Page 56 of Deny Me
Becky squirmed nervously. “That’s what everyone keeps telling me.”
“You’re going to be a great mom, Becky,” Charlotte assured her. “You won’t be doing this alone either; don’t forget that.”
Becky glanced with longing at her stomach. “I’ve wanted her from the moment I knew I was pregnant. It’s hard to believe I get to keep her.”
Charlotte stood and rounded the coffee table once more to sit on the sofa next to Becky’s legs. Taking the girl’s hand, she said, “You are. You’re keeping her.” She emphasized each word, awed at the excitement that lit the young woman’s face. “And you are going to be a good mom. Believe it. It’s true.”
“I’m already dilating, Dr. Keller says. She could come any day now.”
“And in the meantime, I heard you got to go clothes shopping?”
“Yep!” Becky pointed at some boxes stacked in the corner, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Your mom may have gone a bit overboard, but I can’t wait to unpack all the baby things and start putting them away.”
“Have you considered names?” Susan asked, Becky’s excitement putting a smile on her face.
“A lot of them!” Becky giggled, and a little of her childhood filtered into the sound. “I want to see her first. A name should match the baby.” She glanced at Charlotte. “Right?”
“There’s no right or wrong with a name,” Charlotte assured her. “The only steadfast rule is, you should love it.”
Becky nodded.
Susan stood. “I’ll be back to check you again in a couple of days, Becky. In the meantime, call my number if you start having regular pains or just feel ‘off.’ At your age, labor sometimes presents in different ways.”
“I will, Dr. Keller. Thank you so much.”
Charlotte gave Becky’s leg a pat. “How do you feel about a walk outside for a bit? Get out of this stuffy room?”
“That would be nice. I’ll grab my shoes.”
Charlotte escorted Susan to the door, pausing to give her friend another hug. “Are you sure everything is fine?”
“I am.” Susan glanced down. “Thanks to you and everyone else.”
“I know it’s not an easy time.”
“It’s not.” She nodded over Charlotte’s shoulder to where Becky had disappeared into her bedroom. “They make it easier.”
“Well, call me if you need anything anyway. I know I haven’t been in the office much.”
“For good reason.” Her friend’s face went stern. “Be sure you’re not getting too active too soon. Car accidents and concussions aren’t anything to mess with.”
Too active? Did sex count? Thinking about last night, she felt heat rise to her cheeks and knew Susan couldn’t miss it. Hastily opening the door, she moved into the hallway, hoping Susan would follow. “I’m being very careful.”
“Mm-hmm.” Susan seemed about to say something else, but Elliot appeared at the end of the hall, headed their way. “Like I said, take it easy.”
“I will, I promise.”
Elliot closed the distance between them. “Dr. Keller, I can show you out.”
Susan gave Charlotte a sideways glance. “I’ve told her to call me Susan, but she refuses.”
Charlotte laughed. “Yeah, the entire team tends to be stubborn.”
“You would know.” Elliot smirked. “By the way, Wes Moncrief is here to see you.”
Charlotte’s heart sank. Aside from her mother, Wes was the only person that could read her like an open book. Would he know what she and King had done? Was it written on her face as much as it was her heart?
She considered hiding, asking Elliot to tell him she was unavailable, but guilt struck hard. She’d been careful not to string Wes along all these years, and his friendship, his steadiness had meant more to her than she could ever put into words. But deep inside where she didn’t have to admit it to anyone, some small part of her had been reassured by the devotion he constantly displayed. A secret, selfish balm to her ego. She owed him more than hiding—she owed him the truth.
