And now, driving home from work at the end of a long day, with no communication from Cole, it appeared he’d taken her words to heart. Swallowing the inexplicable lump in her throat, she used voice commands to call her sister.
Harper answered on the first ring. “It’s about time.”
“Sorry. Yesterday was pretty traumatic. I even threw up in the parking lot.”
“Uh-huh.” Her tone said she wasn’t buying it. “And who was that man?”
“Man? What man?”
“Don’t play games with me, sister. I heard a man’s voice right before you hung up on me.”
She scrambled for something reasonable to say.
“Oh, him! He’s just a friend. Actually, he’s a client, and I really can’t talk about him.”
“Since when do you have male clients at the women’s home?”
“Anyone at Hayward Home can make an appointment to talk to me,” she said truthfully, “even the employees.”
“Aww, nuts! I thought it might’ve been Cole Miller.” Harper made a noise…something between a sigh and a moan. “I went back and watched the show where they announced him as the next millionaire bachelor. His eyes are sooooo dreamy.”
“Yes, they are.” You ought to see them close up!
“And I know he’s probably a jerk in real life, but he seems so nice on TV. Did you know their company gives millions and millions to help kids with disabilities?”
“I’m sure he’s a nice guy.”
“You probably didn’t even go to the coffee shop this morning,” Harper accused.
“I’ll have you know I went at my usual time and he wasn’t there.”
“Fooey! I really had my hopes up.” Harper’s sigh blasted her ear. “Tell me how you’re feeling today?”
“Still nauseated, but at least I haven’t thrown up, like yesterday. I ran by the grocery store on the way to work and picked up some saltines. Nibbling on them seems to do the trick.”
“When are you going to tell Mom and Dad? I bet it’ll make you feel better. Mom’s going to be over-the-moon excited.”
“I’m going to wait until I’m past the time when I’m likely to miscarry. I don’t want to get her hopes up.”
“How long is that? I’m bursting to tell somebody I’m going to be an aunt!”
“I wish I were happier about it.” Brooke blinked her watery eyes to focus as she exited the freeway. “All I do is cry at the drop of a hat. I tried to get pregnant for a year. I ought to be ecstatic, but I’m not. Is that awful of me? Do you think I’m going to be a terrible mother?”
“Brooklyn Allegra Ponzio, you’re going to be an amazing mother! Mom and Nonna have been training you for it since the day you were born.”
“You really think so?”
“I know it. You’re just hormonal and under a lot of stress. But everything’s going to be fine. The worst that can happen is you go home to Bellaire and delay getting your license for a couple of years. Even that’s not the end of the world.”
Brooke took a deep breath and exhaled. “Harper, have I ever told you how lucky I am to have you as my sister?”
“Yes, but you can say it again.”
Brooke laughed. “You crack me up!”
“No, really… say it again. I like to hear it.”
“I’d better not. If your head gets any bigger, your neck will probably snap in two.”
Brooke turned into her apartment parking lot, disappointed not to find an unfamiliar Ford pickup among the neighbors’ cars. She ought to be glad he wasn’t there. He was one of the most stubborn men she’d ever met, so she’d done well to persuade him to stay away.
“Hello? Brooke? Are you there?”
“Oh, sorry. I was parking the car and I got distracted.”
“I was inviting you to come visit this weekend,” said Harper.
“There’s no way I have the energy to drive four hours there and back.” Brooke gathered her things and climbed out of the car. “Why don’t you come here?”
“Can’t. I’m on call in the small animal emergency clinic. But at the end of May, I’ll have a few days off before the summer semester starts.”
“Text me the dates, and I’ll put them on the calendar. Maybe I can ask off work.”
“Will do,” said Harper. “Call me if you run into Cole Miller again.”
“Fat chance, but I’ll let you know if it happens.”
Brooke jammed her key into the door knob to start the delicate process of teasing the lock open. After only five tries, the lock released. She turned the knob and shoved, but the door didn’t budge. She tried again, adding her shoulder for more weight. It was then that she noticed the deadbolt lock.
