a baby has to be the last thing on your mind.”
She crossed to the bed and quickly sorted through the clothes Mackenzie had ordered. She pulled out all the long-sleeved T-shirts, the sweatshirts and two sweaters and put them in a pile, then held up two blouses.
“These are hideous prints. What were you thinking?”
“I was feeling desperate and they were on sale.”
“They go back. Find something you at least sort of like.” She pointed to the pile. “Try those on, and if the shoulders and sleeves fit, keep them.”
She crossed to the closet. It didn’t take long to pull out every top that was fitted.
“These go into storage, making room for the maternity stuff.” She pointed at the clear bins she’d brought with her. “You’ll have to go through your bras and panties, as well. For a while you can make do with bikini underwear but eventually we all give in to the granny panties. Don’t worry. We’ll buy those when we go shopping. Are you still fitting in your bras?”
Mackenzie nodded. “I have a bunch of stretchy sports bras that will fit for a long time.” She glanced at her chest. “I hate my boobs getting bigger. It’s weird.”
“It is so going to get worse.”
Mackenzie sighed. “I couldn’t get through this without you. I mean that. I’m totally lost, which isn’t like me at all.”
“I’m here for you and so is Four. Now let’s go downstairs and have some of the muffins I brought over.”
“I love your muffins. We’re lucky it’s Saturday and Bruno isn’t here, otherwise he would have eaten them all. Four brought by cookies the other day and it turns out the man has a thing for homemade baked goods.”
They went downstairs. Mackenzie knew she would have to deal with the clothes later, but for now she was grateful to hang out with her friend.
She poured them each a cup of coffee.
“Decaf,” she said. “I don’t have any real coffee here. Sorry.”
“Decaf is fine.” Stephanie pushed the plate of blueberry muffins across the table. “You have to save me from these. I already ate two this morning. Bruno isn’t the only one with a fondness for homemade baked goods. The difference is he’s a guy so it’s harder for him to gain weight.”
“He’s a fairly healthy eater. He’s always insisting we have salads for lunch. I want to say that’s all about the baby, but I think some of it is him.”
Stephanie raised her eyebrows. “You’re having lunch together. Do tell.”
“It’s nothing.” Mackenzie waved away the comment. “We’re sharing very close quarters while the offices are being remodeled, so we eat lunch together.”
“I’m not convinced. He’s a good-looking guy, you’re newly single. Are you saying there’s not sparkage?”
“I’ve never heard you say sparkage before. I’m a little afraid.”
“One of us should have a love life.”
“Not me.” Mackenzie thought about seeing Rhys having lunch with that woman. He’d been so quick to move on, but she wasn’t the least bit ready. “It’s too soon.”
“Are you missing my brother?”
“Not exactly. I miss the us we could have been.”
“Were you ever that us?”
She wanted to say of course they had been, but if she was honest, she knew the truth. “No, not even on our best day.”
“Do you want that?”
“Do you?”
Stephanie reached for a muffin. “Eventually. I’d like to have a normal adult relationship with a man who isn’t my ex-husband.”
“You could meet someone online.”
“Or I couldn’t.” She tore off a piece of the muffin and ate it. “What about you? How long do you think you’re going to wait to find someone?”
“I have no idea. As you mentioned earlier, there’s a lot going on. The last thing I need is a guy.”
“What about a baby?”
“So we’re circling back to that?”
“We don’t have to.” Stephanie smiled. “It’s okay not to feel bonded to your kid. Right now it’s a medical condition, not a person. You’re doing all the right things. You’re eating right, you’re taking your vitamins, spitting after you drink wine. You have time to get used to the idea of being a mom.”
“I don’t know how to do that,” she admitted. “Be a mom. I never had one.”
“Love them with all your heart and don’t let them drown in the tub. Four and I will be here for you. You know that.”
“I do. Even with all the drama, you’ve been here. You’re a good friend.”
“If we ignore my initial screwup.”
Mackenzie smiled. “I have no recollection of that event. So enough about me and my issues. What’s new