Chapter 19
Chapter
Nineteen
After a quick dinner the Friday of the Memorial Day weekend holiday, Lana and Kate headed to the mall to meet Dani, who wanted new shoes. Thanks to the mall-wide sale, the parking lot was full.
“Don’t mention the pregnancy,” Lana warned Kate as she searched for a place to park.
Her friend gave her a puzzled look. “You’re keeping it a secret from Sly’s sister?”
“He wants to tell her himself, but he isn’t ready yet. I’m of the same mind with my family, so we agreed to wait a while. Oh, and don’t mention the dinner tomorrow night.”
Kate made a face. “You’re not leaving much to talk about.”
“Sure I am. Guys you’re dating, guys she’s dating, shopping, food. What else is there?” Lana teased.
“That’ll work. What do you think Sly will say when you go out tomorrow night?”
“I have no idea, and it isn’t a date,” Lana reminded her. For now, it was enough that he wanted to get together and talk. At last, she spied a parking slot. “We’re meeting Dani at Altman’s,” she said, as she maneuvered the car into the space.
Kate rubbed her hands together in anticipation. “I love that department store, and they have great shoes.”
Ten minutes later, the three of them entered the women’s shoe section. Dani went straight for the sandals. “What do you think of these?” she asked, showing Lana and Kate a strappy yellow sandal with three-inch heels. “I have the cutest sundress to wear them with.”
Lana loved them. “They’re really sexy, but too high for me. If I tried to walk in those, I’d probably fall flat on my behind.”
“I doubt that,” Kate said. “I want a pair too, in red. So, Dani, is there a special guy you want to wear them for?”
Sly’s sister sighed. “I just went through a breakup.”
Lana felt for her but was confused. “When we met for coffee, you weren’t seriously involved with anyone.”
“As with most of my relationships, it didn’t last long. But hey, if I wear these, some cute guy is bound to ask me out. Why don’t we each try on a different color?”
“I’m in,” Kate said. This way, Lana, you can test them out and see if you can walk in them.”
A few minutes later, Lana admired herself in the mirror. “Yay, me,” she said, very pleased with herself and the silver sandals. “I’ve walked to the wall and back and haven’t stumbled or fallen over. And wow, look at my legs.”
“Very sexy.” Kate grinned. “If I were you, I’d wear them tomorrow night.”
Dani’s eyes widened. “You have a date tomorrow night? Who’s the lucky guy?”
Lana glared at her best friend, who shrugged. “Hey, I didn’t say anything.”
“It’s not an actual date,” Lana explained. “Sly and I—”
“You and my brother are finally going out? Score!”
“I repeat, it isn’t a date,” Lana stated firmly. “We’re getting together to talk—that’s all.”
“Sounds like a date to me.” Dani looked like the cat who ate the canary. “You should definitely wear those sandals.”
Lana itched to tell her about the pregnancy, but she’d given Sly her word. Things between them were precarious enough without her breaking her promise. She rolled her eyes. “Fine, I’ll buy them. But it isn’t a date.”
Wishing she could relax with a glass of wine instead of making do with sparkling water, Lana sat across the table from Sly at an Italian restaurant on the outskirts of town.
The out-of-the-way eatery was packed, and diners filled every table.
Carpeting and acoustic ceiling tiles muted the noise level, and the dim lighting, linen tablecloths, and generous spacing between the tables added an air of privacy.
Sly had chosen the perfect place for them to talk over dinner.
She was glad she’d dressed up in a silk sheath and, yes, the new silver sandals. He’d also dressed up. In dark pants, a pressed shirt, and tie, he was movie-star handsome. But then, he also looked great in jeans and a T-shirt.
“I’ve never eaten here before,” she said. “How’d you find this place?”
“A couple of years ago, I stopped here for lunch on the way home from a cattle auction. The owner’s mother makes the pasta from scratch using old family recipes. I think you’ll like it.”
