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But I didn’t stop there. After brushing off the backs of my legs more thoroughly, I walked the length of this side of the lake, past the gazebo, past the boat launch, until I was standing at the four corners opposite the bed-and-breakfast. I tucked my bare hands in the pockets of my coat and studied the splashy sign that proclaimed condos were coming, forcing myself to face the reality head-on.
No more hiding.
Then I crossed the street and headed into the drugstore, where I avoided entirely the home pregnancy test section—too early, not applicable, eff it, I can only face so many things in one day—and aimed straight for the Valentine’s section, already on clearance.
Most likely, I wouldn’t have loaded up on quite so much stuff if I hadn’t been wound up from condo signs and the nearness of little sticks demanding fresh urine. I enjoyed goading Oliver under the best of circumstances, but I did realize Hamilton Realty was a place of business and probably shouldn’t have enough decorations to outfit a kindergarten class.
More children. I had them on the brain. Look at that, there went another set of heart lights into my basket. Tiny white ones I would drape among the blooms in the copper pots I would buy at the florist.
A text chimed, and I glanced at my phone. Ally.
Where the heck are you? I’m getting hungry and I thought you wanted to decorate. Tastefully.
I snorted and looked at my basket. It was overflowing with crap. Some I would take home. Some I intended to drape over and around Oliver until he yelled uncle.
So yeah, there was a good chance my Valentine’s sex would end up leaving me high and dry.
I sent back a brief reply.
Be right there.
One quick trip to the florist later, and I heaved myself and two stubby copper pots filled with my drugstore bags up the round steps to the real estate office. Ally was standing in the doorway, arms crossed.
“Really? I said tasteful, and you buy everything?” She shuffled forward to take one of the copper pots and I batted at her hands.
“No. Uh-uh. Baby on board. Don’t you dare.”
You might have a baby on board too, you know. One who is like her daddy and already churning you up.
Moving on.
“At least let me take one of these bags.” She plucked one of the plastic bags out of the copper pots and peeked inside. “Oh my God, he’s going to kill you. And me. Both of us.”
“Bring it,” I huffed. “I’m not scared of Oliver Hamilton.”
I nudged past Ally—and Ally’s formidable belly—into the foyer and flashed a bright smile at Shelly, their administrative assistant. “Hi there. Love your hair. Did you get highlights?”
“That eye of yours never misses a trick. Why, thank you. I did. Just a little blond on the auburn.” Shelly patted her do and grinned as she came around the desk to eye my purchases. She availed herself of one of my copper pots, which was handy since they weighed a ton. I set the other one beside her impeccably tidy desk. “Well, then, you’re counting on Seth to be in a good mood because of impending fatherhood, but what’s your hope with Oliver?”
“Don’t have one. He’ll deal. We’ll just leave the pots out here since I have to run back to get the actual flowers. My hands were a little full.” I headed up the hallway with my other two plastic bags, stopping short as Mr. Hamilton senior aimed my way.
Oh shit. I hadn’t seen him since Oliver and I had—since we were—oh God.
“Hi, Mr. Hamilton. How are you, sir? You look well. Really well. I have to say that tie color really is nice on you. The blue matches your salt and pepper—” I broke off and gulped for air. Oh dear Lord, I was complimenting my lover’s father on his hair. I smiled weakly. “Um, you look nice.”
Mr. Hamilton chuckled as if I wasn’t the most awkward woman in the world. He’d always been so nice to me. Unlike his sons, one in particular.
“Why, thank you, Sage. Let me help you with those bags.” He took both of them out of my hands, ignoring my protests. “What do we have here? Oh, decorations.” I expected him to grunt and make some caustic remark ala Oliver, but he only smiled benevolently and pulled out my springy-heart headband. “I think this would be perfect for Oliver, don’t you?”
The unexpected olive branch made me laugh as I put the headband on my own head and Ally snorted behind me. “It would take an act of God to make him wear it.”
“Oh, I don’t know. Sometimes I suspect he’s a little soft on you.”
I stopped walking. Not just paused. Stopped as if I was rooted to the floor. “No way.”
He nodded, still walking toward the offices as if he hadn’t realized I’d gotten stuck in a giant puddle of metaphorical glue. “A man knows his son. His bark is way worse than his bite.” He turned and frowned at me, still standing in place with Ally nudging my shoulder. “Well, c’mon then. Let’s get this taken care of before he comes back and ruins our fun.”
“Whoa.” Ally gripped my shoulder and whispered, “Are we in another dimension? Since when does Mr. Hamilton like decorating for anything? He barely even consents to a Christmas tree.”
