Maybe, just maybe, if she kept her and Rex under wraps, then that lurking invisible force couldn’t pounce on her happiness and take it away. Logically, she knew that didn’t make sense, but love didn’t always think straight.
Regardless, lunch with Lacey didn’t necessitate spilling the beans on Rex. She could claim work as her reason to be in Louisiana, which wasn’t technically a lie since she’d found a job. The longer she delayed the meeting, the more difficult it would become to make that call.
She almost wished Lacey wouldn’t answer, but no such luck. “Hi, Lacey, it’s Monica.”
Lacey squealed. “I’ve tried calling you, but the number was disconnected.”
“You had my work cell number. That’s all we were allowed to give.” Monica frowned, wishing she hadn’t cut contact with Lacey. They’d gotten along well, and the connection with Rex circumvented usual protocol that maintained an emotional distance. “I’m sorry I haven’t called to check on you before now.”
“Don’t worry about that.” Monica envisioned Lacey waving away any guilt. “How in the world are you?”
“I’m good. How are you?”
“Much better now that the morning sickness finally went away.” The excitement in Lacey’s tone was palpable. “Did you know I’m expecting?”
“I heard through the grapevine. Congratulations.” Baby fever all around. There must be something in the water from Louisiana to Pennsylvania.
“Thank you. Tell me, what have you been up to? Are you back to work?” Lacey sighed. “I asked Rex how you were recovering, but he’d only say he didn’t know.”
She almost slipped and told Lacey she’d quit her job, but she bit her lip to keep from blurting out her secret. When she replied, she kept her answer vague without directly answering any of her questions. “I’m in town for a while and thought maybe we can get together one day.”
A squeal of excitement rang through the phone. “Is today too soon?”
Monica grinned—it felt good to have a friend. “Today’s perfect.”
“Give me an hour and we can meet in town for lunch. Where are you staying? I can come pick you up.”
Grateful for her training in rapid answers, she came up with a true response that didn’t give anything away. “I’m staying with a friend, but they live in the opposite direction of you. Tell me where to meet you, and I’ll be there.”
“Is the Cajun Corner Café good? I can’t get enough of their fried pickles dipped in the special sauce.” Lacey hiccupped. “Pregnancy craving are going to be the end of me. I just mixed pickle juice with my sweet team, but it’s not agreeing with me now.”
I wonder why. Her stomach churned at the mere thought of the combination. “I’ll see you there in an hour.”
After disconnecting, she filled Chance’s bowl with fresh food and water before leaving. With a pat on his head, she bid him good-bye with instructions to behave and not chew anymore shoes.
Unable to quell the excitement at seeing her friend, she smiled the entire way to town. She parked outside of the dilapidated building whose looks were deceiving about the quality of food served.
She spotted Lacey’s empty car and went inside to greet her. In typical Lacey fashion, she ran over and hugged Monica, squealing with the excitement of a teenaged girl at a concert of her favorite boyband.
Released from the embrace, Monica stepped back and examined her friend. “Pregnancy agrees with you.”
“My body didn’t think so at first. It wasn’t until a few weeks ago I could finally eat on a regular basis without getting sick. C’mon, I have a table waiting for us.” She led Monica to a small table along the edge of the wall.
When the waitress came to take their orders, they placed them without looking at a menu—a grilled shrimp po-boy for both of them and a side of fried mushrooms.
“No pickle juice this time,” she teased as they sipped on their tea.
Lacey turn a ghastly shade of gray. “Never again.”
If her friend didn’t look so sick, Monica would have laughed. Instead, she took the opportunity to change the subject and clear the air, hopefully release the guilt that wouldn’t leave her. “I am so sorry about everything that happened. Had I done my job better, you wouldn’t have gotten hurt.”
“You are one of the best agents out there.” Lacey rested her hands on her stomach. “Long before Tom and I married, he warned me what a life with him could entail since his father is a senator. There are sick individuals out there who will target a politician’s family. Those are the people to blame, not you.”
“My job was to protect you at all costs.”
“Which you did, and I owe you my life. Had you not taken that bullet, I wouldn’t be here today.” Despite the serious nature of the conversation, Lacey smiled. “And my sprained ankle, that was all me. In a panic, I tried to escape and tripped over a rock.”
“I am happy for you Lacey. You are one of the few true friends I have made along the way and I want the best for you.”
