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“Yes,” Casey said, obviously substituting the ice cream as a stress relief now. “Hide it for as long as you can.”
Casey may have meant well, but Alina couldn’t hide her pregnancy from her parents forever. Eventually, she would have to deal with it.
* * *
Alina needed to get away.Her sister had gone to her part-time job at a café, so her mother’s sole focus was on her.
“We’ve barely had a chance to speak,” Laura claimed, her eyes almost mystified.
“I think we’ve spoken enough at dinner last night,” Alina rebutted, grabbing her bag.
“But…” her mother protest until her father intercepted their conversation.
“Leave the child be. She’s just going to the main street. It’s not like she’s going back to New York.” Lewis appeared in the entryway and disappeared in a few seconds.
“Thanks, Dad,” Alina shouted the words behind him, then darted out of the house.
Before starting her car, she took a deep breath and released it, trying to put everything behind her. Alina parked her car in the public car park and strolled through the streets she once roamed with her friends. The area had developed vastly since she was a teenager, but the improvements were all chic and refreshing. Mr. Lee’s Chinese restaurant had gone out of business and in its place was a Starbucks. Alina appreciated coffee like everyone else, but she preferred a shrimplo mein.
Sighing, she crossed the store entrance and went into the neighboring gift shops. Though she intended to be in Maryland for a while, Alina wanted to get all her shopping taken care of in case she left the state in a hurry. There was nothing wrong with being meticulous.
She strolled through the aisle with ornaments. Peyton might appreciate one of the ceramic ladies, but Bailey and Taylor definitely wouldn’t.
“Alina, is that you?” Alina turned around to be confronted by a tall man with a slim build in a brown suit. “It is you,” he declared. “I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw you come in here.”
“Lucas?” Alina’s eyes were wide and there was a smile on her face when she hugged the blonde-haired man. Though they had broken up just before high school ended, Lucas and Alina remained good friends.
“I haven’t seen you in ages. How have you been?” Alina said, tapping him on his shoulders.
“Not as good as you, obviously,” Lucas joked. “I mean, I haven’t made any headline or anything like that. Honestly, it feels like I should be asking for your autograph right now.”
“I think we’re way past fandom,” Alina chuckled, but she appreciated the compliment.
“Tell you what,” Lucas pointed his finger at her. “How about lunch instead? I was just about to go to the café, and I would love it if you joined me.”
Alina linked her hand to his elbow. “When you flash a woman with a smile like that, how could she refuse?”
Lucas led Alina across the street where the little coffee shop had developed into something much like a restaurant. “This place is amazing,” she said, taking in the ambiance as she sat down at her table.
“That’s why years later, it’s still my favorite spot,” Lucas said just as the owner of the café came by.
“Well, well, well,” the older woman placed her hand on her waist. “I never thought I’d see you back in the little shop again. I thought you were way beyond places like this.”
Alina couldn’t remove the smile from her face. There was a light-heartedness now, the sort that made her forget all her troubles. “Oh, come now, Ms. Ann. I could never outgrow this place. This will always be my favorite café.”
“That’s what I like to hear,” the woman declared before adding. “I will have the server send over a coffee on me.” Before she left, Ms. Ann added. “It’s good to see you too here together again.” She winked and trailed off.
“It’s good to see that some things haven’t changed at all,” Alina joked.
“Indeed,” Lucas said, but his eyes remained fixed on Alina.
“So, how have you been, Lucas?” She was interested in catching up with an old friend. “Is there a Mrs. Lucas yet?”
“Nope,” he said as the server gave them their complimentary coffee and cake. “I think I missed my chance for that,” he said, with his lips pulled tightly together.
“Nonsense,” Alina declared, taking a sip of the hot liquid. “You are way too young to give up on love. You’ll find someone.”
Lucas agreed with his high school sweetheart with a nod. “What about you? Any husband and kids?”
