by Ann Roth
“I want you to be honest with me, Sly.” She pinned him with her big green eyes. “Do you want a relationship with me?”
He wasn’t about to lie. “I’m not great at relationships—not the long-term kind,” he said. “The truth is, I pretty much suck at them—just ask my last girlfriend.”
“I heard plenty from Amy Watkins and Sheila Sommers.”
“You talked to Sheila, as well?” He winced.
Lana nodded. “Her son is also enrolled at the day care.”
God only knew what the two women had said about him. “Then you get how bad I am at serious relationship stuff.” He shook his head. “Why can’t we just explore whatever this thing is between us and let whatever happens happen?”
She looked at him funny. “That’s exactly what two people do when they have a relationship.”
“See, I call that ‘casual dating.’ The R word sounds way too serious.”
“I’m not asking you to fall in love with me, Sly. I’m thinking ahead, to when I adopt.”
That could be a long way off yet. By the time it happened, they might not even be interested in each other anymore. “A baby’s a big deal,” he said cautiously.
“Huge.”
“Having a child will change a lot of things in your life.”
“In ways I can’t even imagine, though believe me, I dream about it constantly.” Lana smiled to herself as if she couldn’t wait. Then she sobered. “You and I talked about kids once before, and you said you don’t want any of your own. But putting the lawsuit aside, can you picture yourself in a stable relationship with me and my child?”
As badly as Sly wanted Lana, getting tangled up with her and her adopted baby scared him. “No,” he said.
“That’s a deal breaker.” She let out a sad sigh. “I guess we won’t be seeing each other anymore.”
As bad as Sly felt, he had to agree. The thing was, she really wanted the arrangement with Sophie to work, and he wanted that for her. “I’ll still come over and help with Sophie next Saturday,” he offered.
“I’d appreciate that. I’ll make lunch for the three of us.”
Sly nodded. “I’ll call you next week to confirm the time.”
“Okay.” She stood up, signaling that the evening had come to an end.
At her door, Sly lingered on the threshold. He started to reach for her, but he’d forfeited the chance to kiss her.
Tipping an imaginary hat, he walked out.
* * *
“I CAN’T MAKE it to dinner tonight,” Lana told her mother on the phone Sunday. It was almost noon and she was still in bed. “I have the flu.”
“You poor thing. Are you throwing up?”
“Twice so far.” First at dawn, when nausea had awakened her. She’d barely made it to the bathroom. It had happened again several hours later. She was still weak and nauseous.
“Have you eaten or drunk anything?”
“I’m afraid to.”
“You don’t want to get dehydrated. Try ginger ale or cola, something easy on the digestive system. If that stays down, nibble a soda cracker and see how that goes.”
“Thanks, Mom. I will.” If she could just get out of bed without heaving. “There’s a flu bug going around the day care. I must’ve caught it from the kids.”
She hoped Sly didn’t get it. After those melting kisses... But Lana wasn’t about to spend any time dreaming about that. Except for Sophie’s upcoming visit, she and Sly weren’t going to see each other again.
Which was for the best, but depressing all the same. She’d miss him.
“It isn’t the first time,” her mother said. Lana had to stop and remember what they were talking about. “Those children bring in all kinds of diseases.”
Ah, they’d been talking about getting the flu from her day-care kids.
“Why don’t I make you a batch of that chicken vegetable soup you love and bring it over?” her mother went on. “For later, when your stomach settles.”
This was her mother at her best—jumping in to help a family member in need. Why couldn’t she be this caring and supportive all the time?
As appreciative as Lana was of her mother’s solicitude, right now she couldn’t even contemplate food, let alone entertain. “That’s sweet, Mom, but you really shouldn’t. I’ll be terrible company, and I don’t want you to catch this nasty bug.”
“I won’t stay long. I’ll just pop in, say a quick ‘hi’ and set the soup and a couple bottles of cola in the fridge for you. They’ll keep you hydrated.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Lana yawned. “I’m going back to sleep now, so that I can get over this thing by tomorrow.”
“It wouldn’t hurt you to call in sick once in a while. You have two very capable assistants who I’m sure could run the day care just fine without you.”
“Jasmine and Brittany are great, but I love going to work.”
“Stubborn as always,” her mother said. “I’ll be over in an hour or so, honey.”
* * *
MONDAY MORNING, LANA was still queasy, but not sick enough to stay home. She was standing in front of a cupboard at Tender Loving Daycare, choosing supplies for the Monday art project and handing them to her assistants to arrange on the tables, when Jasmine frowned. “No offense, Lana, but you’re really pale. You don’t look so good.”
“You should have seen me yesterday,” she said. “You know that flu bug that’s going around? I caught it with a vengeance.”
Jasmine, who worked mornings and spent her afternoons at the local community college, where she was majoring in early child development, made a face. “Gosh, I hope I don’t get it, not with finals coming up.”
“Me, either,” Brittany said as she placed crayons in trays around the tables. She worked full-time. “I’m saving up for a new car and can’t afford to miss work.”
