The Friends We Keep (Mischief Bay)

by Susan Mallery

  On the bright side, there was something comforting about knowing that her day was going to end here—with her husband. The two of them discussing what was going on. Which so far had been nothing. Still, connecting seemed to be helping them both.

  He held up the bottle of brandy. She shook her head.

  “I’m still going to class at Nicole’s studio. I’m not sure I see the sense of working that hard, then drinking the calories later.”

  “I’m impressed,” he told her.

  “Thanks. I think the class makes me feel as if I’m in control of something.”

  He sat next to her and laced his fingers with hers. “What a mess.”

  “It is, but we’re getting through it.” It was day three of having learned about Makayla’s pregnancy, so they still had a long way to go, but still. A start. “I appreciate that you canceled your business trip to stay home this week. It helps.”

  “It’s the least I can do. Anything to report?”

  Gabby thought about her day. “I made an appointment for Makayla with my doctor’s office. The practice is all women, so that will help, but it’s not going to be easy.” There was peeking and probing when one was pregnant. When the mother-to-be was excited about having a baby, the visits were a small price to pay.

  “Thanks for doing that,” Andrew said. “Candace texted and asked if she could trade this coming weekend for the next one. I agreed, mostly because it means putting off telling her, at least for a couple of weeks.”

  “I would have done the same,” Gabby told him.

  She shifted so she could lean against him. He put his arm around her.

  “Candace is going to tell her to have an abortion.”

  “We don’t know how far along she is.”

  “I’m sure she’ll offer to find a doctor who will do it anyway.”

  Gabby sighed. “Makayla is fifteen. This is traumatic enough without throwing that into the mix. She says she wants to have the baby. I don’t think we need to push her into any other decision right now.” There would be plenty of time to get the adoption process going once they had more information.

  “We are talking about Candace,” he pointed out. “This is the same woman who didn’t understand why she had to give up three weeks of work after having a baby. I swear, if it had been up to her, she would have gone back to the office the next day.”

  Gabby believed it. Candace had been the one to change the parenting plan to spend less time with her daughter, not more. Whatever her thoughts on Makayla getting pregnant, the conversation wasn’t going to go well.

  “This is going to be my first grandchild,” Andrew said with a sigh. “Not how I imagined it.”

  Gabby sat up and faced him. “That means I’m...” She couldn’t say it.

  He smiled. “No. She’s your stepdaughter. It’s different.”

  “Not really. I’m thirty-three. I can’t be a grandmother.” She was the mother of five-year-olds. That was more age-appropriate. “We are not having this conversation.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  He pulled her close again and she relaxed against him. A grandmother. Impossible. Well, she just wouldn’t think about it. At least not for tonight.

  * * *

  Gary’s Café had been around forever. The original Gary had been dead at least twenty years and when his widow had sold the place, there’d been concern about changes. But the new owners had respected the idea of great food in an old-fashioned setting and had kept everything exactly the same. So despite three spruces and one complete remodel, Gary’s Café still had red vinyl booths, the specials written on a chalkboard and the best burgers in town.

  Hayley stared at the familiar sign over the low, one-story restaurant and told herself that she was getting out. Having lunch with friends. That was good. A distraction, which was something she desperately needed in her life. Because if she stopped moving, stopped doing things, she would start thinking, and thinking meant having to feel something. She didn’t want to feel anything.

  Rob still wasn’t back. It had been nearly a week. He’d gone by while she was working—just as he’d said he would—and collected the rest of his things. He hadn’t phoned, hadn’t been in touch in any way. He was just gone.

  She couldn’t believe it. They were married. A couple. She thought he loved her. Yet he’d walked away without looking back.

  She knew she was still in shock—and that was probably for the best. She didn’t want to have to deal with all the messiness and pain when the truth set in. Disbelief and a little righteous indignation were far easier to manage.

  As she collected her purse and got out of her car, she thought about how much she missed him. Their small house echoed without him. The bed was too big, the nighttime hours too long.

  She wasn’t sleeping and it was difficult to eat. In the hours between four in the morning and dawn, she allowed herself to admit the truth. That Rob had every right to be furious with her. Not for wanting to try to have a baby—that was her decision. But about the house. Going behind his back like that had been wrong and she knew it.

  She crossed to the entrance to the diner and saw that Nicole was already there.

  “How’s it going?” her friend asked, giving her a quick hug. Nicole paused. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. A little tired.” Hayley forced a smile and hoped it looked natural. She still hadn’t decided if she was going to tell anyone about Rob leaving. “How about with you?”

  “I’m doing well. Busy with work. The usual.” Nicole glanced away, as if she had something else to say, but before Hayley could press her, Gabby joined them.

  There were more hugs before they were seated at a booth, with Hayley seated on one side and the other two on the other. Their server took their drink orders right away, before leaving to let them look over the menu. Hayley told herself having lunch with her friends would make her feel better. If nothing else, the love and support would help and she certainly needed the meal.

  Gabby studied Nicole. “What?” she demanded. “There’s something.”

  “Seriously? You can tell?”

  That got Hayley’s attention. “What happened?”

  “I had a date with Jairus,” Nicole blurted.

