Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10
T ears streamed down Becca Wheeler’s face as she stared at the water swirling down the kitchen sink. Her soapy hands gripped the edge, supporting her. It wasn’t physical pain that struck her, but a deep, emotional ache that seemed to come out of nowhere.
For weeks, she had been feeling off balance, noticing mood swings that didn’t quite feel like her. As a third year medical student, Becca was accustomed to the pressures and challenges of her demanding schedule, but this felt different, something she couldn’t quite put her finger on.
During her breaks, she often found herself drawn to the maternity ward, lingering near the nurses as they wheeled newborns to and from their mothers’ rooms.
Although she planned to specialize in pediatrics, Becca knew she wasn’t supposed to be there, but she couldn’t resist catching glimpses of the tiny, swaddled babies, their faces scrunched in protest as they were briefly taken away from their mothers. The sight stirred something deep within her, something she couldn’t explain.
She tried to brush it off, attributing it to the pregnancy hormones everyone kept telling her about. Lately, she’d used that excuse for everything that made her unhappy. After all, she was five months along, and the changes in her body were becoming more pronounced with each passing day.
Her belly had grown rounder, her energy level fluctuated unpredictably, and her emotions felt like they were constantly teetering on the edge. But this felt different, like a weight pressing down on her chest that she couldn’t seem to shake.
The sound of footsteps on the hardwood floor brought her out of her thoughts. She glanced over her shoulder to see her husband, Christopher, standing in the doorway.
She wiped her hands, and then her eyes with a paper towel.
“Hey, beautiful,” he said softly, suddenly noticing her red eyes. He reached out, his fingers gentle as they brushed the hair from her face. “What’s going on? Have you been crying?”
Becca shook her head, a fresh wave of tears blurring her vision. Then, she laughed at herself.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me. One minute I’m crying and the next I’m laughing. You must think I’m crazy.”
He slid his arms around her waist. “Well, not all the time, just now and then,” he teased.
She smiled, and he wiped a tear from her cheek. He pulled her close and let her rest her head on his shoulder. She could feel the steady rise and fall of his breath, the solid warmth of his body grounding her in the present moment, but it didn’t erase the inexplicable sadness that clung to her.
“You’ve got to know that this will pass. Nothing is wrong, it’s just your body’s reaction to hormones.”
Becca pulled away from him and threw her hands in the air. “If I hear that one more time, I’m going to pull my hair out.”
Christopher’s face made her realize that she’d hurt his feelings.
He’s only trying to help.
She reached for him. “I’m so sorry, Chris. I know you’re trying to help me. It has to be frustrating for you not to know what to do. I wish I could tell you what this is, but I can’t.”
He nodded. “I get that, I do, and it’s not just the hormones. You’ve got a lot going on right now, between the pregnancy, school, everything…it’s a lot to handle. But listen, we don’t have to have all the answers right now. Let’s try to focus on getting to Captiva and being with our families. I think a change of scenery will help, not to mention warmer weather.”
Becca laughed. “You have no idea how hard it is for this Florida girl to deal with these Boston winters. Now with the baby, I’m always worried I’m going to slip on ice and fall. You should see the way I walk from my car to the hospital. I don’t walk, I waddle. Imagine what it will be like in a few months. If I didn’t have to get to the hospital, I’d feel safer never leaving the house.”
Christopher chuckled at that. “That would be fine with me, I wouldn’t worry so much about you.”
He kissed the top of her head, his lips lingering there for a moment before he spoke again.
“Why don’t you let me finish up here? You go relax in the living room. We can put on a movie, or just sit and talk if you want. Whatever you need.”
Becca smiled and ran her hand through his hair.
“Have I ever told you that you’ve got great hair?”
“Huh?” he asked.
“I mean it. Why do men have gorgeous hair? They don’t really care about it the way we do. I don’t think it’s fair,” she teased.
“Honey, if I could give you my hair, I would. But, since I can’t, you’ll just have to be jealous of my good looks.” He turned Becca around to face the living room. “Now, go. I’ll join you after I’m done with the dishes.”
She settled on the sofa, and it was only another ten minutes before Christopher joined her. Grabbing a blanket and remote, he cuddled up next to Becca, and they pulled the blanket over them.
As the night wore on, she drifted in and out of sleep, her head resting on Christopher’s chest. The sadness was still there, a quiet, persistent presence, but for now, she allowed herself to take comfort in the knowledge that she wasn’t alone. Whatever this was, whatever she was feeling, she had someone who would stand by her, even when she couldn’t make sense of her own heart.
Maggie had asked Oliver and Iris to meet the next morning, and when she stepped into the kitchen, they were waiting for her. The scent of freshly squeezed citrus and herbs lingered in the air.
