Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Rowan
A fter two and a half weeks at my new job, I could say with certainty this had been a good move for me.
This small town felt healing somehow. Anna, who managed the inn for Ava, claimed it was the lake, even in the winter. The scenery and the half-frozen water were soothing to gaze at from my balcony door or the inn’s cozy living area. So was being able to read when I wanted to and nap when I needed to, which turned out to be embarrassingly a lot more than I’d ever napped before.
I genuinely liked working at the brewery. The atmosphere was warm and positive. Holden and Chloe were gracious and patient and appreciated having an assistant. The other employees, Chance included, seemed to enjoy what they did. After working in a tension-filled, bureaucracy-laden, big-city high school, I welcomed the intimate, low-pressure environment. I still hoped to go back to a classroom eventually because I was dedicated to education and thrived on connecting with teenagers, but this was the ideal respite while I recovered from the past few years.
Working with my one-night-stand guy?
On the surface, I was handling it okay.
No one at work knew about our fling. Chance had told me, when we both found ourselves at the coffee machine one morning, that no one else from the brewery had been at the inn’s party, but everyone knew people who had been, including some of Chloe’s close friends. If someone figured out our secret, we’d acknowledge it, point out it wasn’t an issue, and move on.
Inside I wasn’t so unbothered or indifferent. My attraction to him hadn’t dimmed. Seeing his professional side, where he was intelligent, confident, and damn good at what he did, did nothing to cool the flames. I hadn’t been drunk on New Year’s Eve. My judgment held up in the daylight. He was, to me, the kind of guy I could fall for in a different lifetime, or maybe just a different era of this lifetime. The few times we’d been alone, my pulse raced, and my mouth went dry. My body remembered .
I made a point of blocking out those memories as much as possible. What I’d told him still held true. I had zero mental space for entanglements or drama. I was grieving the woman who’d raised me, as well as recovering physically and mentally from a relentlessly stressful multiyear period of caretaking. There was a reason they said people shouldn’t make major decisions for a full year after a loss.
Not that Chance was a major decision. But a relationship with anyone could lead to one.
Anyway, work was good. I could ignore my attraction to my fling. I was learning my duties and so far could handle all of them.
Best of all, I’d received my first paycheck, so I could breathe—and afford an evening out like tonight.
“There she is,” Chloe said as Presley made her way through the tables in Henry’s Restaurant toward us.
“Hey, ladies,” Presley said when she reached our table in the farthest corner of the restaurant. Even though it was off-season and a weeknight, Henry’s was filled to the rafters.
Both Chloe and I stood and hugged Presley in turn.
“Hey, you,” she said to me, holding on to me a little longer, conveying concern. “How are you doing?”
I nodded as I said, “I’m doing okay. At least until some kind, caring girl goes out of her way to ask me how I’m doing.”
We all laughed, relieving the pressure behind my eyes, which was what I’d intended.
“My girl Chloe’s treating you okay?” Presley asked as she sat across from Chloe, next to me at the table for four that looked out on the dark lake.
“Chloe’s the best boss ever, and I’m not saying that to kiss up.”
“Aww,” Chloe said. “Dinner’s on me tonight because, thanks to you two, my life is slightly smoother. Thanks for connecting us, Pres.”
“You’re sweet,” I told Chloe, “but the whole point of tonight is for me to thank the two of you. Without you, I’d be sleeping in my car and working in food service, which I’ve proven in the past is not my strength.”
“I’m thrilled it’s working out,” Presley said. “But you’re not treating. You’re saving every penny. I’ve got this one.”
“We’ll see,” Chloe said, grinning.
Technically she was part owner of this place. She had connections and maybe even a sign-in to the customer billing system.
If I didn’t end up paying tonight, I’d find a different way to thank them.
“So you’ve known each other since middle school, right?” Chloe asked.
“I was in middle school,” Presley said. “Rowan was younger.”
“Presley was my babysitter. I met her when I moved in with my grandparents.”
