Chapter Three
Meg saved me from the empty calories of a milkshake and trying to fix my parents’ relationship by calling me on my way home and asking me to meet her at our favorite juice bar, which made killer smoothies. I asked how she was feeling and she said she would explain it all when we met, but that all was well. I had a feeling by the tone of her voice that she was looking for more than a friendly chat. In my line of work, I was used to it. For some reason, people thought since I had a doctorate in psychology I had magical answers to give. Unfortunately, there were no magic fixes. I could give insight, even offer treatment plans, but either way it required work. I was surprised how many people wanted answers and solutions yet were unwilling to make changes.
Meg was not one of those people. Not that she needed to change anything or looked to me to fix her problems. She mostly liked to hear my take on things, especially when she was dating Zander. For good reason, she had some trepidation about dating a man who proudly used to declare he was never getting married and had dated more women than there were days in a calendar year.
Maybe Meg had some supernatural power. She certainly had an effect on Zander. He was still Zander—as in, he still made inappropriate comments and he had a high opinion of himself—but I had watched him the last several months with Meg. He seemed to be in awe of her. Like she offered him a new way of thinking about life. A life he never knew existed, but now couldn’t get enough of it.
Not to say they didn’t have any disagreements. There were a few times the office got a little interesting when they had tiffs, like Meg called them, but they were quick to make up and move on. Zander, surprisingly, was the first to apologize. He was also usually the one to cause the issue, but he didn’t like it when things weren’t good with Meg. It was as if a piece of him was missing when Meg was unhappy with him. Flowers would be delivered, and PDA abounded in the office when she worked there. It was nauseating but admittedly cute. And honestly, it made me a little envious.
I had to remind myself to turn to all the good in my life to combat those feelings, and there were plenty of things to be grateful for. Despite not having the family I’d always hoped for, I was educated, made a good income, owned my own townhome, and when my parents were sane they were amazing people. I had a feeling I would be telling myself this a lot with my new responsibilities at work. I couldn’t believe I agreed to be Nick Wells’s relationship manager and that I would have to go on a client date with him this week. He would probably look at his phone the entire time or stare at me as if he couldn’t believe some mere mortal was speaking to him. He had done that a lot yesterday. I tried not to let it unnerve me. Not sure how well I did.
I arrived at the juice bar not too far from my place in Druid Hills. I’d landed in the same community as my parents. When they built some new townhomes in my price range there, I couldn’t resist. I loved the small-town feel in the middle of Atlanta. I could walk to my favorite bookstore and favorite places to eat. The parks and the overall sense of community were amazing. Maybe someday my children would even get to take advantage of the great schools. You know, before my ovaries died a slow, painful death waiting for the ideal candidate to make use of them.
I arrived before Meg and got us a bistro table with high-back chairs by the window. The juice bar didn’t see a big crowd around dinner time. During breakfast and lunch, this place was packed. I normally didn’t drink my dinner either, but I was looking forward to talking to Meg. I had connected with her more than anyone in the office and missed her daily presence. Most of my coworkers thought I kept to myself, and I did. I was one to sit back and observe. I was interested in their lives and getting to know them, but life taught me to be cautious about forming attachments. Funny, I was happy to help others form them and keep them. Or was that ironic? Since being in Kenadie’s wedding, I had tried to engage more in the office and even outside with Meg and sometimes Kenadie, but I knew I could be better. I suppose my new role would help with that. So perhaps that was the silver lining?
Meg pulled up to the front of the shop in her old truck. She slowly exited and when I caught a full view of her, I could tell even from a distance that she didn’t look well. Her olive skin that was normally darkened this time of year from being in the sun was pale, and the usual bounce in her step was gone. Worry crept in again.
With the jingle of the bell, I waved to her. It was there I caught her red eyes. I stood, more worried than I had been. She took labored, deliberate steps to me and we greeted each other with an embrace.
“Hi, there.”
That was enough to invite her to cry on my shoulder. She was a few inches shorter than my five-feet-seven. A few of the other patrons glanced our way, but they did the decent thing and didn’t linger on the scene.
I patted her back. “I thought you said everything was okay.”
She tried to compose herself before stepping back and wiping her eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m fine. Really, I am. I think.” Tears filled her pale green eyes.
Everyone always commented on Zander’s bright green eyes, but I thought Meg’s outdid his.
“Why don’t you sit down, and I’ll go order for us. Do you want your usual?”
“Actually, I think I’ll go with the raw banana ginger one.”
I tilted my head but didn’t press; instead, I squeezed her hand. “I’ll be right back.”
She nodded her thanks and took a seat while I headed to the counter to order. Maybe she was nauseous, that’s why she wanted the ginger. A light went off in my head. No. That couldn’t be. They hadn’t even been married two months. I held my flat stomach. It hadn’t taken that long for me either, I remembered. I always remembered. Why did I feel so empty still? Annulment was an ugly word, miscarriage was vile. Positive thoughts. I was here for Meg.
I walked back to her as soon as the order was placed and paid for. They would bring the smoothies to our table. Meg was staring wistfully out the window as if she was hoping for someone to arrive.
I took my seat across from her. “You can begin anytime,” I said, using a little therapist humor.
She gave me a tiny smile for my woeful comedic attempt. “Thanks for meeting me.”
“Anytime. What’s going on?”
She tucked her short dark hair behind her ear. “Well . . . I finally got all my things moved into Zander’s apartment.”
“Uh-huh.”
