Page 40 of Love is Grand

The technician removed the wand and then slipped out of the room without saying anything, probably because of Cal’s dressing-down.

“Would you mind stepping out so I can clean up and get dressed?” I asked him.

Cal nodded, unusually quiet. “I’ll be in the waiting room.”

I took my time, and it wasn’t until I’d made it back to the waiting room to join Cal that I realized he’d made a huge effort. This wasn’t something he had to do, not something he’d ever imagined doing, and yet he’d done it.

“Thank you,” he said to me. “Our baby sounds like he’s a fighter.”

“He?”

“That’s what I think.”

I smiled and let it go.

Outside, Cal pulled me into his side, walking his arm around me. “You ever been to New York?”

“No. I’ve only been to Miami and Orlando.”

“You should come visit. If you can,” he said as we approached the passenger door. “But first, dinner tonight.”

“You don’t have to,” I told him as he slid in.

“Eye of the Sea, seven o’clock. Adam said he’s telling Rylan later today. Sorry, but he can’t wait, and promised they would watch Weezie if you needed.”

He sped out of the lot, the top down. Wind whipped around us, and shorter strands of my hair came loose from my bun.

“Whoa, Cal, you can’t arrange for childcare.”

“Shell, Adam’s going to be your family,” he said, and I gasped.

Glancing at the look on my face, he laughed out loud. “I’m not proposing.”

I felt like a fool. Of course he wasn’t proposing.

“What I meant was you’re giving birth to his nephew.”

“Or niece,” I shouted over the wind.

“Or niece. So, Adam is family. He and Rylan can watch Weezie.”

“My mom has her bridge game, so that would actually be good,” I said, correcting my blunder.

I had to get along with Cal, I reminded myself. With Ricky was out of the picture, I needed support. However much Cal wanted to give.

“Good, I’ll send Jack for you, and Adam can pick up Weez. This keeps things between us quiet from the little one until you break the news. Soon.”

The sky was Caribbean blue, the air salty, as we drove along Seven Mile Beach. I never thought I’d be so stressed in the most beautiful place on the planet.

“Bossy, much?” I asked, and Cal snorted.

“Get used to it.”

I clicked on the radio in an effort to ignore his charming orders. No one had ever cared for me a day in my life when I was married to Ricky. While I knew this wasn’t marriage or close to it, it was the best I was going to have in my current situation.

Cal

“Hey, Jack,” I said into the speakerphone as I toweled off from my shower. I’d gone for a long run when I got back from the doctor’s appointment.