“They lived next door to us,” she added. “They were special people. I used to hang out with her grandmother even before Rowan came to live with them. That woman taught me how to bake cookies.”
“Gram made the best chocolate chip,” I said with conviction.
“That’s the truth. Somehow mine were never as good, even though I followed her recipe,” Presley said.
“Same,” I said. “Anyway, there’s six years between us, so Presley was always more like an older sister or cousin. I hadn’t seen her since my college graduation party. I was so glad to see her at Gram’s funeral.”
“I wouldn’t miss it,” Presley said. “I loved that woman like she was my own grandma.”
My eyes filled with tears. “Presley insisted on a lunch date so we could catch up. That’s when she thought of connecting you and me.”
“Genius idea, my friend,” Chloe said to her bestie. As I understood it, they’d met in college and clicked.
Our server, Bria, came by and took Presley’s merlot order and our dinner orders, then hurried off.
“You look fancy tonight, Pres. Did you come straight from the office?” Chloe asked.
Presley wore a cropped gray blazer over a navy blouse and tailored pants. She’d paired it all with some awe-inspiring platform stilettos I could never handle for a full workday.
“I worked from home today,” Presley replied, “but I had an important thing this afternoon.” Her blue eyes sparkled with excitement. “It’s why I’m late.”
“What kind of thing?” Chloe asked.
“I put an offer on a house.” Presley clasped her hands together in front of her mouth, as if holding in her excitement.
“You’re buying a house ?” Chloe asked, leaning on the table.
“ If the offer is accepted.”
“Where is this house?” Chloe asked.
Presley leaned a little closer, her voice going quieter. “Here in Dragonfly Lake. Lakefront.”
Chloe tilted her head, as if trying to figure out where that could be.
“So you’re moving here?” I asked. I’d like nothing more than to get to know Presley better as an adult.
“Maybe eventually.” Presley took her win from the server, then took a sip. “I might rent it out to vacationers or use it myself on weekends. But first it needs some work.”
“Where’s the house?” Chloe asked. “I don’t pay close attention, but I know when Emerson was looking before the holidays, there was almost nothing on the market.”
“Officially the listing goes live tomorrow.” Presley set her glass on the table.
“How’d you manage that?” Chloe asked.
Presley’s lips curved into a smile. “I’ve got connections.”
“Stop.” Chloe rolled her eyes.
“The agent might be my client,” she said vaguely. “Anyway, it’s not a done deal.”
“When are you supposed to hear?” I asked.
“I gave them two days, but I’m hoping for sooner. It’s a cash offer but lower than they’re planning to ask.”
“And you’re keeping your job and your condo in Nashville?” Chloe asked.
“For now.”
Which told me money was not a struggle for her. But then I knew she was a successful financial planner.
Chloe eyed her, assessing. “What’s going on in that head of yours, Pres? You don’t just randomly buy real estate without a plan.”
Presley frowned. “I don’t know exactly. I just have this gut feeling—and I’m not talking about the killer cramps going on today. I feel like I need to get my ducks in a row. You know I don’t trust Rob Landers.”
“He’s a weasel,” Chloe said, then filled me in. “Her insecure asshole of a boss.”
“Ew,” I said. “Lucky for me, my boss is awesome. That can make or break a job.”
“You’re so good for my ego,” Chloe said, grinning.
I asked Presley, “Do you think your job’s in jeopardy or something?”
She bit her lip thoughtfully. “There’s no concrete reason to think that. I’m doing well for my clients?—”
“What she’s not saying is she’s one of her company’s best, month after month, year after year,” Chloe interjected.
Presley continued, “Like I said, just a gut feeling.”
“You don’t need that job or the stress it brings,” Chloe said.
“I’m starting to think you’re right.” Presley angled to look beyond Chloe. “Your husband and daughter are here.”
Holden stood at a table of diners, chatting them up, his one-year-old daughter on his shoulders, gripping his head with both hands and giggling.
