“It’ll be fine. It’s the middle of the week and with the rodeo over, we’re not nearly as busy. Go. Take care of yourself.”
I watched Aurora walk back into the diner, grateful for everything she’d given me. If it hadn’t been for her, there was notelling where I might have ended up. I was able to drink half the tea and ended up tossing the rest before deciding to walk a little.
Walking up Main Street, I tried to avoid any triggering smells but since being pregnant was so new to me, I had no way of knowing what they were until I experienced them.
“Watch where you’re going!” someone snapped at me and I looked up to see one of my mother’s friends exiting Flower Power with a large bouquet of flowers and a card that said “congratulations” on it. She wobbled where she stood as if I’d crashed into her. I reached out to steady her but she snapped at me, “Don’t touch me!”
I frowned at her. I might have been lost in thought but even I could see that I wasn’t the cause for her unsteadiness. I had no intention of going into the shop, so I tried to step around her and keep walking but she blocked my path.
“Don’t you want to know who the flowers are for?” she demanded and I shook my head.
“No, I don’t.” Mrs. Viola had taught Sunday school when I was growing up and the woman had a mean streak a mile long. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.” I tried to step around her but she blocked my path.
“They’re for your mother,” she smirked as she said it.
“Okay?” What did that have to do with me?
“To congratulate her on becoming a grandmother.”
Ah.I didn’t try to hide the eyeroll. Of course she’d buy mymotherflowers but I certainly didn’t need to hear about it. “Awesome. You’ve told me about it. Should I pout or shed a tearor something since you didn’t buy them for me? You know, the actual woman pregnant with her grandchild?”
Whoa.I had no idea where that level of bitchiness came from. Probably the hormones.
Mrs. Viola stared at me in shock. When she opened her mouth to say something, I got hit with a strong whiff of old cigarettes and something not good. I fumbled for the ChapStick and took a couple steps back, slathering it on under my nose. I needed to get out of there before that small amount of tea I’d managed to drink came back up.
“Stay back!” I had my hand up in a stop gesture.
“Well, I… never!” the older woman said, practically shouting at me. She took an ominous step toward me, her mouth open to berate me.
“Is everything all right?” I turned my head at the new voice, relieved to see Brian striding our way. He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me into his side. “Darling?”
I was taking short, rapid breaths, unable to slow them down and I waved my hand in Mrs. Viola’s direction. “Smells bad,” I managed to say and before I could clarify, the older woman reared back as if I’d struck her.
“What? Well, I never!”
Before she could say more, Brian stepped between us and calmly said, “She has morning sickness and something about you is triggering. I would suggest you refrain from saying more and be on your way.”
The woman simply couldn’t take a hint. She glared at the both of us and tucked the bouquet tighter against her chest beforetaking another step in my direction. The stress of dealing with her along with my roiling stomach was too much for me. I slapped my hand over my mouth and rushed past her to puke into the trashcan. I heard her shriek behind me as if I’d gotten something on her. Brian spoke to her quietly and I thought I heard him mention something about citing her for civil harassment if she didn’t move on.
With yet more angry mumbles coming from her, she finally moved on, but it took me several minutes before my stomach finally calmed down. The entire time, Brian stood behind me, rubbing my back and making soothing noises.
“Thanks,” I finally managed to say. “I don’t know what that smell on her was, but…” I shuddered. “It didn’t smell good.”
“She’s gone now.” I could hear someone calling for him on his radio and he stiffened behind me. “Tell Amy I’m on my way,” he said into the radio and I felt my heart drop. Of course he was needed elsewhere. Straightening my shoulders, I forced the nausea away and was surprised when it seemed to calm down. Wiping my mouth, I turned around with a smile on my face even though I knew it was strained.
“Sounds like you have to go.” He was watching me with concern.
“I do, but only if you’re okay.”
I managed to muster a smile. “Are you headed to the town hall? Any chance you could help me home first? It’s sort of on the way.” The turn for South Chaska was before the mayor’s office.
“Of course. Come on. Let’s get you home,” Brian said and I blew out a relieved breath. He wrapped his arm around me and we headed for his house. I probably would’ve been fine on my own. In fact, I knew I would be, but I appreciated having Brian’sassistance. I knew it wouldn’t always be the case, but I would take what I could get for now.
TWENTY-EIGHT
BRIAN
“In the kitchen,” Caitlin called when I arrived home. It’d been a few days since we’d found out she was pregnant and while it was still early, I was anxious to check on her. I was worried about the hours she was putting in on her feet.
