said hello and walked up and down the aisles, then thanked her and left. “Sure,” Lauren said to the door, then hurried back to the office to resume her conversation.
“Okay, it’s still your turn.”
“Don’t you have customers?”
“No, they were browsers.”
“I do kind of have something to tell you, but you have to keep it a secret.”
“Always.”
“This is a really big secret, Lauren. As in humongous. Probably the biggest secret I’ll ever tell you.”
“Stop it! Just spit it out and tell me.”
“I’m pregnant!”
“Holy moly! Are you serious?”
“Would I joke about something we’ve been trying for since forever? Yes, Scott and I are going to be parents! Isn’t that the most exciting news you’ve ever heard?”
Lauren reached across the old shabby sofa, hugged her best friend, and immediately looked at her stomach.
“I’m not showing yet, if that’s what you’re looking for. It’s too soon. I’m only eight weeks, and I can’t tell you how much I wanted to tell you yesterday, but I had to wait until we had some girl time.”
Tears filled Lauren’s eyes because she knew how much Madison and Scott wanted a family. “That’s the best news I’ve heard in a very long time. That explains all that junk food in Scott’s shopping cart when I ran into him at the grocery last night. You little sneak, you!” Lauren hugged her again. “Wow, this is big.”
“Here’s the not-so-fun part. Other than Scott, I haven’t told anyone else. I wanted to wait until I was through my first trimester. You okay keeping this to yourself for a few more weeks?”
“No, but since I don’t have a choice, yes, I will keep it to myself. Though Mom would be on cloud nine if she knew this. Dad too.”
“We haven’t even told our parents, so yours, they’ll just have to wait. I know it’s asking a lot to keep this quiet. I just couldn’t keep this to myself any longer. Scott said you commented on the junk food in his shopping cart. I thought you might figure it out, so I wanted to tell you face-to-face, hence the real reason I stopped by.”
“I’m beyond happy for you two. So, boy or girl?”
“I don’t know yet, and won’t for several more weeks.”
“I get that. I meant what are you and Scott hoping for?”
“I don’t care, either will be absolutely perfect. A baby! Oh, Lauren, I am so over the moon, I don’t know if I can wait seven more months to meet this little bean. That’s the size. Can you believe it? A bean or, the doctor said, a raspberry. Just so itty-bitty!”
Lauren chuckled. “You’ll be a great mom, Scott a great dad. This changes a lot. Right?”
“Yes and no. I’ll have a bump, which I can’t wait for, and no, I’ll continue life as usual. I’ll probably take some time off work once the baby is here, but I don’t foresee any huge changes. ”
They burst out laughing.
“That’s bull, and I know it. My entire life will change, but Lauren, it’ll be in such a good way. Listen, I need to get out of here, let you do your work.” She paused, a dazed look on her face. “Did I just blow the wind out of your book sails, pun intended?”
“Never! I don’t think my news compares.” She walked Madison to the front of the store. She saw her bright red Corvette parked outside. “You might have to consider another vehicle, though.”
“I don’t like that car anyway. I’ll be getting an SUV or a minivan. Something family-like. Oh, Lauren, let me hug you one more time, then I’ll get out of your hair.”
Lauren gave her a hug, promised to keep her updated on Lee’s health, and congratulated her once again.
Inside the store, she couldn’t help but smile, despite herself. Madison’s was the best news she’d heard all day.
Chapter 12
Lauren left the shop, shocked at how the temperature had dropped; it was a mere ten degrees, according to the gauge on the dash. Hundreds of tiny white snowflakes flurried from the inky sky and were wiped away by the windshield wipers as fast as they fell. She drove slowly down the sleeted highway, the Honda’s wheels struggling to get a firm grip on the icy road. The heater did little to keep up with the bitter cold. Lauren couldn’t wait to get home, take a hot shower, and continue to work on her research.
She was surprised when she saw that the house was dark, with no warm light reflecting in the windows. That