A Baby and a Betrothal

by Michelle Major

  Katie had expected Noah to leave her in order to hang out with his friends. His normal role was the jokester of the group, and she figured he had plenty of steam to let off during these hours of waiting. Instead, he’d stayed by her side or kept her near him when he got up to pace the hall. Even now, he sat silently staring at the ceiling, and while none of his friends had left, they’d given up on pulling him into any sort of conversation.

  Katie shrugged her shoulders at the questioning glance Jase threw her from across the room. She’d never seen Noah so quiet, and unfortunately, Katie wasn’t the type to fill the silence with light conversation. As she shifted in her chair, Noah’s hand took her wrist in a vise-like grip.

  “Where are you going?” he asked, his voice hoarse. His fingers gentled, his thumb tracing a circle over the pulse point on the inside of her wrist.

  “Nowhere.” She moved again. “My foot fell asleep from crossing my legs too long.”

  “Give it to me.” Noah smoothed his palm down her dress and over her thigh, inching up the fabric between his fingers.

  “Stop,” Katie squeaked. She swatted away his hand, color rising in her cheeks as everyone in the waiting room turned. “Noah, what are you doing?”

  He looked baffled. “Give me your foot. I’ll massage it until it’s back to normal.”

  She swallowed. “In the middle of the hospital? Are you crazy?”

  To her surprise, he seemed to ponder the question seriously. “I don’t know, Bug. But I can tell you sitting here without a damn thing to do is testing my sanity.”

  “Noah,” she whispered, reaching up to place her hand against the rough stubble darkening his jawline. Their friends were still watching, but she didn’t care. “We’ll hear something soon.”

  As if she’d conjured him, an older man in blue scrubs came through the double doors that led to the operating rooms. Noah jumped to his feet and both he and Emily rushed forward.

  “How is she?” Noah asked as Emily added, “When can we see her?”

  “Your mother is a strong woman,” the doctor told them. He glanced at the crowd of people gathering behind the two, but didn’t comment. “The surgery was a success. We did an initial scan in the OR and it appears we were able to remove all of the tumor without impacting any of her nerve centers. We’ll do a biopsy and will have to rescan once the swelling goes down. Plus she’ll still need a course of radiation to make sure it’s totally gone.” He paused, took a breath, scrubbing his fingers over his eyes. “But it’s a positive outcome. The best we could have hoped for.”

  As a cheer went up from the assembled group, Katie watched Noah’s shoulders rise and fall in a shuddering breath. Logan and Josh patted him on the back and high-fived each other.

  Emily started to cry, wiping furiously at her cheeks even as she laughed. “I cry at everything these days.”

  Katie noticed Jase take a step forward then stop himself.

  “Can we see her?” Emily asked again, her voice more controlled.

  The doctor glanced from Emily to where Davey still sat on the carpet with his LEGO bricks. “Yes. They’re moving her up to the Neuro ICU now. Come with me and the nurses will take you. But no children allowed.”

  “I’ll stay with him,” Jase offered immediately. He folded his long legs down to the carpet. “We can’t stop in the middle of the construction project anyway.” He picked up a handful of colored blocks.

  Emily looked as if she wanted to argue, but Noah took her hand. “Just for a few minutes,” he said, “so we can see that she’s really okay.”

  She turned to Jase, almost reluctantly. “Thank you,” she whispered and followed Noah and the doctor toward the double doors.

  Katie watched, knowing she should get her things and leave before they got back. Although it felt wrong, she loved being here for Noah when he needed her. But his mom had made it through surgery, and she’d served her purpose. She had people covering at the bakery all day, but it wouldn’t hurt to check in.

  She saw Noah say something to the doctor then turn back as the physician and Emily disappeared through the double doors. He walked toward her, his expression unreadable until he took her face in his hands. The look in his eyes was at once tender and fierce, as if he couldn’t quite figure out his own feelings.

  Katie opened her mouth to speak, but he pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was gentle yet possessive, and there was no confusion in it. He pulled back after a moment and whispered, “Thank you for getting me through today.”