They were both in their early twenties and full of energy. They also loved kids. Lana counted herself lucky to have been able to hire them.
“I don’t have any classes today,” Jasmine said. “I was planning to start writing a paper for my child psych class, but if you need to go home, Lana, I can stay all day.”
Lana shook her head. “I appreciate that, Jas, but I’ll be okay. I’m a lot better than I was.”
The words turned out to be true. By the end of the day, Lana felt her usual self. Tuesday was the same, with a few queasy moments that soon passed. She’d finally kicked the flu bug.
Wednesday morning, Brittany and Jasmine set out the instruments for the weekly music class, which was always fun. Lana was sitting at the desk in the corner, sipping herbal tea and leafing through several well-worn children’s books for afternoon story time, when Brittany stilled and made a face. “Uh-oh.”
“Please don’t tell me you’re coming down with the flu,” Lana said.
“No, it’s my period. I’m a few days early, and I don’t have any supplies with me. Help!”
“I keep extras in my locker,” Jasmine said. “Come with me.”
The two women headed for the employee kitchen on the other side of the day care.
While they were gone, Lana contemplated her own cycle. Between meeting Sly and Sophie, so many things had happened over the past month that she’d barely thought about it. She counted back to her last period—it had finished at the end of March. She should have had another twenty-eight days later, near the end of April.
And here it was, the first week of May, and nothing.
She was never late, never. Was it stress? Maybe, but even during the divorce, which had dragged out for a few months and was exceptionally stressful, her cycle had remained as regular as clockwork.
The implications boggled her mind. Dear God, what if she was truly sick?
Lana sank onto one of the preschool c
hairs and sought to reassure herself. Aside from the flu, she felt decent enough—except for a queasy stomach in the mornings and at some points during the day. Her breasts were sore, and she’d been more emotional than usual. Even more than when she was PMSing.
Those were all signs of pregnancy.
She couldn’t possibly be pregnant. Could she?
The doctor had stated that her chances of getting pregnant were slim to none, which was why she and Sly had skipped using condoms.
Slim to none. That meant there was a teensy bit of a chance.
“Look at you, sitting in one of those little chairs and pale as the butcher-block paper we laid out,” Brittany said. “Don’t you want to go home?”
Lana managed a fleeting smile. “No, but I think I’d better. Are you two sure you can handle this?”
“I’ve worked here for almost a year,” Brittany said. “And Jas has been here since September. We have the day-care routine figured out.”
Lana nodded. “Okay, but if anything happens, be sure to call.”
“We will,” Jasmine assured her. “Just rest up and get well.”
* * *
LANA DROVE STRAIGHT to the drugstore. Not quite ready to head inside and buy what she needed, she sat in the car and speed-dialed Kate, who was at work. “Can you talk?” she said.
“I haven’t opened the doors yet, so now is good,” Kate replied. “Shouldn’t you be greeting the first kids of the day about now?”
“I left work.”
“You’re still sick with the flu. I’m sorry, sweetie. You’ve got a real nasty bug.”
“It’s not the flu,” Lana said. “I— This is strictly confidential.”
“Oh, God, don’t tell me it’s something even worse.”
“Actually, it’s wonderful.” And scary.
“You’ve got me really curious. Let me guess—you’re sneaking away to meet Sly. Now there’s a yummy idea.”
“I told you over the weekend that after Sophie comes over this Saturday we decided not to see each other again.”
“So? You can still sleep together.”
“Will you please stop?” Lana said.
“You don’t have to yell.” Kate finally got quiet.
Even though Lana was sitting in her car with all the windows up, she lowered her voice to a whisper. “My period is late.”
“I can barely hear you. It sounded like you said your period is late.”
“You heard right.”
“But you’re always as regular as clockwork.... Wait just a hot damn minute. Are you saying what I think you are?”
Lana pictured her friend, face aglow with excitement. For the first time since she’d realized that she might be pregnant, she smiled. “I’m sitting in the drugstore parking lot, about to pick up a couple of pregnancy tests. Will you come over after work and keep me company while I take them?”
Kate didn’t even pause before answering, “Definitely.”
Chapter Ten
It’d been a long day, but to Sly’s relief, it hadn’t rained. The weather experts predicted a long dry spell. Which was bad for crops, but good for Sly. No more mud for a while. Now would be perfect to install that new drainage system—if he only had the funds. He wished Carpenter would hurry up and pay him what he owed. Otherwise, he’d be forced to take out a loan. The thought weighed heavily on him, and by the time he wandered into the mudroom at sunset, he was grouchy, dirty and running on empty.
His belly rumbling, he wandered into the kitchen, where Mrs. Rutland was slipping into her jacket to go home. Sly pushed his worries away to focus on more pressing needs. “My mouth is watering. What did you make?”
“Beef stew,” she said. “It’s simmering, but should be ready in about half an hour. Be sure to soak the pan. I’ll wash it in the morning. Your salad and a coconut cream pie are in the fridge, and that loaf of homemade bread on the counter is still warm.”
Sly licked his lips. “What would I do without you?” he asked, and he was dead serious.
