by Steena Marie
She shrugged.
“Oh, come on.” Nyah nudged her foot and smiled. “Bed rest isn’t all that bad. You’ve got Matt, who will be at your beck and call, and you know you’ll have lots of friends come out to keep you company.”
“Wait a minute.” Matt leaned back in his chair. “I think I might be with Becky on this…bed rest seems kind of hard core, doesn’t it?” He winked at her.
“Well,” Becky smiled, “now that you mention it…” She took his hand and squeezed before she leaned forward as a sharp pain tore across her stomach.
“Oh,” she moaned through the tightness as Nyah had taught when they’d rushed to the hospital earlier.
“Becky?” Matt leaned forward and placed his hand on her stomach. “It’s okay,” he said. “It’s going to be okay.” He struggled to soothe her, to talk her through it.
As the wave of pain washed over her, Becky clutched at her belly. Please don’t let anything happen to their baby, please…she silently prayed. As the tightness dissipated, she relaxed slightly and leaned back.
“Is the baby going to be okay?” she asked Nyah weakly. The fear of losing her child, of there being something wrong, scared her. If bed rest was what she needed to do to protect her baby, she’d do it. She’d knit baby blankets and booties and hats and…
“You’re both going to be okay, I promise.” Nyah leaned against the bed and lightly touched her shoulder.
Becky nodded. Yes, they were both going to be okay. They had to be. She refused to think anything else, to believe anything else.
“Mom, do you have any knitting needles I can borrow?”
Norma shook her head. “You tried knitting once, remember? A scarf. A simple project that ended up being full of nothing but holes.” She came to stand beside the bed and touched Becky’s leg. “Movies. Now is a great time to watch some of those movies you keep telling me about and maybe read some books.”
“Movies? Books?” Becky repeated.
“I believe that’s what you told me when I was stuck here, in this hospital.” There was something that resembled a smile on her mother’s face.
“I also came to see you every day.” She rubbed the ache in her belly and tried to keep the pain off her face. She knew everyone watched her closely.
Norma nodded. “Guess that means I’ll have to do the same. Now, I’ve got some people to round up to do some baking. I wonder if I can convince my grandson to make some cinnamon tea cakes. Everyone loves my tea cakes and they’re perfect for a wedding.”
“Ryan loves spending time with you,” Matt said.
“Well, of course he does. I’m his grandmother.” Norma huffed before she made her way out of the room. “Matt, I’ll need you to take me home, please,” she called over her shoulder.
Becky gripped her husband’s hand tighter. “You’ll come back, right?”
“Of course I will.” Matt stood and kissed her. “You’re okay? Really?”
Becky nodded and forced a smile on her face.
“How about I bring you a hot chocolate back with me and maybe something sweet to eat?”
“I’ll take one of those too,” Nyah said. “I’ll sit here with you until Matt comes back. We can catch up and maybe you can help me figure out what I’m doing wrong with my cookies.” She sat down once Matt left, after Norma called out to him again.
“Your mother is one tough cookie, isn’t she?” Nyah mentioned.
“That’s one way of saying it.” Becky rolled her eyes. “If she can survive a car crash and hip replacement, I can survive this, right?”
“Of course you can. Now, I’m not an expert when it comes to pregnancies but, with medication we can bring down your blood pressure and with some rest and careful monitoring, you’ll deliver a healthy baby.”
The ease in Nyah’s tone soothed Becky’s fears—somewhat. After so many miscarriages, the fear of never having a child of her own was always there at the forefront of her mind. The fears had eased as her pregnancy progressed but now this…
“I promise.” Nyah leaned closer. “Just think of this time as a way for you to be pampered for once. Knowing this town the way I do, they’ll make sure you’re taken care of.”
Becky chuckled. “This will be hard for me. Normally I’m the one who likes to take care of others.”
“Suck it up, princess.” Nyah stood. “In all seriousness, I need you to promise me you’ll follow doctor’s orders. The heaviest thing you’ll be allowed to lift is a cup of coffee or a plate full of cookies. No laundry, no boxes, no vacuum or shovel. I want you in bed or on your couch, feet up and drinking lots of herbal teas. Or hot chocolate.”