“Good morning. It smells delicious in here. What am I smelling?” Maggie asked.
“Oliver made homemade bread, and I used our new citrus juicing attachment for the juicer. There is nothing better than fresh squeezed Florida oranges,” Iris answered.
“Very nice,” Maggie said. “Thanks for meeting me this morning. I know we’ve all been busy, and the last thing we needed was to add another catering project, but this is important, so thank you. Let’s go sit in the dining room.”
Iris and Oliver followed Maggie into the dining room, and Lexi, Maggie and Paolo’s dog, joined them.
“Good morning, Lexi,” Oliver said.
“She seems taken with you, Oliver.”
Lexi jumped onto Oliver’s lap, circled three times and settled there. Oliver appeared to enjoy the attention.
“It’s probably because I’ve been giving her homemade treats that I made with sweet potatoes. She loves them.”
Iris smiled, “And now she loves you, too.”
Oliver smiled and nodded. “I think you’re right.”
He continued to pat Lexi while Maggie talked.
“Oliver, in preparation for the book club get-together, Iris will help you, but on the day of the book club, I’m afraid you’ll be on your own, since Iris is a member of the book club. Do you think you can handle that?”
He nodded. “Absolutely.”
Iris smiled. “Thanks, Oliver. I’m looking forward to being on the other side of things for a change, just enjoying the afternoon with everyone. I’ve already started to read the book.”
“Iris and I have already worked out some thoughts for that day. We want it to be special, but still manageable, since it’ll just be me in the kitchen.”
“Great. I appreciate that. We definitely don’t want anything too elaborate, mostly because although it’s a festive time of the year, it’s not how we’ll normally run these book club meetings. I’d hate for the ladies to get used to so much food.”
“Of course,” Oliver agreed, flipping to a blank page in his notebook.
“I was thinking we could start with a few light appetizers that reflect our tropical setting. Maybe something like coconut shrimp with a tangy lime dipping sauce? It’s festive, easy to prepare ahead of time, and has that island touch.”
“That sounds lovely,” Maggie said, picturing the golden shrimp against the vibrant green of the lime. “What else were you thinking?”
“Well, for something refreshing and light, we could do a tropical fruit and avocado salsa on plantain chips. It’s colorful, fresh, and gives a nod to the season without feeling heavy.”
Iris nodded in agreement. “Those are always a hit, and they’ll be easy for the ladies to enjoy while we chat about the book.”
“Perfect,” Maggie said, jotting down a note. “What else?”
Oliver leaned forward slightly. “I have a few more ideas. How about mini crab cakes with a mango aioli? They’re bite-sized, full of flavor, and fit the island theme nicely. Everyone in this part of Florida loves crab cakes.”
Maggie’s eyes lit up at the idea. “That sounds wonderful. I think everyone will love those.”
“And we could also do caprese skewers,” Iris added.
Oliver nodded. “We can then round things out with mini quesadillas with black beans, corn, and a hint of jalapeno. They’ll add a bit of spice to the spread and are always a hit.”
Maggie smiled, feeling the menu come together beautifully. “I love all these suggestions, you have a nice variety of flavors. It sounds like you have everything covered.”
“Wait!” Iris yelled. “You haven’t heard about the dessert yet.”
“I have a few ideas for dessert. I thought I’d make Key Lime pie bars with a coconut crust. It’s a classic, but the coconut twist gives it a little something extra,” Oliver said.
“And we’ll have sorbet too,” Iris added.
Lexi looked like she was part of the meeting, turning her head to look at each person speaking.
Maggie was pleased with the menu and the way Oliver and Iris were getting along.
“Great. I think we’ve got everything covered. I like to keep things light without alcohol for something like this, so let’s stick to iced tea and lemonade.”
Maggie spent a few more minutes discussing the finer details—timing, serving logistics, and how the kitchen would be set up on the day of the event. Oliver reassured her that everything would run smoothly and that she wouldn’t have to worry about a thing.
“Thanks, you two. I’ve got more planning to do, so I’ll catch up with you later,” Maggie said, getting up from the table.
Oliver nodded, closed his notebook, and then looked at Iris. “I think you and I need a trip to the market.”
Iris smiled. “Ready whenever you are.”
Oliver looked at Lexi, who watched his every move. “I can’t take you with me, but I promise a nice treat when we get back.”
It was as if the dog understood Oliver’s words. Lexi got down from his lap and ran to her bed in the corner of the kitchen.
“Good girl,” he said softly, walking to give her one last pat on the head, before grabbing his keys and following Iris out the door.
Maggie smiled at Lexi. “You like him, too, don’t you girl?"
Her tail wagging slightly as if to say she understood, Lexi put her head down and settled in for a nap.