Chapter 31
It was impossible to ignore everything that Elizabeth was saying on the phone.
Junior had tried, too. But two things made it hard to do.
The first was that she was talking at her desk, which was right across from him.
The second reason had more to do with the subject matter.
She was talking to a nurse about her baby.
When she’d first started, he would have likely ignored the conversation the best he could. Now, though?
Now they were not only friends, but now they were something more. A lot more. She had his heart.
Life with Elizabeth in it was better. He’d become extremely interested in everything about Elizabeth.
As the conversation continued and her voice turned tense, Junior knew he should leave the room. Or, at the very least, encourage her to do so in order to have privacy.
Not that she ever looked for permission to do much around the office.
However, Junior had long since come to terms with the fact that his entire body had a sixth sense when it came to anything that had to do with Elizabeth.
Whenever she was near, half of his head concentrated on her.
He now knew when she was tired and needed a break.
He knew how much water she should be drinking.
He even could tell when she was uncomfortable and needed to take a walk.
Even more perplexing was that she listened to him. He’d watched her shrug off her brothers attempting to help her. He’d even seen her flat out lie to her grandparents and tell them that she felt good and didn’t mind helping to wash dishes or sweep the floor.
But whenever he suggested she sit down or take a rest, Elizabeth did.
Even more disturbing than his connection with her was the fact that he wanted to be the person who took care of everything for her. He wanted to be the man who encouraged her to take a ten-minute walk. Or to get her a fresh bottle of water.
Or to fetch her a snack.
Elizabeth Schrock, who appeared to be able to organize entire businesses in hours. Who could probably manage a small country if needed. Whenever he rested a hand on her back, she leaned closer. Whenever he held out his hand, she took it.
No doubt she wasn’t sure how to deal with him.
But maybe she did know, after all. Every time he brought her a drink, she’d smile at him in such a way that made him wonder if she’d ever had anyone go out of their way to take care of her.
That was why he knew she was speaking to the doctor and he knew she was worried about whatever she was hearing.
“Okay, thank you,” she said quietly. “Yes, I will. No, you’re right. This sounds like the right thing to do.” She turned and stared at the large calendar on the wall. “That day and time will work for me.” She sighed. “Yes. Goodbye.”
By the time she hung up, his curiosity—and his obvious eavesdropping—got the best of him. “Was that your doctor?”
“Yes. Well, it was a nurse from the doctor’s office.” She seemed to take a cleansing breath before looking his way again. “I guess that was obvious, huh?”
“Jah. Just like it was obvious that I was trying not to listen but I still did.”
She shrugged. “If I was worried about you listening, I would’ve gone outside or to the staff’s room.”
“You sounded pretty serious. Is everything all right?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know.”
Alarm bells went off inside him before he was able to shut them down. “What’s wrong? Are you in pain?”
She shrugged again. “No. I mean, not really. I’ve been experiencing some cramping and numbness in one of my legs. The nurse said the babe might be positioned in a funny way against my spine or something.”
“Is that normal?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t been through this before.”
“What did your grandmother say? Or Kelsey? She has a new baby.”
“I haven’t told them.”
“Why not?”
She averted her eyes. “I don’t know.”
Everything he knew about her was forthright. This uncertainty was both a little disconcerting and endearing. “What is going to happen next?”
“They want me to go to the doctor tomorrow. They’re going to take some blood and do an ultrasound.”
“Are you worried about going?”
“Maybe . . . but I’ll be fine.” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Don’t worry, though. When I get done I’ll come back here and catch up on the work I missed.”
“I’m not going to worry.”
“Oh. Good.”
“I’m not going to worry because I’m coming with you.”
Her eyes widened in a way that was very un-Elizabeth-like. “Uh, no.”
“Sorry, the decision’s already been made.”
“You can’t, Junior.”
“Why?”
She folded her arms over her chest. “Because it’s private.”
“If you don’t want me in the room with you, I’ll stay in the waiting room.” And yes, he was making things up as he went along because he had no idea what he was talking about.
“Do you really think that I’d allow you to be in the room while I’m getting a sonogram?”
“Obviously . . . yes. I mean, unless you were naked or something.”
“You and I are not that close.”
“Okay. Like I said, I’ll wait for you in the waiting room.”
“I’d rather I went by myself.”
“That ain’t going to happen.” When she opened her mouth to argue, he stood up and walked to stand in front of her. “And the reason is because I don’t want you to have to face anything by yourself.”
“Maybe I should just call my mother or something.”
“Maybe. Or, maybe you should accept that I’m your friend.”
“If you go with me, the staff is going to think you’re the baby’s father.”
“You can tell them I’m not.”
“If I tell them that, they’re going to think I’m in a relationship with someone else.”
Her blue eyes were wide. She looked scandalized, which he thought was hysterical. “I didn’t know you cared so much about what strangers thought.”
“It’s hard not to when I’m lying on a table and those strangers are examining my stomach.”
“Understood.” Though he knew the right thing to do would be to leave it at that, Junior couldn’t help but speak frankly.
“Elizabeth, take it from me. People are going to judge you even when you’re thinking you do everything right.
It’s natural to judge each other. I’d worry less about what doctors and nurses think about your lifestyle and more about your health and the baby’s well-being.
And that includes your mental health, too. ”
Tears formed in her eyes. “You . . .”
“I know. I’m wading into things that aren’t my business.” She shook her head. “No, I was going to say that you are filled with surprises. Thanks for offering to come with me.”
“Does that mean you’ll take me up on my offer?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Now, stand up so I can give you a hug.”
She stood up but couldn’t help gesturing toward the door. “What if Cherry walks in on us again?”
“Then I reckon she’ll have a lot to say about it. But we’ll survive. Ain’t so?”
Swiping another runaway tear from her face, she nodded.
“Gut. Now, come here, Elizabeth. Please.”
Because she wanted to be in his arms again, Beth did what he asked. In no time, she was leaning against him, he was holding her close, and it felt like there was nowhere else on earth where she should be.
She relaxed against him and didn’t protest once when he began to rub her back. She smiled when he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. Didn’t protest when he whispered that everything was going to be okay.
It was almost easy to control her tears when he asked her to stop crying, especially since he’d whispered that he hated it when she cried.
And then, when she glared at him for telling her what to do, he leaned down and kissed her.
And she kissed him back. Eagerly responded when he deepened the kiss.
Enjoyed the moment.
Okay, maybe she enjoyed it all too much. Because now she was pretty sure that there was no way she was going to willingly give him up, no matter what was in store for them in the future.
As she thought about the consequences of that decision, and the possible obstacles they would one day face together, Beth realized her heart was in big trouble. There was no doubt about that.
She’d fallen in love.