How to Keep a Secret

“Over dinner.” She smiled triumphantly. “We talked about decorating the upstairs bedroom.”

“Because you want to turn it into a nursery, even though you’re not pregnant.”

Oops. “Last week we had a long conversation about politics.”

“And the impact it might have on any children we have.”

That was true.

“It’s possible I might be a little overfocused on pregnancy. It’s what happens when you really want something you can’t have. Like being on a diet. If you can’t eat a chocolate brownie, all you think about is eating the chocolate brownie. You dream about brownies. Brownies become your life. You’re a psychologist. You’re supposed to know this!”

Greg breathed out slowly. “Honey, if you could just—”

“Do not tell me to relax, Greg. And don’t call me ‘honey’ in that tone. It drives me batshit crazy.”

“I know, but Jenna you really do need to relax. If something is taking over your mind, then the answer is to focus on other things. The way to forget the brownie is to think about something else.”

“Cupcakes?”

His expression was both amused and exasperated. “One of my clients is opening a new yoga studio in Oak Bluffs. Maybe you should go. You might find it calming.”

“I might find it annoying.” She thought about the girl in the magazine. “It will be full of serene people with perfect figures who are all in control of their lives. I’d have to kill them, and that wouldn’t be calming for anyone.”

Greg retrieved his wine. “Okay, no yoga. Tai chi? Kickboxing? Book group?”

“My mother runs the book group, and given that the last book I searched for was How Not to Kill Your Mother, I don’t think I’d be welcomed as a member.”

“Go to a different book group. Start your own. Do something. Anything to take your mind off babies.”

“You’re saying you don’t want babies?”

“I’m not saying that.” He finished his wine. “I do want babies, but I don’t think all this angst is going to help.”

She remembered the way he’d looked when she’d glanced out of the window. Thoroughly despondent.

She was about to ask him how he felt about the whole thing when her phone rang.

She ignored it.

Of course Greg wanted babies. Didn’t he?

He glanced from her to the phone. “Aren’t you going to answer that?”

“This conversation is more important than my phone.” Her phone stopped ringing but started again a moment later and Greg reached down to pick it up.

“It’s Lauren.”

Jenna st

ared at him stupidly. “What?”

“Your sister.” He thrust the phone at her. “We can wish Ed a happy birthday.”

Why did she have the feeling he was relieved their conversation had been interrupted?

“But isn’t it the middle of the night in London?”

“It was obviously a great party.” He rose to his feet and walked toward the door.