As soon as Terri handed her the bright-orange sweater and Misty’s purse, she said, “Don’t worry. It’s not busy out there. I can cover for you for a few minutes.”
“I’ll be right out. Thanks, Terri.”
She dialed Gabe with one click, but he didn’t answer—at first. When she was about to hang up, he said, “Hi, Misty. I’m waiting at the fire department’s doctor’s office. I should be getting cleared to go back to work. What do you need?”
He was busy. He’d have to make time for her, since no one could help her but him. Oh well. It sounded like he was getting a clean bill of health. At least one of their problems was solved.
* * *
Gabe was waiting for her at Starbucks in the South End. He was perusing the free newspaper and didn’t notice her come in. She wanted to turn and run…if her feet cooperated. But this conversation absolutely had to happen.
She’d half expected him to drop in and visit her at his parents’ house last night. Talking to him there would have been awkward. She was nervous, but bringing up the pregnancy in a public place where he couldn’t make a scene helped her relax. A little. Until he saw her.
He rose, unsmiling. Realizing she had changed his whole life, she hesitated. He strolled over to her and kissed her cheek. Stepping back, he indicated a table with two coffees on it. “Have a seat.”
“You already ordered something for me?”
“Yeah. I hope you don’t mind.”
“No. Not at all.” It was a good thing Starbucks didn’t serve wine. She’d be tempted.
“Yeah. I think I know what you like. You take your coffee with cream and no sugar. Right? I also ordered decaf. I thought you might be avoiding caffeine now.”
She smiled at him. “Yeah. Thanks.” He remembered how she liked her coffee. Most guys weren’t that observant. And he’d taken her pregnancy into consideration. Maybe hedidcare.
They sat opposite each other, and he stared at her for a moment. Briefly shaking his head like something was unbelievable, he leaned back and took a sip of his coffee.
“What?” she asked.
“Nothing. You’re just sort of…glowing?”
Well, that may have been because as soon as she’d made it back to his parents’ place across the street, she’d scrubbed her face clean, changed into the outfit she’d bought on her lunch hour, and had hurried across four lanes of traffic to get here on time.
Misty fidgeted in her seat. He still hadn’t smiled. She couldn’t figure out how he felt now that he’d had a chance to digest the news. And as scared as she was to hear the answer, she had to ask. “Gabe, are you okay?”
He sat up straight and focused an intense stare at her. “You mean because you’re pregnant?”
She bit her lip and nodded.
He set his coffee down and covered his face with one big hand. “I hate to ask, but are you sure? Could you be mistaken?”
“I went to my gynecologist the same day I got diagnosed with MS. So, yes. I’m sure. I guess I could’ve started off by saying ‘I have good news and bad news,’ but I wasn’t sure if there was any good news.”
Gabe just stared at her, biting his lower full lip. He sat there saying nothing for the longest time. At last he rose so suddenly, the table tipped a bit.
“I can’t do this, Misty.”
She held up one hand. “You don’t have to. I’m the one who has to deal with this. I just wanted you to have a say. But if you don’t want one, don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of myself.”
Gabe let out a long exhale. “No. I don’t mean that. I need to think.” He strode out the door, leaving her sitting with two coffees in front of her and no Gabe.
A few patrons turned her way and gazed at her curiously.
A tear formed in the corner of her eye. She took several deep breaths, willing it away. She’d known he wasn’t going to like talking about it. She’d expected that. There was no way he would jump up and down and pull her into his arms, declaring his undying love. But a little part of her had hoped…
She took a few more sips of her decaf coffee and tried to compose herself. At last, she rose, poised to leave, but her knees gave out, and she sat down hard.
“Oh, hell,” she muttered.How am I going to deal with MS and single motherhood? How can I do this alone?After a long deep breath, she just knew she’d find a way.
