Page 11 of Always Almost You

“Oh?” Susan said.

“You’ll want the nursery directly across from the primary bedroom,” Lauren said.

Susan nodded. “We plan to convert the office.”

“If construction were complete, you’d have to go with that,” Lauren said. “But if this room were designed as a nursery from the start, I’d make it larger and give it an en-suite bathroom. I’d relocate the guest room and flip the hallway bath so the plumbing aligns.”

Susan’s eyes lit up. “I love that.”

“It means revised drawings,” Lauren said, “but construction hasn’t started yet.”

“We leave tonight,” Susan said. “We’re taking a babymoon in Hawaii before we join the family for Christmas.” She hesitated. “Would you mind talking to the architect? You understand the changes better than I do.”

“We’d be happy to,” Kathy replied. “If you’d email him to introduce us, that would help.”

“I’ll do it right now,” Susan said, already tapping at the screen of her phone.

“Do you think the architect will mind?” Lauren asked.

Susan smiled. “Not at all. Mike is an absolute dream to work with. He’ll welcome your suggestions.”

Lauren and Kathy exchanged doubtful smiles.

Behind them, Pumpkin gnawed on the plush duck, punctuating the moment with a triumphant squeak.

CHAPTER 8

Pumpkin placed a paw on Lauren’s knee.

Lauren kept her eyes on the screen of her laptop but reached down to ruffle Pumpkin’s ears. “I’m just checking this last order,” she said. “As soon as I hit send, we’re heading home. I know we’re an hour past your usual supper time.”

She glanced from the order screen to the notes on the note pad beside her computer. “Okay,” she muttered. “That’s everything.” She clicked Place Order. The confirmation screen populated with an order number. Lauren printed it, closed her laptop, and stood.

“You’re such a good girl,” she said, smiling down at Pumpkin. Her gaze flicked to the untidy stack of papers on her desk. Kathy was comfortable leaving chaos behind at the end of the day; Lauren was not. She checked her watch, hesitated, then shook her head. Tonight, Pumpkin came first.

Lauren grabbed her purse, clipped Pumpkin’s leash to her collar, and headed out the back door. Kathy had departed after the meeting with Susan Hunter. The only car in the lot should have been Lauren’s. Instead, a familiar luxury convertible sat idling near the curb, top down despite the chill.

The heavy metal door of K + L Interiors slammed shut behind them. Lauren and Pumpkin stopped short.

Darren stepped out of the car with an easy confidence that instantly raised Lauren’s guard. “Hey, girls,” he said. “I was starting to worry about you. You haven’t answered any of my texts since Thanksgiving.”

Lauren straightened. Pumpkin pressed firmly against her leg, her body rigid, offering none of the enthusiastic greeting she bestowed on almost everyone but Darren.

“As you can see, we’re fine,” Lauren said evenly.

“That sounds chilly,” Darren said, stepping closer. He lifted a hand toward her face.

Lauren took a deliberate step back.

“You’re mad at me, aren’t you?” he said, exhaling dramatically. “All because I got sick and couldn’t come to Thanksgiving dinner.”

Lauren narrowed her eyes.

“Come on, babe. That’s not fair. I didn’t want you to get sick.” He leaned in again.

Lauren inhaled slowly. “You’re half right, Darren. I am angry. But not because you canceled at the last minute for being sick.” She met his gaze steadily.

His grin held, but the skin around his eyes tightened. “What then?”