Most days, that sounded like a small piece of heaven. But the seriousness in Nyah’s gaze, despite the smile at the end, told her this was no picnic.
“So I’m really on bed rest then?”
Nyah nodded. “’Fraid so. At least until we do more testing and get you looked at by a specialist, okay?”
“You know I hate knitting, right?”
“Then don’t knit. Do crossword puzzles or read a book or something.”
Becky groaned. “Since you’re stuck in here keeping me company, why don’t you fill me in on how you are, what you’ve been doing and if you’re glad to be back in Halfway or not.”
Nyah sat back down in the chair. “Glad to be back? I really didn’t have much of a choice. My dad…he kind of twisted my arm, you know? Family guilt and all that.”
“Ha! Tell me about it. There’s a reason your father and my mother get along so well.” Becky almost felt sorry for Nyah. She understood all too well what family guilt meant. Her mother had used it on Becky almost all her life.
“I think my dad just missed me, which is fine. I was ready…to settle down, I guess. To come home.” Nyah fidgeted in her seat.
“What did you do before you came here? I mean, you obviously went to school, but then what?”
“Oh…nothing too exciting.” Nyah jumped up from her chair and paced a little. “Worked at a few hospitals, some emergency wards, you know…nothing too thrilling. I thought about joining up with Doctors Without Borders but…” She shrugged. “Tell me about you. I checked out your website and you’ve got quite the following.”
Becky smiled. “It’s been fun. I have a cookbook coming out soon.” She knew Nyah wanted to change the topic.
“You do? That must be cool. Have you thought about doing baking lessons? I promise I’d be the first to sign up. I can’t seem to bake anything edible, no matter how hard I try.”
“Are you measuring properly?”
“I am. I even bought Cake Boss baking cups and pans.”
Becky snorted. “Cheap ones from the dollar store would work too, you know.”
“I need all the help I can get, trust me.”
“Come out one day and I’ll help you make cookies.” If she had to rest, then she’d rest. But it didn’t mean she had to be lonely.
“Did someone say cookies?” Matt walked into the room, a tray of drinks in one hand and a closed box in another. “I’ve got hot chocolate for the three of us and some goodies. As well as a message from Norma.”
Becky sighed. No doubt her mother sent along instructions.
“She says to tell you she’s got it handled and although the baking might not be as good as yours, it’ll do Nikki proud.” Matt handed her a cup of hot chocolate and then one to Nyah as well. “She also says you’re to do everything to take care of this grandbaby of hers.”
“She did, did she? And what did you tell her?” She sipped her delicious hot cocoa and sighed.
“I told her you were my number-one priority and that I’ll be on hand to pamper you day and night.”
Becky’s heart swelled at the same time she felt her baby kick. It tickled but gave her hope. Everything was going to be all right.
Chapter 8
NYAH
She adjusted her dress for the dozenth time and looked in the mirror at her hair. She’d had it cut short only two days earlier
, and for the life of her, she couldn’t get used to it. It was probably a mistake.
Much like moving back to Halfway was.
Nyah sighed and shook her head. No. It hadn’t been a mistake and she couldn’t let one bad experience taint it for her. Okay, it was more than one. It was a few experiences.
But it was one person.
Melissa.
Nyah couldn’t change what had happened in the past. Lord knew she’d tried. She’d done everything she could to make amends because of her mistake on the side of the road. She’d spent the last decade dedicating herself to helping others, healing and honing her skills. She wasn’t perfect. Far from it. But she’d learned to forgive herself.
If only Melissa could.
But it seemed to be just the opposite. Every time she ran into Melissa, her old friend seemed to hate her a little bit more. And it was hate. The way she looked at her, as if she blamed Nyah for everything that had gone wrong in her life.
It made Nyah’s heart hurt. They used to be so close.
