Cassie didn’t sleep well. Chamomile tea helped—she got some rest, but not a lot. Up early Sunday morning, she put on black spandex running shorts with a white T-shirt and went for a walk on the beach. A group of her college friends was coming to town later that morning for brunch at a five-star restaurant set up on stilts overlooking the ocean. Any of them that could make it met once a month, taking turns driving to each other’s towns—all within an hour or so from LA.
She’d announced her pregnancy at the last one, and everyone had been incredibly supportive. Of the twelve of them, she numbered five unmarried. Two were divorced. One had been living with her lover for almost a decade. The other was completely career driven and just not interested in marriage. They’d all made it to the May brunch, and every single one of the eleven had had tears in her eyes as they’d hugged her.
That morning, for the first time ever, Cassie didn’t want to go to the brunch. Until she knew more, she just couldn’t fathom the idea of eleven friends hovering over her, needing to help, with her not knowing how to let them. And until there was known reason to worry, she wasn’t going to make the situation bigger than it might be.
Okay, she wasn’t telling anyone besides Wood, because then it would feel more real. It might just be one of those things...a shadow on a film that indicated no more than that.
She had to keep telling herself that. Focusing on the chance that the coming test might show nothing wrong with her baby was her only way to calm the panic. To survive the waiting. Inaction didn’t sit well with her. If the results didn’t come back good, there’d be plenty of time for worrying.
The sand cool beneath her feet, she walked as far north as she could, ending at a rocky inlet that rose into cliff side. Most of Marie Cove was set several hundred feet above sea level, making it less attractive for tourists wanting beachside vacations. She had her portion of the mile-long beach to herself and, down by the water, walked in ankle-deep, standing there as the waves moved in, splashing her up to her calves, and then rolled back out again.
Her father had once told her that the waves were like life. They might come in and bring stuff—good or bad—and then they went away again. Nothing was always, he’d said. Not the good, but not the bad, either.
Looking down, she couldn’t see what that particular wave had just brought in. The rising sun was still low on the horizon, but glinting off the water. What she did know was that this moment in her life would pass. She’d handle what was to come, and there would be good waves ahead.
Didn’t make the prospect of brunch with eleven friends who knew her well any easier to manage. Not when she felt so incredibly alone, small and frightened. The only thing stopping her from canceling was the fact that everyone was driving to Marie Cove, since it was her turn to host.
When her phone vibrated against her butt, signifying a new text message, Cassie pulled it from the pocket of her shorts, hoping her friends were canceling. One at a time? All eleven of them?
More likely one of them couldn’t make it...
Wood.
She’d waited the rest of the afternoon and evening on Saturday, expecting a return message from him. When he’d failed to respond, she’d been unreasonably disappointed. Not because she feared he’d come anyway—she’d somehow known he wouldn’t—but because he hadn’t tried to change her mind.
Still standing up to her ankles in water, she touched the text icon and then his name.
I told Elaina about our situation. May I give her your number so she can call you?
Not necessary, she responded instantly.
Just want you to know you aren’t in this alone. My biology is partly responsible, and as one human being to another, I care.
Tears came to her eyes at his response. Such a stupid, uncalled-for thing. Tears.
If you won’t take her call, will you at least let me take you on Wednesday?
With a couple of steps, she was out of the water, sand caking around her feet, typing on her phone with shaking fingers. She didn’t stop to think. Just typed.
Yes. Thank you.
Phone in hand, she walked quickly back down the beach and then up to her yard, heading straight for the shower. She had a brunch to get to.
And suddenly she wasn’t dreading it as much anymore.
* * *
Sitting at the kitchen table alone Monday night, Wood cut into the chicken thigh he’d grilled, took a bite, enjoyed it, cut the next one and handed it down to Retro, who took it gently and chewed before she swallowed. Had she wolfed it down, she wouldn’t get any more. Manners were important.
Elaina had called to say she wouldn’t be home until late. That was happening more and more. Wood was pretty sure she was seeing someone. When he’d asked her about it, she’d told him there was no one important to her. He didn’t believe her. And he also hurt for her.
Would she ever believe that loving another man didn’t mean she’d loved Peter less?
After dinner he took Retro for a run and then met a couple of guys from work, both job supervisors, for a beer at an upscale club they liked to frequent. Socializing was good. It wasn’t long before they’d been joined by four beautiful women, all of whom were entertaining and looking for fun. But, though he enjoyed the occasional flirtation, he wasn’t in the mood. And wasn’t into the loud music, either.
Leaving his second beer unfinished, he headed out, restless, yet not ready to get in his truck and go home. Feeling unsettled didn’t sit well with him. He was the fix-it guy, not the one with something that needed fixing.
Marie Cove’s Main Street was a bustling, well-lit four-lane road filled on both sides with restaurants, clubs and shops that could rival anything in Beverly Hills. He walked among people, all of whom had probable destinations, not even sure where he was headed.