  As he walked away, a strange silence descended on the waiting room. Katie felt the stares from Josh, Logan and Jase. She shook her head, pressing her fingers to her lips and not making eye contact with any of them. “I don’t want to talk about it,” she said, then gathered her purse and the picnic basket and hurried toward the elevator.

  * * *

  Katie glanced at the clock on the wall behind the bakery’s counter as a demanding knock sounded on the door. They’d been closed for almost an hour, and she was alone in the empty shop.

  The urge to ignore the group of women she could see gathered on the sidewalk in front of the bakery was strong, but it would only postpone the inevitable. In truth, she was surprised it had taken them this long to descend.

  She turned the lock on the door and opened it, plastering a smile on her face. “Why do I feel like I’m being visited by Macbeth’s Three Witches?” she asked as she stepped back to allow the women to enter.

  Sara Travers, Josh’s wife, was the first to enter. “Nice reference. Going classic with Shakespeare. I like it.” Sara not only helped Josh run a guest ranch outside of town, but she was a Hollywood actress who was enjoying a resurgence in her career in the past few years.

  Natalie Donovan followed her. Another Crimson native, Natalie and she had forged a true friendship in the past few years, despite not having been close growing up. Until she reconnected with her high school sweetheart, Liam Donovan, Natalie had been a divorced mom raising her son by herself. Katie had helped with babysitting nine-year-old Austin on a regular basis but didn’t see him as often now that Natalie and Liam were married and Nat wasn’t working so many hours and juggling multiple jobs.

  “Do you have brownies?” Natalie asked as she threw Katie a “what were you thinking?” glance. “We’re going to need chocolate for this conversation.”

  “I left a plate on top of the display counter.” Katie had anticipated this visit.

  The last woman in their trio was Millie Travers, who had married the eldest Travers brother, Jake, earlier this year. “Olivia says not to pay attention to Natalie,” she told Katie, giving her a quick hug after she shut the door. “She’s been having morning sickness all day long, otherwise she would be here.”

  “Poor thing,” Katie murmured as she followed Millie to the table where Natalie had set the brownie plate. “I’ll text her later and see if I can bring her anything.”

  She didn’t pretend to wonder why her friends had come today. “It wasn’t my fault,” she told them, focusing on Sara and Millie, who were more likely to be sympathetic than Natalie.

  Of course, it was Nat who answered. “Right. His mouth just ran into yours.”

  “It wasn’t like that,” Katie murmured, sinking into a chair. She pointed a finger at Natalie. “And I won’t share my sweets if you’re mean.”

  With an exaggerated eye roll, Natalie snagged a brownie off the plate. “I’m never mean.”

  Millie snorted as Sara filled water glasses from the pitcher on the counter. “It was probably just a strange reaction to stress. You and Noah have always been just friends, but today had to be hard on him.”

  “I saw plenty of people dealing with stress when I worked at the nursing home.” Natalie broke off a piece of brownie. “They didn’t start making out with their friends in the hallway.”

  Katie g
asped. “We weren’t making out. It was... I don’t know what it was.”

  “A reaction to stress,” Millie said firmly.

  “A mistake?” Sara’s tone was gentle.

  “A kiss from the guy you’ve been in love with since high school.” Natalie didn’t form her response as a question, and while the other women stared, she sucked a bit of chocolate off her finger then pointed at Millie and Sara. “You two may be newer to town, but you can’t ignore our girl’s feelings for the ever-gorgeous man-boy Noah.”

  Man-boy. Katie almost snorted at that description but didn’t bother to deny Natalie’s assessment. It was pathetic that so many people knew about her crush on Noah when he’d always been oblivious. Even if he had been interested in settling down, Noah was way out of her league, another fact she’d pushed aside when he’d wrapped his arms around her. Now she could imagine the reaction from the locals. Noah was well-known for dating gorgeous, wild women. There was no shortage of those on the outskirts of a fancy ski town like Aspen. Katie didn’t fit that bill. “I’m an idiot,” she muttered, dropping her head into her hands.

