She gave me a sidelong glance. "Soon? Not the minute you get home? Not tonight at dinner? Just soon?"
I rested my forehead against the car window. "I can't just blurt it out. I have to wait for the right moment."
Zelda snickered. "Soon you won't have to tell him because of your baby bump and your suddenly giant bosoms."
I waved a hand at her. "I won’t have a baby bump for months."
"You're scared to tell him?"
I watched as the scenery sped by. "It's just a lot."
"A lot of what?"
I sighed and glanced at her. "If I tell him and then he proposes. Is it because of the baby or because he wants to marry me?"
Zelda smacked my arm with the back of her hand. "You're being stupid. You know that man wants to marry you. You know that. I know that. You know that I know that. The only question is, do you want to marry him?"
I leaned back my head and closed my eyes. I wanted to marry Ted. In spite of my fears and nerves. I knew that. I always knew that. But with the news of the baby something changed.
I couldn't stop thinking about my mother. Where was she? Had she ever looked for me? Ever regretted giving me away? I'd just learned that I was pregnant, and I couldn't imagine ever giving away the baby that grew inside me. Once my baby was born, it would probably have to be pried out of my arms. Yet she’d been able to let go of me. Had she ever felt the way I felt right then when I was inside of her? When she looked at me for the first time? When she held me in her arms?
As much as I longed to know my mother and why she gave me away, I'd never been brave enough to look for her. To demand the answers. But things had changed. I knew something I didn't know before. The connection you have with your baby. She must've felt it with me. But if she had, why did she let me go? Why did she leave me so alone in the world?
I blew out a sigh, realizing that having this baby would be more than starting a family — it would also be about finding the family I never knew.
Zelda cast me a look. "You're too quiet. What’s going on in that whacked out brain of yours?"
I smiled at my friend, my sister in spirit, if not in blood. "Family. I'm thinking about family."
Chapter Fifty-Two
Zelda hovered in the doorway as I got ready for my date with Ted. I turned to her and frowned. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
She chuckled anxiously. "So tonight is the big night huh?"
I hooked a blue crystal earring through my ear. "Maybe we should stop saying that — it might jinx things." I frowned at her "The last time I thought Ted would propose I ended up locked in a garage with a maniac."
Zelda scratched her chin and shook her head. "No, tonight's different."
I faced her. "Why? Because of the baby?" I took a step toward her and squinted. "And are you going to tell me what you know or not? Because if you’re not, then shut the hell up."
She held up her hands and shook her head. "There’s nothing to tell, honest. I just sense that you're different. Maybe it’s because of the baby, but you don't look scared anymore."
I chuckled. "Well, I am." I tugged and smoothed my dress. Checking myself in the mirror, I could already see a slight swell in my stomach, and I cradled my belly.
Zelda pointed and made a goofy face. "Already imagining your baby bump?"
I jerked my hands away from my belly. "No, just wondering if Ted will notice that I've gained weight." I walked to the door. "Can I get through, please?"
Zelda stepped out of the doorway and let me pass. I went into the living room and crossed to the window. Looking out I said, "Ted will be here soon." The butterflies in my stomach fluttered like I was about to go on a first date.
"Okay, so before he gets here, I have to tell you something."
I looked away from the window. Zelda stood on the other side of the room, squirming like she had to pee. "What's got you so jumpy? I’m the one who’s pregnant."
Her eyes drifted to mine. She held up her hands. "Don't be mad, but I do know something you don't know."
I pointed at her. "I knew it!" I cranked my hand. "Come on, out with it."
Zelda winced. "Ted consulted me about the ring. It's a family heirloom, passed on from his great grandmother to his grandmother and now to you." She smiled. "He's worried you won't like it because it's old fashioned. And if you don't like the ring…"
"I love the ring."
"…that you'll say no. Or it will screw up the proposal somehow. So you've got to like the ring, okay?"
I repeated myself but louder. "I love the ring, it's perfect."
Zelda wasn’t listening and continued in her own orbit saying, "He thinks the diamond's too small and that he should buy you a $20,000 rock. But I told him you like simple. Classic. You're not a flashy girl."
Louder still, I said, "I love the ring. The ring is perfect."
Zelda stopped. "Wait. What?"
