Every Way (Brush of Love 4)

That had a tendency to get to her. People loved those two paintings. They had recently made it back to the gallery after a three-month stint in Los Angeles, so maybe having them back crowded her art gallery. I know people got curious about John sometimes, about the person he was and where he was at in his life when he’d painted those two pictures. Those days could be really draining to Hailey, having to talk about him and rehash his life.

But there was something in the way she was sitting that had me worried. She was cradling her stomach more than normal. Possessively, in fact, like something was wrong.

“How have your appointments been going?” I asked. “Is something wrong with the baby?”

“What? No,” she said. “What would make you think that?”

“You’re holding your stomach a little tight.”

She relinquished her grasp on her stomach immediately as she sighed.

“The baby’s fine. I’m just tired, Bryan.”

“Are you sure? Because if something’s going on, you need to tell me. We need to get some sort of help before—”

“Bryan, I would never keep something about our child away from you,” she said. “I know I’m not good at talking about myself, but I’m not heartless.”

“I never assumed you were. I’m just worried about you.”

“Well, don’t be. It was a long day, and they’re only going to get longer the heavier I get,” she said.

“Well, there’s something else on your mind. Is it your mother?” I asked.

“I haven’t even been thinking about my parents, to be honest.”

I knew she was still holding something back. The look in Hailey’s eye wasn’t only because she was tired. But I knew if I pressed more, she would get upset. Even though Hailey had a history of holding things back, I knew she would also talk whenever things came to a head. It wasn’t ideal, but at least she would talk when she was ready. I was worried that pressing her further would cause more trouble, and I wanted to have a relaxing evening with her.

“Are you hungry?” I asked.

“Not really,” she said.

Another signal that something had gone drastically wrong today.

“Well, I can put it in the fridge, and you can eat it whenever you do get hungry,” I said.

“Sounds good.”

“Less than two months and we’ll have our bundle of joy in our arms.”

Hailey turned her face toward mine, and I could see the shadow of a smile playing on her lips.

“I think she’s going to have your eyes,” I said.

“And I think he’s going to have your height,” she said.

“I still think it’s a girl.”

“It feels so wrong to call it a girl. I really think it’s a boy. And I’m Mom. This child’s blood is coursing through my veins. That’s a thing, you know.”

“What’s a thing?” I asked.

“Mothers knowing the gender of their child before an ultrasound tells them. Most mothers have an instinct, and it’s usually right.”

“Where did you read such crap?” I asked, grinning.

“The internet,” she said.

Hailey hunkered down into my body as we leaned back on the couch. She pressed the button that shot out the bottom of the couch, so our legs were propped up. We leaned back into the reclining couch as I held her close to me, her hand on my stomach and her head on my chest. I pressed kisses to the top of her head as I ran my fingers through her hair, coaxing her body into a relaxing state before I sighed deeply.