Faith nodded. “It was all over town. A scary situation. I’m glad you’re okay now, Alana.”
Alana thanked her. “Well Jeremy and Cora are in jail now. But it took that serious situation for Noah to man up and admit he loved me. He had his heart broken in the past and didn’t like the idea of being vulnerable. Adam will eventually come to the same conclusion. I know he has feelings for you. He mentioned you all the time before he actually spoke to you. I did encourage him to talk to you, but it was only because I knew he thought about you so often.”
“I can understand your situation with Noah, Alana. I’m glad you’re happy now,” she answered. “But Adam never broke up with his girlfriend. She died and you just can’t fight that kind of memory. I will be a good mother and I will protect my child from rejection. If he wants to truly be a part of the baby’s life he can, but if I see him wavering back and forth, then he will not hurt our baby like that. I will go to court and fight to the death if I have to. Our child is innocent in all this mess.”
“I agree with you, Faith,” Alana reassured her. “Noah and I would love to be a part of the baby’s life regardless of Adam and his stupidity. Do you know if it is a boy or girl?”
Faith smiled. She couldn’t wait to hear the heartbeat and see her little baby on a screen. “I find out tomorrow afternoon. I can’t wait.”
“Will you call
me and let me know?” Alana said eagerly. “Noah and I want kids eventually, but not yet. This will give me good practice.”
“Of course. Then you can tell Adam for me.” Faith was tempted to ask Adam to go with her, but she didn’t want to hear another reason why he couldn’t get close to her. His constant rejections broke her heart and bruised her ego.
“You should ask him to go with you,” Alana suggested hopefully.
“I doubt he will want to and I am tired of being rejected by him.” Faith had to be honest with Alana. She drank her tea slowly, not knowing what else to say.
Alana got up, looking sad. “I need to get going.”
She handed Faith a paper with her cell phone number. “Call me anytime, Faith. I want us to be friends.”
“That sounds nice, Alana. I have been so busy getting this place off the ground that I haven’t had time to make friends.” Faith meant it. Alana was sweet and always so friendly. It would be nice to have someone she could talk to or have lunch with.
After she left, Faith sat at the table alone. If only Adam had been happy with her news. How different things could have been.
* * * *
Adam joined his brother for dinner at the Garcia restaurant. He hadn’t had time to see Noah much lately. He missed having his brother living in their childhood home, but he understood Noah needed his space with his new wife.
Since his fight with Faith, he had volunteered to work extra shifts, hoping to forget the pain in her eyes. It gutted him and he knew it was all his fault. Her words had been harsh but true. They had pierced his heart like sharp arrows. He accepted the truth and even admitted he cared about Faith. Yet he still held back and he knew he was being a stubborn jerk. Every time he picked up the phone to call her, he chickened out. Now he understood what Noah had gone through with Alana over the past summer. It had been so easy to hand out advice when his heart had not been involved.
“So what’s new with you?” Noah looked at his brother.
“Not much. Hank needed a few days off, so I took his shifts,” Adam answered. “Today is my first day off in seven days.”
Noah whistled softly. “No wonder you look tired. Have you straightened things out with Faith?”
Adam hated hearing her name. He shrugged, not wanting to talk about her. “I haven’t seen her lately. We got in a fight and she told me to leave her alone, so I have.”
Noah shook his head with frustration. He was about to say something when the front door jingled. Adam turned his head and saw Alana walking in with Faith.
Adam was surprised. He didn’t know the two women were even friends. Noah must have seen the shock on his face. “Alana volunteered to go to the doctor appointment with Faith. Holly is too busy and Alana hated the thought of her being alone.”
Adam nodded, ashamed of himself all over again. That should be him. He should man up and go with Faith, not Alana.
The two women walked to the bar where Mrs. Garcia was putting glasses away. Alana spoke to her mom in Spanish and Mrs. Garcia patted Faith’s hand in sympathy. Adam wanted to know what was going on. Was something wrong with the baby or Faith?
“What’s going on?” Adam asked his brother, feeling a sense of panic.
“Women talk.” Noah shrugged. “I don’t get involved.”
Adam scowled. “I should know if something is wrong. Faith said she would keep Alana in the loop for me.”
“I guess nothing is wrong then.” Noah continued to eat his food. Adam kept his eyes on the three women. Faith had a coat on so he couldn’t tell if she was finally gaining weight or not. He ached to see her with a round tummy. It bothered him that he wouldn’t have the right to caress her belly. He wanted to talk to her, but he didn’t know what to say. He was filled with so much confusion and turmoil inside.
Mrs. Garcia handed her a small bag and Faith leaned forward to listen to what she was saying. She was nodding seriously.