“It should be illegal to be that adorable,” I said. I’d met Sutton Henry a few times at work when her parents brought her in.
“Look at that ham,” Presley said.
“She loves her daddy.” Chloe’s wide grin said she did too.
“I meant Holden. Your hubby is ridiculously in love with her.”
“He’s the best dad ever,” Chloe said. “And I forgot to warn you we’re getting a fourth for the evening. Holden’s got ping-pong league, so he’s dropping Sutton off. As soon as he finishes showing her off to anyone who’ll listen.” She got up to get her daughter.
I knew from discussions at work Chance and Kemp were in that same ping-pong league. I shut down on the thrill that zinged through me just at the thought of my one-night guy.
“That little girl right there is my favorite kid in the world,” Presley said.
“She’s pretty irresistible.”
“Chloe’s a lucky girl,” Presley said as Chloe arrived with little Sutton in her arms.
“Hey, cutie patootie,” I said.
“Hi, favorite girl,” Presley said.
“I need to get her a high chair,” Chloe said.
“I’ll take her.” Presley held out her arms. “Come to Auntie Presley, Sutton.”
Sutton pointed at her and said, “Guh!”
“I’ll be right back.” Chloe set Sutton on Presley’s lap, hung the baby bag over her chair back, and went off for a high chair.
Sutton stared at me curiously, so I shot her a smile. “I’m Rowan. I met you at your mommy and daddy’s work. Your outfit is adorable.”
Sutton held out both arms to me.
Presley’s mouth gaped open. “You want Rowan instead of me? I’m shattered!” She winked at me as the little girl, unbothered, leaned toward me.
When I made room, Presley transferred Sutton to my lap.
“Hi, cutie pie.” I pressed a kiss to the top of her head, hugged her, then handed her my spoon when she pointed at it.
“You’re a natural,” Presley said. “You’ll make a great mom someday.”
I forced my brain to skip over that comment entirely and changed the subject.
“Tell me about your house,” I said.
Before she could say anything, Bria served us our entrees. My southern shrimp and grits had sounded so good when I’d ordered it, but now my stomach churned. My appetite had been wonky for months, likely due to stress. Lately it’d gotten worse rather than better though, with food bringing on a wave of nausea more often than not. It didn’t make sense, but then I knew grief could mess a body up just as much as stress.
Chloe returned, and we settled Sutton in her high chair then started into our meals. I took several small bites of grits, thinking getting something in my empty stomach would calm its uneasiness.
“God, this is good,” Presley said of her beer-battered walleye. “You might’ve married the wrong Henry brother, Chloe.”
Chloe laughed. “Cash is a good chef, but Holden’s my soul mate.”
“When’s Ava due?” I asked of Cash’s wife, the inn owner who’d been so welcoming from that very first night.
“In March. She’s got about six weeks left,” Chloe said.
“As long as her husband doesn’t stop cooking for me,” Presley said, grinning. Then her expression turned to a frown. “Chlo, favor to ask. Can I sleep on your sofa tonight? I’m thinking another drink would help dull the crampiness.”
“Bad periods?” I asked, able to relate to that with every fiber of my being.
“She gets horrible ones,” Chloe said. “For as long as I’ve known her.”
“I have endometriosis,” Presley said as she picked up her drink.
“I do too,” I said.
“It’s a big bag of suckage,” Presley said. “Do you have pain in between periods too?”
“Yessss. Like, eighty percent of the time.” I set my fork down hard once the words were out of my mouth, struck by a realization.
“Are you okay?” Chloe asked me, watching me closely.
I glanced up at her, my mind spinning. “Yeah. I just…” I shook my head. “I just realized I haven’t had that pain since I’ve lived here. Three weeks. That’s unheard of.”
“That’s wonderful,” Chloe said.
“It’s…unusual, but I’ll take it,” I said.
“Any chance you could be pregnant?” Presley asked. “One of my colleagues has endo pretty bad, but when she was pregnant, the pain went away.”
