Not So New in Town (25 page)

Reapplying her devil-red lipstick in the foyer mirror, Wanda arranged her brown curls and gave the mirror a cocky smile. Time to take on Julia and give her something to really think about, like how
not
to lie to your friends and family.

Wanda tapped on the bedroom door before letting herself in. Julia looked up from her laptop, and surprise registered on her face before she masked it.

“Hey, Wanda. What brings you here?” Her voice was pleasant, but the wariness in her eyes gave her away.

Wanda’s gaze roamed the Pepto-Bismol pink room and the cherub mural on the ceiling. Maybe she’d find out who painted it, thinking she’d like one painted in her own bedroom, with a naked David strategically posed over her bed. Settling in the guest chair, she said, “Thought we could have ourselves a little chat.”

“Oh? About what?” Julia’s wariness remained as she closed her laptop and slid it to the side.

“I’ve got a long list, and you have nothing but time. Might as well get comfortable, because I’m not leaving until we’ve settled a few things.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Julia sounded nervous.

Oh, I bet you have a good idea.
Wanda wore a pleasant smile and asked, “You okay with water and liquids here? Wouldn’t want you to get dehydrated or anything.”

Julia picked up her tumbler of water and swallowed a huge gulp. “I’m good. What’s on your mind?”

Wanda crossed her legs and adopted a casual pose. “For starters…Russell. I know everything.” She addressed the fear skating across Julia’s face. “Russell has confessed and is mending his wicked, wicked ways.”

Julia sputtered, “I don’t know what you’ve heard, b-but—”

“I’ve heard it all, sister. The where, the how, the why. When my man confesses, he comes completely clean. In case we’re not on the same page, let me spell it out for you.” Wanda skewered Julia with her fiercest stare. “I know Russell is the father of this baby, and I know you will never,
ever
get your hooks into him again.” Julia squirmed beneath her covers. “Yes, I understand the love muscle’s potency, but Russell’s officially off the market. I’m the only recipient of his powerful love from now on.”

“Wanda,
please
!” Crimson bloomed on Julia’s cheeks.

“Drink some more water, because I’m just getting started.”

Shooting Wanda the bitchy glare-down, Julia crossed her arms in a huff.

“Here’s how this is going to play out: first, Russell will be a part of this baby’s life. No more secrecy. No more lying. Russell wants to know his child and wants to help with support. Russell has rights too. Agreed?” Wanda mirrored Julia’s bitchy glare-down. After several tense moments, she said between clenched teeth, “I’m waiting…”

“All right. Russell can be a part of the baby’s life,” Julia said grudgingly. “We’ll work out every other weekend or whatever.”

“You’re damn right. He’s going to be a big part. Russell will make a great father, and I’m going to be a kick-ass stepmother.” Wanda rubbed her hands together in glee, loving the thought of helping with Julia and Russell’s kid.

Julia rolled her eyes, groaning. “Oh Lord. Are you done torturing me yet?”

“Not even close. Second, you are going to sit down with Parker
this
afternoon, and you’re going to tell him the truth about all of it.”

“No. The time is not right. He’s upset about Brogan leaving, and I don’t want to hurt—”

“Cut the pig shit. No more excuses. The kid’s almost sixteen, and he has a right to know. I’m marching him in here, and I’ll be standing right outside that door, listening. And if you don’t tell him all the facts…I will.”

“Do you know? Did Lucy tell you? I’m going to kill her,” Julia snarled.

“Lucy’s lips are sealed, but not for long, make no mistake about it. So warm up your vocals and start singing like Carrie Underwood, unless you want your son to hate you for the rest of his life.” Big tears filled Julia’s eyes. “Don’t start blubbering now. I’m not done.” Wanda handed Julia a tissue, along with more water. “Finally, and this will be your kindest act since you’ve graced this earth.” Sarcasm laced Wanda’s tone. “You’re going to help Lucy by getting Brogan to come back home.”

“As if I have control over Brogan.” Julia sniffed.

“No, but he’ll listen to you about Lucy.”

“What makes you say that?” Julia asked with heavy suspicion.

“Because he loves Lucy, and she loves him.”

“
What?
You’re crazy. There’s a difference between lust and love. I should know.” She gave a self-deprecating laugh.

“Yeah, you’ve lived in denial for years, and how’s that working out? I know Lucy and Brogan’s affair was a whirlwind, but they’ve both been hit hard. They’re in love, and as an expression of that love”—she paused, gaining Julia’s riveted attention—“you’re going to be Aunty Julia in about eight months.”

“W-what?”
A coughing fit hit Julia as her shock went down the wrong pipe. “No way.”

“Way. However, Lucy has no clue. She thinks she’s suffering from the flu, so this is going to surprise her as much as it has you.”

“Dammit. I told her not to do this. I can’t believe she’s this dum—” Julia stopped at the incredulous expression lighting Wanda’s face.

“You are
seriously
not going there, right?” Julia had the good grace to appear sheepish. “That’s what I thought. Look, Julia, do us all a favor and redeem yourself. I’m not asking for an apology from you for sleeping with my man. As far as I’m concerned, it’s over and will never be repeated. Ever. But I am asking you to do the right thing by Lucy. You have an opportunity to do something good for your sister. Lucy deserves her own happiness. And so do you.” Hope followed by doubt skittered across Julia’s perfect features. “Imagine how great it will make you feel to help your sister. You’ll look and feel ten years younger.” On that last word, Julia’s ears perked up. “Let’s work on spreading wonderful news and not vicious gossip. You owe it to Lucy and Brogan.” Julia’s lips thinned, and then she finally conceded and gave a slow nod.

