One Spring Baby

She might have expected him to show some surprise, but his expression didn’t change when he glanced at her outstretched hand then back up at her face. “I’m covered in oil,” he said, still scrubbing at his hands with the towel. “Good to meet you, though. When was the wedding?”

If he was hurt that he’d been neither informed ahead of time nor invited to attend, he kept the feeling well hidden. It wasn’t hard to figure out where Cole had learned to mask his emotions.

“We were married Friday,” Cole replied. “We’re on our way home from a short honeymoon in Branson. I thought you’d like to meet Stevie while we were in the area. Is Peggy here? Stevie should meet her, too.”

“Peg’s gone to some sort of program at her church. Won’t be home for a couple hours yet.”

“Next time then.”

Jim looked around uncomfortably. “You, uh, want some coffee or something? Got some left in the office.”

“Not for me. Stevie?”

She shook her head. “No, thank you.”

“Guess we could go in the house and sit down,” Jim said, though he glanced tellingly at the car he’d been working on.

“We can’t stay, Dad. Stevie and I both have to work tomorrow, so we should head on home.”

Something flitted briefly across the older man’s face in response to Cole’s reply, but Stevie wasn’t sure if it was relief or a touch of regret. Maybe a complicated mixture of both. Before she could decide, he spoke again. “Glad you stopped by. Congratulations on the marriage. I’ll tell Peg you said hello.”

Cole nodded. “Yeah, give her our best.”

Blinking, Stevie looked in disbelief from son to father and back again. That was it? No hugs or hearty slaps on the back? No questions about how she and Cole had met or when they’d decided to marry? About future plans or current activities? Just “hey, how’s it going, see you later?”

She tossed back her hair and spoke up in a bright tone. “Maybe you and your wife can visit us in Little Rock soon, Mr. McKellar. I’d love to meet her. We could treat you to a nice dinner out, get to know each other better.”

Her determined friendliness seemed to startle him a little. “We, uh, don’t get down that way very often. Guess you can see I’ve got a lot of jobs going. These folks want their cars back as soon as we can get ’em finished.” He cleared his throat, then seemed to feel something more was expected from him. “But y’all can stop by any time. I’m sure Peggy’d like to meet you.”

“We’ll try to get back soon,” Cole said, his tone as stiltedly cordial—and as emotionally distant—as his father’s. “We’re both pretty busy with work for the next few months, which is why we had so little time for a honeymoon. Stevie owns her own kitchen design business and she’s made quite a name for herself in Little Rock.”

Jim nodded, though he didn’t look notably impressed. She suspected he was one of those men who couldn’t imagine there was much more to kitchen design than deciding where to put the refrigerator. He glanced at Cole before asking gruffly, “You still playing around with computers?”

Stevie saw a muscle tighten in Cole’s jaw, but he replied evenly, as if the question was one he’d heard too many times to take offense. “Yeah, pretty much.”

“That was all the boy was ever interested in,” Jim said as an aside to Stevie. “Holin’ up in his room with computer games and such. Couldn’t get him interested in sports or hunting or fishing, and he sure wasn’t getting his hands dirty under the hood of a car.”

Cole placed a hand on Stevie’s arm, though she wasn’t certain if it was for her benefit or his own. “I doubt Stevie wants to hear a list of your disappointments with me, Dad. It’s getting dark, so we’d better get back on the road. I’m sure you want to get back to your work.”

Jim’s eyes narrowed with what might have been a flash of irritation, but he merely nodded and said, “Yeah, I’m trying to finish this one tonight. Y’all take care now.” He turned and picked up a wrench.

Cole turned toward the exit, nudging Stevie to move along with him. She looked back over her shoulder as they walked out, but Jim was hidden behind the car hood again.

They were on the road again for less than ten minutes when Cole sighed gustily. “Okay. Let’s hear it. You’re obviously bursting to express your opinion.”

She’d been all but squirming in her seat, her mind whirling with all the things she wanted to say but wasn’t sure how to articulate. In response to his urging, the words gushed from her in a flood of exasperation. “Are you kidding me? That’s the way you announce to your father that you’ve gotten married? That’s the way he responds? What on earth is wrong with you two?”

