Page 27 of Madly Deeply

"Hello, Mrs. Chen."

"Nori, please." The older woman's eyes were bright with tears. "We've missed you so much. Jun Hie said you were back, but..." She pressed her hand to her heart. "Oh, you poor dear. How are you managing?"

And there it was. The head tilt, the sympathy, the pity she'd been dreading.

"I'm fine." Alexandra grabbed both the pink and blue bundles, unwilling to play favorites until she knew the sex of her baby. And Spreag had yet to relent. "The morning sickness is better."

"The morning... Oh! The baby!" Mrs. Chen's expression shifted from tragic to delighted. "How wonderful! When are you due?"

"June." Alexandra added some yellow freesia to her cart. "Everything's fine. Really."

"Of course." Mrs. Chen nodded. "A new life will help you forget the old. You should--"

"Thank you. I have to get moving. Lots to do." Alexandra got her cart moving. "Tell Jun Hie hello for me."

She barely made it to her car before the tears started. Stupid hormones.

When she got home,Callum was still wearing that silly sunhat, though now he was looking for ripe tangerines. When she pulled in, he set down his load and hurried over to the property line. "Need help with the messages?"

Messages. What Scots called their groceries. But she'd had enough pity for the day.

"I've got it."

Callum took the hint, tipped his silly hat, and went back to the tangerines.

Inside, Spreag took one look at her face and moved close, as if he could wrap her in his arms and make it all better, whatever the trouble. Like he used to.

"What happened, love?"

"Nothing." She swung her bags onto the counter. "Just ran into Nori Chen."

"Ah." He watched her slam cabinet doors. "Full of advice, was she?"

"Overflowing with it. But I cut her off before she could really dig in. I'm just tired of "you know we're here for you. Just call, day or night." Alex flicked the tears from her face with just a touch of violence. "I'm not broken! I don't need fixing."

"Good. Then ye can cease feelin' sorry for yerself."

She gasped, then gasped again. Then took a deep breath and considered the possibility that he might be right. When she exhaled, the vinegar was gone. "You're right. Thank you."

"Ye're welcome.”

She slumped against the counter. "I just wish people would treat me normally."

"They will." He pretended to brush her tears away. "Just remember that ye've had time. Yer friends will need time as well."

She closed her eyes, imagining she could feel his touch. "I love you."

"I love you too." His voice held such tenderness it made fresh tears fall. "Now put away that ice cream before it melts."

She did, then arranged her flowers in separate vases. Outside, birds discovered the newly filled feeder, their songsmixing with the sound of Callum humming something blatantly Scottish.

Life would go on. Different, now, but not tragic.

At least, not completely.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The desert night cooled the windows, and a shiver down Alexandra’s back brought memories of Scotland rushing back along with all the pain that went with them. She sat in the window seat, trying to read, but the words kept blurring. In a few months, she would have to find a more comfortable spot to relax in.

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