7. Lucy
7
LUCY
T he pain darting around my oversized belly gets more manageable as I pass the elevators and turn toward the noise that I’m pretty sure means Matilda has gone that way.
When I turn into a new hallway, I spot her! She races toward me like hell is on her heels.
I kneel and scoop her into my embrace. She trembles like a newborn.
“Poor baby girl. Are you okay?” I stroke her head.
She startles as the thunderous pound of feet approach in the hall. There must be a dozen people in khakis barreling toward us.
Matilda tenses like she might take off again, but I hold her firmly.
“Everyone stop!” I call out. “Think of this sweet girl!”
And they do, bunching up together several yards away like a human accordion.
When the hall has quieted, I turn Matilda to face them. “Matilda, these are the wonderful workers of Court’s company. I’m sure we’ll get to know them all.”
I look up at them. “You can introduce yourselves one at a time. That’s all she can handle.”
They look at each other as if unsure of what to do.
“Come on now. Matilda never forgets a smell. If she likes you, she’ll put her head down. If she’s glaring at you, watch out, because she might butt you with her head.”
This sends a ripple of laughter through the hall.
A young woman in a gray skirt approaches first. Her chin-length hair slides forward as she bends down to extend a hand to Matilda. “Hello, Matilda, I’m Penny.”
Matilda lowers her head and allows Penny to scratch between her ears.
“Lovely. Matilda likes you.”
“She’s adorable.”
“Thank you.”
A young man is next, all khakis and smiles. “Matilda! How’s it hanging?” He extends a fist for her to sniff like she’s a dog.
Matilda looks at him for a minute, then lowers her head. He pats her between the ears.
Then Court reappears.
Matilda rears back on her hind legs.
“Whoa!” everyone cries, and their sudden burst of noise startles her even more.
I sigh, wishing I had the lead with its neck loop with me. I wrap my arms around her, but the effort gets me a new round of darting pains. They won’t kill me or send me into labor. I know that. But it’s not fun to deal with.
Penny rushes forward to help. “You’re turning white,” she says. “Let me hold her.”
Matilda allows it.
One of the young men says, “I have a dog leash in my cube. Will that help?”
“Yes,” I tell him. I sit against the wall, holding my belly. This is the worst. I’ve always been so strong, but since the third trimester began, I’ve been as fragile as a tomato plant.
Court steps back into the crowd. Without him visible, Matilda settles down.
The man returns with a blue leash. “It’s an extra I bought and never took home,” he says. “You can keep it.”
“Thank you,” I tell him.
Penny releases Matilda once it’s fastened.
She darts forward as if to figure out if Court is back there.
Penny’s gaze meets mine. “She really doesn’t like Mr. Armstrong, does she?”
“They didn’t have a good introduction,” I say. “She’ll get used to him.”
The man reels Matilda back to us, and Penny kneels down to hold her.
“I think I forgot to say my name earlier. I’m Joe.” He extends a hand.
I reach forward to shake it, suppressing the grimace as another darting pain zigzags over my middle. “Nice to meet you, Joe. And Penny.”
“Are you new here?” Penny asks.
“Oh, no. I just know Court.”
Joe and Penny exchange a glance.
I’ve said the wrong thing. “I mean, Mr. Armstrong.”
“We know who you meant.” Joe glances back at the dispersing crowd. “You’re not the sort of person we would expect Mr. Armstrong to know.”
Matilda climbs onto my lap, what little there is, and rests her head on my thigh. I stroke her ears. “What sort of people does he know?”
Joe and Penny exchange another glance. “We’re not sure. Nobody knows him very well.”
“We should fix that.” The adrenaline starts to wane, and exhaustion threatens to take over. “I should get back to his office. I didn’t finish my lunch.”
“You were eating lunch in Mr. Armstrong’s office?” Penny asks.
“Of course. Is that weird?” I carefully shift Matilda off my legs so I can try to stand. It won’t be easy from the floor, not with this belly.
“No, no, of course not.” Joe extends a hand, and I gratefully accept it.
A deep rumble of a voice comes from behind. “I’ve got it.”
It’s Court, and he doesn’t look pleased. Matilda goes rigid, so I wrap my arms around her. “Now, now, girl. That’s enough.”
“I’ll take her.” Penny grasps the leash close to the collar and gently tugs Matilda away.
Joe releases my hand as Court bends down to put an arm around my shoulders. This is way more familiar than what Joe was attempting, and I can feel them looking at us as Court hauls me to my feet.
“I’m having his baby,” I tell them. “But we’re not a couple.”
I feel rather than hear the growl in Court’s throat. Oh, I shouldn’t have said that.
When I’m upright, I shake Court off. “I’ll take Matilda from here.”
“You sure?” he asks.
“Absolutely.” Normally, Matilda would walk easily by my side, but she has an issue with Court for some reason. So I leave her on the leash.
“Thank you both! I’m sure I’ll see you again!” I wave behind me as I move down the hall, not waiting on Court. If I can keep Matilda from looking at him, she’ll be easier to manage.
“Stop by I.T. anytime!” Penny calls.
I can feel Court’s rage like a wall of heat pushing me forward. He’s really mad. I walk more quickly as we pass the elevators.
It’s quiet now, and only Devin waits in the hall outside Court’s office. He moves from behind his desk without a word, opening the door.
“Please come with us,” I whisper as I pass. I don’t want to face the angry beast alone.
He waits for Court to enter, then follows us in and closes the door.
I tug Matilda to walk alongside me to the round table and bribe her to stay with another piece of lettuce.
We make it fewer than five seconds before Court roars, “Why did you say that?”
If this had been a cartoon, my hair would have blown back and all the food on the table would have fallen over.
But this is real life, and he’s possibly justifiably mad that I spilled his business in front of Penny and Joe, who are probably telling everyone that the barefoot woman with a goat is pregnant with his illegitimate not-love child.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “I shouldn’t have brought up our relationship.”
“You think?” Court paces the room, his hands clasped on his head.
“It was bound to get out anyway,” Devin says.
“Like my goat?” I can’t stop my giggle.
Devin quirks a smile but quickly straightens his expression when Court turns around.
“We haven’t established that this is my child. Until it is legally handled, I would appreciate you keeping the alleged paternity to yourself.”
“But I know,” I insist. “You can require a piece of paper, and I get that, but I know. For a fact. Without a doubt.”
He stomps around the desk and drops into his chair, angrily shaking his computer mouse to wake up the screen.
I glance at Devin, who shrugs. He sits near me, spreading out a sheaf of printouts. “I have some options for where you can stay while we wait on Court’s baby to be born.”
I beam at him. “Perfect. Let’s take a look. And how many hours off does he owe you so far?”
“Three.”
We both ignore the feral growl that comes from the other side of the room.
I have an ally.
Plus, two in I.T.
Lucy 3, Court 0.