“Well, I’m kind of the black sheep of my family.”
She frowned. “Oh, how so?”
“They’ll all passionate, creative types. Music, to be exact. My mom is an opera singer, my dad is a composer, and my brother is the vocalist in a famous heavy metal band.”
“And you don’t like music?”
“Oh, I like it fine. I just don’t really have the same depth of passion for it that they do, ya know?”
“I do, actually. Both my momma, Dixie, who you met, and my daddy were really into art. Like crazy into it. They were outstanding artists, too. I like looking at it fine but couldn’t draw a stick figure to save my life. Still can’t. Yet I tried to fit in. Lots of art lessons, but it was no use. I just had no skill for drawing or painting.”
“A lot like the multiple years of music and singing lessons I attempted, all of which turned out to be — ”
“Futile torture,” Diane said, seeing where I was going.
“Exactly.”
We couldn’t help but laugh over our shared foolishness as well as our status as the weirdos in our family. I felt like we had bonded, and Diane might just, finally, approve of me.
Belly full of quite good leftovers — Diane’s skills clearly laying in the culinary —department, I got back into bed holding Shae the rest of the night. Basking in her gentle warmth, I wanted nothing more than to be able to experience it for the rest of my life.
Before long, I was drifting to sleep, the weight of Diane’s disapproval finally lifted from my mind. I realized that she was really just concerned for her daughter, having been mislead by Ellis, who could be pretty damn slick. She wasn’t really so bad once you got to know her.
****
The next day, packing went pretty quickly. We had packed pretty light on purpose, figuring we wouldn’t need much for a long weekend. Diane and Chester were waiting for us downstairs. I shook hands with Chester and got a surprisingly warm hug from Diane. Then it was Shae’s turn to say her goodbyes.
“Be good,” Chester said, hugging her tight.
“Always.”
“Goodbye, my sweet child. You have a real winner here, don’t let him go.”
“What did you do to my mom?” Shae asked as we walked to the car.
“We talked, is all. Diane even said she hadn’t really gotten to know me. We rectified that last night. Though I do remember telling you as such. You just had to give me time. You also owe me.”
“What, we never set a bet!” Shae protested.
We spent the rest of the drive playfully quibbling over her debt and how she could best repay it, settling on some very generous terms to which she had no strong objections.
Chapter Fifteen
Shae
It was a blissful sort of haze. For a couple days after we got back to Vegas, I just couldn’t stop smiling. I was so in love with Chris and felt he was on the same page. Feelings we didn’t hesitate to show each other every chance we got. I had never fucked so much, even as a newlywed. Even though neither of us brought it up directly.
“Well, what’s this?” Camilla asked as I got off the elevator at Sure Thing Graphics.
“Lunch, for everyone,” I said, holding up a big paper bag.
It was partly true. I had brought enough food for everyone, and it was, indeed, lunchtime, though I’d also had the hidden motive of seeing Chris.
“Are you glowing? Like a motherly go,” Camilla asked, looking me over.
“Keep it down, will ya? I haven’t told Chris yet. Well, not really. I tried to, but I’m pretty sure he thinks I was joking.”
“Oh, must be love then, the glow of love!” she said louder, trying to cover up for her mistake.
I couldn’t really deny it. I was in love.
If only I had realized that Chris was within earshot walking up to the receptionist’s desk. He heard everything Camilla said about love and gave me an assessing look that I couldn’t quite read, but it seemed to me like he was pleased. For some reason, this sent me into a mad panic. I put the lunches on Camilla’s desk and ran off to work.
It was not an easy day at the hospital. Not only did there seem to be bad luck wave going on, all of the victims were brought to our ER. The cases kept me busy, but I still found my mind wandering to Chris.
I really couldn’t figure out why I had freaked out before. I loved Chris and wanted to be with him. Why did I run when I thought he felt the same? I guess I was just afraid of our perfect bubble popping and cold reality setting in. Talking about the future made it too real. Though I couldn’t keep running from it. Literally or figuratively. Not with a very real baby on the way.