Chapter 19
GRACE
Strawberry Springs Neighborhood Watch
SherriffMike Finch: I was just coming back into town and got into traffic in the middle of nowhere! What the hell is going on?
Comments:
Kerry Winsor: Shouldn’t you know?
SherriffMike Finch: What, you think because I have a badge I can see everything?
Marjorie Brown: I cursed the town after getting these witch books. I told Jade it was a bad idea to order them.
Jade Clark: No regrets.
Mollie Wilson: I’m sorry! It was me! Some of the cows got out and we had to herd them in.
Marjorie Brown: Hey, Mike, would you say you were stuck in traffic until the cows came home?
SherriffMike Finch: I fucking hate this group.
“Is that pantsuit new? I don’t think I’ve seen you in it before.”
At Kerry’s question, I looked down at my baggy outfit. As a confident curvy woman, I usually went for things that accentuated my figure. Now, I had to find things that hid it.
The longer I looked, the more I realized I was seeing a bump. It could have been bloat, but I didn’t want there to be any questions.
“I’m trying out a new style. Do you like it?”
“Yes,” she said. “It looks so comfy.”
In some circles, “comfy” didn’t mean anything nice.
But I’d long ago learned not to think too hard about the things Kerry said.
Most of the time, she was being nice. And if she wasn’t .
. . then I’d see about it on the Facebook group when she tried to vague post. She’d been better since things blew up over a year ago when Mollie moved into town and they got into it, but I didn’t know how long it would last.
The jumpsuit, though loose, was cute as hell. I wouldn’t let her stop me from enjoying it.
“Thanks, Kerry,” I said. “I have a few more of them if you wanna try one on.”
“Oh, I think that’s a thing only you could pull off.” She waved me away.
Yeah, she hated it. Oh well.
“Of course. What else can I help you with then?”
“I saw something on the internet that I wanted to show you.” She pulled her phone out and showed me a woman clad head to toe in leopard print.
Kerry was the worst about following fake internet trends. I was pretty sure this entire photo wasn’t even real.
“I might have a shirt in this style, but I’d really recommend against pairing both together—”
“I’m bold enough for it. I want people to stare when I walk by.”
This had happened with a hat before. I’d told her it was a terrible idea, and she told me my fashion sense was stuck in the past. This time, I knew better than to argue with her.
“In that case, let’s get you glammed up.”
As I pulled out the outfit for her, Kerry watched closely, as if hunting down something different about me.
I tensed. Things were changing, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it.
I was still tired and my body was slowly growing.
I could feel that I was pregnant, and for some reason, I thought everyone else could now see it.
I needed to figure out how to tell the town eventually, but under Kerry’s appraising stare, it felt impossible.
“Here you go,” I said as I handed her the outfit. “Why don’t you go try this on?”
“Oh! Right. Be right back.”
I let out a breath when she disappeared into the fitting room.
Kerry came out looking like a leopard. While it wasn’t my style, she practically bounced on her feet.
“How do you feel?” I asked, even though I knew the answer.
“Amazing!” she said. “I’m gonna be the talk of the town!”
That was the thing about fashion. It didn’t matter how I felt about it. It was how they did. My own style was one thing, but others had different views on how they wanted to look, and I wanted everyone to leave happy.
Even if they would end up being made fun of in the Facebook group.
“You should get it then,” I replied. “You look amazing.”
“I knew I didn’t have to get just one thing in leopard print! Don’t you have some pants like these too? We could match!”
I wouldn’t be fitting into those for a while, and all of my current clothes budget was going toward things that would accommodate my growing belly. Did they even make patterned maternity jeans?
I bet I could find them if they did.
“I do, but they’re retired for now. I’ll have to get a new pair.”
“Is it because you’re gaining weight?” I crossed my arms. Kerry’s eyes went wide and she rushed to explain. “I mean, not that you’re not beautiful! I just meant it as an observation.”
“Um, yeah. Sure. I am gaining weight. Which means a new wardrobe for me.”
“I’ve already stepped in it again. Sorry, Grace. You really do look beautiful no matter what size you’re at. I mean, your skin is glowing!”
That was one good thing about this whole no-period thing. My acne had really cleared up. It was nice to get a break from the ups and downs of PCOS, even if I was still waiting to hear back about my three-hour glucose test.
“Thanks,” I said. “Why don’t we get you checked out so you can go show off your new outfit?”