  Hayley had no idea who that was. Even more startling was her friend going out. Nicole hadn’t been on a date since the divorce was final. “Did I know you were interested in someone?”

  “Who’s Jairus?” Gabby asked at the same time.

  Nicole groaned. “You’re going to make me say it?”

  “Apparently,” Gabby murmured. “Why does that name sound familiar?”

  Nicole raised her eyebrows and waited.

  “Jairus... Jairus... OMG, you went out with Brad the Dragon.”

  “The author of Brad,” Nicole corrected. “I’ve been out of the single world for a long time, but not so long that I have to resort to dating fictional characters.”

  “You went on a date!” Gabby hugged her. “Good for you. How was it? Not that it matters. You did it. The second time won’t be so scary. So how was it?”

  Nicole wrinkled her nose. “Better than I thought,” she admitted. “He was nice and we had a good time. He made me laugh and that was unexpected.”

  “That’s great,” Hayley said, happy for her friend.

  “It’s unexpected,” Nicole admitted. “I’m confused about the whole thing.”

  “Are you going to see him again?” Hayley asked.

  The server arrived with their iced teas. Everyone ordered the burger special—the house burger topped with guacamole and bacon.

  Nicole waited until she’d left to say, “I am. Even if nothing comes of it, I could sure use the practice. But it feels very strange, I have to tell you.”

  “What does Tyler think of all this?”
Gabby asked.

  “I’m not telling him. It’s too soon. Plus with the whole B the D connection, he’s going to get super excited. I don’t want him thinking Jairus is sticking around. I mean, it was one date.”

  Nicole had always been sensible, Hayley thought. She ran her own business, managed her divorce with grace and strength. Nicole would never spend five years and tens of thousands of dollars chasing an impossible dream. She would figure out that she wasn’t meant to have children and move on.

  While Hayley admired that about her friend, she couldn’t emulate it. Of course, Nicole didn’t have her past.

  She debated telling them about Rob but honestly didn’t know what to say. She didn’t want the sympathy or the comfort they would offer. Either would break through her carefully constructed shield. Then she would crumble. What if she fell apart in so many pieces there was no putting her back together?

  “Okay,” Gabby said, drawing in a breath. “I have something to say.” She looked at Hayley. “I just don’t know how.”

  Gabby had figured out Rob was gone, Hayley thought frantically. She didn’t want to start crying. If she did, she might never stop. But how to distract her friend?

  “It’s about Makayla.”

  “What? Is she okay?”

  “Yes. No. I just...” Gabby pressed her lips together. Her brown eyes were dark with emotion. “Hayley, I’m sorry. Really, really sorry. You’re going to find out and I’d rather it was from me. But it’s making me sick to say this.”

  Hayley pressed a hand to her chest. “You’re scaring me.”

  “I don’t mean to. Well, sugar. Makayla’s pregnant.”

  Hayley waited for the “and she’s dying” but Gabby didn’t say anything else.

  She lowered her arm to her side. Relief chased out apprehension, leaving her a little light-headed, but otherwise okay. The news was shocking, but not the worst thing ever. Why would—

  And then she got it.

  “Oh, Gabby.” Hayley reached across the table and squeezed her friend’s hand. “You’re sweet to worry about me, but Makayla getting pregnant doesn’t have anything to do with me beyond how it affects you. Are you okay?”

  Tears filled Gabby’s eyes. “No, but that’s not the point. It’s so unfair. I know you and Rob are trying everything and you can’t stay pregnant while my fifteen-year-old stepdaughter does it twice and gets knocked up. That totally sucks.”

  “It does, but it’s not your fault.”

  Nicole bumped Gabby’s shoulder with her own. “She’s right. This has nothing to do with any of us, but we’re here for you.”

  “Thanks.” Gabby sighed. “I appreciate your attitude. I’ll admit, I was worried. You’re my friend. I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “You didn’t.”

  “Are you sure you’re okay? You seem way more calm than I thought you’d be.”

  “I’m a little bitter, but I can deal.” Funny how two weeks ago the news would have shattered her. Although it wasn’t fun to hear, it couldn’t touch her. Not with Rob gone.

  “How are you managing all this?” Nicole asked. “Talk about a game changer.”

  “I know. It’s a nightmare. We were stunned when we found out. The father is only a year older. They say they’re in love and they’re going to stay together, no matter what, but we have our doubts. His mother is awful—that doesn’t help.” Gabby folded her arms across her chest. “Makayla’s a kid herself. There’s no good outcome. Whatever happens, her life is changed forever.”

  “Is she giving up the baby for adoption?” Nicole asked, darting a glance at Hayley.

  “We haven’t talked about it, but I’m assuming so. She can’t keep it. She needs to finish high school and go to college.”

  “Exactly.”

  For a second Hayley wondered if Gabby was going to offer her the baby. On the surface, it would solve so many problems. But Hayley didn’t want someone else’s child and Gabby knew that.

  “I’m sorry,” Hayley told her. “About all of it. Poor you.”

  “Thanks. We’re getting through it. Andrew’s been great. We haven’t told anyone yet. The twins don’t know. We figured they could wait for a while. I’m taking Makayla to the doctor and then we’ll know how far along she is. I’m guessing she’s close to four months.”

