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“You’re wearing maternity clothes,” he muttered when she forcefully returned his intense gaze.
He probably hadn’t recognized her. That was the only explanation she could think of why he’d agreed to this awkwardness.
A cheerful waitress swung by their table to take their order. Her good spirits must have rubbed off on Carl because he was smiling when the waitress left. His grin slowly faded as his eyes met Candy’s.
This was going to be difficult. Candy smoothed the napkin onto her lap.
“Perhaps we should agree to put aside our differences for this one dinner,” Carl suggested. “We got along well enough before.”
It would have been childish to disagree. “All right,” she said with obvious reluctance. To her way of thinking, the less they had to say to each other the better.
“You look real pretty, Candy.”
Her gaze shot back to his. She didn’t want to believe him because to do so would make her vulnerable again and she couldn’t allow that to happen. Not again. “Thank you.” She put as little feeling into the words as possible.
“How are you feeling?”
“Wonderful.”
An uneasy silence followed. Much more of this stilted awkwardness and her appetite would be ruined. Their waitress, delivering their salads and once she left they both seemed eager to pick up the conversation.
“How’s the ranch coming along?” she asked.
“Can you feel the baby move yet?” he asked at precisely the same moment.
Candy hesitated, not sure who should answer first. Carl gestured toward her.
“The baby kicks and stretches all the time. Generally he waits until I’m in bed and comfortable before he decides to twist and shout.”
“He?” His grin was wide and eager.
Leave it to Carl to pick up on that. “I never have been able to think of the baby as anit.He is a generic term. I could just as easily be having a girl.”
“Lesley says you’ve taken up knitting.”
Candy was uncomfortable with the thought of her friend talking about her with Carl. Lesley only mentioned Carl in passing, and that was just the way Candy preferred it.
“I didn’t know that Lesley discussed my business with anyone.” Candy knew she sounded priggish, but she was disappointed that the woman she considered her friend had shared this bit of information with Carl.
“I asked about you,” Carl admitted grudgingly. “I don’t want you to think Lesley spoke out of turn. There were several items I wanted her to relay to you, but she was quick to tell me she isn’t Western Union.” His grin was sheepish, and Candy was sure he’d rather she not know that. His willingness to admit this impressed her.
“What kind of things?” Human nature being what it is, Candy was curious.
“I wanted to be sure you had everything you needed.”
“I do,” she whispered. “Thank you for paying the doctor and the hospital bills in advance.” She had only learned that at her last doctor’s appointment.
He shrugged as though to say it was only fair that he do so.
Their waitress stopped at their table. “Is something wrong with the salad?”
“No,” Candy was quick to assure her.
“Take your time, but I thought you’d want to know your dinner’s almost up.”
For being hungry only moments earlier, Candy had nearly forgotten the dinner salad. She raised her right hand from her lap and reached for her fork.
Carl froze, his narrowed gaze appeared to be studying her hand. “You’re wearing the ring.”
