the way, I’ll freeze in a few containers. Then when the baby comes we’ll have something easy to heat up and eat.”
“Yeah, I suppose even Chase couldn’t screw that up.” Cady winked.
She helped herself to a bowl from the cupboard beside the sink and spooned a serving of stew into it. With any luck, she’d be out with Burke at dinnertime, so she’d have to snag some right now. Amanda was right. It may be spring, but Mother Nature hadn’t made New Englanders tough for nothing. It was downright chilly out today. Cady tucked into the warm meal.
“Can I help you with anything today?” she asked between bites.
“I thought you were supposed to be helping out Burke with his magazine articles.”
“He’s writing right now. We’ll meet up later.” Somehow the fact that they weren’t meeting up to work on the travel articles, but to shop for jeans, felt too private to share. Even with her best friend.
She hadn’t seen him since he’d dropped her off after that kiss. Cady’s eyes drifted closed as she remembered the heat of it, and the most embarrassing groan rumbled out of her throat.
She coughed, scraping the last bite of stew from her bowl and swallowing quickly. She took the bowl to the sink, rinsing it out and placing it inside the dishwasher.
“I’ve got a couple of hours to kill. I could do some heavy lifting, or scrub some floors. What do you say?”
When Amanda didn’t respond, Cady turned around. Her best friend stood in the middle of the kitchen. She wore an apron stretched taut across her growing belly and she pulled up a corner of the fabric, twisting it tightly. A single tear rolled slowly down her cheek. She looked scared to death.
“Sweetheart, what’s the matter? Are you in pain? Should I call Chase? Come sit down.”
Cady wrapped the young woman in her arms, guiding her through the kitchen and into the living room. She helped her friend to the couch and positioned the ottoman to support her feet. By the time she had her comfortable, the poor pregnant woman was sobbing.
“Damned hormones,” Amanda sniveled.
Looking around desperately, Cady snatched a box of tissues from a side table and shoved it in Amanda’s lap. She waited for the tears to subside, still unsure whether she should be worried or not. She debated calling Chase to let him know his wife was having a meltdown. She wasn’t used to being around pregnant women and didn’t know when to raise the alarm. Eventually Amanda’s sobbing dwindled to nose-blowing and quiet sniffling.
“Has the crisis passed?” Her voice was gentle, her expression concerned.
“I’m so sorry. I hate acting so foolishly in front of you, Cady. This is so embarrassing.”
“Hey, it’s me, remember? I’m here for you, honey.”
“But that’s just it. You’re leaving. I’m going through one of the biggest moments of my life. I am completely freaking out about what to expect ... and you’re going to leave me.” Amanda shook her head like she was disgusted with herself.
“Sweetie, you are going to have that baby long before I leave. You know I’ll be right by your side the minute you go into labor, Chase and I both.” Her words didn’t seem to have the calming effect she’d intended.
“What about after? What happens when the baby is sick and I get worried? What about when I start talking baby babble and no sane adult can understand me anymore? Who’s going to remind me to put on my makeup and comb my hair? How are we going to have our girls’ nights?”
Amanda gripped both of Cady’s hands tightly in hers.
“I’m scared. You are my anchor, my link to everything that came before motherhood. When you leave, I worry that I’m going to drown. I need you here, Cady. As horribly immature and selfish as that sounds, I need you here.”
Once again, Amanda dissolved into tears, turning to bury her face against the couch cushion. Cady rubbed her friend’s back, trying to keep from crying herself. They had talked about this
“Yeah, I suppose even Chase couldn’t screw that up.” Cady winked.
She helped herself to a bowl from the cupboard beside the sink and spooned a serving of stew into it. With any luck, she’d be out with Burke at dinnertime, so she’d have to snag some right now. Amanda was right. It may be spring, but Mother Nature hadn’t made New Englanders tough for nothing. It was downright chilly out today. Cady tucked into the warm meal.
“Can I help you with anything today?” she asked between bites.
“I thought you were supposed to be helping out Burke with his magazine articles.”
“He’s writing right now. We’ll meet up later.” Somehow the fact that they weren’t meeting up to work on the travel articles, but to shop for jeans, felt too private to share. Even with her best friend.
She hadn’t seen him since he’d dropped her off after that kiss. Cady’s eyes drifted closed as she remembered the heat of it, and the most embarrassing groan rumbled out of her throat.
She coughed, scraping the last bite of stew from her bowl and swallowing quickly. She took the bowl to the sink, rinsing it out and placing it inside the dishwasher.
“I’ve got a couple of hours to kill. I could do some heavy lifting, or scrub some floors. What do you say?”
When Amanda didn’t respond, Cady turned around. Her best friend stood in the middle of the kitchen. She wore an apron stretched taut across her growing belly and she pulled up a corner of the fabric, twisting it tightly. A single tear rolled slowly down her cheek. She looked scared to death.
“Sweetheart, what’s the matter? Are you in pain? Should I call Chase? Come sit down.”
Cady wrapped the young woman in her arms, guiding her through the kitchen and into the living room. She helped her friend to the couch and positioned the ottoman to support her feet. By the time she had her comfortable, the poor pregnant woman was sobbing.
“Damned hormones,” Amanda sniveled.
Looking around desperately, Cady snatched a box of tissues from a side table and shoved it in Amanda’s lap. She waited for the tears to subside, still unsure whether she should be worried or not. She debated calling Chase to let him know his wife was having a meltdown. She wasn’t used to being around pregnant women and didn’t know when to raise the alarm. Eventually Amanda’s sobbing dwindled to nose-blowing and quiet sniffling.
“Has the crisis passed?” Her voice was gentle, her expression concerned.
“I’m so sorry. I hate acting so foolishly in front of you, Cady. This is so embarrassing.”
“Hey, it’s me, remember? I’m here for you, honey.”
“But that’s just it. You’re leaving. I’m going through one of the biggest moments of my life. I am completely freaking out about what to expect ... and you’re going to leave me.” Amanda shook her head like she was disgusted with herself.
“Sweetie, you are going to have that baby long before I leave. You know I’ll be right by your side the minute you go into labor, Chase and I both.” Her words didn’t seem to have the calming effect she’d intended.
“What about after? What happens when the baby is sick and I get worried? What about when I start talking baby babble and no sane adult can understand me anymore? Who’s going to remind me to put on my makeup and comb my hair? How are we going to have our girls’ nights?”
Amanda gripped both of Cady’s hands tightly in hers.
“I’m scared. You are my anchor, my link to everything that came before motherhood. When you leave, I worry that I’m going to drown. I need you here, Cady. As horribly immature and selfish as that sounds, I need you here.”
Once again, Amanda dissolved into tears, turning to bury her face against the couch cushion. Cady rubbed her friend’s back, trying to keep from crying herself. They had talked about this
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