Page 42 of The Workaholic Down the Hall

I stomped inside, kicked off my shoes, and hung my coat in the closet. I paced the house, already bored, already picking through the options of something to do. I considered a walk, but decided it probably wasn't the best idea. If the walk caused me to go into labor, I'd be a long way from help.

Out of ideas, I sat at my computer and browsed my favorite investment sites. Nothing caught my eye or excited me, and I ended up doing a search of activities around Catalpa Creek. With the mountains in our backyard, quite literally in my case, there were lots of outdoorsy activities, but not a lot suitable for a pregnant woman. I was just about to shut down my computer and find a book to read when something caught my eye. I called May.

“Hiya,” May said. “I hope you're calling with something to do. Lance was unavailable and none of the local climbing gyms are open right now.”

“I don't know how exciting it will be, but have you ever tried salt therapy?”

“Um, no.” She sounded less than intrigued.

“It's like a spa. You go and breathe in salt air and it's supposed to totally relax and energize you. I promised Oscar I'd try it out and I haven't been, yet.”

“Sounds thrilling, Aubrey, but I was thinking about washing my hair.”

“Come on,” I said. “I'm bored, too. Don't make me do this alone.”

I could practically hear her rolling her eyes over the phone. “Do you think they'll be able to fit us in today?”

“I'll book us an appointment. You don't have to work tonight, right?”

“Nope. Book away. I'll come to you and we can hang out until our appointment time.”

***

“This is unreal,” May said. We followed the receptionist into the salt cave. The place was dimly lit and colorful, cool and silent. We walked barefoot across a salt-covered floor to two lounge chairs right next to each other.

“Please have a seat,” the receptionist said. “Relax and breathe.”

We sat and the receptionist left. I'd expected May to chatter or complain that she was bored, but she sank into the chair, sighed and closed her eyes.

I tried to do the same, but after just a few minutes, I was wishing for her chatter, because my mind was humming and I couldn't get it to quiet. I thought of Noah and wondered what he was doing, if he thought of me at all. I thought of the new baby and all the ways my life was going to change. I thought about the delivery and all the things that could go wrong. Just when I was about to run screaming from the cave, I remembered something I'd read once about meditation. I dragged in three deep breaths, the salty air filling my lungs. Then I breathed normally and cleared my mind of everything but taking in one breath after another.

“I talked to Noah this morning,” May said. “He misses you.”

Her words made my heart pinch. “He told you that?” He'd told me he'd missed me, but I'd be shocked if he'd admitted it to May.

“Not in so many words, but I could hear it in his voice. He's hurting, Aubrey. I think you made a mistake pushing him away.”

“We're supposed to be relaxing,” I said. “And you aren't helping me relax.”

“Maybe you shouldn't relax. What if he's your soul mate and you've ruined everything?”

“I don't believe in soul mates.” I didn't believe in soul mates, but I couldn't picture myself with anyone other than Noah, couldn't imagine my life without him in it.

“Well, I do,” she said. “And I think you fucked up, Aubrey. He was willing to try. He wanted to give the two of you a real chance and you refused to make any effort at all.”

Because I couldn't survive it. I couldn't survive giving him a chance, opening myself up to him, and finding out he was only with me out of a crazy sense of duty. “What's really going on with you and George?” I asked, not willing to share my thoughts with May.

“I don't know what you mean,” she said with a sniff.

“I guess I have nothing to say about Noah, then.”

She sighed. “I met him before that day in Mom's kitchen, and he was a total asshole.”

“When?”

She tilted her head and looked at the salty ceiling. “I was out with Dilly and Carrie. George was there, brooding and drinking, and Carrie introduced us. I thought that would be the end of it, but Cody called Carrie about some crisis with the kids and Dilly took her home. I decided to stay and dance for a bit. George danced with me.”

“Sounds like a complete asshole to me.”

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