Becca's Baby

“You wouldn’t get that impression talking to Will last night.”

“I know,” Becca said. “I was only awake long enough to have some dinner, but it was enough time for him to drive me crazy.”

Randi sat down in her chair, propping a white-sneakered foot on her desk. “It’s kind of sweet, how much he cares.”

Becca had thought so, too, until it had dawned on her that his concern was for the baby. And because it was his responsibility as her husband, as the father of her child, to take care of her. It had nothing to do with love.

Will wasn’t sure he felt that for Becca. He’d said so. The knowledge was always there, in the back of her mind—her heart—haunting her.

Not that she expected Randi to understand that. The thirty-year-old had never had a truly serious relationship in her life.

“I need some help,” she told Randi now, pulling out a notebook from her satchel.

Looking at the notebook—a Becca trademark— Randi grinned. “I figured with the semester ending and summer vacation looming, you’d be hitting me up,” she joked. “Which committee do you have me pegged for?”

Becca smiled. She loved her family, her life in Shelter Valley. Everyone was always so willing to help out.

“I’m setting up a series of programs for Save the Youth,” she said, thumbing through the pages of ideas and possible directors until she got to Randi’s page.

“You got the funding?” Randi asked, excited.

“Mayor Smith came up with enough to get us started,” she said. “And I’m expecting to hear about hard funding by the end of the week. Once that’s in place we won’t have to go through this every year.”

“You are amazing, woman!” Randi grinned.

Becca didn’t know about that. She just knew she had to keep going. “I’d like to set up some sort of athletic program,” she continued.

“What kind of program? Intramural? Competitive? Or just classes? And what sports?”

“I was planning to leave that up to you.”

Randi sat back with a thump. “Oh.”

“I’d like you to direct the program, if you would.”

“Direct it? We’re talking a huge time commitment here.”

“You’ll have a budget.” Becca named the figure. She really wanted Randi to do this, not just because she was perfect for the program and Becca knew she could rely on her completely, but because she thought Randi would enjoy the job.

Being single, Randi always helped Becca during the summer months, volunteering on some project or other. Finally Becca could give her something that she’d really like doing.

“Can I lasso some of my students who are staying in town for the summer to help out?”

“Of course. It’s your program.”

“Okay,” Randi said, and then in all seriousness, “on one condition.”

Becca froze in the process of putting her notebook away. “What?” she asked. Randi had never put qualifications on her help before.

“That you let all of us around you do the work on this thing, at least for the summer.” Randi paused, as though looking for Becca’s reaction.

Becca remained silent. How could she tell her well-meaning sister-in-law that she’d just made her feel like a horse put out to pasture?

“Promise me you’ll slow down a little, Becca.”

“I’m planning to get more rest,” she said, compromising. “I’m scheduling a nap each day.”

“Scheduling one?” Randi snorted. “Why do you do this to yourself, Becca? Why can’t you just take some time off?”