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“Ha! Well, that’s interesting. It surprised me she still wanted to be friends after Alphé broke up with her for me. I never thought I’d hear from her again.”
Annie grinned at the phone. Calista obviously didn’t know Katrina was with Dave Chastain now, who was an excellent exchange for Alphé.
“One roadblock through! Thank you so much, Calista. And we are going to get together soon.”
“Actually, why don’t you and Steve come down this morning around eleven. Alphé will be here, and we can have coffee and cake.”
“Okay, I’ll ask him and send you a text if he can get away.”
Steve came in from the shower, towel drying his hair. “What are you going to ask me?”
“You know Calista Beaumont? She offered to babysit.”
“Wow, out of the blue like that?”
“Right, just out of the blue. She’s asked if we’ll come up to Alphé’s house since that’s where the baby would be all day. Will you go?”
“We don’t have to stay long, do we? I have to work at one today.”
“No. Just for coffee and cake.”
“Do I want my kid there with six other kids? How’s she going to pay any attention to him?”
“That’s a valid question we can ask her, Steve. You always come up with the right thing to say.”
“Hey, it’s my kid,” he replied. “I’m worried about him, and he’s not even here yet.”
He went to her and placed his hand over her belly. “My little baby.”
She looked down at his hand, holding her breath. For weeks, maybe longer, he hadn’t acknowledged the baby unless she brought it up, causing fear to grow in her heart. If he didn’t bond with the baby, she just didn’t know if she could stay with him. It wasn’t fair to the baby.
“He’s yours.”
“Okay, let’s get this over with.”
“I want to walk, if you’re okay with that. My back is killing me.”
“Let’s walk, then. My gut is getting so big, maybe a little exercise will help.”
“It is not!” she said, laughing. “Your body is amazing. I get hot just looking at you.”
“What do you know about that?” He grinned, pleased.
Locking the door, he took her hand as they walked up Main Street. His father drove by and honked the horn.
“Is he coming from your mother’s house?”
“Maybe. I don’t want to know if he was.”
Annie laughed out loud. “He has stuff stored in the garage, Steve. And I think your mother is at the rescue today with Kelly.”
“That’s a relief.”
They arrived at Alphé’s house, and Calista was waiting at the door for them.
“She’s pretty,” Steve whispered.
Annie shook her head. “You’re so out of line. That’s not something you need to tell your wife, okay?”