“I’m still on track to graduate at the end of next month.”
“All good news.”
“And,” her voice cracked, “I’m pregnant.”
My training kicked in and I showed no signs of shock or envy. I gave her a gentle smile. “Congratulations. How do you feel about it?”
“Me?” She wiped her eyes. “I’m so happy, as you can tell.” She laughed.
I reached across and took her hand. “Are you really?”
“I am. It definitely wasn’t in the plan right now, but I can’t think of anything I would want more than a baby with Zander.” She pressed her lips together and tried to stave off any more tears. “But, Zander . . . he is . . .”
I held my breath and tried to repress my memories of when I told Douglas I was pregnant. It was the beginning of the end of something that should have never even started. I hoped Zander wasn’t so callous.
“Well, I don’t know what he is. He came home when I told him over the phone. I wanted to tell him in person, but he thought since I wouldn’t tell him over the phone it was bad news and I didn’t want him to worry more than he has been. I’ve been so tired, and then I started throwing up. Not every day, thank goodness, but enough to know something wasn’t right. And then my period was late. I think he was in denial about what that meant.”
“Did he say anything after you told him?”
She bit her lip as if she was embarrassed. “You know him and his colorful vocabulary, but basically, he cursed the bearskin rug at my dad’s place and blamed our months of, uh . . . celibacy.”
My training went out the window with that surprising bit of news; my eyebrows raised.
“I made Zander wait until we were married.”
I sat back, stunned and impressed. And proud of Meg for holding her ground.
“I know it’s shocking. Zander being the most shocked of all. But I guess it made us both more anxious and neither of us were really thinking about birth control.”
“So is the news unwelcome to him?” I tried to ask delicately.
She shrugged and the tears reappeared. “He wouldn’t say. He came home and paced and paced, sometimes he stopped and stared at me, but he said nothing until he left to go to the gym. He said he needed to think.”
Our smoothies arrived, but neither of us made a move to taste them. Instead, I leaned forward and rested my hand on hers. I tried my best to wear the hat of friend more than clinical psychologist. Most importantly, I had to remember that Zander wasn’t Douglas, so it didn’t cloud my advice or the comfort I tried to offer. Though I had my worries, given Zander’s behavior and how much his lifestyle had changed in the past several months since he’d entered into a relationship with Meg.
“It’s not uncommon for men to be afraid about impending fatherhood.”
Meg sat up straight, her eyes brightened.
“For many, it means facing their own mortality and fears about whether they can be a good father and provider. Given what you’ve told me and what I witnessed at Kenadie’s wedding about Zander’s parents, I could see why he might feel inadequate since he didn’t have a good example. And men worry that their wives will no longer be their lovers, but instead only a mother. For Zander that might be especially hard to deal with right now since he’s barely had you to himself.”
She nodded her head. “That all makes sense, but what if he doesn’t want the baby?”
I felt a stabbing pain in my heart for her and myself. Douglas’s words shouted in my head that I’d tricked him and I was on my own. I took a deep, cleansing breath. “I hope that isn’t the case. But you are one of the strongest women I know, and you will handle whatever life throws at you and come out better in the end. Besides, I think the Nanettes and Kenadie will kill him if he doesn’t.”
She laughed. “That’s true.” She thought for a moment. “But I want him to be happy.”
“If he can’t find happiness with you and the new little life you carry, he doesn’t deserve it. With that said, give him some time.”
She sighed as if relieved and took a sip of her smoothie. “Enough about me. How are you? Have you seen Nicholas Wells yet?” Even Meg sounded enamored with him. Not that I could blame her. For anyone who had never met him, I could see the appeal. He came in a very pretty package. Just ask him or People magazine.
If only I could really talk to her. Not that Zander wouldn’t. Now that she didn’t work there, he shouldn’t, but Zander did a lot of things he shouldn’t do. I gave her a close-lipped smile. “I met him yesterday.”
“And?” She was dying to know.
I thought about what I could in good conscience divulge. I twirled some of the loose strands of my hair that had gone back up in a messy bun. “I’m reserving full judgment.”
Her eyes widened then narrowed. “That doesn’t sound good.”
“Let’s just say he gives your husband a run for his money with how much he loves himself.”
“That bad?”
“I’m going to be his relationship manager, if that says anything.”
“What?” She almost spit out some of her smoothie.
“I’m sure Zander will fill you in.”
Her solemn demeanor was back. “Hopefully by the time I get home he’ll be speaking to me again.”
I was about to answer her, but it was unnecessary. A harried Zander came crashing through the door. The few patrons and employees all focused on him. He was still in his workout clothes, with sweat-drenched hair.
The weight of the world fell off him when he zeroed in on Meg and took long strides to our table.
“Darlin’, there you are.” He sounded out of breath, which was saying something. By the way his workout clothes fit him, he was obviously in prime shape. Not like I was checking him out, but I imagined Meg must be very pleased.
Meg sat up, pensive. “How did you know I was here? Is everything all right?”
Zander took his wife’s hands and pulled her up, holding her as close as he could. He kissed the top of her head.
She melted into him.
“I came home and you weren’t there. I’ve been trying to call you. You mentioned a smoothie sounded good earlier, so I thought I would check here first before I started calling our friends.” He leaned away from her and his eyes landed on her abdomen. “I was worried about you and . . .” he swallowed hard, “the baby.”
Meg flung herself back against her husband and clung to him.
I had a feeling they would work it all out. It looked like Zander would surprise me once again.