I laughed. “You are truly shameless, you know that don’t you?”
“Absolutely,” she agreed easily. “Are you secretly seeing each other, or was this a one and done type of thing?”
“More like a three or four and done, but yes, emphasis on the done part.” I told her about our conversation in the bar the morning after, and how angry he’d been. “I doubt this news is going to be welcome.”
“He might surprise you, but even if he doesn’t, he does have a right to know Margot.”
“I know, but I don’t want to talk about it, or deal with any of that right now.” I would tell him when I was ready to share the news and not a moment sooner.
“Okay.” Carlotta held up both hands with her palms facing me. “No more talk about pregnancy, I pinky promise. Let’s talk about the night the baby was conceived, because I’m sure that’s a far more interesting conversation.” She giggled gleefully, and as much as I wanted to tell her to back off, I couldn’t.
“You can’t tell anyone Carlotta. Not even Chase.”
She motioned zipping and locking her lips. “Your secret is safe with me, at least until it’s no longer a secret, at which time I reserve the right to tell Chase everything.”
“Fine,” I groaned. “It all started with a call from Michael.”
“Your ex?”
I nodded. “Yep. Called to tell me that he and Adam adopted twin girls.”
“He didn’t!” Her outrage made me feel better.
“Right? He did, and that’s not all,” I sucked in a deep breath and prepared to tell her the part I hadn’t told anyone, not even Grady. “He asked me to be their godmother. Can you believe that?”
“What a jerk! I know you say you guys are friends, but that is beyond cruel Margot.”
I nodded. It had been my thought exactly. “It’s like he thinks being a godmother is the perfect consolation prize for not having any kids of my own. Anyway, it was my birthday and I was upset, let my guard down and lost my keys.”
“And lost your clothes along with them?”
“No. Grady was sweet and let me stay in his guest room. He said something nice and I basically threw myself at him, which was bad enough, but now this.”
“Well he didn’t push you away, so I’m guessing he was a willing participant. What’s the problem?”
“He is who he is, and I am who I am. We don’t mix well.”
“Apparently nudity is the key ingredient to you two getting along. Sorry, but it’s true,” she said when I glared at her.
That wasn’t a strong foundation for any relationship, not even a co-parenting one. It would be too contentious, and I didn’t want to raise a child like that. “I’m not going to tell him,” I said, the worlds edged with finality.
“That is a horrible idea Margot, but if you need anything I’m here.” She stood and smoothed the fabric of the same purple dress she’d been wearing earlier. “Now you better think of something to tell Chase, because he’s going out of his mind with worry out there and he’ll be barging in here soon.”
I nodded and motioned for her to go get him. I could deal with the mayor right now.
The bartender? He would have to wait.
Chapter 10
Grady
~ July
“I can’t believe she’s pregnant,” one of my older bar patrons said aloud enough for the lunch crowd to hear. “And at her age? I mean, really!”
I shook my head at the gossip, because it ran rampant in this small town, traded back and forth like currency. “Here’s your salad and your burger, ladies. Enjoy your lunch.”
“Thank you, handsome.” The two older women smiled at me and I nodded at them and walked back behind the bar.
“Seriously, who gets pregnant at that age?” One younger woman at the bar asked another.
“It’s gross,” the other replied. “She should have grown children by now, not painting a nursery. Seriously it’s disgusting.” She even gave a shiver as if her point wasn’t clear and rude enough.
I stood in front of them and waited until the conversation was over, or at least paused, before I interrupted. “Lunch or drinks, ladies?”
Both women gasped at having been caught gossiping, even though it wasn’t frowned upon to gossip about your fellow citizens in Carson Creek. Two sets of reddened cheeks turned to me, blushing furiously as they looked at each other and then to me.
“Both, I think. Right Jess?”
Jess nodded. “Yeah, how about a Jack & Coke for me, and the fried chicken sandwich special?”
“Got it. And you?”
“Spiked lemonade and steak salad thanks. And hey, just so you know, we weren’t being mean or anything, just talking about the news of the day. Ya know?”
I shrugged as if it didn’t matter to me, but I felt angry on behalf of whomever this older pregnant woman was. “Gross isn’t being mean? I’m learning more about this town every day,” I told them. “I’ll be back soon with your drinks.”