Blue Dahlia (In the Garden 1)

While she agreed that exercise was good for expectant mothers, Stella wasn't willing to have Hayley work all day and then walk close to half a mile home at this stage of her pregnancy. Hayley groused, but every evening Stella herded her to the car and drove her home. "I like walking. "

"And after we get home and you have something to eat, you can take a nice walk around the gardens. But you're not wal

king all that way, and through the woods alone, on my watch, kid. "

"Are you going to be pestering me like this for the next four weeks?"

"I absolutely am. "

"You know Mrs. Tyler? The lady who bought all those annuals we helped her with?"

"Mmm-hmm. "

"She said how she thought we were sisters because you give me grief like she does her baby sister. At the time, I thought that was nice. Now, it's irritating. "

"That's a shame. "

"I'm taking care of myself. "

"Yes, and so am I. "

Hayley sighed. "If it's not you giving me the hairy eye, it's Roz. Next thing, people'll start thinking she's my mama. "

Stella glanced down to see Hayley slip her feet out of her shoes. "Feet hurt?"

"They're all right. "

"I've got this wonderful foot gel. Why don't you use it when we get home, and put your feet up for a few minutes?"

"I can't hardly reach them anymore. I feel. . . "

"Fat and clumsy and sluggish," Stella finished.

"And stupid and bitchy. " She pushed back her damp bangs, thought about whacking them off. Thought about whacking all her hair off. "And hot and nasty. "

When Stella reached over, bumped up the air-conditioning, Hayley's eyes began to sting with remorse and misery. "You're being so sweet to me - everyone is - and I don't even appreciate it. And Ijust feel like I've been pregnant my whole life and I'm going to stay pregnant forever. "

"I can promise you won't. "

"And I. . . Stella, when they showed that video at birthing class and we watched that woman go through it? I don't see how I can do that. I just don't think I can. "

"I'll be there with you. You'll be just fine, Hayley. I'm not going to tell you it won't be hard, but it's going to be exciting, too. Thrilling. "

She turned into the drive. And there were her boys, racing around the yard with the dog and Harper in what seemed to be a very informal game of Wiffle ball.

"And so worth it," she told her. "The minute you hold your baby in your arms, you'll know. "

"I just can't imagine being a mama. Before, I could, but now that it's getting closer, I just can't. "

"Of course you can't. Nobody can really imagine a miracle. You're allowed to be nervous. You're supposed to be. "

"Then I'm doing a good job. "

When she parked, the boys ran over. "Mom, Mom! We're playing Wiffle Olympics, and I hit the ball a million times. "

"A million?" She widened her eyes at Luke as she climbed out. "That must be a record. "

"Come on and play, Mom. " Gavin grabbed her hand as Parker leaped up to paw at her legs. "Please!"