“Noted.” He shifted directions. “You need more stuff.”
“I do. I’ll have to call and make arrangements to have some things shipped. I won’t be shutting down my flat in London until the project is completely finished, and I’ll need to fly back in a month to check on the status of things. I can finish packing things then. But I should be able to have a lot of my clothes and things sent from Denver. And I can pick up some things in the meantime to get me through.” She could do with a new capsule wardrobe.
“We can see about a car tomorrow. Meanwhile, how do you feel about a joint bubble bath? You’ve been tied up in knots for the last few days. We can see what we can do to relieve some of that tension.” He ran a finger along her collarbone.
Tess shuddered. “You just keep having the best ideas.”
He brushed a soft kiss over her lips. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me too,” she sighed.
“I’m gonna go run the bath.”
Alone, Tess set to unpacking what little she’d brought, neatly hanging things in the closet, slipping them in drawers. As she organized her toiletries on the bathroom counter, she began to hum. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been this happy and buoyant. Everything was coming up roses.
Her stomach gave a hard, sickening twist. The tube of moisturizer fell from her fingers as she bolted toward the toilet. She barely made it to her knees before she vomited up her dinner.
Chapter 8
“Well hey there, sugar. What are you in for today?”
Tess shifted on the exam table, wishing she’d taken the visitor’s chair instead as she looked at Piper’s cheerful face. “I’ve been having recurrent nausea. I thought it was food poisoning or a stomach bug, or just a really awful case of jet lag, but it’s gone on too long for that. It started on the flight here—I came from London early last week—and every time I think I’ve shaken it, it comes back. Last night I couldn’t even keep down my dinner.” A fact she’d been strangely compelled to hide from Mitch. Maybe because once she’d thrown up, she felt fine. Brushed teeth, mouthwash, and back to the plan—which had been well worth not derailing. Still, she’d been nauseous again this morning, so she couldn’t keep blaming it on benign causes. Something wasn’t right.
Piper went brows up. “When that happened to me it turned out to be Parker.”
The mere idea of it made Tess’s stomach lurch again. She forced a smile. “Not a possibility.” Not with birth control pills and condoms.
Piper waved a hand. “Sorry, it’s the curse of new motherhood. Babies on the brain. Let me take your vitals and get some basic medical history.”
Tess nodded, wondering if it had been such a good idea to come to Miranda’s clinic about this, especially in the wake of the family’s obvious reservations about her moving in with Mitch. God, what would they say if they knew the truth? Hey Grammy! Thanks for helping me shack up with my vacation fling lover so we don’t have to sneak around under everybody’s noses!
She winced.
“I know, that blood pressure cuff is tight, but it’ll be done in just a few minutes,” Piper assured her.
“It’s fine.”
“Here, let’s check that temperature.”
Yeah, in a town the size of Wishful, there weren’t that many options. So she’d deal with Miranda. Tess didn’t know what to expect of the woman. She’d survived something horrific, and she was, as all the Campbells appeared to be, devoted to the family. Beyond that, Tess was at a loss. She’d been too focused on her presentation, on the dinner, to do more than the very basics of getting to know the other woman.
“Date of last menstrual cycle?”
Tess automatically reached for her planner and flipped back, frowning when she didn’t find the relevant notation. But that was just after her trip to Scotland. She’d been off her game, upset about the end of things with Mitch, so she hadn’t been as diligent about recording as she normally would.
“Beginning of March. I was doing a lot of traveling, so I can’t remember the exact date. But I expect to be starting any day now.”
Piper finished making notes in the computer. “All right. You just sit tight. Dr. Campbell will be in to see you shortly.”
“Thank you.”
As soon as the door closed, Tess put the planner back in her purse and let herself lean back, struggling to get comfortable on the exam table. These things never had any kind of back support. She must’ve dozed off because the sound of the door opening had her jerking upright again.
“Well hey there, Tess. I didn’t expect to see you this afternoon.” Miranda sat down on the stool, setting an iPad on the counter.
Tess expected her to get right to business, but that was not, she was coming to understand, how things were done here.
“So you’re moving in with my brother.” It wasn’t a question, and Tess didn’t know what the proper response was, so she said nothing. “Kind of sudden and random, being thrust into a relative stranger’s house, even if they are sort of family.”