  “Josh said Noah kissed you.” Sara placed four waters on the table and sat in the last empty chair. “The way he described the scene, I would have loved to be there.”

  “How did he describe it?” Katie asked, trying not to cringe as she lifted her gaze to meet Sara’s.

  “Well...” Sara answered with a smile. “He said it was ‘pretty crazy,’ and Josh has seen plenty of crazy, so that’s a big deal for him. I don’t think any of the guys saw it coming.”

  “Join the club,” Katie said. “They probably think I’m a slut.”

  All three of her friends laughed. “You are the least slutty woman in Crimson,” Millie told her.

  “Only on the outside.” Sometimes Katie hated her sainted reputation. The pressure to live up to what people thought about her could be enough to drive her crazy. “If you knew what I was thinking and feeling on the inside...”

  Natalie wiggled her eyebrows. “Which is?”

  “That I’d like to get Noah into the bedroom.” She reached for a brownie and added, “Again.”

  “Again?” three voices chorused.

  Katie ignored the heat rising in her cheeks, both from revealing the secret to her friends and from the memory of Noah’s hands all over her body. “We didn’t plan it the first time, and I know it was a mistake based on his reaction.”

  “Let me guess.” Natalie pushed back in her chair. “He freaked out.”

  “Took off into the woods for several days,” Katie said with a nod. “He couldn’t handle it.”

  “I don’t know him well,” Sara said, “but it doesn’t seem like Noah does long-term relationships.”

  “Noah’s idea of long term is a second date,” Natalie confirmed.

  Millie placed a gentle hand on Katie’s wrist. “And you’re ready to settle down with the right guy. That’s the whole reason for Project Set Up Katie.”

  “I’m a project? That’s depressing.”

  “Not if it gets you the future you want,” Sara argued.

  “Unless what you want has changed,” Natalie suggested. “Because I thought you were moving on from how you feel about Noah. You know he’s not the type of guy to settle down. You want hot sex, I bet he can serve that up on a silver platter. Nothing more, Katie.”

  “I get it,” she agreed then paused. “But if you saw how he looked at the hospital, how alone he was... He needs more in his life than a string of one-night stands. He needs...”

  “You?” Sara asked.

  Before she could answer, Natalie sat forward. “No. He needs to grow up and take responsibility for his own stuff. You’ve been available to him for years, and he suddenly realizes you’re there just when his mom is sick and he’s back in Crimson for the summer. Too much of a coincidence for my taste.”

  “But if she cares about him, maybe this is the opportunity they’ve needed.” Millie absently brushed the brownie crumbs into her palm. “Maybe she’s what Noah needs.”

  “Of course she is,” Natalie agreed. “Any guy would be lucky to have our Katie. But he doesn’t deserve her.”

  “Stop talking like I’m not here.” Katie stood abruptly and grabbed the empty brownie plate. “I know all about Noah. I know he’s not a long-term bet, but I do care about him. I can’t turn that off. It doesn’t matter anyway. He has me on such a pedestal, he couldn’t handle something real between us.”

  “Does that mean more kissing and stuff?” Sara asked with a wink.

  “Or does it mean no more dates with other men?” Millie asked. “Because Olivia had high hopes for Matt Davis.”

  “Matt is a great guy.” Katie walked behind the counter and set the plate in the sink. “I told him I’d go out with him again.”

  “And Noah?”

  She shook her head. “No more kissing and stuff. You’re right. I want something more. Something Noah is unwilling and unable to give me.”

  Millie looked as if she wanted to argue, but Natalie spoke first. “I’m glad that’s settled. Which one of the guys is nominated to straighten out Noah?”

  “I’ll handle Noah.” Katie flipped off the lights behind the counter and checked to make sure all of the baked goods were put away for the night.

  Millie stood and gave Katie a tight hug. “Speaking of needing you,” she said with a hopeful smile, “any chance you’re free on Saturday to keep Brooke for the night? Jake and I are supposed to go to Denver. Sara and Josh have a family reunion arriving to the ranch, and with Olivia not feeling well...”