The bite I’d just swallowed nearly came back up. “N-no,” I said automatically. I tried to remember the date, did the math. Twenty-three days since New Year’s, but… “No.”
I met the gazes of both women, who were watching me with concern.
“Are you sure?” Presley asked.
I picked up my napkin and nervously wiped my mouth as I considered telling them more. It’d been a while since I’d had girlfriends on a confiding level. I’d had several at my teaching job, but we’d gradually lost touch once I quit and wasn’t able to meet them for happy hours or movie nights. With a slow, shaky breath, I realized how much I’d missed that kind of connection.
“My ob-gyn said my odds of ever having children are tiny unless I have a procedure,” I said quietly.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Chloe said, looking genuinely upset for me.
Presley tilted her head. “There’s still a chance, you know? If you were with someone…”
My insides fluttered nervously. I blurted out, “I had a fling on New Year’s Eve.” I could tell them that much, but no way would I reveal who I’d been with.
I could tell they were calculating the weeks.
“Totally possible,” Presley said.
“But so improbable.” I couldn’t think straight. My brain was stuttering along, trying to imagine. In the year plus I’d been with Christian, there’d been no pregnancy scares despite us being careless with birth control.
I’d been devastated by my doctor’s prognosis. I’d always wanted to have babies. When I’d pictured my future, the husband’s face was blurry and unclear, but there were kids in the equation every time. Yes, I’d likely have the procedure eventually to increase my odds, but the question remained whether my body would cooperate with my dream of being a mom.
If one hundred women had the same prognosis, a handful of us could end up pregnant.
What if one of them was me?
No, surely not. It would be the worst timing ever. I’d just started adjusting to being responsible only for me after neglecting myself for so long. This was my healing phase, my refinding myself era. For me to be pregnant would be the utmost in irony ever.
That aside, if by some long-shot, miraculous act of the universe I was pregnant, the circumstances were so not ideal. A one-night stand with a man I barely knew, who apparently had his hands full with a teenage daughter and wanted nothing to do with me beyond working together. And me, a tangle of grief, soul-deep fatigue, and emotional vulnerability. In other words, a verifiable shit show.
“Do you want to take a test?” Chloe asked with so much empathy in her tone I could cry.
God. A pregnancy test. I’d never needed one before. I wasn’t convinced I needed one now.
“Do you think that’s premature?” I asked.
“Not if it happened New Year’s Eve.” Presley squeezed my wrist lightly. “It’s whatever you’re comfortable with, hon. But if it were me, I wouldn’t be able to sleep until I knew one way or the other.”
“Do you have any other symptoms?” Chloe asked.
I met her eyes as it hit me that, yes, I did. “Nausea.”
Presley sucked in an audible breath.
There was almost no part of me that really thought I could be pregnant. I’d made peace with the odds, mostly, at least until I had the procedure. Or maybe I just hadn’t had any bandwidth to think about it for ages. Pregnancy wasn’t on my radar. This was likely something else, which led to scarier questions. What could be wrong with my body now? Maybe that seemed pessimistic, but I’d struggled with pain for so long that it seemed a lot more logical than being pregnant.
“It’s not too early to test?” I asked, understanding that ruling out pregnancy was my first step.
“Not at all,” Chloe said, breaking up another of her daughter’s chicken fingers into bite-sized pieces. “A little advice though… If you want to avoid gossip, I wouldn’t recommend buying tests at the Country Market. People will find out fast.”
Right. Because I was living and working in a small town now.
“I could go buy some,” Presley said. “They can speculate all they want about me.”
“No need,” Chloe said. “I have at least two unused tests at home. They’re yours. If you want moral support, you can test at my house. Holden’s out for the evening.”
I inhaled slowly, trying to settle myself down as I looked from Chloe to Presley. “If I’m not pregnant, and I honestly don’t think I am, then something weird is going on. So…yeah. I’ll take you up on that.”
I couldn’t pass up the offer of moral support and girlfriends who’d help me through, whatever the results ended up being.