  Hayley had gotten to four months with her first pregnancy. But after that, she’d never made twelve weeks. Not that she needed to be thinking about her miscarriages.

  “You’ll get through this,” Hayley told her. “So will Makayla. Hopefully she’ll learn from what happened.”

  “That would be wonderful, but I’m not holding my breath. Anyway, I wanted to tell you.”

  “I’m glad you did. I’m okay.”

  Gabby smiled at her. “I hope you are, but if you’re lying to protect me, I want you to know I really, really appreciate it.”

  Hayley managed a laugh. “I’m not. I swear.” Hearing the news wasn’t fun, but compared to having lost Rob, it didn’t matter at all.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Nicole’s case of nerves for her second date with Jairus was different from the one before her first date. Then she’d been worried about dating. It had been too long. The rules had changed. She was out of practice. She wasn’t ready. Whatever. There had been a thousand reasons, but none of them had been about the man.

  This time was different. This time the fluttering, slightly anxious woozy sensation was specifically about Jairus. She didn’t like that. She didn’t like it at all.

  She hadn’t wanted to like him. The man was responsible for the hell that was Brad the Dragon. But having gotten to know him a little, how could she not? He was basically a very nice man, who was also funny and sexy, and when he smiled she felt quivers.

  She was doomed. Worse, she had nothing to wear.

  Nicole stared at the contents of her closet and groaned. There was nothing new, nothing cute and she hadn’t wanted to borrow from Shannon a second time. Once was understandable. More than that would be tacky.

  But nothing she owned seemed appropriate. She was meeting Jairus for dinner at McGrath’s Pub. They were having a weekend barbecue, which sounded completely casual, but wasn’t. It was a special once-a-year event that required tickets. For that, she needed something cute and a little bit sexy.

  White crop pants, a stylish sleeveless top and some killer flat sandals. Or a swingy little dress. What she had instead was an entire wardrobe of workout wear, ratty shorts and tank tops, and a sundress that was not only stained but at least six years old. She honestly couldn’t remember the last time she’d bought herself something new. Even from a super discount store.

  “Is Gabby right?” she asked herself as she studied her clothes. “Am I punishing myself for the failure of my marriage?”

  Really good question, but not helpful right now. Clothes first, she told herself. Self-analysis later.

  She dug through her closet again and found a white denim skirt with the tags still on it. It was shorter than she usually liked, which explained why it was unworn. She tossed the skirt on the bed and went in for a second round of closet digging. She found a couple of tank tops, along with a sleeveless wrap shirt in red. Then she turned to study her options.

  The wrap shirt was adorable, but cut practically to her navel. While she exercised regularly and didn’t mind being seen in tight workout clothes, she wasn’t going to flash her boobs to the world. But she did have a plain white tank top. If she tucked that into the skirt and wore the red top over it, she would be layered, not exposed.

  Wardrobe crisis solved.

  She dashed into the bathroom and did her makeup. The event was going to be on the boardwalk, which meant sun, wind and possibly ocean spray. She pulled her long blond hair into a high ponytail, fluffed her bangs, then applied two coat
s of hair spray. She got dressed, remembering at the last minute to snip the tag from the skirt. While her plain brown sandals weren’t killer, they would have to do. Five minutes later, she and Tyler were on their way to Pam’s condo.

  Pam had moved the year before, turning her two-story house over to her daughter and moving into an oceanfront condo. She’d bought the condo from their friend Shannon, who had married Adam and moved in with him. It had been a fun time of musical houses.

  Nicole pulled into the visitor parking. She and Tyler went up the stairs to Pam’s door. He rang the bell and they immediately heard Lulu barking.

  “Okay, little girl,” Pam said, her voice muffled by the closed door.

  Lulu went quiet. Nicole knew that meant she’d been picked up. Nicole had a feeling that if she owned a dog it wouldn’t be anywhere near as well behaved as Lulu. The little Chinese crested seemed to speak English as well as most people.

  “Hi, you two,” Pam said as she let them in. “Tyler, what do you think? I thought you’d appreciate Lulu’s outfit.”

  Due to her lack of hair, Lulu had to be protected from both sun and cold. She wore sunscreen and little shirts or sweaters, depending on the season. Today Lulu sported a doggie-style tank dress in camouflage.

  Tyler laughed as he petted the dog. “She’s a girl.”

  “Girls can be soldiers,” Nicole said automatically. “Maybe not Lulu, but other girls.”

  “Not ones that small,” he pointed out.

  “There is that.”

  “I’ll admit Lulu isn’t military grade.” Pam set the dog on the floor. Lulu immediately ran over to greet them. “But she has a big heart.”

  Tyler sat down in the entryway and held out his arms. Lulu scrambled onto his lap, planted her tiny front paws on his chest and proceeded to kiss his entire face. Tyler laughed and hugged her.

  Nicole let her date worry fade for a second as she appreciated the fact that Tyler was gentle and kind. Hormones and peer pressure would eventually toughen him up, she thought wistfully. But she really hoped those qualities survived the growing-up process.