Find Wonder in All Things - By Karen M. Cox Page 0,47

to see you again’ comment. Then he turned to Stuart. “Where do you want me to put this bag, Stu?”

“Oh, here, I’ll take it. Heather, get James a beer would you? I’m going to go see what’s keeping Virginia.”

“Sure thing,” Heather took James’s arm and led him into the kitchen area. “Wait till you see the view from the deck. Laurel and I were just talking about it when you drove up.” Laurel watched him as he walked, but she stayed put, unable to follow. She sat down on the couch with a heavy thud.

Stuart came down the hall a couple of minutes later and gestured to her. “Hey, Sis, come here a sec.”

“What’s wrong? Is she okay?”

“She’s sick. It’s like morning sickness but not in the morning. It isn’t a problem normally, but today seems to be a bad one. I guess she overdid it with the cleaning or something.” He glanced over at the clique in the kitchen. “I’d stay with her myself but . . . It’s just that with James coming in today and the dinner at Brownsboro tonight . . . ” He hesitated.

Laurel got the hint, and to be honest, it was fine with her to stay and play nursemaid to Virginia. It would have been much more difficult to sit at a dinner table with James when he seemed so disinterested in her. “I’ll stay with her. It’s not a problem.”

“Oh man, that would be great. I hate to ask you because you don’t get to go out that much.” He stopped short, looking awkward and a little embarrassed by his last remark. “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded . . . ”

“I don’t mind. If Virginia’s fine with it, I’m fine. Just bring me a slice of cheesecake, would you?”

“Sure, sure, I’ll do that. Thanks a million, Laurel. I know it’s just morning sickness, and it’s normal, but it’s unusual for her to be sick, and this is all still uncharted territory for me.”

He paused. “Umm, this situation isn’t too weird for you is it — I mean James being here? I know you guys dated for a while back in school, but it was a long time ago, so . . . ”

“I’m sure it will be fine,” she said lightly, turning away. “I better go let Virginia in on the plan for tonight.”

“What’s going on?” Carrie asked.

Stuart walked over to them. “Virginia’s not feeling well. I didn’t get a chance to tell you before, James, but we’re expecting.”

“Oh!” James’s voice showed his surprise. “Well then, congratulations.” He set down his beer, shook Stuart’s hand and clapped him on the shoulder.

“Thanks.”

“She’s okay, isn’t she?”

“Yeah, she’s okay — just that morning sickness thing. Or I guess evening sickness in this case. Laurel’s going to stay with her.”

The way the four of them turned and looked at Laurel as a unit made her feel like she was on display in a glass case. She gave them a weak smile.

“Aww,” Carrie whined, “Laurel, that’s too bad.” She turned to James. “We love getting together with Laurel. She always has such interesting stories to tell about life in the mountains.”

“Oh?” James answered nonchalantly, looking over at Laurel’s flushed face.

Heather interjected. “But maybe you’ll have some interesting California stories for us. Have you ever met any celebrities?”

“A few, a very few,” he smiled in a self-deprecating way. “I’m sure my stories aren’t all that exciting.”

“Oh, I’m sure they are,” Heather gushed. “You’ve done so many things and been so many places.”

Stuart rolled his eyes and took a swig of his beer. “Damn, girls. Don’t scare him off on his first day here. We’ll never get him to come back if you put him on the spot like that. Don’t worry, James; they do this to everybody.”

Heather and Carrie giggled.

Laurel looked past them and caught James staring at her closely. After a second, he spoke up. “You’re sure you don’t mind staying?”

“No, it’s fine. Stuart’s bringing me a great dessert.” She smiled. “I’ll just go get Ginny some saltines and a glass of water. You all have fun, okay?” She left the room a little abruptly then, but she didn’t trust her expression to stay neutral much longer.

* * *

Stu, James and the girls arrived back at the house about 10:30. Laurel heard the car door slam, and laughter drifted in the open door as they made their way up the stairs to the great room. She and Ginny smiled at each other and shook