Cole didn’t look at all surprised by her outburst. “I gave up trying to answer that question a long time ago. I guess Dad and I are just too different to be close. Not that anyone gets close to my dad. He and Peggy get along well enough, but I’d hardly call their relationship a warm and cozy one. She takes care of the house and stays busy with her church. He works, eats the meals she makes him and watches a little TV before he starts again at daylight the next day. The guys who work for him call him a grouch and a perfectionist, but he pays well enough that most of them have been with him quite a while.”

“So he’s a difficult man. That doesn’t mean you should stop trying to have a relationship with him.”

“I do try, Stevie.” Cole spoke just a bit more sharply this time. “Why the hell do you think I stopped by to introduce you to him? You saw how he acted. Like we were an interruption he had to tolerate before he could get back to work. He couldn’t have cared less.”

She twisted a curl around one finger, growing thoughtful as she replayed the awkward encounter in her mind. “I’m not entirely sure that’s true. I think he did care. And I think maybe he was gruff because his feelings were a little hurt.”

The SUV swerved just a fraction on the road, a clear indication of Cole’s surprise. He gripped the wheel more tightly and focused hard on the road ahead. “You’re way off base there. Why would his feelings, if he had any, be hurt? He was the first person we told about our marriage, wasn’t he?”

“Well, you didn’t mention that to him,” she reminded him. “For all he was aware, he was the last to know.”

“You didn’t hear him ask, did you?”

“No. He probably has too much pride for that. That wall between you has gotten so thick I don’t think either of you knows how to break through it. Even how to start.”

“I did my part. I reached out a hand and as usual, he basically slapped it away because he considers it too clean to be a real man’s hand.”

For just that moment, Cole’s composure slipped enough for her to catch a fleeting glimpse of the old pain that he kept deeply hidden, but he recovered almost instantly. “Let’s not talk about this now. It’s not the way I want to end our weekend. I’ll just assure you that you don’t have to worry I’ll be anything like my father when it comes to being a dad. He’s taught me everything not to do.”

She still believed Cole would be a wonderful father. Which didn’t mean he wouldn’t still carry the scars from his past. Or that those old wounds might not open up again someday in the future, to the detriment of himself and anyone close to him.

Because she could sense it would do no good to keep pushing him now while the disappointing visit was still so fresh and raw in his mind, she let it go, changing the subject to their upcoming week’s schedule, instead. But she was going to think about this quite a bit more, she vowed silently. And maybe she’d figure out a way to help Cole and his dad build a door in that stubborn, pride-strengthened wall.

There was a moment of awkwardness a while later when Cole turned onto the street where they lived. They’d stopped for a nice dinner when they’d arrived in Little Rock because he’d said they were both too tired to cook after the trip. Now that they’d finally arrived home, he didn’t seem sure whether to pull into her driveway or his own garage.

“I’ll carry the baby things into your house first,” he decided, parking in front of her house.

Faced again with the reality of their new living—and sleeping—arrangements, Stevie tried to hide her own attack of nerves behind practicality. “We should go check on Dusty. Do you think she’d adapt to living in my house with us? I don’t think cats like change, do they?”

“Beats me. I’ve never actually owned a cat before. Or should I say, I’ve never been owned by a cat before.”

She laughed. “She does get her wishes across, doesn’t she? Let’s bring her over and see if she finds my house suitable.”

Dusty seemed a bit wary of the move at first, nervously exploring the house while making sure both Stevie and Cole remained nearby. Stevie set up the litter box in the easily accessible laundry area and the food and water bowls in the kitchen, then showed both to the cat, slipping her a couple of treats in the process. Afterward, Cole sat in an armchair in the living room and patted his knee. Dusty jumped up, curled up on his lap and promptly went to sleep, apparently exhausted by the change but content to be back in her favorite place. Her rumbling purr was audible even halfway across the room to Stevie.

“She’s a demanding little diva, isn’t she?” Cole asked, fondly rubbing his pet’s ears. “I’ll help put things away in a bit. Just let me sit here with her for a few minutes to reassure her.”

