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the office and set it on the receptionist’s desk. “Do you ever get young patients in here who are all alone and don’t have anyone to help them out? Maybe they can’t afford much?”
The woman at the desk looked at the book as she nodded. “We do. A couple of our doctors set aside time to offer appointments to them free of charge.”
“Good. Please give this book to someone who needs it. It was a big help to me when I was pregnant the first time, and I already have a copy at home, so I don’t need this one.”
Her step was a little lighter on the way out, even if her heart remained heavy. She had no one to blame but herself. Well, she could blame Merit, but it wasn’t like she hadn’t known going in that he was irresponsible—even the second time around. And yet it still hurt.
On her way back to work, she detoured down Aspen Street to pop in at Must Love Frosting and Lift Your Spirit.
Roxanna glanced over from where she was wiping down one of the shared café tables between the bakery and her psychic shop. “Morning, Mae.”
“Hi.” She stopped by the tall brunette while waving across the front pastry counter to her best friend in the back. Much as she loved Honor, over the past year, Roxanna had become a cherished third to their two. It had been a bit bumpy at the beginning for Rox and Honor before they smoothed out their differences, but Mae had felt a kinship with the psychic from the very beginning. “I promised Honor I’d drop off some morning sickness tea for her to try.”
“Nice. I know the essential oils don’t always completely help. Maybe the two together will do the trick.”
“Speaking of which, I want to try a couple of the oils, too. Can you show me what you have?”
“Of course. Come on.”
Rox was explaining her recommendations when Honor joined them a few minutes later. “The peppermint has worked best for me,” she chimed in, “but the ginger helps, too.”
“There’s ginger in the tea.” Mae handed her the box as they moved toward the cash register.
“Perfect, thanks.” She glanced at the box before asking, “How’d your appointment go?”
“Good. Everything is as it should be, and,” she added with a grin, “I got to hear the baby’s heartbeat.”
“Awesome.” Honor’s smile revealed her own excitement for that, especially since it was her first. And no matter how many times a woman was pregnant, Mae couldn’t imagine that ever getting old.
“Just you?” Roxanna clarified with a shrewd glance as she rang up the bottles of oils.
Leave it to the psychic to pick up on that. “Merit didn’t show.”
“Oh, no.” Honor frowned. “Seriously?”
“Yep. But it’s fine.”
Oh yeah? Then why are you about to cry again?
I’m not.
Mae drew in a breath and summoned the anger that had sent her inside to give away the book she’d bought for him. “Really, it is. Better we get this out of the way now.”
She put her hand over her belly. Because I will love you, baby. Don’t you worry about that.
“Asher’ll kick his ass if you want him to,” Honor offered. “He’s in the back with Loyal.”
“Whose ass am I going to kick?”
Mae jerked her head around to see both of Merit’s older brothers exit Lift Your Spirit’s back office/storage room. “No one’s.”
“Merit’s,” Honor said at the same time.
“What’d he do now?” Asher asked.
“He was a no-show for the doctor appointment,” Roxanna informed them.
Loyal nodded at Asher. “I’m in.”
