Colt cleared his throat and looked oddly embarrassed, like he spilled secrets. “Is Jacob busy?”
“He’s in between patients Colt. He’ll be happy to see you.”
“We’re here for Lainie’s ultrasound. I don’t want her waiting too long.”
She smiled at the gruff protectiveness he was showing. “Go down to the room, I’ll go get him.”
“You go get him,” Elaina said to Colt. He gave her an unsure look but listened.
She leaned over the counter as much as her big belly would allow her. “Seriously. Are you okay?” she whispered.
After a moment of fighting her inner demons she answered honestly. “No.” Tammy knew Elaina was the only one she could talk to.
“I didn’t think so.” Elaina came around the counter and took Tammy’s hand. “Rita, if Colt comes out like a barracuda tell him I’ll be a minute.”
“You bet hun.” She looked at Tammy. “You take your time young lady.”
Elaina dragged her into an empty exam room and shut the door. “Out with it.” She placed her hands on her swollen belly.
“I’m a mess.” She started weeping.
“Your family? Gosh, maybe you shouldn’t have gone.”
“No, my mother seemed better when I left.”
Elaina’s eyes widened as it dawned on her. “Lance!”
She nodded weeping harder.
Elaina grabbed some tissues from a nearby box and handed them to her. “What happened?”
“We—” She just couldn’t continue. She could not have asked for a better time for her friend to be so insightful.
“Oh myGod. Does he know how you feel?”
She shook her head. “I chickened out. We got together and I told him, basically, thanks for the good time.”
“Sit down, Tammy.” She pulled a chair out for her and grabbed another one. Her feet were killing her.
Tammy did as Elaina asked still wiping tears from her red rimmed eyes.
“Youhaveto tell him.”
“I can’t. You should have seen the women, Elaina. Lance is so untouchable, and handsome. I can’t compete with ex-girlfriends, his expectations. He practically charmed a room with over eight hundred people in it and barely said a word. People think the world of him.”
Elaina already knew those characteristics of her brother in law, except one Tammy was describing. “What expectations?”
“I don’t know!”
“Did he give you any?”
“No.”
Elaina rolled her eyes. “Tammy, for someone so smart, you are really stupid.”
“Iknow.”
She laughed lightly. “Tellhim.”