She was suddenly a little jealous of the cat. She wouldn’t at all mind sitting in Cole’s lap and being petted by him. With a wry smile and shake of her head, Stevie turned toward her bedroom. “Take your time and relax. You did all the driving this weekend. I’ll just unpack my bag.”

Usually, entering her impeccably decorated bedroom was like escaping to a peaceful retreat. This lovely and understated room soothed her, gave her busy mind a rest from the creative demands of her job, from hectic schedules and complex relationships.

She hadn’t shared this bed often. Joe had rented a loft downtown, which had suited him better than this sedate, family-friendly neighborhood. He’d called her place boring, his tastes leaning to modern industrial—soaring ceilings, open pipes, exposed bricks and numerous musical instruments.

Shaking her head to clear her mind of the past, she unpacked her bag and put away her things, then combined a couple of drawers to make space for Cole. It would take a while to get everything arranged, of course, but she wanted him to feel immediately welcome.

She walked back into the living room only to stop short in the doorway to admire the appealing scene that greeted her. Cole was sound asleep in the chair, one hand still resting on the cat dozing in his lap. His hair was rumpled around his face and he looked younger and more unguarded than usual. She had no doubt he would be on his feet instantly if she said his name, but she tiptoed out of the room, leaving him to rest.

The past two days had been as eventful for Cole as they’d been for her, she mused, trying to put herself in his shoes for a moment. Did he feel the weight of his actions on his shoulders, the responsibilities of the promises he’d made to her and her child? Of course he did. That was just who he was. He was going to have to learn to let someone else take care of him occasionally, she thought firmly. Because that was just who she was.

Moving as quietly as possible, she settled at the kitchen table with a cup of herbal tea while she checked email and texts on her phone. The phone vibrated in her hand and she checked the caller ID. Seeing one of her two best friends’ names on the screen, she moistened her lips. She didn’t want to break her big news on the phone, but she didn’t want to lie to her friend, either. She hoped neither option would be necessary as she said, “Hi, Tess. What’s up?”

“Just checking in. Scott and I just got back from a weekend in New Orleans.”

Stevie was a little surprised. “I didn’t know you’d planned a New Orleans weekend.”

Tess sighed happily. “He surprised me after we left the office Friday by driving straight to the airport for a Valentine’s Day getaway. He’d been planning it secretly for weeks, with the help of his brothers’ wives. We spent two nights in a lovely hotel in the French Quarter and we hardly mentioned work all weekend. Even though it was a little chilly and it rained quite a bit it was heavenly to get away for a couple of days.”

“Nice.” And an illustration of how much workaholic Scott’s priorities had changed since he’d become engaged to Tess. A whole weekend away from the busy, successful construction business that meant so much to him was definitely a demonstration of his commitment to his bride-to-be. “I’m glad you had fun.”

“Now I’m looking forward to our honeymoon,” Tess admitted with a laugh. “I can’t wait to get on that warm beach in the Cayman Islands after this cold, dreary winter.”

Tess and Scott were to be married in mid-June on the spreading back lawn of his parents’ West Little Rock home. Their guest list would be as small as they could politely manage, their theme restrained and elegant. A sweet, simple wedding, as Tess frequently described, was her preference. But “simple” was a matter of perspective, Stevie thought wryly, remembering her own little ceremony with Pastor Dave and Luanne.

“Tess...”

Oh, goodness, how to even start?

“Yes?” her friend prodded after a moment.

On a sudden inspiration, Stevie blurted, “Can you come to my place tomorrow evening? Around seven? I know it’s short notice, but it won’t take long if you have other things you need to do. I’m going to ask Jenny, too.”

“A girls’ night?” Tess asked after a momentary hesitation that indicated she’d heard something odd in Stevie’s voice.

“Not exactly. I’ll explain tomorrow, okay? It’ll be easier in person. Can you come?”

“I’ll make time. Stevie...is something wrong?”

“Everything’s good,” Stevie assured her. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”

Her call with Tess completed, she shot a quick text invitation to Jenny, who accepted immediately.

“Everything okay?” Cole asked from the doorway.