I sighed. "I've seen it. It's beautiful. It's perfect. It couldn't be more perfect."
Zelda did the one eyebrow raise. "Holding out on me?"
I held up my hands. "I found it in his dresser drawer. I wasn't looking for it. Just a tee-shirt because somebody forgot to pack clothes in my overnight bag. I couldn't help myself. I had to see it." I grinned. "It took my breath away."
"You like it?"
I hugged her. "I love it. And I love you." I let her go and pushed the bangs out of her eyes. "Thanks for helping him. Maybe he's as nervous as I am. It's all good, Zee."
Zelda got sad and a little weepy. "I guess it's the end of an era. You'll marry Ted, have your baby. Boomer and I will become old spinster ladies together, huh?" Boomer raised his head at the mention of his name, whimpered, then went back to sleep.
I tugged her ponytail. "With me riding off into the sunset? Are you kidding? We have a business together, and you're my best friend. That’s not going to change. All we're doing is adding one tiny little person." I pinched her. "Who you, no doubt, will spoil, teach bad habits to and conspire against me with." Headlights flashed at the window. I blew out a breath and smiled. "Wish me luck."
<<>>
We went to the Castaway — the scene of our first official date. But this time, we sat outside, under the stars. A slight breeze flickered the candle on our table and rustled my hair. Ted looked handsome in the moonlight and gave me his smile more than he had recently. Getting to this good place had taken time and patience, but it was worth it.
There was a calm between us now that we'd come through family matters, careers, choices, and our pasts. I was still crazy about him, but all that nervous need had been replaced with something stronger, something deeper.
I watched him eat. "Enjoying that lobster quite a bit there mister."
He looked up and grinned, the shine of melted butter on his chin. With my napkin I wiped away the butter. His eyes shone like liquid emeralds in the moonlight. He looked at my plate. "You're not hungry?"
I took a bite of baked potato and tried not to gag. "Sure I am." The smell of the rich food gurgled my stomach and made it do loopty-loops. I just wanted to get through the evening without throwing up — at least not until after the proposal. I took another bite of potato. "See?"
He frowned softly and put the back of his hand to my forehead.. "Do you feel all right? What did the doctor say?"
That was my opening. I took his hand and kissed it, then held it in both of mine. "I'm fine. Perfectly healthy."
He wasn't convinced. "So was it the flu?"
I bit my lip. "No, not the flu."
Ted looked at me expectantly.
I blew out a sigh, resigned to the idea that baby news before marriage proposals was how it was going to be. I leaned forward. "You remember when I told you…"
"Hey! Look who's here!" said a familiar voice.
I cursed under my breath and turned. Steve stood a few feet away on the steps, grinning like an idiot.
How he hobbled down those steps in a leg cast was beyond me. Behind him trooping down the tiered steps
were the rest of the Jordan clan with Melinda leading the charge.
I leaned across the table and whispered. "You told them where we were going?"
Ted scowled. "I told Steve, but he swore…"
I could feel the tears rising. "Not tonight honey. Please. I love your family but make them go. I need to talk to you — alone." I pulled my hands away from his and narrowed my eyes. "Get rid of them. Now."
They clustered at the landing about twenty feet from our table — chuckling, grinning and waiting. I wasn't happy, but I wasn't surprised either. This was just who they were, and I'd have to get used to it. Once you were a Jordan, then it was all for one and one for all. They truly couldn't help themselves. They wanted to be there when he popped the question, and I understood their excitement. Still, I had to put my foot down. Silently I asked my baby to forgive me for bringing her into this crazy family.
Ted chuckled. "Now, you see why I waited to tell them about you?"
I waved my butter knife at him. "This isn't funny."
He tweaked my nose. "It's a little bit funny."
I creased him with a look, and he lost the grin. He patted my hand and said, "I'll take care of it." He scraped back his chair, stood and crossed the short distance to his family. "Okay you guys, that’s enough."
I angled in my chair so I could watch them. Ted spoke quietly, and there were a lot of protests and giggles. After a few minutes, they turned and headed back up the steps to the restaurant. Ted remained on the landing, motioning them to keep going as they dragged their heels. Finally they reached the top and went inside.
Ted came back to the table and sat down. "Mission accomplished. Okay?"
