Chapter Fifteen
Naomi fidgeted as she stood by the door. “I’m ready for your mother to take me to town. That’s why she’s here, isn’t it?”
She heard movement but couldn’t look up because she was afraid she’d start crying when she looked at his face. The thought that she’d find relief would send her over.
“Look at me,” he said.
She shook her head.
“Why? Do you hate me that much?”
Her head jerked up, and her mouth fell open. “What? No! It’s just that it will hurt to see your expression.”
He looked confused. “What expression?”
“Relief.”
“You think I’m relieved that you’re leaving?” The tone of his voice deepened.
Her eyes raced to the woman in the chair and back to him, and she shrugged. “Yes.”
Joe looked at his mother. “How am I supposed to fix this?”
His mother sighed. “Hello, Naomi. I know we haven’t really met. My name is Carolyn.”
Naomi swallowed. She seemed so nice, and she wished she could have a chance to get to know her better, but it wasn’t going to happen.
“Joe and I were talking about you.”
“I figured. I heard him yelling.”
Carolyn stood and walked to her. Naomi tried not to flinch when she grasped her shoulders. “There has been a lot of miscommunication between the two of you.”
Naomi was confused. “How?”
“Let me ask you a question. You think he doesn’t want you and actually wants you to leave. Right?”
Naomi nodded.
“I’m telling you right now that he wants you to stay and he cares about you very much.”
Naomi glanced at Joe and saw the misery on his face. “He doesn’t look happy.”
“He’s not, because he thinks you want to leave him.”
“What? No. I never wanted to leave, but I can’t stay knowing I make him uncomfortable.”
“You don’t, honey. Let me tell you a secret between women. Men are stupid.”
Naomi smiled when Joe sputtered.
“Mom. Jesus. You’re supposed to be helping me.”
“I am, dear.” Carolyn pulled Naomi over to the sofa and sat down next to her. “I don’t want to embarrass you, but he told me about the kitchen floor.”
Naomi could feel her face heat with embarrassment.
Carolyn held up a hand. “He had to tell me if I had any chance to help the situation.”
Naomi stayed silent and couldn’t look at Joe for the life of her.
“He thought he had insulted you and felt horrible about it.”
Naomi was confused. “I don’t understand.”
“I’m guessing it was the first time you two had been intimate?”
“Yes. Just the one time,” Naomi said.
She didn’t understand why his mom smiled. She looked at Joe and saw him confused, too.
“Mom?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I was thinking about something. Let’s get back to that.” She looked at her son. “Tell her what thoughts went through your head, dear,” she asked her son.
Naomi watched his face and could see a flush covering his cheeks.
“The first thing I thought was that I hurt you.”
Naomi shook her head. “You didn’t.”
“Then I thought the fact that it got out of hand and I took you on the floor was disrespectful. It was our first time, and it should have been special. Instead, I took you like an animal.”
“I didn’t think that at all.”
Carolyn got her attention again. “What did you think?”
Naomi looked down at her hands. “I … I thought it was wonderful. I’ve never had anyone make me feel like that, and then he started to apologize, and it hurt.”
She glanced at Joe from the corner of her eye to see him look confused, but his shoulders had relaxed.
“I’m sorry I hurt you. That was never my intention,” Joe said.
“It’s okay if you don’t want me,” Naomi said.
Joe grunted. “Sweetheart, I’ve wanted you since the day you came here.”
She was confused. “I didn’t know that.”
“I know. I was trying to give you time to get to know me better.” Joe smiled.
“Is there anything you don’t understand or want to ask him, Naomi?” Carolyn asked.
She thought about it for a moment. “Not that I can think of right now.”
“So, you’re going to stay?” Joe asked.
She wanted to believe it so badly. “Are you sure that’s what you want?”
He nodded. “Yes. I want that very much.”
Naomi looked at Carolyn to see her smile gently at her.
“Everything will be okay,” the older woman said. “Give him another chance, honey.”
Naomi nodded. “I’ll stay.”
Joe smiled. “Good. We’ll have to work on our communication.”
“That’s a fact,” Carolyn said sarcastically.
Naomi sputtered out a laugh when Joe groaned.
“Mom…”
“I know. I’m sorry, dear.”
His mom turned to her, and the look in her eyes almost scared her. “What?” Naomi asked hesitantly.
“We saw that you were looking for a doctor.”
“Yeah, is something wrong?” Joe asked.
Naomi glanced at his mother and got the feeling she already knew about the baby.
“I … no, I’m not sick.”
Carolyn stood, pulled her up, and hugged her. “You call me whenever you need me or anytime my son acts like an idiot. I’ll help you find the right doctor, too. I know a good one I think you’ll like.”
Naomi blinked a few times when tears swelled in her eyes. “Thank you.”
Carolyn kissed her cheek. “You’re welcome. I’m so glad you came here and are staying. I’m going to leave the two of you, but I think you might have some things to talk about, and I want to give you your privacy.”
Joe came over and hugged his mom. “Thank you for saving me.”
“That’s a mother’s job. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“Call me,” Carolyn said and walked out of the room.
They heard the front door close, and then her car drove off. When it got quiet, they turned to face each other.
“I got the feeling you two have a secret,” Joe said.
“Oh, well, it’s not…” She thought about his mother knowing and assumed most of the town already knew. She couldn’t put off telling him because she didn’t want him to find out another way. “I do have something I need to tell you.”
Joe leaned against his desk and crossed his arms over his chest. “Okay. You can tell me anything.”
Naomi walked across the room, suddenly terrified. What if he didn’t want kids so soon, and they weren’t even married? What would the town think of that? She knew it was the twentieth century, but small towns always seemed to have an old-fashioned mentality.
“So, the time we had … you know.”
He smiled. “We made love. I know I could have planned it better, but I must admit I wanted to do it again and again, but maybe try a bed next time.”
Naomi smiled. Her hands started to shake. “Well…”
Joe rolled his eyes. “Just come out with it.”
“The time we made love … we made a baby.”
She watched his face go blank and felt her stomach cramp from anxiety. A few minutes before, she had been hopeful they were going to try, but now, the way he looked told her it might be too much for him to take.