s smiling,” Lianne reported. “Oh, yeah, he’s a hunk. Major beefcake.”

The word “beef” made Miranda’s stomach lurch.

“I wish he would lose the shades so I could see his eyes. And what’s this? Hold the phones…he’s kissing her cheek! Very brief and polite. No way this woman is his wife.”

“That doesn’t mean he doesn’t have one,” Miranda pointed out. “Maybe she’s already inside unpacking.”

“She’s handing him something. Keys I think. Now she’s going back inside the condo. The beefcake is looking around, scoping out the cul-de-sac.”

Miranda fought the bile rising up from her stomach. “If you say beef one more time, I’m going to hurl.”

“Now he’s looking across the street…oh, damn, I think I’ve been discovered.”

“Serves you right,” Miranda said, not opening her eyes. “That’s what you get for being nosy.”

“I’m not nosy. I’m observant. And let’s not forget whose window I’m looking out of. He’ll probably just assume it’s you.”

Swell. Just what she needed, her new neighbors thinking she was a snoop.

“He’s walking back to his car…no wait, he walked past it, and he’s crossing the street. He’s coming this way.”

“That’s not funny,” Miranda said.

“I’m not trying to be funny. He’s really crossing the street. And, oh my God, he is a hunk. Older than I thought, though. More like his midthirties.”

A teeny, tiny alarm rang in her head. Tall, mid-thirties, a hunk.

No way.

“Now he’s walking up your driveway.”

The alarm grew louder, or was it just a ringing in her ears? She was starting to feel light-headed. “I’m not buying it, Lianne.”

“He’s walking up the steps to the porch…”

Sure he was.

Lianne was just messing with her head. She liked to do that.

“…stopping to look at the flowers in the urn. Picking one of the flowers! Boy does this guy have nerve.”

She would drag this out as long as humanly possible.

“Stepping up to the door…”

The doorbell rang.

Miranda’s eyes flew open.

Lianne was looking at her. “Well? Aren’t you going to get it?”

Miranda looked down at her attire. “I’m in my pajamas. I haven’t even brushed my teeth yet.”

“Okay,” Lianne, said with a sigh, rising from the couch. “I’ll get it.”

As she walked to the front door, Miranda’s nausea returned full force. He was probably just coming by to use the phone, or borrow sugar. She was sure she didn’t know him.

As Lianne reached for the doorknob Miranda squeezed her eyes shut, as if not seeing it wouldn’t make it real. But she had a bad feeling about this.

The bile was rising again. Working it’s way up, burning a path through the lining of her throat.

She heard the door open, heard a deep voice. His voice.

“I’m looking for Miranda Reed,” it said.

“Can I tell her who you might be?” Lianne asked, her voice stern, yet curious.

“Tell her it’s Zack.”

Zack had heard of people turning green, but always assumed it was a figure of speech.

It wasn’t.

When he walked into Miranda’s condo and saw her sitting there, she looked like the creature from the green lagoon.

It was the first time anyone had looked at him, then promptly run to the bathroom to toss their cookies.

“Feeling better now?” he asked from the bathroom doorway.

Miranda groaned.

She half sat, half sprawled on the tile floor wearing pink silk pajamas, her arms draped over the bowl. Her long, dark hair was pulled back but a few wispy strands stuck to her forehead and cheek. “Someone kill me now.”

“Is there anything I can get you?”

She moaned and laid her head on her arm. “Have you got a gun?”

That one made him smile. “I was thinking more along the lines of a damp cloth or a glass of water.”

She gazed up at him, her eyes watery and bloodshot. “I know exactly what you’re thinking.”

“What am I thinking?”

“You’re looking at me now, remembering when you proposed, and saying to yourself, thank God she said no.”

She couldn’t be more wrong. “Why would I be thinking that?”

“I’ve seen my reflection in the toilet bowl. You can’t tell me I don’t look like a beast.”

“I’ve never met anyone who looks good hanging over a toilet being sick. I promise not to hold it against you.”

“What happened to Lianne?”

“She left. She wants you to call her when you’re feeling better.”

Miranda just bet she did. She had to be going nuts over there wondering what the heck was going on. “Does she know who you are?”

“I told her I’m a friend of yours from Chicago.”

“Yep, she knows.”

“What does she know exactly?”

“That you’re the baby’s father. She just doesn’t know who you are. At least, I hope she doesn’t.” She sat up and took a few shallow breaths. “I think I’m feeling better now.”

“You ready to get up?”

“I think so.”

