Chapter 5
Noreen parked her car in the designated area and walked toward the Kirklands’ house. The three-story old Victorian was well lit with strings of Christmas lights.
Let me drive you to the party , as a friend, I promise.
No. People will think we’re a couple.
God forbid…
At the front porch, she found the main door open. A Santa was clung to the glass along with a scripted sign that read, Go right in .
Noreen stepped into the foyer. Steph had told her that she was dressing up, and the guys would probably be in sportscoats.
Noreen chose an emerald sequined dress, one-shouldered with a low back and gathered waist. Dressy beige heels and a matching clutch purse completed the outfit.
A young girl approached her. “May I take your coat?”
“Yes, thank you.” Noreen removed her coat and handed it to the girl. She walked into a big closet on the left.
The rumble of conversation floated to the foyer and she followed it. The high-ceilinged foyer with slatted wood on the floor led to a formal living room. Couches of blue fabric, leather chairs were flanked by shelving on one wall and two big picture windows on the other.
She entered the back of the house, which was also huge with the same kind of seating in a rich, deep gray. The windows, which were rectangular, lined one whole wall. At the end was an alcove with toys and kiddie tables.
Katie saw her first and hurried over. “Noreen, you look stunning.”
“Thank you. So do you.” Katie wore a red sheath that went beautifully with her dark hair flowing to her back. The material clung to her baby bump which looked even bigger than at the signing.
“Your house is gorgeous.”
“Will and I remodeled everything. It used to be dark inside and chopped up. This space was two rooms and the kitchen over there—” she pointed to the other end of the house “was closed up.”
“I didn’t even notice the kitchen. This room is so beautiful.”
Will joined them. This man was gorgeous too in a rough-and-tumble way. She’d met him at the signing but tonight he was all decked out. “Can I get you a drink, Noreen? We have liquor and wine.”
“I’ll have wine. I’m driving.” She thought of her trip to her mother’s. I had unprotected sex. I could be pregnant. “On second thought, I’ll have a club soda.”
“I’ll get it. I want one too.” Katie walked to the island in the kitchen.
“I was telling Katie how lovely your house is.”
“Yeah, we ripped it apart and put it back together.”
“So she said.”
“Actually, it was fun designing the interior. We finished last month.”
Katie returned with two glasses of soda. She handed Noreen one and clanked her glass. “Cheers.”
Over her shoulder, Noreen noticed Nick talking to a beautiful woman. She blurted out, “Who’s Nick Redmond with?”
“He came alone. That’s Will’s administrative assistant. I’d be jealous of her if I didn’t know this one was crazy for me.”
“I only have eyes for you, love.”
“You better.” She kissed him on the lips.
Another woman approached them. “Wow, Steph. I almost didn’t recognize you.” She wore her hair swept up and a strapless pink gown that showed all her curves.
“This dress is a little too much,” she said, pulling up the bodice. “What was I thinking?”
“Stop. You’re exquisite. Everyone here is.”
From behind, she heard, “That includes you, Dr. Shannon.”
Her heartbeat sped up. She turned. “Hello, Nick.”
Another man approached them. He said to Will, “Can I talk to you two. I’m Diego Rodriguez, by the way. This is my wife Annie. Sorry to drag them away.”
“No worries. I don’t want to monopolize the hosts.”
She and Nick were left alone. “Hi,” he said, in a hoarse voice.
“Hi. You look terrific.”
“This is my party suit.” It was deep gray, setting off his eyes, and tailored to fit every muscle in his body. Her mouth got dry just being near him.
“It suits you.”
“Did you get here okay?”
“I did. You?”
“Yes. Did you hear the news about Pax?”
“No, I haven’t worked in the last few days. What happened?”
“The case was dismissed at the pretrial hearing.”
“That’s where a judge reviews all the evidence gathered in discovery.”
“How do you know that?”
“I read it for some research I did for the upcoming book.”
“I didn’t know it was a legal thriller.”
“Mostly medical with lots of legal elements in it.”
“Is there a handsome lawyer among the characters?”
“Maybe.” It was fun flirting with him.
“Hmm. Are you hungry?”
“I am.”
“Let’s go to the dining room and get some food.”
She shouldn’t stay with him but she didn’t have anyone else to hang out with. So she let him take her hand and she followed him to another high-ceilinged room with a massive table filled with heavy hors d’oeuvres.
“What do you like?”
“Everything. But I’m going to start with the brie and apples.”
“It’s gooey. You don’t want to drop it on your pretty dress.”
“I think I can manage.”
The brie was sweet and the apples tart, a fabulous combination.