She looked up from her phone to find him studying her expression in concern. “I’ve invited Tess and Jenny to drop by tomorrow evening at seven. I’ll tell them everything then.”

“Sounds like a good plan. I’ll do some work over at my place while they’re here to give you privacy for your talk.”

Grateful for his understanding, she nodded. “I’ll text you after I’ve explained everything to them. I want you to meet them.”

She wasn’t sure why he’d never met Jenny and Tess. They’d heard her talk about her neighbor and knew Stevie and Cole had become friends, but they’d never all been in the same place at the same time for introductions. In a way, it was almost as if she’d been keeping her friendship with Cole to herself. Those pleasant evenings over tea with him and his cat—they’d been special to her, she admitted now. She could never have dreamed then where they’d lead, but she’d privately treasured them.

And now it was time to bring those separate components of her life together.

“What about you?” she asked Cole. “Do you have friends you’ll want to bring together for the big announcement?”

He shrugged. “I’ll spread the word among my friends in the next week or so. I have a few local buddies, but no one as close as Jenny and Tess are to you. I need to call my mother, but I’ll wait until the morning since it’s an hour later in Florida.”

“I should call my mom, too. It’s still early enough in Hawaii for me to call her now. I’ll send a text to my brother later. He’s not much for talking on the phone.”

“Sorry I conked out on you in there. Dusty’s snoring put me to sleep.”

She chuckled. “No problem. You’re tired. Where is...oh, here she is.”

She reached down to stroke the cat winding around her ankles. Dusty was beginning to look more comfortable in her new quarters now that she’d been reassured her beloved Cole had come with her.

“I emptied a couple of drawers for you on the right side of the dresser. We’ll have to rearrange the closet to fit your things, but we can do that later. It’s a big walk-in and there’s plenty of room for your stuff.”

“Thanks. I’ll unpack while you call your mom.”

Drawing a deep breath for fortitude, she called her mom as soon as she was alone in the kitchen again. Her mother had plans for the evening but she made time to take her daughter’s call. Stevie barely gave her mom time to say hello before she burst into a nervous speech. Her words all but tripped over each other as she explained that she had eloped with her next-door neighbor and was expecting a child in August and that she and Cole were looking forward to sharing childcare duties and expected to have a long, successful marriage.

Her mother interrupted only a couple of times to ask her to slow down, but she handled the news with typical equanimity. The baby’s parentage didn’t come up, not that Stevie had expected it to with her nontraditional mom.

“So you chose to marry,” her mom said when she finally had a chance to speak. “That’s cool, though you know how I feel about the institution. You’re keeping your own name, right? Holding on to your business and your financial independence? Do you have a prenup?”

“Don’t worry, Mom,” Stevie replied with a wry smile. “It’s a completely modern marriage.”

“There’s no such thing,” her mother replied brusquely.

“You’ll like Cole, Mom. He’s a great guy. And he has a very successful career and owns his own house,” she added pointedly.

“That sounds promising,” her mother conceded grudgingly. “I hope you’ll be happy. And make sure you have a good lawyer.”

“Yes, Mother,” Stevie said with a grin that had to be audible in her voice.

Her mom’s musical laughter came through the phone. “Now you’re just being sassy.”

“Look who raised me,” Stevie retorted affectionately. “You’re going to be such a fun grandma.”

“Oh, God, don’t call me that. Your child can call me Bonnie. Or maybe BonBon. That’s cute, right?”

“We’ll discuss it. Enjoy your evening.”

“Oh, I will. Aloha, sweetie.”

“Aloha, Mom.”

Cole joined her again a few minutes later, pausing in the doorway to make sure the call was concluded before he walked into the room. “How did your call go?”

“Mom wished us well and told me to keep a good lawyer on call. Oh, and she wants to be called BonBon, not grandma.”

He smiled, unoffended by the message. “I have to admit, I’m looking forward to meeting your mother.”

“She wants to meet you, too. Would you like some tea?”

“Sounds good, but I’ll make it. Why don’t you stay off your feet for a while. It’s been a long day.”

At least he’d had the tact not to tell her she looked tired, though she felt a bit bedraggled. “Tea bags are in the pantry, cups in that cabinet,” she said, pointing.