I tried not to think too hard about Kerry’s words as I rang her up, but they stuck with me. If she was noticing my changing body, how long did I have before other people did? How long did I have before they asked questions?
Eventually, my pregnancy would be obvious. I was on a timer, one that may run out quickly, depending on how fast my body changed.
It would have been nice if I’d had time to accept my own pregnancy, but I’d only known for a little over a week.
As Kerry walked out the door, Dean walked in.
I saw her do a double take, and then look at me with a smile on her face.
Fuck.
“Hi,” I said, trying to channel that he was just an average customer while Kerry was still in earshot. “How can I help you today?”
The door shut before Dean answered.
“Is that how you greet all of your friends?” he asked.
We’re friends? That was news to me, but I’d take it.
“I was trying to play normal in front of Kerry,” I muttered. “She can sniff out a secret from a mile away.”
“That’s the infamous Kerry?” Dean turned back around. “I didn’t think she would be so . . . into leopard print.”
“I tried to talk her out of it.” I sighed. “But she can’t be stopped.”
He looked out the window and then back to me. “A trap could work.”
“Trust me, someone’ll try it.” I shook my head. “And not to be the fun police, but shouldn’t you be working? Wren won’t accept endless excuses.”
“I finished my job,” he said.
“That fast?”
He shrugged. “Yeah, and with a day off, I met someone for lunch and then figured I’d check in.”
“You met someone? Like in town?”
“No, out of town. I didn’t want anyone seeing.”
That had . . . implications. Ones I didn’t like.
I cleared my throat. Why was I feeling this way? I knew he was a playboy. Who knew how many women he’d been with since me?
“Are you here for a makeover?” I asked.
“Not really. I was hoping the doctor called. It’s Monday, isn’t it?”
I’d been doing a good job of not thinking about the call that should have been coming in at any moment. Sometimes the Treasure Trove did me well and I was so busy that I couldn’t think of anything else. Today was one of those days. But the second Dean said something, it all came rushing back.
“No, I haven’t heard from them, but I should call them.” I went behind the counter to grab my phone.
“Okay,” Dean said. “Mind if I stay in case it’s bad news?”
“Yes, of course you can stay.” I would prefer not to be alone, even if I didn’t tell him that. I hated dealing with big things on my own, which was ironic since that’s all I’d been doing since Mom died. Sure, I had Brooke, but she wasn’t here often. Having Dean here helped.
When I called, the same receptionist answered in a bored tone.
“Hi,” I said, trying to sound like I wasn’t panicking. “I came in for a three-hour glucose test on Friday, and I haven’t heard anything back. Are my test results in?”
“I’ll look them up. What’s your name?”
I gave her all of my information and waited anxiously as she pulled up my file.
“Looks like everything is good.”
“Everything’s good,” I repeated. “Does that mean I passed the second test?”
“Yep.” That was all she said.
“I had no idea. I was really worried about it.”
“We don’t call if the results are normal. Is there anything else I can help you with?”
“No. Thanks.” I blew out a breath when she hung up. All that panic and worry and they didn’t even call me.
“Was that good news?” he asked.
“Yes. I just had to call and find out.” I muttered it, my chest tightening. I was annoyed, a feeling I didn’t deal with all that often. “I’m relieved, of course. Just . . . I thought they’d call. Especially because I failed the first one.”
“They deal with this every day, I’m guessing. It must be easy to forget that, to you, this is all new.”
“It’s fine.” I pushed away the annoyance. Dean raised an eyebrow. “No, it really is.”
“You can be annoyed about it.”
“I can also be happy that it was normal.”
“Two things can be true at once, Grace.”
I let out a sigh and nodded. “You’re right, but the last thing I need with all these hormones running through me is to be mad. I don’t feel as stable these days.”
“I’ll make sure to remember that when I’m planning on pissing you off,” he said with a laugh, but it was broken off by a yawn.
“Tired?”
“I was worried about the test,” he admitted softly. “I couldn’t sleep.”
Statements like that showed me how much he cared. I’d been so worried about how he would react, but he surprised me at every corner.
“Get some rest at your hotel,” I said. “I’ll be here tomorrow.”
“Yeah, I think I’m gonna do that. This was too much fun in one day. I’ll see you later.” He gave me a tired grin that I forced myself to return.
At least one of us had fun.
I sure didn’t have any when I heard him talk about it, though.