Page 106 of Tangled Up

“Not too big,” I call out, and Jessica waves me away. “Shush, this is Carly’s big day.”

“Not too big.” Carly gives me a wink.

That’s my girl.

“And part two of my question?” Jessica holds the hot dog directly in the fire until it’s sizzling and charred.

“You’re going to catch that on fire.” Henry nods at the roasted dog.

Jessica pulls it out, slipping it off with a bun. “I like it charred.”

“I put in my notice last week. I have something I need to take care of before I leave, but I should be here permanently after Thanksgiving.” Carly walks over to the table, using two buns to remove our hot dogs. “Beck is going to keep working in Tampa until the wedding, maybe longer.”

“I can arrange my schedule so I’m there a few days a week until I get my practice up and running here.”

“Smart idea.” Henry picks up a skewer and spears two hot dogs. “It won’t take long before you have more patients here than time.”

“I’m sure you’ll be glad to share the load.” I give him a wink and he chuckles. “You reach a certain age, and medical services become the highlight of your life.”

“It’s true.” A few of my very regular patients come to mind, and my tone softens. “I don’t mind so much. I actually might miss a few of those old-timers.”

I think about my regular old fellow with the knock-knock jokes.

“Don’t get all sentimental.” Jessica points her skewer at me. “We’ve got just as many eccentric old people in Eden as they do in Tampa.”

“Maybe notasmany.” Carly sits in my lap again, kissing my cheek. “I love how much you care about them.”

My arm goes around her waist, and warmth filters through my stomach when I think about the little secret we just discovered. I didn’t think my heart could hold any more love until Carly told me she hadn’t had a period since the first night we were together.

Standing in the kitchen at the Pearl, barefoot in a little dress, she smiled up at me with glowing eyes and cheeks, and all the images flashed through my brain. I imagined her stomach growing round, sitting on the couch and massaging her feet, holding a little boy… or a little girl with amber eyes who looks just like her mommy.

Okay, it doesn’t matter, but I’ll be very happy if it’s a little girl who looks exactly like Carly. Automatically, I slide my palm over her still-flat stomach, imagining my baby growing inside her. She exhales a hum, threading her fingers over mine, and I kiss the side of her neck.

The day she told me, I dropped to my knees and kissed her stomach as she laughed and hugged my head. Then I tossed her over my shoulder and carried her to the bedroom. We’ve spent a lot of time there the last several weeks.

“That just leaves my third question.” Jessica is watching us like a hawk.

Carly squints up at her, taking a big bite of hot dog. “You have a lot of questions.”

“I only want what will make us all very happy. You’re not getting any younger, you know.”

“Good lord, the doctor said it’s not considered a geriatric pregnancy until I’m thirty-five.”

Silence falls over the group, and Carly continues chewing a few seconds longer before she stops and looks around at all the eyes now fixed on us.

“What doctor?” Henry asks, sitting straighter.

“I mean… I, um.” Carly turns her head to the side. “Help me out here.”

“We’re pregnant.” I say it flat out, and she squeals, sending her elbow backward into my stomach. “That’s not what I meant!”

“Oh my God! Yes!” Jessica jumps up and down, clapping like we just scored the winning touchdown at Raymond Jones Stadium.

She’s on her knees beside Carly, pulling her into a hug. “When are you due? We are going to have so much fun! Does Aunt Viv know? Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl? Oh, I know it doesn’t matter, but I hope it’s a girl.”

“We just found out. I’m right at eight weeks.” Carly hugs her friend.

“I’m so happy!” Jessica starts to cry, and Carly starts to laugh.

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