One String (Lighter Ones)

Chapter 31

Marilyn

A week later

“Have you been home?” I ask Devan, seated across the table from her in the hospital cafeteria.

She nods. “Once or twice. It’s nice knowing Ricky is there and the house isn’t empty.”

Devan pushes the leaves of her salad around in the bottom of the plastic container. When she looks up through veiled lashes, I know what’s coming.

“What happened between you two?”

Ricky and I aren’t a subject I’ve spoken to anyone about. Not even Jill. Everyone is too close to the epicenter of our tale. I’m also scared that if I start to talk about it, the waterworks will begin again. It took two days and so many hot baths that I was pruney before I could wear eye makeup.

“We decided that it wasn’t a good idea.” I shrug. “Nothing more and nothing less.”

Devan shakes her head. “I love you, Marilyn, but I don’t believe you.”

I swallow the lump forming in my throat. “You don’t need to worry about it. Your plate is a little full. Tell me how Justin is doing.”

Devan goes on to talk about his ups and downs. There were concerns about blood clots, and the medicine they had him on didn’t agree with his blood pressure. Despite his leg being immobilized, they’ve begun physical therapy. After he is released from the hospital, he is supposed to go to a rehab facility.

“Of course,” she says, “he doesn’t want to do that. He wants to be out on the farm. He said if he can’t do the physical labor, at least he can do the business side.”

“I’m sure it’s in good hands with Ricky.” I inwardly cringe as I say his name.

“Didn’t I tell you? It isn’t just Ricky. He and Dax have been working together, and…” She shakes her head. “They have been a godsend. Dax has arranged to move his clients around. Unless he has a closing at his title company, he is spending two full days a week devoted to the farm. Dad and Randy Sheers are pitching in wherever they can. And that will let Ricky spend three days a week in Indy.”

My heart aches.

“I didn’t know he was going to do that.”

Devan’s eyes grow wide. “He said he didn’t get the job, but something happened last week. I don’t understand it all…you probably would. From what Rick said, Parker and Stevens is interested in creating a new something or other…”

I nod, knowing what she means. It’s an agricultural wealth perspective proposal.

“And since it is new,” Devan goes on, “they agreed to lengthen the timeline and allow Rick to work part time while still spending time here.”

Swallowing, I feign a smile. “It sounds like things are working out.”

“Justin’s friends are pledging their time and energy. I know it makes Justin uncomfortable. We talked about it. If the positions were reversed, Justin said he’d do all he could to help. I told him to suck it up and accept the help of others.” She looks down at her salad and back up. “I’m going back to school next week. I hate to leave Justin, but I’m not a lot of help, and I think space would be good.”

My eyebrow shoots up. “Are you two okay?”

Devan nods fast. “We will be. It’s not easy with him injured and me feeling sick.”

“Are you sick? Maybe it’s just the stress.”

“I thought the same thing. When I told Mom to pack a few things, I asked her to pack tampons and other things I thought I’d need.”

“Oh shit.” I cover my lips with my fingertips. “You’re pregnant.”

She presses her lips together and nods. Suddenly, her eyes are glossy.

I jump from my chair, hurry to her side of the table, and wrap her in a hug. “I love you.”

“Love you too,” she says, her words muffled against my shoulder.

Pushing her shoulders back, I look her in the eye. “This is good, right? I mean, I know Jill never wants children, but you…”

“It’s good. The timing is terrible. I tried to keep it from Justin—just for a little while—but it’s hard to hide that I’m puking up my breakfast before I’ve even eaten it. I swear, the nausea started before I was even late.”

“You’ve taken a test?”

“I have. The nurses got one for me. I guess there’s nothing more official than a hospital pregnancy test.” She blinks away her tears. “I wish Justin were more excited. He was the one talking about children.”

“Wow,” I say, concentrating on my friend. “You two know how to keep things exciting. Have you told Jill?”

“Not yet. Please don’t say anything. Other than Justin and my parents, no one knows. I’m still very early…you understand?”

“Of course,” I say, concentrating on the most positive news in a long time. “I know if it’s a girl, you’ll want to name her after me. But I need to warn you, Marilyn is an old name, and you know those cute license plates kids get for bicycles?” I shake my head. “She won’t be able to have one. If she does, it will have stick-on letters, and that isn’t the same.”

“Thanks for the warning,” Devan says. She pushes away the salad container. “Believe me, extra hormones aren’t what I need right now.”

Moving back to my chair, I reach out and cover her hand with mine. “What you need is to know everything will be all right. And it sounds like Ricky and Dax have the farm covered. Justin will improve as he is able to move around more, and as for you, my friend, you need to take care of yourself.”

“It will be good to go home more. I hate being there without Justin.”

“He’ll be home soon.” I look down at what’s left of our lunches. “Will he mind if I visit him? I need to go back home. The joys of tax season are all around.”

“My least favorite holiday,” Devan says.

“Mine too. I’m spending hours reading about ways to save my clients money.”

“Don’t you have to be rich to have a wealth manager?”

“That’s subjective.”

“I know, but shouldn’t people who don’t make as much money be able to find the loopholes?”

“You’re being too rational,” I say as we carry our trays to the conveyor belt.

A few minutes later, Devan pushes the door to Justin’s room open and stops in her tracks. “Ricky, I didn’t realize you would be here.”

I suck in a breath, seeing him over Devan’s shoulder. His brown eyes are on me for longer than I want. My heart is beating in double time as I push past my friend and turn to Justin. “Hey, I wanted to say hi, before I head back north.”

Justin looks between me and Ricky in a way that tells me Ricky’s been as forthcoming with his friends as I have.

Ricky clears his throat. “I was going to leave. You can stay.”

Pressing my lips together and keeping my vision on Justin, I say, “Don’t go out of your way for me, and I won’t go out of my way for you.”

“Marilyn…” Ricky’s tone makes me want to turn, but I don’t.

“How are you feeling?” I ask Justin, doing my best to ignore the other man in the room.

“Confused,” Justin replies. “What the hell is happening?”

“Absolutely nothing,” I say before anyone else can answer. I walk forward and squeeze Justin’s hand. “Get better soon.” I want to say something about the baby, but from what Devan said, Ricky doesn’t know. I’m not going to be the one to spill the beans. “I need to head home. I’ll see you later.”

“Thanks, Marilyn,” Justin says.

I spin as I hear my name again from Ricky, but I don’t stop until I’m at the elevators. Devan is close on my heels.

“Talk to me,” she says.

I know I can’t talk, not to Devan or anyone. If I so much as open my lips, I’ll cry again. Instead, I shake my head and push the button again. The doors open, and I hurry in, turning to wave goodbye to my friend.