I stood from the bed and leaned down to give him a quick kiss on the lips.
“Have fun,” he said, giving my hand a squeeze.
As I started to walk away, a thought struck me and I turned at the door.
“You’ll meet her soon, right? And Gabriella too?” I asked hopefully.
“Sure,” he said. It was the most unconvincing word I’d heard, but I tried to ignore my heart sinking to my stomach. He still hadn’t met my two best friends. I hadn’t met any of his friends.Or the one he’d mentioned briefly. Kevin. I wondered when we would blend our lives together, if ever.
I gave him a weak smile and slipped out of the room.
On my walk to the park, I was on high alert. Despite what I told Jeremiah about Anderson, I still didn’t feel entirely safe. He had found me once before. Twice, even. I clutched my picnic basket tightly as I wound down the path to the grassy picnic area. But there was no sign of Anderson, whose black eyes I still couldn’t get out of my head. I also didn’t really see anyone suspicious around. Anyone I did see was with their family or on a run. I breathed a sigh of relief when I spotted Erica sitting on a large, gingham, pale yellow picnic blanket. She waved when she saw me.
“Hi!” I said, kneeling down and setting my picnic basket down before giving her a hug.
“Hi, sweetie! And hi, baby!” she said warmly as she put her hand on my belly.
I laughed softly. “Where’s Josie?” I asked as I began unpacking my picnic basket.
“She’s with Marco having a daddy-daughter day at the zoo.” Erica poured lemonade into two clear plastic cups. “It’s their favorite place. Those cute penguins have had a hold on that girl.”
I smiled, hoping it would hide my thoughts as they wandered to what kind of father Jeremiah would be like to our child. Wouldhe take him or her to the zoo or to the museum or out to lunch, or would this secret he’d asked me to keep ruin the childhood I’d thought up in my head? What kind of childhood would that be?
“We should call Gabriella,” I said, pulling my phone from my purse.
“Definitely. We are due for a girl chat,” said Erica, tucking a strand of her dark hair behind her ear.
I propped the phone up against the picnic basket and dialed Gabriella. A few rings later and her face appeared on the screen, fresh-faced and smiling from her living room. Her dark hair was pulled up in a messy bun and she was wearing her favorite vintage college tee.
“Hey, girls!” she said excitedly. “What are you doing?”
“We’re having a picnic,” I said, taking a sip of lemonade.
She groaned. “Ugh. Jealous. I would give anything to be there.”
“Just pretend,” said Erica, popping a grape in her mouth as she sat back and embraced the sun that kissed her tan skin.
“Sadie, how is baby?” asked Gabriella.
I placed a hand over my belly, pulling at the flowy sundress I wore, revealing my growing bump. “Good!” I said.
“Ahh, you’re bigger than the last time I saw you. In the cutest way possible, of course.”
“Thanks.” I smiled, settling back on the picnic blanket and grabbing a handful of crackers.
“And how is Jeremiah?” asked Gabriella.
Erica watched me carefully as she quietly chewed on a piece of cheese.
“He’s good,” I said, my voice going up an octave. I knew my friends saw right through me.
Gabriella raised an unconvinced eyebrow.
“I don’t know.” I sighed. “Things have been good.Sogood. At least in the last two days.”
“Since he kicked that creep’s ass…” said Erica with a shake of her head.
I had called them both the morning after it had happened and told them the whole awful story. They couldn’t believe it.