She sighed and grabbed her purse. Between Wade’s friend Charlie and their daughter Abby getting sick, there’d only been more and more reasons for Melissa to resent and dislike Nyah. Not the other way around.
But she needed to stop dwelling on all the things she couldn’t change, and she definitely couldn’t change any of that. She needed to focus on what she could do something about. And right now that meant pulling it together and getting herself to the wedding.
Nikki and Parker wanted a small, intimate Christmas Eve ceremony, and Nyah had been shocked to be invited at all. The fact that Becky had more or less volunteered her as a medical escort so she could go to the ceremony was a minor detail. Nikki had issued her a personal invitation and whether the other woman knew it or not, it had meant a lot to Nyah to be accepted, even a little, back into the Halfway community.
She glanced at the clock over her fireplace as she grabbed her keys and the small gift she’d picked up. She needed to hurry if she was going to get there before Becky. Knowing that woman, she was probably already there and it would be killing her to stay seated and not oversee every detail for her friend.
As it turned out, Nyah was right. When she walked into the “Barn”—which wasn’t really a barn at all, but an old historical building that had once been used by a dairy farmer that had been beautifully restored into Halfway’s only upscale restaurant and the venue of choice for special events—the first thing Nyah heard was Matt’s voice.
“Becky, sit down! Remember what the doctor said.”
Nyah quickly hung up her coat and hustled across the room that was gorgeously decorated in pine boughs, silver and white bows, and frosted pinecones. It was a winter wonderland, and absolutely perfect.
“I know what the doctor said, but she—”
“Is right here.” Nyah put her hand on Becky’s shoulder. “And she absolutely agrees with your husband. Sit down.”
Becky sighed and slumped back into the wheelchair they’d borrowed from the hospital for the night. “I know. I know. And I don’t want to do anything to harm the baby, but—”
“I know.” Matt bent and kissed her forehead and nuzzled her face in a move that was so sweet, Nyah felt as if she was intruding on a private moment. “This is crazy hard on you, Becky, and you’re doing an amazing job. And you’re going to keep doing an amazing job making that baby. Our baby.”
Becky’s hands cradled her stomach. “Our baby,” she repeated.
Nyah tried to take a step backward and leave them to their moment, but Matt stopped her. “Nyah. Now that you’re here...”
She smiled. “Yes?”
“Can you sit with Becky for a bit? I just wanted to go check on Parker and make sure he doesn’t need anything.”
“No problem.” She grabbed the handles of the chair and gave Becky a quick spin, causing the other woman to laugh and reach out and smack her.
“Nyah!”
“Don’t worry, I’m a doctor.”
“I’m in good hands then.” Becky smiled and Nyah couldn’t help but notice how radiant her friend looked. Pregnancy, even a troubled one, definitely agreed with her. Or maybe it was that she was so in love with her husband. Either way, she looked fantastic. “Will you take me to look at the cake?” Becky tipped her head up and asked Nyah.
“Absolutely. Let’s check it out.” Dutifully, she turned the chair and headed to the front corner of the room. “I still can’t believe you gave up making the cake,” Nyah said. “I mean, I know you had to.”
“Doctor’s orders,” Becky said pointedly.
“Right. And it is for the best. Besides, I’m sure whoever she found did a good job making the cake. Not as good as you would have,” she added quickly.
The cake table was at the front of the room, next to an arch covered in pine boughs and twinkly lights where the ceremony would take place. Nikki and Parker had opted to have a simple “dessert style” wedding. There was nothing traditional about it. Guests would gather close to the couple and then, after a short ceremony, they’d mingle and feast on the sweets that had been prepared. Simple, elegant, and fun.
Nothing at all like the traditional wedding Nyah would have wanted. Not that she’d actually thought much about getting married since she’d been a little girl. Her whole adult life had been dedicated to medicine and she didn’t see that ending any time soon. Although…she let her gaze wander over the beautiful room…it wouldn’t be so bad to find someone to spend some time with.
“I can’t believe it.” Becky’s voice distracted Nyah and brought her back to the moment.
