I takeher to this little bistro just inside a tiny pocket of small towncharm, where we have to park on the street and walk up to therestaurant. We walk by a baby store, and she stops, looking at thelittle outfit in the window. It’s a pretty little pink onesie withfeet and a hood that has bunny ears. It comes with a soother thatlooks like a bunny snout. “Gosh, ain’t that the cutest thing.” Shesays.
My heartswells. “It is, isn’t it. They sure think of everything forbabies.”
“Yeah.” She scoffs. “I’m glad I’m not into babies. I might aswell give stores like that my bank account number if that were thecase.”
“My mama used to knit and sew for days when we were kids.She’s got a whole cedar chest full of old baby clothes that she andmy meemaw made.”
“I’ll bet they’re all boys clothes, too, ain’tthey.”
“Yeah, most of them.”
Shelooks at me. “And how are you going to feel if this is agirl?”
“Y’all want a girl?” I ask, smiling.
“I think I’d have more experience with a girl,yes.”
“I’d be great with either one, Ellie. Honest. As long as he orshe is healthy…and likes horses…I’m game.”
“Had to sneak that in there, huh.”
I smile.“Yeah.”
“Well, in that case, as long asshelikes the stock market, we’regood.”
I snorta laugh. “Come on. Let’s go get you fed.”
Ellie isnot afraid to eat. I suppose it doesn’t help that I’ve never seenher put anything in her mouth, aside from my body parts. We mowdown on the food, and I see the ghost of a smile on her face.“What’s the quickest way to a woman’s heart, Ellie?” Itease.
“Shut up. You shoved enough grub down your throat, too. Plus,I haven’t eaten since lunch time yesterday.”
My faceturns to stone. “We’re gonna fix that. You have to eat.”
“Unless you plan on bringing me my meals, I squeeze food inwhen I can. That’s the way I’ve always been and I’m staying thatway.”
“We’ll see about that.”
I takeher on a nice walk in her neighborhood when we get back, and wecome across a park that she didn’t know was there, since she justmoved to this neck of the woods. There are kids swarming the park,and I invite her to sit on one of the benches. “You enjoy lunch?” Iask her.
“Yeah. I should be getting back to work. I’m sure you have aload of stuff to do today, too.”
“I do. I promised Gunner I’d take him shopping. And then I’vegot a ton of work with the horses.” I look at her. “How about Icome by tomorrow night and take you to dinner?”
“I don’t know, Maverick. I need some time.”
“I get it. But you also need to eat. And you just saidyourself that unless I bring you your meals, that you may just eatwhen you can fit it in.” I say kindly with a wink.
“Okay, fine. But tomorrow’s going to be killer at work, soplease let it just be a quick thing, okay? No sit downmeal.”
“Anything you want, sugar.”
As wewalk back to her house, which isn’t far, I take her hand in mine.“How are you doing, you know, after that ultrasound? It was prettyintense.”
“It was, wasn’t it.” She agrees. “It…kind of made it allreal.”
“It did. That’s why I asked if you’re okay.”
“I’m okay. I…still have some thinking to do.”
