Grace nodded. “I’m supposed to have the least symptoms and feel the best. Most importantly, I’m finally supposed to be a little less tired.”
“You’ve been tired?”
“Exhausted.”
“Well, from now on, if you need anything, you can always call me.”
“Really?” Grace met his eyes.
“Really.”
For a moment, as they looked at each other, Grace could almost forget everything that had happened between them. It was all too easy to imagine Alex as an ally. A mental image of him assembling nursery furniture and rocking an infant to sleep popped into her mind.
“I’ll even come from work if you need me,” Alex said. “Even though work has been a real mess since…”
He trailed off, but Grace knew what he meant to say. Her warm feelings toward him dissipated like a balloon snatched from a child’s hand by the seaside wind and carried into the sky.
“Right. Well, I guess you’re anxious to get back to work now.” She stood.
“No, it’s okay. I have time,” Alex protested, but Grace pushed away the remainder of the banana split and shouldered her bag.
“I have things to do, too. Even though I’m currently unemployed.”
“Grace…” Alex looked up at her from his chair.
“Yes?” She paused and looked back at him.
“See you at the doctor’s.”
“Yeah. See you then.”
And with that, Grace left, taking the route along the boardwalk back to her car. Alex could pay for the ice cream if he hadn’t already.
He owed her a lot more than ice cream after everything that had happened. Already, she regretted allowing him to come to the doctor’s appointment. This was going to be a real mess.
CHAPTER 15
ALEX
Alex sat in his car in front of the doctor’s office, more nervous than he wanted to be. Grace was probably already inside, but he was waiting until the last minute. He didn’t want to make awkward waiting-room small talk for too long, or he’d end up asking Grace what he really wanted to ask her: why? Why had she taken the laptop? Why was she suing him? Why was she so angry whenshewas the one who’d hurthim?
“None of that matters,” Alex said aloud. “Only the baby matters.”
But that wasn’t true. He cared about the baby, but he cared about Grace, too. That was what made this so very hard. She’d been so sweet, so funny, so insightful, so compelling… and then she’d turned around and stolen everything from him. The image of Grace as an intelligent programmer and a great friend (more than a friend) just didn’t mesh in his mind with that of Grace as a selfish thief.
But Alex wasn’t going to figure that out today. His only goal was to have a civil conversation with Grace and see the ultrasound of their baby. He got out of the car and went inside, where Gracewas sitting in the lobby, looking at her phone. Across from her, a very pregnant woman was sitting with her husband, both of them smiling at each other. Another couple cradled a newborn.
“You made it,” Grace said, putting her phone away and meeting his eyes. She looked lovely in a pale pink T-shirt that clung to the curve of her pregnant belly and a pair of gray jeans, but her expression was wary.
“I did.” Alex sat next to her, but not too close. He handed her a box of mints.
“What are these?” Grace turned the tin over.
“I’m not sure if they’re the right brand, but you said you liked these mints, so I got them for you.”
“Oh.” Grace looked away. “Thank you.” Alex saw her pop one into her mouth before putting the box in her pocket. He scanned his mind for a safe topic other than mints but couldn’t find anything. They sat in silence for a while, avoiding eye contact with each other and the other patients.
Luckily, after just a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, a young nurse called Grace’s name, and they went in. The room was spacious and bright, with a paper-covered exam table, a spare chair for Alex, and several high-tech contraptions that Alex assumed must be the ultrasound machine and other tools of the trade. He sat in the chair, looking away, while the nurse measured Grace’s height and weight and took her blood pressure and temperature.
