we can put a sofa and television in the other and call it a living room.”
“It might work.” Mitzi stood up and began to pace the floor. “But the only way would be if we vowed to separate work and our personal lives.”
“The smaller room could be the nursery,” Paula offered.
“I think we should use a bigger one and give the little one to the girls to do their flower business,” Jody said.
“Sounds good to me,” Mitzi said.
“Rent’s up on the fifth, so we’d have to do it in a hurry, like in two days,” Paula said. “Maybe we should think about it for a few weeks and give a notice. We’ll lose your deposit if we don’t.”
“Yes, but we won’t have to pay the extra rent or utility bills, so we’ll actually be ahead of the game.” Mitzi sat down at the table. “We can move tomorrow evening after work.”
“I can’t believe we’re even thinking of this,” Paula said. “But we’ll have to promise that we don’t bring work upstairs.”
“Exactly, and we each have a life to live, so we don’t have to tell each other where we’re going or what time we’ll be home,” Jody said.
“What are we going to do with that mannequin?” Mitzi moved from the kitchen chair to the middle of Jody’s couch-bed. “Whoa!” She held up a hand. “We’re freaking out about moving and we’re forgetting the big picture here. Paula is going to be a single mother and she needs our support.”
Paula went to sit on the edge of the bed. “Thank you. I’m okay now that I’ve told y’all.”
“No, you’re not.” Jody sat on the floor beside the bed. “I won’t even know for a few more days, and I’m still totally freaking out about being a single mother. So fess up, Paula. We’re here for you.”
“Okay.” Paula held out her trembling hands. “I go to bed wondering if I’ll be a good mother. Look at our moms, Jody. Are we going to be like them? Demanding, judgmental? It scares the crap out of me. Then I wake up worried that my child will feel cheated since she won’t have a father. So, yes, I’m freaking out, but knowing y’all are here for me helps.”
“Have you told your mama?” Jody asked.
“Not yet. I tried to tell Selena when I went down to see her the last time, but I just couldn’t do it. You’re the first ones I’ve told,” Paula admitted. “You want to break it to Mama for me?”
“Hell, no!” Jody shook her head emphatically. “If I happen to be pregnant, I’m going to tell my mama I found the baby in a cabbage patch.”
Paula glanced over toward Mitzi and raised an eyebrow.
Mitzi threw a hand over her forehead in a dramatic gesture. “I love you, girl, but not that much. Gladys will breathe fire, and I’m real fond of my eyelashes and hair.”
Chapter Seven
Never again,” Jody said as she threw back the covers and sat up on the sofa bed.
“‘Never again,’ what?” Mitzi yawned.
“Never again will I fall in love.” She had had a sleepless night, worrying about her own pregnancy possibility. Like Paula, she was terrified of being a bad mother. And if the poor baby only had her, and not a decent father to balance things out, then it would be twice as bad.
“Don’t say that. You’re a good person. You deserve to be happy.” Paula got bacon and eggs from the refrigerator and began cracking the eggs into a bowl.
“So do you,” Mitzi said. “So do all of us.”
“Maybe, but trust is tough after this kind of thing.” Jody kicked herself for not seeing the signs. Paula hadn’t had a beer in months, and she loved beer. She did drink a little sweet tea, but she didn’t go around with a glass in her hands from midmorning until suppertime. If Jody hadn’t been so wrapped up in her own problems with Lyle, she would have recognized all the signs. “Let’s make a decision about moving and then go forward without looking back.”
“You always say that,” Mitzi said. “Are we ever able to not look back?”
“I’m going to give it my best shot.” Paula set the eggs aside and started frying bacon.
“Me, too,” Jody said. “That’s not saying I’ll always get the job done, but when I fall on my face, I have these two amazing friends who’ll help me get back up.”
“Yes, we will.” Mitzi popped open a tube of biscuits and arranged them in a pan.