Page 17 of Amaze Me

Chapter Nine

~ Mimi ~

Judd and I were both all smiles as we left the doctor’s office.

“How could I not have realized I missed not one but two cycles?” I muttered with a rueful shake of my head. The doctor had verified my dates, taken blood and given me a test. There had been a rudimentary exam, then an ultrasound scheduled for next week to verify how far along I really was and pinpoint my due date.

Judd hugged me into his side and pressed his lips to my temple. “Just think… We only have to wait seven months to meet the little guy or gal. Plus we’re almost to the second trimester. We won’t need to keep the secret for much longer.”

His phone rang, and he sent it to voicemail.

“Judson Carroll Fowler,” I said, stepping from his hold and planting my fists on my hips. “What did you do that has Greta calling you ten times a day?”

His mouth lifted into a half smile. “You’re gonna make such a good mom.”

My eyes widened in silent threat, and he sighed. “Let’s get you into the truck, and I’ll tell you while we go get dinner. I was thinking maybe we could get burgers, tots and shakes from the Sonic in Hoover City. I know how you love their shakes. We can pick up prenatal vitamins from the pharmacy in the city, too.”

Okay, he wasn’t wrong. An Oreo cheesecake shake sounded amazing. But he was also trying to distract me from the subject. I waited until we were on the road to Hoover City before I asked about the maze again.

He drove his hand through his already messy hair and let out a harsh breath in consternation. “It’s a maze, babe. People go in and zigzag through the passageways. They find the setups you and I thought of—the romantic courtyard with the fountain and benches, the gallery of city founders with their pics on the walls, the long section with the city mural. Wilt did a really great job on it and we’ll have to use it again.”

All the Fowler boys were talented. “Wilt is a hidden treasure. I wish he’d paint more.”

“Yeah…” he agreed dismissively. “And of course, since it’s the Lover’s Lane maze there are plenty of shadowy nooks and crannies where couples can steal kisses.”

“That all sounds great.” But I knew him too well to buy this innocent story. My brow lifted. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“Well…” He pursed his lips and tipped his head back and forth.

“Judd,” I prompted. Whatever it was, he clearly knew I was going to be annoyed with him. I’d been his girlfriend then his wife for long enough to recognize his tells.

“I…may have…made it so you can go into the maze but there’s no way out. From the outside, it looks like there’s an exit, but there really isn’t.”

“What!” I exclaimed in horrified disbelief. My splayed fingers pressed to my forehead, and I closed my eyes. I could not believe he’d done that! “And it’s been like that since Monday? Greta’s going to kill you. Not to mention, several of the city council will be out for blood, too. You know how invested the town is in the County Fair. It’s practically sacred!”

“I was heartbroken,” he defended. “If I couldn’t have my happy ever after, no one else can, either.”

“Okay then, Mr. Super Villain,” I scoffed, though I was a tiny bit touched by his gesture. Still, I couldn’t help shaking my head and rolling my eyes. “We can’t fix it now, but tonight, after the fair shuts down for the day, we’re sneaking in and correcting the maze.”

“You can’t do that! You’re pregnant.”

A super villain and already overprotective, too. I had the best one. Even if he was dead wrong.

“I know I am. And I’m hungry, too. We’ll eat first so I’m not hangry. And Iwillhelp. I’ll hold the flashlight and hand you tools or whatever.”

“Fine,” he grumbled. Clearly, he didn’t like my plan.

“Hey!” I admonished. “You’re getting the happy ending you wanted. You need to make sure everyone else is. I’ll also send Greta a fifty-percent refund for the maze and a promise that you’ll never do that again.”

He shrugged, with a half-grimace. “They’ll probably never have me do one after this.”

“Not true. It’s a Sweetville tradition. The Fowlers have done the fair’s maze since the first festival the year after the city was founded. Your grandpa, your dad and now you. They’re not going to change that. Besides… You have me. I’ll make sure it’s all smoothed over—and it will become legend, just you wait and see.”

Judd gave me a warm, assessing look. “How did you ever think you weren’t an equal partner to me? You’re a fixer and you keep things straight. You’re also going to be the best dang barista in town.”

I laughed. “I think…technically…I’ll be the only barista in town.”

“Until you hire a few people. Have you thought about your menu and hours of operation and how many people you think you might need?”

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