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But it was hopeless. She turned on her stomach, then her back, to her left side and then her right side.
“What’s wrong?” Steve muttered. “You’re making me crazy.”
“I don’t want to get up, but I can’t sleep.”
He rolled over and embraced her, rubbing up against her with a decidedly hard appendage sticking her in the back. “I know something that will help you relax,” he mumbled in her ear, morning breath and all.
“Um, thanks, but I have a stomachache. Too much Thanksgiving leftovers. I’d better take a raincheck.”
“You always have an excuse,” he said, swinging his legs over the side of the bed.
“Steve, are you kidding me?”
“No, I’m serious.”
“Well, hop on, then, and if I fart on you, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Grimacing, he shook his head. “Okay, why didn’t you say so in the first place?”
“I did. I told you I had a stomachache. That should have been enough.”
“Are we having an argument?” he asked, walking around to her side of the bed. He looked down at her, grinning.
“You could say that.”
He sat down next to her and rubbed her stomach. “I’m sorry you don’t feel good. Thanksgiving was a bust. I felt a little queasy myself yesterday.”
“It was me and my big mouth,” Annie said.
“It was a natural slip of the tongue,” Steve said.
“For me to open my big trap about Ted going over to Maggie’s cottage was such a foot in mouth.”
He kissed her neck. “It was so you,” he said, chuckling.
“Kelly will probably never speak to me again.”
“Annie, it’s not your fault Ted went to Maggie’s house.”
“Oh, my stomach!” she moaned.
“What can I do for you?” he asked, concerned.
“I’m not sure. I hope I’m not coming down with something.”
“Do you think it’s the baby?”
“I don’t think so. I’m almost eight weeks. It’s planted in there pretty good by now, I’d think.”
“Stay here and I’ll get you some dry toast and tea.”
“Ugh, that sounds terrible.”
“Yeah, but that’s what you give people who are sick. I’ve watched enough TV to know that.”
She sat up in bed, waiting, thinking. Not only her faux pas, mentioning that Ted had gone to Maggie’s cottage uninvited. The job thing was making her crazy. She’d immediately applied for unemployment the same day she was terminated.
Then on Wednesday, Maggie told her about an idea she was considering, to open an animal rescue at Bayou Cottage, and then, surprisingly, she offered Annie a job. To work at a place where she could bring the baby was like a dream. Although she liked Steve’s mother, Beverly, who volunteered to babysit, she’d rather take care of her own baby. And Beverly might not be responsible after noon. Kelly said she’d never let her own mother babysit for her.
