“I’ll drop everything and go with you. Just say when.” Zoe nodded.
“I appreciate that, but I’m not sure what I’m going to do yet. I know he’s the father, but it’s my body. I have a lot to think about.” My smile was wobbly as I looked around at the women who would do anything for me. “I love you ladies so much. I hope you know that.”
They nodded and said it back.
“I’m really tired and need to think. Do you mind if we cut tonight short?”
“Whatever you need, hon. Call us if you need us. You know where we’ll be.” Zoe hugged me, and they all followed suit before leaving.
What did I want to do…I really had no clue.
The next morning, I still didn’t have a clue what I wanted to do. But life went on, and so must I. So, I headed down from my apartment above my massage parlor, Tiffany’s Titillating Touch. My house was located at the middle of Lighthouse Lane, across from the park with our town’s famous gazebo that held concerts all summer long.
I stepped into the plush waiting room decorated in different shades of relaxing blues, and immediately felt at ease. Sounds of the ocean filtered through the sound system, and a waterfall trickled against the far wall. The lights were on, and the waiting room was full. Trixy had already opened up, thank goodness, while Lucy and Maxim were already giving massages. I used to give massages and was a one-person operation. But now I taught sensual massage, and I had wonderful employees who actually gave the other massages.
“Sorry I’m late,” I said to Trixy, my receptionist. “I overslept.” That was so unlike me, but I was exhausted.
Trixy wore her bleached blonde hair in pigtails, and it worked for her. She might be young, but she was smart and a whiz with computers. She looked up at me and raised her brows. “Wow, you look…not normal.”
My lips parted and my stomach turned over. Could people tell I was pregnant already? “How do you mean?”
“Sorry, I just meant your makeup is usually perfect, and so is your hair.” She chewed her bottom lip. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but have you looked in the mirror? One eyebrow is higher than the other, your lipstick is above your lips, and your hair looks like it hasn’t been brushed in days.” Her gaze dropped to my clothes which were admittedly wrinkled and stained with I didn’t want to know what.
“Like I said, I overslept. I was in a hurry.”
“Gotcha.” She popped her gum, still eyeing me curiously.
“What’s the schedule look like for today?” I changed the subject.
“Lucy and Maxim are full, and you had a couples’ massage you were going to teach this morning, but they had to rebook. So, you’re free if you want to go, um, change, or anything.” She shrugged. “Just saying.”
What I wanted to do was go back to bed and sleep for a week. I’d taken several more tests and still kept hoping I was wrong. I wasn’t. I sighed. “I’m going to take the day off. I have some things I need to take care of.”
Trixy nodded then went back to the multiple computer monitors on her desk.
An hour later after a long hot shower, proper hair and makeup, and fresh clothes, I headed outside into the sunshine feeling more like myself than I had during the past two weeks. Glancing a few doors down to McGinny’s Pub, I turned in the opposite direction, then headed across the street to the park.
Mayor Edwards stood talking to Officer Donald Pickles and Fire Chief Wendy Monroe, probably about the Fourth of July party in the park. There would be a parade, food and music in the park, and then fireworks over Freedom Lake.
“Sorry to hear about your grandmother, Ms. Eisenhower.” The mayor’s voice held genuine sympathy in his tone. He nodded his shiny bald head, his apple cheeks looking more red than usual. “She was a good woman.” He ran a hand over his white linen suit that barely stretched over his protruding belly. “My wife, Eleanor, and your grandmother, Eugenia, were good friends. They played Bridge together every week right up until the end.”
“Thank you, Mayor Edwards. My grandmother always spoke highly of your Eleanor. Please give her my best.”
“Will do.” He studied me curiously. “Your grandmother was big on supporting many of Mayflower’s causes and events. Can we expect your continued support?” Since you inherited her fortune? was implied, but the mayor was a nice man and would never say that out loud.
This town might have loved my grandmother, but they were still on the fence when it came to me. It was no secret my ex-husband was in town, threatening to sue me, and my birth parents and sister had been disowned by my grandmother. I smiled wide. “Of course, I will pick up where my grandmother left off, and maybe add a few causes of my own.”
“That’s wonderful to hear, my dear. I was hoping we could count on you. My secretary will be in touch after you’ve had time to sort through your grandmother’s affairs.” He tipped his head to me.
“I can hardly wait,” I mumbled, then waved to Officer Pickles, who blushed, and Fire Chief Monroe, who laughed and waved back.
I turned around to head back across the street toward my house, no longer in the mood for a walk, when I bumped into Matt McGinnis. His hands shot out and he steadied me so I wouldn’t fall.
“Whoa, easy there, lass. I wouldn’t want ye falling and getting hurt.” His gaze ran over me in a non-sexual way as if he were inspecting me for injuries.
He couldn’t possibly know, could he?
I cleared my throat, and he dropped his hands. “Thank you. Guess I’d better watch out where I’m going. What are you doing here?”
“Same as ye I suspect.” He shrugged, then slid his hands into his jeans’ pockets. “Taking a break to stretch my legs. It’s a beautiful day.”
“It sure is. The days are warming up nicely. It’s going to be a good summer. I can feel it.” I was saying anything I could to avoid the awkwardness between us.
He hesitated a moment, and then lowered his deep voice an octave. “How are ye doing, lass?”
“I’m fine.” I gave my standard answer.
“I mean, really? How are ye coping with losing yer grandmother?” I could hear the sincerity in his tone. He wasn’t just asking like most people. He genuinely wanted to know. “I know how much family means to me. I can only imagine the pain ye must feel in losing the woman who raised ye.”
My bottom lip wobbled. Damn hormones. “It hasn’t been easy. She’s been such a big part of this town for so long. Everyone loved her. It didn’t hurt that she had money, of course. Now everyone wants a piece of me. I don’t want to let her down.”
“Ye won’t. Ye don’t owe anyone anything, lass.” Eyes so blue and full of warmth and kindness and a little regret stared back at me. “Not even me. I’m sorry fer the way things ended between us.”
“Ended? They never began, doll.” I winked, sliding into my defense mechanism. Push them away before they could reject me.
“Right.” He stared at me for a long moment. “Friends?”