  “I’d love to watch her. We’ll have a girls’ night.”

  “Are you still able to help with the brunch at the ranch on Sunday morning?” Sara asked.

  “Sure,” Katie answered automatically. “I’ll bring Brookie with me to deliver everything. She’ll love it.”

  “Thanks, sweetie.” Millie gave her another hug. “What would we do without you?”

  “I hope you’ll never have to find out.” She grabbed an envelope off the counter. “Can I give these to you?” she asked Sara. “They’re the Life is Sweet donations for the Founder’s Day Festival.” Sara was chairing the silent-auction portion of the event.

  “Gift cards for the bakery?” Natalie looked interested. “Perhaps a year’s worth of brownies delivered to my door?”

  Katie laughed. “A couple of gift certificates for merchandise,” she explained. “Also a private baking lesson for a group of up to six friends.” She pointed to Natalie. “In case you ever want to learn to make your own brownies.”

  Nat mock shuddered. “I pride myself on helping to keep you in business.”

  “But Katie gives you the brownies half the time,” Millie pointed out with a smile.

  “Only half the time,” Natalie said.

  “Thanks for these.” Sara hugged Katie. “We can always count on you.”

  The statement was true and normally comforting. Today it gave her an empty feeling in the pit of her stomach. She didn’t say this to her friends, though. She was the even-keeled, dependable one in their group. They didn’t need another reason to worry about her. Katie hated the feeling of being any kind of burden, especially emotional, on someone else.

  Satisfied she wasn’t headed down a dark and crazy path with Noah, the three women said goodbye and headed out into the late-afternoon sunshine.

  Katie finished checking things in the shop then stood staring at the baked goods tucked away in the refrigerated display cabinet. For the first time in as long as she could remember, she had the almost uncontrollable urge to open up the glass and stuff as many cookies in her mouth as would fit.

  She took a couple of deep breaths, but the smell of sugar and vanilla that permeated the air of the bakery didn’t help suppress her craving. She quickly
locked up the store and started walking away from Crimson’s town center, where Life is Sweet was located. There was a bike path along the edge of town, next to the bubbling Crimson Creek, and she made her way to the crushed gravel path. It would take her longer to get home on this route, but she counted on the familiar sound of the water to help smooth her tumbling emotions.

  When she and her parents had first moved to Crimson, her dad was still competing in Ironman triathlons and other distance sporting events. Katie had felt as out of her element in the small mountain town as she did in her own family. The only thing her mother had ever been dedicated to in life was Katie’s father. Monica Garrity didn’t have much use for her family’s small bakery or her sweet, unassuming mother who ran it. But she’d liked the convenience of being able to leave Katie with her grandma so she could travel with Katie’s father, Mike, as he competed and trained.

  Neither of her parents could accept the fact that Katie hadn’t inherited either their natural athleticism or their need for adrenaline. Katie had eaten to stuff down the feelings she had of being unworthy to even be a part of her immediate family, although she hadn’t known that was why she was doing it back then. All she’d understood was being in her grandma’s kitchen, both at Gram’s house and in the bakery, felt like where she belonged.

  But when her weight had become too much of an issue for her mother to ignore, Monica had threatened to ban Katie from Life is Sweet so she wouldn’t be tempted to overindulge. Katie had quickly learned to limit her weakness for bingeing on baked goods and had found that it made her a better apprentice baker. When she wasn’t constantly shoving food in her mouth, she actually appreciated the flavors more. Katie’s time in the bakery had always bothered her mother, but once she lost the extra weight there wasn’t much of an argument Monica could give to keep her away.

  Although the scale and mirror might not reflect it, Katie still felt like the same chubby girl she’d been so many years ago. She’d traded stuffing her own face for giving her baked goods away to friends and for charity events, like the Founder’s Day silent auction. But when her emotions threatened to get out of hand, food was always the first place she turned for comfort.