“You’re right,” Sienna said, taking a drink from her glass.
As they settled into their conversation, Emily’s mind returned to the encounter. What had Patrick told Mark about her? And why did not knowing bother her so much? Across the sea of tables, he got up to leave, tossing some cash on the bar. Before he turned to go, he caught her eye.
She quickly turned her attention back to her friends.
SEVEN
“How did you sleep last night?” Blair asked, climbing onto an iron-and-wood chair-style stool at the kitchen island.
“Like a baby.” Emily poured her friend a cup of coffee and took a seat next to her. She didn’t mention waking a couple of times because she hadn’t slept well since she and Will had broken up. “The bedding was so luxurious.”
“I know. I video-called Rocko to show him how soft the sheets were so he could look forward to snuggling up in them when he gets here.” She giggled.
A hollow pang pelted Emily. She could go on normally, but out of nowhere, hopelessness from the loss of her old life would swarm her like bees. “I love how you two call each other all the time. Will never called me like that. Should it have been a sign?”
“Everyone’s different,” Blair said, leaning against the chair back of the barstool. “And phone calls don’t necessarily make a marriage.”
“Yeah but connecting with one another does.”
Blair took a drink from her mug, heaviness in her pause. “Rocko and I aren’t all roses either,” she said, her honesty lingering heavily in the air. “We haven’t been great since I lost the baby.”
“Really?” In all their coffee dates, Blair had never mentioned this.
“Yeah. He bounced back, but I’m still struggling. Every time he wants to get close to me physically, I can’t do it.”
“I’m so sorry. I had no idea you were dealing with that.”
“We used to be so flirty, unable to keep our hands off one another. Now, when he touches me, I flinch. And if I let him, all I can think about is how I could end up pregnant again, and I don’t know if I could survive losing another baby.”
“There are ways to ensure you won’t get pregnant unless you’re ready,” Emily offered.
Blair traced a vein of marbling on the slick countertop and then picked up her mug. “I know, but there’s also the loss of the baby that hangs over the moment, spoiling it.”
“Have you talked to him about it?”
Blair stared into the steaming dark liquid in her mug. “Of course. We talk about it all the time. I’m in therapy. But nothing seems to help. I know he needs intimacy, but I’m not in the right place to give him that.”
“Has he said how he feels?”
“He’s supportive, but I think it’s putting a strain on him. I know he wonders if he’ll ever get his wife back.”
“Morning.” Sienna came in, her attention on her phone. “I just talked to Tyson. He misses me and can’t wait to get here. I thought I was the one who was supposed to get all hormonal. He doesn’t even know about the baby yet and he’s got couvade syndrome.”
“What is that?” Emily asked with a huff of laughter.
“It’s a condition where the father experiences similar symptoms to pregnancy,” Blair said.
Emily’s mouth dropped open. “That’s a thing?”
Blair laughed and nodded, but her attention moved back to Sienna when her phone beeped. “Is he texting again already?” She batted her eyelashes playfully.
“No. It’s just weather alerts. A system’s forming off the coast.” Sienna set down her phone on the counter. “It’s still pretty far out to sea, though, so hopefully it won’t bring too much rain. That coffee smells divine. I wish I could have a cup.”
“I can make you a decaf,” Emily offered. “I brought some.”
“Don’t trouble yourself. I’ll have juice.” Sienna patted Emily’s shoulder and then air-kissed Blair.
Blair brightened as if their earlier conversation had never happened. Had she been putting on a brave face for all of them? Maybe she hadn’t recovered as much as it seemed.
