He got out of the car and got my suitcase. I stepped out with him.
He managed a smile that I’m sure was to reassure me, but because he still looked out of sorts, it only served to make me more nervous.
“Come on,” he said as he walked up the path to the front door.
He opened the door. “You’re still up,” he said as he stepped aside so I could follow him in. “Mom, this is Petal Riley. Petal this is my mother. Jane Blake.”
My knees were knocking and my hands were shaking. I looked at the frail woman sitting in a recliner. Her eyes sparkled with life and she smiled.
“It’s so lovely to meet you,” I said moving toward her and holding out my hand.
“You too dear.” She looked to my belly and her eyes turned misty. “You have such beautiful red hair. I wonder if the baby will have it.” She took my hand, but didn’t shake. Instead, she simply held it like she wanted me to stay near.
I shrugged. “I…I don’t know.” Using my free hand, I reached into my purse. “I brought this for you.” I handed her the sonogram.
She took it and stared at it lovingly. “It’s beautiful.”
“You’re back—” A woman said from behind me.
I stiffened knowing this had to be Lora.
“Yes,” Cyrus said, tension filling his voice. “Lora this is Petal. Petal this is Lora.”
I psyched myself up to meet the woman he was marrying. I turned and my heart fell. She was gorgeous. Tall. Thin. As she came to stand next to him, I could see that they were a perfect match in size and appearance. Much better than I was.
I mustered a smile. “Hello. It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too.” Her voice didn’t have venom, but there was something that suggested she didn’t think much of me. Then again, I was carrying her fiancé’s child. That had to be hard for her.
“Cyrus, show Petal to her room. Are you hungry dear?” his mother asked.
I shook my head. “I ate already, thank you.”
“Your room is this way,” Cyrus said, leading me around Lora and down a hall. He stopped at a room and turned on the light, putting my case on a trunk sitting at the end of the double bed. “The bathroom is across the hall. It has clean towels.”
“Thank you.” I opened my case and pulled out a bakery box. “I brought cupcakes.” It felt so stupid to say and do, but I didn’t’ feel I couldn’t come visit without bringing something.
He took the box. “I’ll take these to the kitchen. Do you need to rest or can you come sit with her a little bit?”
“I’ll just clean up and come out.”
He nodded. “Thank you for this, Petal. It means a lot to her.”
I smiled even though inside I was weeping that it didn’t mean anything to him. When he left, I went to the restroom and washed my face. I wasn’t wearing any make up and I could see how tired and weary I looked. Next to Lora, I’d look like a washout dishrag. Oh well.
I walked back up the hall, tentatively looking around when I found the living room empty. I heard talking around the corner. Following it, I found Ms. Blake sitting at the table while Cy was in the kitchen. I didn’t see Lora.
“Oh honey, come sit.” Ms. Blake motioned for me to join her. “Cyrus tells me you brought cupcakes? That’s your business? You own a bakery?”
“Yes, ma’am.” I sat down.
“Please call me Jane. I know I look like I’m a hundred years old, but I don’t feel old enough to be a ma’am.”
I bit my lower lip. I was tired and I could feel tears coming on as I felt like I was botching everything.
She reached out and took my hand. “You look tired. With Cy, I never thought I’d sleep again. Sometimes I still don’t.” She was being so nice.
“I have been tired. And emotional. I’m told it will stop soon.”