“Yes, it was.” Oakley patted his stomach. “And we got the local discount.”
“And there was that.”
We drove home while I tried to decide if it was all right to buy someone a house without telling them in advance. He liked it, no question there, but shouldn’t I ask him if he wanted it?
Mate wants house.My bear had no doubt of that, apparently.We’ll get it for him.
We will see. I don’t even know how much it costs.
But I knew the next day, when I called the Realtor and asked. The price was quite fair, and I immediately offered full. Then I had to wait to see if it would be accepted.
Chapter Eighteen
Oakley
This morning was the first time in all my years working at the nursery that I called in sick. Tim offered to come pick me up and bring me to the doctor, and Daisy was in the back, commanding that he do just that.
The only way I could convince them not to come over was to tell them how I was throwing up nearly nonstop. The actual throwing up on speakerphone really pushed my point.
I didn’t mean to. My stomach had a mind of its own for the past two weeks.
The truth was, my bear told me what was happening the first time I got sick. I had been over at Auburn’s at that time, and my bear whispered the one thing I wasn’t prepared to hear.
I needed to tell Auburn. I needed to admit to myself my bear was right.
After the heaving stopped, I bit the bullet and called my mate. Most times, I spent the night at his house or him at mine, but with his shop being so busy and him making extra-special flavors for the summer craze in Oliver Creek, I’d spent the night at home and him at his place.
It felt wrong not to be near him, but life happened.
“Good morning, my love.” He always called me that now. Every single time, it warmed my whole body.
“Good morning. Are you busy right now?”
He was doing something in the background. “Not much. Do you need me?”
That question was loaded. I could tell by his tone, but he had no idea why I needed him. “I really need to talk to you about something. It’s important.”
“Wait, didn’t you have to work this morning?” he asked.
I blew out a breath. Time to say the thing and get it over with. “I’ve been throwing up, so I called into work. Can you come over and stop at the drugstore on your way?”
“What do you need?” I heard the jingle of his keys.
“A ginger ale and crackers, please. And one more thing. Can you get a pregnancy test? Maybe more than one.”
Auburn sucked in a breath. He stopped moving. “Oakley, what are you saying?”
“I would much rather have this conversation face-to-face. I know this is difficult, but can you just get those things and come over, please.”
“I’m on my way.”
In less than fifteen minutes, a miracle by any standards of driving and moving, Auburn knocked on my door and then let himself in. He had a key, as did I for his place and the ice cream shop. “I’m here,” he called out.
He put the bags on the table and rushed over as soon as he saw me.
“Do I look that bad?” I asked, laughing.
“You are green. Talk to me. Tell me what’s going on.”
