"Uh, not terribly, why?"
"Jackie wants to go on a babymoon and I want to see you, so we thought about coming there. It's been too long since I've held you in my arms."
"No wonder your wife is pregnant with all that smooth talking you do." I move back around and gather my things, balancing the phone between my shoulder and ear.
"She loves me. And so do you. So, got plans this weekend?"
"Not anymore," I say. I didn't have any to begin with but she doesn't need to know that. "Do you need help booking a hotel? I would offer my apartment, but it's one room."
"Nope, I have it all booked already. I was going to surprise you, but someone had to make sure it wasn't a wasted flight. Pregnancy hormones, man. It makes her crazy."
"Oh, I am not about to be witness to a murder." I sling my bag over my shoulder and laugh as I head to the door. "Text me flight details and I'll make sure to pick you up at the airport."
"It might just be me coming!" Jackie shouts before something that sounds like a magazine hitting my best friend's head comes through and the line goes dead.
I spend the rest of the evening cleaning the apartment and making a list for the grocery store. I have a mild panic when the house smells too strongly of bleach and the grocery list is lacking. I have no clue what pregnant people like to eat. Before Iknow it, I have the phone to my ear, waiting for the person on the other line to pick up.
"Bennett?" Nelson's voice is deep and he sounds sleepy. It's only then that I realize the sun has long since gone down and I probably just woke him up.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't realize the time at all when I picked up my phone." I start to pull the phone away from my ear to hang up, but his voice comes fast.
"Is everything okay? And it isn't too late, I just fell asleep on the couch."
"Is your back okay?" I forget about my problem for a moment. I hear him let out a yawn, but his next words I know he says through a smile.
"I'll be okay. What did you call for?"
"Oh that, right. Uh, what do pregnant people like to eat?"
There's a few seconds of coughing on his end before he's back on the line. "I'm sorry, what? Why would you need to know that?"
"I have a friend visiting this weekend. It's her and her wife's babymoon, whatever that is, and they're coming here to visit. Her wife is pregnant and I don't know if I used too many chemicals while cleaning my apartment or what foods I should go buy."
"Slow down." I directs me to take a few deep breaths. I do as he asks, but I feel no less settled. "First off, why are you asking me this? Surely you have someone you know that is or was pregnant?"
"I have a sister," I admit. "Not going to lie though, in my panic I forgot she existed."
Nelson's laugh carries through the phone and I slump my shoulders. "Don't laugh at me. I only get to see Hayley on the rare occasion now so I want to make sure their stay is good."
"You are overthinking this," he says. "Plus, pregnancy comes with some unexplainable cravings. I'm sure your friend will be able to tell you what they like."
I sigh, knowing that he's making sense. I can feel the embarrassment creeping up my neck.
"I'm sorry for bothering you," I say. "I just panicked a bit."
Chapter Eleven
"Canyoupassthepotatoes?" Clark asks from across the table. I nod and hand the bowl over to him, making sure he has a good grip before letting go. It's the first time we've sat down, all four of us, for a meal in weeks. I know it's because of me and wanting to avoid the situation as much as possible. But Charlie is telling Clark tonight and he asked me if I could join them.
"Are you ready for your senior year of high school?" I ask Clark as we all continue to pass around the bowls. I'm not sure if Clark knows something is up or not, but Joyce has made all of his favorite foods tonight. Within a minute, my plate is filled with all the carbs a person could ever want.
"Come on, Uncle N. It's the middle of July and you're ruining the summer vibe asking that!"
The three of us laugh at his whining. I don't follow up with it though, because this is his last summer to be 'off' and enjoy the sun and freedom with his friends. I love that he's never been ashamed of being a 'kid', even through high school. Some of his friends got jobs over the summers, but he's always gotten paid tohelp out on the farm in the summers and on weekends. Most of the time, he's heading out to join friends at the local swimming hole or his friends come to the farm and do a bonfire and spend the night camping in tents.
We make small talk during dinner. nothing below surface level. Clark tries to get information out of me about who the mystery guy in my truck was last week. I'm secretly grateful that he didn't see Bennett's face, but I know that my expression changes just at the memory and Joyce starts in with the teasing as well.
Once our plates are mostly cleared, I can see Charlie's expression go serious and I want to hold my breath for what's about to happen. I keep my face poised, though.
