“No.” She shakes her head against my chest. “I’m not okay. What the fuck? They were going to pin it on me?”
I kiss the top of her head. “I’m proud of you.”
She nods and pulls away. “I’m going to put my feet up for a while,” she says, heading for the couch.
The doorbell rings. Again.
“It’s Grand Central Terminal in here today,” I huff out, yanking the door open to find Ms. Maddie with Everleigh.
“Hi,” I say, masking my irritation with a grin.
“I’m sorry to intrude,” Everleigh starts, shifting the boxes in her hands and side-eyeing her mother. “She refused to wait until she saw Collins.”
“Come in.” I move away from the door and welcome them in. “She’s in the living room.” Ms. Maddie is already halfway there.
“Mom,” Everleigh hisses, “we spoke about this.”
“Ms. Maddie, this is a nice surprise.” I walk into the living room to see the surprise on Collins’s face.
“We heard you weren’t feeling well,” Ms. Maddie says, giving Everleigh a conspiratorial smile, “and, well, we came to drop off a couple of meals to help you get through the next few days.”
“What my mother means to say is, she’s a nosy little busybody, and?—”
“I am not,” Ms. Maddie defends. She smiles at Collins. “How are you doing, pretty girl?”
“I’m okay.”
“You look a little tired. Have you been getting enough rest?”
“Mom,” Everleigh snaps, “that’s rude.”
Her eyes widen. “I’m sorry, Collins, I don’t mean to be rude. I was just saying you need rest. Are you resting enough?”
“I don’t think that’s better,” I mumble.
“Oh, really, Mom. I told you that you need to wait until she’s ready to tell us she’s pregnant.” She flicks her eyes to Collins’s shocked face. “Oh, sorry, but she won’t stop until she gets it out of you.”
“You know? Who told you?”
“Brock told me,” Everleigh admits, “and I mistakenly told my mother. I’m so sorry. I swear I would never ever say anything.”
“It’s okay,” Collins says, letting her off the hook. “It’s not going to be a secret for much longer.”
“Well, we brought you some food”—Everleigh holds up the boxes—“and some sweets.”
“This is,” Collins starts, “this is too much.”
“Nonsense,” Ms. Maddie counters. “We just came to drop these off, and we’ll be going.” I walk over with the intention of taking the bags from her, but Ms. Maddie ignores me and heads to the kitchen, lifting the bags onto the counter herself. “We’ll get out of your hair so you can rest.” She kisses Collins’s face. “I can’t wait to meet the baby.”
“Mom.” Everleigh puts her boxes on the counter. “I’m taking her out of here.” She pulls her away from Collins. “You call me if she bothers you or if you need anything.”
Collins puts her hands on her mouth when they walk out of the room, and the door slams shut.
“I’m sorry I told Brock,” I say. “I didn’t think he would tell anyone because, well, he usually just grunts, so—” That makes her laugh. She’s about to take another step toward me when, of course, the doorbell rings.
“I’m getting a dog that chases people away,” I grumble.
“I’ll get it this time,” she offers. “You put away the food.”
