Page 42 of Second Chance Baby
“Aww, thanks. I’m touched.”
“But if we got some of those cool fall leaf bags they have at the hardware store, that would be fun.”
“Where’s the closest one?” I asked, leading Biscuit toward the bush he immediately wanted to mark as his own.
“Closest hardware store?” Travis scratched his neck. “Off Main Street, I’d say.”
“Let’s go then. Once we finish our family walk,” Carrington announced, grabbing Biscuit’s leash and taking off down the street at a record clip. Amerie jogged along beside her while Travis and I followed at our own far more leisurely pace, holding hands and stopping every few feet to point out pretty leaves and decorated houses and even a cloud in the perfect blue sky that just happened to be shaped like a Lab like Biscuit.
Which I had to show Carrington, who came back to us long enough to roll her eyes. “Sure, Mom, that cloud looks like a dog.”
“With Carrington, an eye roll is a sign of love,” Travis informed me. “Least that’s what I tell myself when she rolls her eyes at me ten times a day.”
“Think you’re exaggerating, Dad!” Carrington called before continuing on at her fast pace.
At the loud exchange, Mrs. Gunderson, revered town busybody, emerged from a neatly kept Colonial on the next block and literally clapped her hands upon spotting us.
In Travis’s sturdy grip, my hand went to ice.
“There you two are! After yesterday, we all wondered if you’d even come out for days. A lot of time to make up for, you know,” she added, looking at the two girls and the dog as if she was surprised to see them. “Oh, hi, little miss. What a cute puppy too. Who might you be?”
“My mom is her mom’s sister,” Amerie announced, pointing at Carrington.
“Oh, since when have you had a sister, Bridget?”
“Since before I was born, because Lacey is actually four years older than me.”
“Imagine that. Guess the Masterson family took up everyone’s attention since they’re so dang big and getting larger by the day, it seems like. Making so many babies. When are you making some new babies, by the way?”
I glanced at Travis, shocked into silence. Was that just a typical conversational gambit in town now? I remembered Mrs. Gunderson as a grade-A gossip, but it had been many years since I’d just strolled through town.
Travis shrugged. “Think it takes at least nine months, last I checked. Maybe more or less depending on the particular kid.”
“Okay, I’m outta here. Let’s go, Ame.” Carrington tucked her arm through her cousin’s and the two of them hightailed it up the street, kicking leaves out of their way. The dog hurried aheadhappily, his golden, plume-like tail sweeping back and forth with obvious happiness.
“And also, you know, you can’t just assume anything, even in Crescent Cove.” I heard myself talking and actually didn’t even know what would come out of my mouth next.
Neither did Travis, clearly, since his head whipped toward mine as he squeezed my fingers.
In warning or in encouragement? I wasn’t sure.
“What does that mean, exactly? Everyone saw you two yesterday getting busy right out in public, so don’t play coy now.”
“I’m not playing coy, just there are no guarantees, even in this town. Some people also have fertility issues, you know? So, you shouldn’t make assumptions, even here. You could really hurt someone’s feelings. Not everything is fit for public consumption, no matter how nosy you are.”
Hearing myself, I closed my eyes.
Great one, Bridget. Barely back for a day, and you’re already insulting one of the pillars of the community.
“She’s right,” Travis said in a low voice. “Someone close to me had trouble getting pregnant, and I’ve also known some others who lost children, which is one of the hardest things for a family to go through. You never know who is facing what when you’re cracking jokes or making innocent remarks.”
“You’re right,” Mrs. Gunderson said with a loud sniffle. “Both of you. Why, my daughter is pregnant right now with a very wished-for baby. I would hate to hurt someone unthinkingly. I would just hate it. Bridget, you always had a heart of gold. No wonder this one didn’t want anyone else since you’ve been gone. How long since you left town for good, anyway?” Before I could answer, she waved a hand as if she was dismissing her own question. “Time doesn’t mean a thing in the scheme, with the solid foundation you two had. You were always meant for each other. From the very start! Come here, give me a hug, both ofyou. I insist.” Mrs. Gunderson rushed forward and crushed me in her arms against her voluminous bosom, nicely highlighted by her floral dress. “You’re going to stay now, aren’t you? We’ve all missed you here so very much. And maybe you’ll even go back to St. Agnes, won’t you? They’re running low on good teachers there, and they could really use you. You had such a way with those kids.”
I returned her hug, patting her back as my shocked gaze connected with Travis’s. He said nothing, just held his arms open for her when she finally let me go and moved on to hug him for a very long time. “Gee, last time I hugged you, you certainly didn’t have muscles like these, did you, Travis?” She made a show of pinching his biceps. Of course, the white Henley he wore displayed them to their best advantage, which I was sure was just a coincidence.
“Don’t let this one go, either, this time, Bridget,” she advised in a stage whisper as she resumed hugging him enthusiastically. “I gotta say thank you, though. I was smart enough to say you two would do the mattress mambo within days of your re-arrival in town, Bridget, once Hildie saw you rushing up the sidewalk to the Sherman and put out the good word.”
Good wordwas a nice way to describe gossiping the second I’d originally been spotted.