Next she served herself goat cheese and beets.
“How’s your turkey and brioche?” she asked Nick.
“Stellar. Hardy. You should eat something more substantial than cheese.”
“I never eat like this so I’m splurging.” She took two pizza squares.
They moved away so others could access the table and strolled around greeting more people. It was fun until Noreen’s stomach pitched. “Would you mind getting me seltzer while I use the bathroom?”
“Sure. It’s right on the other side of the kiddie cove.”
She threaded through the guests but hurried the last few feet. She reached the bathroom, closed the door and just made it to the toilet.
Where she vomited. When she was done, she knelt there a bit longer to be sure the attack was over. And because she was weak.
The door opened. “I’m sorry to intrude but I heard you get sick.” He crossed to her. “Are you done?”
She nodded and leaned on him to get up. She wiped her face with some tissues. He poured a glass of tap water and she rinsed out her mouth. Then he got a washcloth from the cupboard and wet it. “Here use this.”
It felt cool on her cheeks and forehead.
“Damn” she said leaning back against the counter. “You were right. I shouldn’t have had the combination of cheese and pizza.”
He studied her face. “Are you feeling better?”
“Yes. Vomiting does that though I usually have a cast-iron stomach and have rarely thrown up.”
She opened her bag and took out a brush and some lipstick. As she put the latter on—a Christmas red—he stared at her in the glass.
“So, getting sick to your stomach rarely happens to you?”
“Yes.” His gaze was odd. “Why are you staring at me like that?”
“Noreen, as a doctor, what might you tell a patient if this happened to her?”
“Not to mix rich food.”
“As a doctor . Who knows women’s bodies.”
“I might suggest…” Her eyes widened.
He moved closer. Took her cheeks in his hands. “We had unprotected sex that first time.”
Briefly, she closed her eyes.
“You could be pregnant.”
“I guess I could be.” She drew back some. “How would you feel about it if I was?”
“I don’t know. After what happened to Scotty, I don’t know.”
* * *
They were both silent on the drive to her house. He’d parked her car on the street so it was out of everyone’s way. Now, in his Lexus, her exotic scent filled the space. He inhaled it, subtly.
Finally, she said, “I’m sorry you had to leave the party early because I couldn’t drive. But I do feel weak.”
“Hence the fact that you’re not behind the wheel.” His tone was dry but affectionate.
“I know. I could have called an Uber.”
“Not on my watch.”
After traveling a few miles, Nick asked, “You’re 40, Noreen. Isn’t that late to have a child?”
“No, it’s not anymore. Prenatal medicine has come a long way. And besides, I didn’t say that I’d have it, if I am indeed pregnant.”
“I’ve always found abortion distasteful.”
She put her hand on his knee. “Of course you do. After Scotty.”
He stiffened at first, then sighed. “I suppose.”
Laying her head back on the headrest, she closed her eyes.
“You can snooze, if you want.”
“I can. I trust you to get me home safe.” She was quiet again, for longer. Then, “I think it’s silly to be thinking I’m pregnant because I got sick one time.”
“You do?” His eye caught something neon up ahead and off to the left. He swerved into the parking lot when they reached it.
“An all-night pharmacy in Westwood? When did this open?”
“I’m not sure. But I’ll be right back.” He squeezed her hand. “No sense in talking about this if there’s nothing to discuss.”
“I guess so.”
He climbed out of his Lexus, disappeared inside and came back in five minutes. “Not many people shopping this late at night.”
They drove the rest of the way in silence again.
He pulled into her condo driveway. “Ready to do this test?”
“Yes. I’m glad you stopped to get it.”
They walked in through the front door holding hands. He remembered vividly the last time he was here. Sex in the foyer. In her bed, twice more.
She led him into the living room and held out her hand. “Give that to me. I’ll be out in a couple of minutes.” She walked down a hallway off to the right.
Nick mused about the condo which he hadn’t had time to do on his first visit.
In the main room, the ceiling soared to peaks and sported two very large skylights.
A wall of windows complemented them. The couches and chairs were made of fabric similar to the ones in the Kirkland’s house, but these were accented with teak tables.
A desk and two shelving units filled with books added character to the room.
In five minutes, she walked back out. She’d changed from the dress into a knit sweatsuit of sage green. Her expression was unreadable. She handed the test stick to him.
It read, pregnant .
“Huh.” He looked back to her. “How are you feeling about this?”
“I-I don’t know. I think I’m in shock.”
He cocked his head. “What were you hoping for when you waited?”
“T-that it was positive.”
“You were?”
“I can’t lie to myself.”
“Does that mean you’ll have the child?”