Time After Time (Sweetbriar Cove #14) - Melody Grace Page 0,31
waiting for the radiant glow of pregnancy to arrive. Any idea when it’ll be coming?”
“Oh no,” Stella sympathized, patting her shoulder. “I’m sorry, this stage is the worst. Well, until you get swollen ankles, and your bladder feels like the size of a pea,” she added.
“So, what you’re saying is, I’ve still got plenty to look forward to?” Paige looked exhausted, with dark circles under her eyes, and her blonde hair hanging in limp strands. “I just had a tearful meltdown in line at the grocery store. I full-on wept in the middle of the paper goods aisle. I won’t be able to show my face there again.”
“Don’t worry, I did that the other week, and I was just PMS-ing.” Summer emerged from the kitchen again, this time with a mug of something steamy. “Peppermint tea,” she explained, handing it to Paige. “It’ll help settle your stomach. At least, Poppy swore by it when she was having morning sickness.”
“Thanks.” Paige took a sip, and gave a weary sigh. “It’s supposed to be over by now, but I guess this little peanut has decided to be contrary.”
“What are you, twenty weeks?” Stella asked. “The peanut’s more of a banana. I had a whole chart of sizes pinned up beside the refrigerator,” she said, remembering. “Although, it made me feel really weird about eating fruit.”
Paige managed a weak smile, as the bakery door swung open again. Declan stepped in. “They said I’d find you here,” he said, moving over to greet Paige with a sympathetic hug. “Bad day, baby?”
She nodded, looking miserable. “The worst.”
Declan gave her a kiss on the forehead, and rubbed her back. “How about we get you home? I’ll give you a foot massage, and make you some brunch.”
“Homemade French fries?” Paige looked a tiny bit happier.
“Whatever you want.” Declan helped Paige to her feet. “Thanks, ladies,” he said, steering her to the door.
“Feel better!”
Stella watched them go, feeling a little wistful. What would it have been like, having a partner like that by her side for Matty? Holding her hand in the doctor’s appointments, and bringing her peppermint tea. She’d had to waddle home alone every night, and try to rub her own feet. And as for homemade snacks… What a dream. She’d gotten by on neighbor casseroles, and microwavable soup.
But Jenny must have misread her expression, because after they finished up the scone-tasting, and were strolling back towards town, she gave Stella a knowing look. “Do you ever think about having another one?” she asked.
“Another scone?” Stella asked. “Maybe in an hour.”
Jenny laughed. “Another baby!”
“Oh God, no.” Stella exclaimed automatically. “I’m way too old for that.”
“You’re not old.” Jenny snorted. “You’ve got plenty of time… If you wanted it.”
Stella gave a shrug. “I don’t think so. Why, are you thinking of giving Hannah a baby cousin?”
Jenny gave a small smile. “Maybe. We’ve talked about it. I wasn’t really around when Hannah was small,” she added. Jenny had only moved back to the Cape to raise Hannah after her sister had tragically passed away. “And they’re so cute at that age.”
“True,” Stella agreed, remembering Matty as a chunky little toddler. “Anyway, for me to have another baby, I’d have to actually, you know, touch a man in this lifetime.”
“I don’t know,” Jenny grinned. “Science has come a long way. I think that part’s optional now. And you might have a willing volunteer…” she added, her eyes sparkling.
Stella looked at her blankly.
“Aidan!” Jenny reminded her.
“What? No.” Stella blurted, feeling flustered. “A steamy make-out is one thing, but I don’t think a guy like that is looking to become a parent,” she said, thinking of his immaculate house… and all the ways that a sticky, messy kid would ruin his perfectly-styled couches. “Which is yet another reason why it’s not a good idea for me to get involved with him,” she added. “As if I didn’t already have a dozen reasons.”
Jenny was silent for a moment as they strolled. “But do you?” she finally asked. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about good boundaries, and keeping things stable for Matty’s sake. I did the same with Hannah when she was younger. But… Matty’s not a kid anymore,” she pointed out. “He’s fourteen now. I think he could handle it if you met some guy for a drink one evening, or brought a date to the Halloween ball.”
“True,” Stella admitted reluctantly. “A drink… But then, where would that lead?” She gave an awkward shrug. “It’s just easier this way.”