He stepped into the bathroom and held out a hand to give her a boost from the floor. She grabbed it and rose slowly to her feet. She wavered a second, gripping his fingers. “Where do you want to go?” he asked.

“The recliner.”

With a hand resting on her lower back for stability, he walked her out to the chair. She sat down, leaned back and closed her eyes. She wasn’t looking so green any longer. It was the first time he’d seen her with no makeup, and he sort of liked her without it. She looked softer. And younger. Maybe even a little bit vulnerable.

And he intended to take care of her. This was exactly what he’d meant when he told her he wanted to be involved. He wanted to be a part of the entire process. Even the unpleasant parts.

He noticed her cup on the table. “Would you like more tea?”

“You don’t have to take care of me.”

“I know I don’t.”

For a second he thought she might argue, then she must have decided she didn’t have the energy. “Tea would be great. With a teaspoon of honey.” Eyes still closed, she gestured in the direction of the kitchen. “It’s in the cabinet above the coffeemaker.”

He grabbed her cup from the table. “I’ll find it.”

Like the rest of the condo, the kitchen was very clean and organized. That was one thing they obviously had in common. Clutter drove him nuts. His mother never had time for housework. She’d worked long hours, and when she finally did get home, cooking and cleaning were pretty low on her list of priorities.

She would open a bottle of wine, park herself in front of the television and chain-smoke until his father got home. How much she drank depended on how late he was out. He had a lot of evening “meetings” and often didn’t breeze in until after midnight.

Sometimes it was one bottle, other nights two. On a good night, she would pass out before his father returned, sparing Zack and his younger brother Richard from being jolted awake to the sound of raised voices. To hear his mother’s slurred accusations, and his father’s halfhearted, lame excuses.

On a bad night, the police got involved.

His mother’s second and third marriages hadn’t been much better.

He put the kettle on, dumped out the stale tea and fixed her a fresh cup. When he walked back into the family room she looked much better. In fact, he would go so far as to say she was glowing. Her cheeks were rosy and her eyes bright. She looked… maternal.

He handed her the cup, making sure she had a steady grip before letting go. “You look as though you’re feeling better.”

“I am.” She sipped the tea and smiled. “It’s perfect. Thanks.”

He took a seat on the couch and glanced out the window. The moving van was still there, but Taylor, his sister-in-law and relocation coordinator, assured him she would have everything in order by lunchtime.

Miranda took another sip of her tea and set the cup down. “Nice place across the street.”

“Very nice,” he agreed. Smaller than he was used to, but it would suffice.

“Tell me you didn’t really just move there.”

Unfortunately he couldn’t do that. “I told you I wanted to be closer.”

“Yeah, but right across the street? Are you nuts?”

“Not the last time I checked.”

“We’ve talked every day for a month and you never once thought to mention it? I was thinking you would move to Dallas, or Fort Worth, even. I thought you would at least have to get in the car and drive to see me. This could be incredibly…awkward.”

“It doesn’t have to be.” It wasn’t as if he hadn’t expected this. He knew there would be an adjustment period while she grew used to the idea of having him around. He didn’t doubt that everything would work out. Given time, she would see things his way.

She may have been strong willed and determined, but so was he.

“That’s easy for you to say,” she snapped back. “You get to leave whenever you want. You can go back to Chicago or lecture. I’m stuck here. All my work, all my research material is in this house.”

“You make it sound as though I’m holding you prisoner. And I do have to point out that right now, you could use my help. At least until the morning sickness passes.”

She didn’t look convinced. “You don’t think it will be weird, us living so close?”

Across the street wasn’t close enough as far as he was concerned. He was determined, by the time this baby was born, to convince her to marry him. Preferably sooner than later. The only way he could do that was to spend as much time with her as possible.

He had every intention of seducing her, as well, although that part of the plan might have to wait until she was feeling better.

“You should have talked to me about this first,” she said. “We should have discussed it.”

“We did discuss it. I said I was moving closer, you said okay. In fact, at the time, I thought you sounded relieved that I was the one doing the relocating.”

He could see that she wanted to argue but couldn’t deny he was right. She had been relieved. And had he used that to his advantage? Maybe so, but he was only doing what was best for her and the baby. She needed him around, even if she wasn’t willing to admit it yet.

Instead, she tried a different angle. “I thought you wanted to keep this quiet. You don’t think people are going to see us together and catch on?”

“The house is under a different name, and I have my disguise.” He plucked the sunglasses from the front of his shirt and put them on then he tugged the baseball cap low over his eyes. “See.”