I squinted at him. "They're still there, aren't they? Watching us through the windows?"
His eyes looked past me and upward. "Affirmative."
I threw my napkin on the table. "That's it."
He reached for me. "Honey."
I wagged a finger at him. "Don't honey me. There has to be ground rules. There has to be boundaries. And they have to learn them now or this will just keep happening."
Ted shrugged. "I only told Steve. I didn't invite them here."
I shook my head. "That’s your excuse? You know whatever you tell Steve you tell the whole world." My hormones keyed up and I started to cry. "Why did you tell him? Why did you let him ruin it?"
Ted took my hand. "I'm sorry honey, but he's my best friend. I tell him everything. Like you tell Zelda everything. Right?"
I swiped at my tears. "I just wanted one night alone with you. I wanted this night alone with you. Just you."
He nodded his head toward the restaurant. "They're way up there. We can still have our night."
I pushed back my chair and stood. "No! I'm not going to sit here while they're watching us. I can't. I just can't."
Ted jumped out of his chair and came around the table to me. "Okay, okay. We'll go somewhere else."
I shook my head. "They'll just follow us." I looked up at him. "I love you, Ted. But I'm not going to put up with this."
"Okay, I'll talk to them. It'll never happen again. I promise." He put his hand under my chin and lifted my head so I'd look at him. "Okay?"
I pulled away from him and started for the stairs. "Just take me home."
He followed me. "Scotti? Baby?"
When I came through the door, they all stared and grinned. I threw up my hands and groaned. Steve started to make a crack, but Ted stepped between us and said, "Not one word. Any of you. Not. One. Word."
They went silent like chastised children.
I hurried for the exit. Ted called to me, but I had to get out of there or lose it. So I kept going. "Scotti, wait. I have to pay the check."
Val wasn't kidding about the hormones. Standing in front of the restaurant I gulped in the cool night air, trying to calm myself. I loved Ted with all my heart, but marrying him meant marrying his family. Would they just happen to show up at the honeymoon too? And it wasn't just Ted and me anymore — I had a baby to think about. I had a lot to think about. I groaned and buried my face in my hands.
His voice was so soft that I barely heard him. "Scotti?"
I wiped my face and turned around. Ted knelt on one knee, holding up the open ring box to me.
My whole body tingled and I stepped toward him. "Ted?"
His voice was shaky and his hand twitched from nerves. "Scotti Fitzgerald. I love you. I've loved you the moment I saw you. I knew you were the one. My one."
I stepped closer. Tears bloomed in my eyes. "Ted."
"I know I'm not perfect. And neither is my family. But I swear I'll always love you. I'll always be here for you. And I'll spend the rest of my life trying to make you happy."
I pressed my hand to his cheek and looked into his soulful eyes. "You do make me happy. I love you too."
Ted stood and his eyes brimmed with tears. He whispered, "I don't want to live my life without you, baby. I know there's a thousand reasons to say no. But will you please, please marry me? Will you be my wife?"
I looked into Ted's eyes and saw only love there. It's what I'd always seen in his eyes.
The ring sparkled in the moonlight, and I was drawn to it. The perfect ring. My ring. I only had to say one word and it would be mine. Ted would be mine. Forever. "Um…"
The End.
About the Author
Anita Rodgers has always loved a good mystery – starting with her dad’s collection of Mickey Spillane novels. And she learned early on that her love of solving puzzles and making stuff up was a perfect skill set for mystery writing. The Scotti Fitzgerald Mystery series was inspired by her many years of slinging burgers and waiting tables in a wide array of eating establishments – from fine dining to greasy spoons.
She is also the author of the mystery, False Witness, which is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online retailers. Anita resides in Southern California, where she enjoys hiking, gardening, and of course reading. Her blog can be found at: http://www.writerchick.wordpress.com. Follow her on Twitter @WCAnnie, and Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/AnitaRodgersMysteryWriter
Thank You
I thank you sincerely for reading my work and hope you have enjoyed it. I’d greatly appreciate it if you’d take a few minutes to write an honest review of this book on the site where you purchased it. Next to a pen, reader’s feedback is the most valuable thing in the world to a writer. And I look forward to yours.
M.urder R.eady to E.at (A Scotti Fitzgerald Murder Mystery Book 2) Page 35