He turned her toward the living room. “I’ll find what I need. Go rest.”

“You talked me into it.”

She told herself she was only going to lie down for a few minutes. She curled on the couch with a throw pillow beneath her head, her legs drawn up in front of her. She was just drifting off when a warm little body settled beside her and a deep, steady purr lulled her to sleep.

She wasn’t sure what time it was when Cole woke her with a gentle hand on her shoulder. “It’s getting late, Stevie. Want to turn in?”

She opened her eyes, noting that he’d dimmed the lights. The cat wasn’t beside her now. “What time is it?”

“After ten. I’ve been working on my laptop, but I think I’ll get some sleep. How are you feeling?”

She yawned. “Okay. Just tired.”

“Should I carry you to bed?”

Laughing softly, she climbed to her feet. “As manly and sexy as that sounds, I’ll walk.”

He rested a hand at the small of her back. “You think I’m manly and sexy?”

“Well, of course.” She reached up to pat his cheek sleepily. “Not to mention a cutie.”

He grunted. “Let’s just leave it at manly and sexy, okay?”

She giggled.

A short while later Cole climbed into her bed beside her and reached out to turn off the bedside lamp. He paused for just a moment with his hand on the switch. “Stevie?”

“Mmm?”

“Have I told you how much I like the way you’ve decorated your house? Especially this bedroom. It’s nice.”

The light went out, leaving her to lie awake for a few minutes in the dark, thinking about how funny life could be sometimes.

An unexpected life, she thought, glancing in the direction of her jewelry box. She was certainly living up to that fortune cookie’s prediction.

Fortunately, Tess and Jenny arrived together the next evening so Stevie didn’t have to go through explanations twice. Cold air swirled into the house with the new arrivals, and they gathered around the crackling fireplace to shed their coats and scarves, which Stevie stashed in the front bedroom before returning to her friends. Her stomach was tied in knots as she wondered what they’d say in response to her news.

“How are you feeling?” she asked Jenny, shamelessly stalling for a moment.

With a little groan and a rueful expression, Jenny pressed her hand to her tummy. “Okay now, but the mornings are bad. I have to downplay how sick I feel, though, because poor Gavin gets so distraught.”

That didn’t surprise Stevie. She knew how overprotective Jenny’s husband was. Jenny and Gavin had been sweethearts at the university all three of them had attended, though a bitter, youthful breakup had separated them for a decade. Stevie had been delighted when fate had brought the couple back together. And now they were married and having a baby together. Way to go, fate.

Tess smiled sympathetically, though her expression made Stevie wonder if Tess, too, was imagining a day when she and Scott would welcome a child. Ironically, Stevie was the only one of the three friends who’d been in no particular hurry to have a baby, until that capricious fate had stepped in to change her status.

Her friends were both so blissfully in love. Yet, having seen the pain both had gone through during rocky patches in their courtships, Stevie was relieved that she and Cole were being more practical with their relationship. Going into marriage and parenthood the way she and Cole had, with clearly defined boundaries and goals and expectations, should certainly minimize any chance of heartbreak for either of them. There would be challenges, of course, some disappointments and annoyances. She was quite sure she’d irritate the hell out of him at times, though she wasn’t sure he’d tell her if she did. But they would make it work.

She hoped Jenny and Tess would see the logic of those arguments even if they worried that she had been recklessly impulsive again.

She poured tea all around and waited until the others were seated before clearing her throat in preparation to speak. She was a little surprised that neither of her usually sharp-eyed friends had noticed her new rings, but that only showed how distracted they were with their own lives.

So much had changed in the past year, she thought a bit wistfully. So many changes still lay ahead.

Jenny and Tess were looking at her now as if they sensed something momentous was coming. Before she could speak, a plaintive meow sounded from the doorway and Dusty padded warily into the room. The cat had dashed off to hide when the doorbell rang, nervous about the new arrivals. Dusty wasn’t accustomed to company, having lived for a year with her somewhat reclusive owner. But she was too needy to remain hidden away for long when there were potential ear rubs waiting in here.