“Either learn to eat your own cooking, live on fast food or get married. I’ll be here bright and early tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Mrs. R.”
After a quick shower, Sly stepped into clean clothes. Barefoot, he took the stairs two at a time. In the kitchen he helped himself to a generous portion of stew and a thick slab of bread slathered with butter and jam.
As always, the food was delicious, but as much as Sly relished his solitude, tonight he wanted company to take his mind off his troubles. Female company, and not just any woman. Someone who would listen and understand, without making any demands on him. Lana.
He imagined packing up the meal and bringing it to her place to share with him. She’d insist that she was full, and then steal a piece of his buttered bread. She’d talk about her day and ask him about his.
Sly wasn’t about to analyze his emotions. He knew what he wanted and that was that.
So what if they couldn’t date or enjoy a short-term relationship? Who cared if their feelings for each other were too hot for friendship, or that they wanted different things? He could still drop by with dinner and say hello—if she was home.
He picked up his cell phone to find out.
* * *
“WHAT IF I’M PREGNANT?” Lana asked, propping her chin heavily on her fist. “What if I’m not?”
Several cartons of Chinese food from her favorite Chinese takeout sat between her and Kate on the breakfast-nook table. Normally she relished every bite and often had seconds. Tonight, she was too wound up to do more than pick at her meal.
“Which would you rather be—as if I didn’t know?” Kate asked.
“Pregnant.” Lana wanted that with her whole being. There was only one problem. “If I am, I’m going to have to tell Sly.”
“Since he’s the daddy-to-be, that’s only fair.”
“I suppose, but he won’t be happy about it.”
“He’ll certainly be surprised, that’s for sure. I’d want time to absorb a bombshell like this.”
“Of course there’s that. But once, when we were discussing having kids, Sly said he didn’t want any. He raised his brother, and apparently that didn’t turn out so well. He said that had been enough fathering for him.”
“That was probably just talk.” Looking thoughtful, Kate picked a crispy noodle from her plate and popped it into her mouth. “But suppose he doesn’t want a child. What’ll you do then?”
Lana had already decided that. “The same thing I’ve been planning to do for months now—raise him or her by myself. That is, if I’m pregnant. What if I’m not?”
“Here we go again,” Kate muttered. “There’s only one way to find out. Take. The. Test. You’ve been stalling since I walked in the door.”
“Because we wanted to eat first.” Because she was afraid.
Kate scoffed. “I’m the only one who ate. Let’s do this.”
“I guess it’s time,” Lana said. “After we clean up the dinner mess.”
“It’ll keep for a while. No more delay tactics. I want to find out if you’re pregnant almost as badly as you do. So march your behind into the bathroom now, or I swear, I’ll drag you in there.”
Lana saluted. “Yes, ma’am.”
Minutes later, Lana sat on the toilet lid, holding her breath while she waited for the results of the digital pregnancy test. Naturally, her cell phone rang. Several bars of Shenandoah’s “Mama Knows” tinkled through the air.
Lana moaned. “That’s my mother. She always did have impeccable timing. I’ll let it go to voice mail.”
In what seemed like seconds later, her cell phone rang again, this time without an identifying tune.
Kate, who was sitting cross-legged on the carpet just outside the open bathroom door, staring at
the timer on her cell phone, glanced in the direction of Lana’s phone. “You’re popular tonight. You want me to pick that up for you?”
“Are you kidding? There’s no way I can talk to anyone right now.”
“At least let me check who it is.” Kate grabbed the phone. Her eyes widened. “You won’t believe this. It’s Sly.”
“I definitely can’t talk to him,” Lana wailed.
“Yeah, that would be really awkward.” Kate set the phone down.
Feeling as if she would die if she didn’t find out soon, Lana said, “How many seconds left?”
Kate checked the timer. “About seventy.”
Those moments dragged on forever, but finally, the timer buzzed.
For all her impatience, Lana sat frozen in place.
“Well?” Kate asked. “Aren’t you going to check the results?”
“I can’t.”
“Hand it over.”
Kate studied the LED display with a blank expression. Uh-oh.
Lana’s heart sank. She wasn’t pregnant after all. “Bad news, huh?”
“Actually, it’s the opposite.” Kate beamed at her. “Congratulations, Lana. You’re pregnant.”
Certain she’d misheard, Lana shook her head. “Say that again?”
Kate held out the results for her to read. “In big, bold letters, it says pregnant. Congratulations, Lana. You’re going to have a baby!”
Afraid to hope—she’d waited and suffered for so many years to be where she was now—Lana bit her lip. “Maybe I should take another test, just to make sure.”
“The packaging and instructions claim that this test is ninety-nine-percent accurate, Lana.”
“Which means there’s a one-percent chance that it’s wrong.”
“All right, have it your way. But I’ll bet my last paycheck that the next test results come out the same.”
Lana had bought three different pregnancy test kits. She took all three, and every time the results were the same.
“I’m pregnant! I’m pregnant!” Laughing, she hugged Kate hard. “I never imagined this could happen to me.”