Lana was already salivating. “I’m sure I will.”
“I also figured that way out here in the boonies, there’s less of a chance we’ll run into family.”
He’d thought of everything. On the forty-minute drive to the restaurant, they’d made small talk.
Lana had shared that Dani assumed they were on a date tonight, which had caused some muttering.
Then she’d updated Sly on her phone call with Sophie, and shared a funny story about one of the kids at the daycare, a boy who’d pretended he was a dog all week, barking and crawling around.
His lips twitched. “Either that’s funny or the kid is seriously deluded.”
Seeing that almost-smile brought out her grin. “He’s fine, just quirky. Some kids are. It’s entertaining.”
“I once had a dog who believed he was a person,” Sly commented, smiling for real this time. “He was quirky, too.”
He told Lana about a run-in with a coyote and the family of meadowlarks that had hatched in his backyard.
It was a conversation any couple on a date might have, only this wasn’t a date.
They were here to talk about the baby—or so she’d assumed.
Waiting for the real conversation was nerve-racking, but she wanted to give Sly the space he deserved.
Meanwhile, doubts ate at her. What if he wanted nothing to do with her or their child? She felt an anxiety that all but killed her appetite. But if that was the case, she doubted they’d be sitting in this nice restaurant, having a non-date.
The waiter delivered the salads.
“Remember, we’re going Dutch treat,” she reminded Sly as they reached for their forks.
He nodded.
“I haven’t heard lately—what’s happening with the lawsuit?” she asked, wanting to know.
“Not a damn thing.” He snorted in frustration.
“What’s taking so long?”
“Your cousin. He’s stalling. My attorney is doing what he can, but I’m about out of patience.”
“Cousin Tim is about as easy to budge as a boulder.”
“On that, we both agree.”
A short while later, the waiter removed their salad plates and placed their dinner in front of them. “I don’t want to talk about the lawsuit anymore,” Sly said. “I want to enjoy this meal.”
Throughout the delicious main course, he steered the conversation away from serious matters and kept things light and easy. Despite the amazing food, Lana’s frustration level grew until she wanted to scream. Why wouldn’t he get to the point?
Finally, the waiter cleared their plates. “Dessert?” he asked.
She shook her head, but Sly ordered coffee, tiramisu, and two forks. When the treat arrived, he nudged the plate between them. “Half of this is yours.”
“I’m too nervous.” And too impatient to wait one more second. “I feel like there’s an elephant in the room. You invited me to dinner to talk, and I’ve been giving you space to bring up our situation when you’re ready, and I’m frustrated.”
With a somber expression, he set down his fork. “I was planning to wait till after the meal, but if you’d rather talk now, it’s okay by me. I made a decision about the baby.” He paused, his steady gaze revealing little.
If only she could read his mind. He claimed he didn’t want to abandon their child, but for all she knew, his idea of sticking around could be to offer monetary support and nothing more.
Aware of how he felt about having a child, she assumed that had to be it. Disappointed, but determined not to let on, she widened her eyes. “What did you decide?”
“I want to be part of his life.”
Talk about a pleasant surprise. She was so relieved she sagged in her seat.
His expression confused, he scrutinized her. “You’re not happy about that.”
“The opposite—I’m glad our baby will have the chance to get to know his or her daddy. What do you have in mind?”
“I’m still working on that, but for starters, I’ll go with you to your next doctor’s visit—if the offer’s still open.”
“It is. It’s going to be a very special appointment. We’ll get to hear the baby’s heartbeat.”
He didn’t exactly seem excited, but at least he’d agreed to be there. It was a beginning, and she decided she’d do whatever she could to encourage him.
“What time should I pick you up?” he said.
“Since I’ll be coming straight from work, it’ll be easier if we meet at the clinic.”
He nodded. “Give me the details and I’ll be there.”
After texting him the information, she picked up her fork. “Now I’m ready to eat some of that tiramisu.”