Nyah shook her head and looked at the cake in question. It was beautiful: a white three-layer square tiered cake with delicate fondant sprigs of pine and red berries that decorated the edges. There was a dusting of what looked like sparkles over the surface, making the entire thing glittery. It was spectacular and she said as much to Becky.
“It’s a Danny Spencer cake.”
“Who’s Danny Spencer?” Nyah asked, although judging by the tone of Becky’s voice, she probably should have known.
“He’s the most amazing wedding cake, or any cake at all, baker in Montana. Probably the Western states, actually. He’s like Cake Boss, only…not a celebrity. I was hoping to interview him for my blog.”
“Well, maybe Nikki knows him and can get you a phone number or something?” Nyah shrugged and looked around, the cake or the baker not holding her interest at all. The room was starting to fill up with guests. It was true that they’d wanted to keep it small, but these things had a way of growing. Especially in a small town. She saw a few people she recognized. The longer she was in Halfway, the more people she was getting to know again. It was nice to be part of a community again. She waved as Sarah Kingsbury, who owned A Cut Above, the salon where Nyah’d just had her hair cut, waved at her. Behind her, the door opened and Wade and Melissa walked in with Abby.
Instinctively, Nyah turned away. Her heart raced and she forced herself to take a deep breath and stay calm. She got so rattled around Melissa. She only wanted to fix things between them. She turned around slowly and risked a glance. Melissa stared in her direction. Nyah smiled and raised her hand for a small wave, but Melissa had already turned to something Abby was saying and hadn’t noticed.
“We should probably go get you a spot right up front,” Nyah said to Becky, needing a distraction. “The ceremony is supposed to start soon.”
Becky laughed. “Come on. Nikki’s never on time for anything.”
“True.” Nyah laughed along with her as she wheeled her friend to what would be a prime spot to both see Nikki walking down the aisle and to witness the exchanging of the vows.
Right after they got in position, a justice of the peace appeared from a back room with Parker, who looked very handsome in his coat and tie, and Matt right behind him. Matt took charge and made a quick announcement about the ceremony before acting as an usher and directing everyone where they should stand before he joined Becky and Ny
ah. He took his wife’s hand and gave it a sweet kiss right as the music started to play. Nyah turned along with the crowd to see Nikki dressed in a shimmery white gown. It was simple and form-fitting, her pregnancy not giving anything away yet; it fit perfectly. The fabric had a shimmer, almost a glitter that sparkled as she walked. In one hand she held a beautiful mixture of white blooms, with sprigs of pine tucked among the petals. In her other hand was Ryan’s.
Nyah’s hand flew to her mouth to hold in the sob that threatened to escape, but it was a cry of joy and she wasn’t the only one. All through the room, guests noticed the same thing Nyah had. The look on Ryan’s face as he escorted his mother was one of pure love and adoration. He looked every bit like the proud young man Nyah knew him to be as he led his mother to her future husband.
“Hi,” Nikki whispered to Parker as she stopped in front of him.
“Hi there yourself.” Parker leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek. “You look amazing.” Before she could respond, he looked to Ryan, who watched them very seriously. “Thank you,” Parker said to the boy.
“For what?”
A little giggle went through the crowd, but Parker didn’t take his eyes off Ryan. “For taking such good care of your mother until you could both find me and allow me to be part of your life.”
Nyah didn’t even bother to try to stop the tears that flowed down her cheeks.
Nikki turned and handed Becky her bouquet. Parker took her free hand in his and the other in Ryan’s to form a small but unified circle in front of the justice of the peace. The ceremony was perfect. It didn’t matter if the entire town was in attendance; the only people who mattered were Nikki, Parker, and Ryan as the three of them stood together and recited vows that included them all as a family. It was the most beautiful wedding Nyah had ever been witness to. When finally the officiant declared Nikki and Parker husband and wife, Parker pulled his bride into his arms and kissed her while Ryan stood by and shook his head slightly in a way that made everyone laugh, before they opened their arms to include their son in a hug.