Wanda stood, ready to leave. “Good girl. Now, let’s recap. One. Russell Upton is this baby’s father, and you will acknowledge that fact wearing a smile.” Wanda ticked items off on her fingers. “Two. This afternoon you have a come-to-the-Jordan cleansing talk with Parker.
And
last but certainly not least, I expect Brogan home within the next two weeks. That should give him plenty of time to wrap up his affairs in New York.”

“How are we going to break the news to Lucy?” Julia whispered fiercely.

“I’m already on it. You will make an appointment with your OB-GYN, and when you get there, be sure Lucy gets the test.” Wanda picked up Julia’s cell phone and handed it to her, wearing her don’t-mess-with-the-Wonderbust expression. “Are we clear?”

“Crystal.”

“You won’t regret it. Now, what would you like for lunch?” Wanda asked.

“Can I trust you not to put laxatives in my food?”

Wanda nodded. “No problem. But arsenic…um, not so sure.”

“Aunt Lucy, do you think Brogan is coming back?” Parker asked in a low voice as he ate a healthy after-school snack at the kitchen table. Lucy continued to stare at the contents of her handbag, trying to wrap her head around her unexpected news.

“Aunt Lucy?”

“Oh, uh…yeah, he’ll definitely be back.”
Just
not
for
me.
“He has BetterBites to check on.” Parker ducked his head, looking defeated. “And of course, he wants to see you and, er, your mom and the new baby.” Having no idea if any of that was true, Lucy sat next to Parker, hating the slump he’d fallen into since Brogan had left two and a half weeks ago. If she could have wrung Brogan’s neck, she would have, and then she’d kiss him and never let him go.

“Mom told me, um…about my dad,” Parker mumbled into his snack plate. “Do you know who my real dad is?” He watched Lucy, making sure he didn’t miss a thing.

“Yeah, I do. And I’m happy you know too. You inherited Joe Monahan’s great athletic ability,” she said, trying to coax a smile from him.

He shrugged his half-boy/half-man shoulders beneath his football T-shirt. “I guess. But you wanna know something, Aunt Lucy?” He pierced her with his gorgeous, sad blue eyes. “Deep down, I wished my dad was Brogan.”

Lucy’s heart thumped right up into her throat. “Oh, Parks.” She wrapped him in a bear hug. “Don’t you worry, everything will turn out fine. I promise.” Lucy shot prayers up, hoping she spoke the truth. Pulling back, she said to his worried face, “Get your homework done, and I’ll take you to practice later.”

He nodded and started to finish his snack but stopped. “Aunt Lucy, are you leaving too?”

Startled, she gave her handbag a nervous glance. Maybe. Probably. “I’ll be here until your mom has her baby in a few weeks. And then…we’ll see. Okay?”

Parker swallowed hard. “I don’t blame you if you leave. I haven’t made things real easy for you.”

“No, you’ve made things bearable for me.” She squeezed his shoulders. “I love you, Parker…more than ever. Don’t you forget it. You hear?”

He smiled his adorable smile and gobbled the remainder of his snack.

* * *

Lucy stood in her bathroom, staring at her pale, tired face. She pulled the bottle of doctor-prescribed prenatal vitamins from her handbag.

Knocked up.

Pregnant.

Life changing…forever.

She tossed a vitamin in her mouth and chased it down with some water. She and Julia didn’t share the same genes, but they sure shared the proclivity for pregnancy and single motherhood. Yep. Single. Because a herd of wild buffaloes couldn’t get her to trap Brogan in an unwanted, loveless marriage…
again
. Lucy recalled Brogan’s first marriage and how it had traumatized him. She knew he didn’t want a repeat performance. His disappearing act had made that abundantly clear.

Marveling at the idea that life was growing inside her, Lucy started rubbing her stomach. A thrill of excitement coursed through her, along with its counterpart, a stab of ice-cold anxiety. At four and a half weeks, the little poppy seed growing inside her had already done a tap dance on her hormones, making her tired and queasy most of the day, but she loved him/her with a ferocity she couldn’t explain. Of course, she was scared spitless. Doubt, the fire-breathing dragon, would keep rearing its menacing head, making her nervous and unsure, but the same could be said for any major life change. And if Brogan chose to lock himself away from ever experiencing true love and the tiny life that grew within her, then he had serious,
serious
problems. And Lucy wasn’t equipped to deal with them. She straightened her spine, because along with raging hormones and indigestion, Lucy had a plan. For once in her thirty-two years, she’d be putting herself first.

* * *

Pregnant.

Knocked up…again.

Brogan slumped back in his hotel chair with the phone to his ear, not hearing Julia’s story on the other end. His mind had zeroed in on the word:
pregnant
. It was late Saturday night, and he’d been gone from Harmony for three weeks, working long hours on the new flagship store, trying to forget his life back home and trying to banish Lucy from his mind. Nothing had worked, including massive amounts of Advil or the collection of empty beer cans littering his room. Julia had explained that she and Lucy had visited the doctor this past week, and yes indeed, Lucy was pregnant. It had come down to this: Lucy would eventually get around to telling him, and he’d feel guilty and trapped. He’d do his best, but it’d all go down the toilet before long. Just like before.

“…and I think she’s planning to leave.” The urgency in Julia’s voice brought Brogan out of his self-pity stupor, along with the word
leave
.

“Wait. What? Who’s leaving?” He pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Have you been listening to a word I’ve said? Wake up! I’m trying to tell you Lucy’s pregnant and leaving Harmony as soon as I have my baby.”

Brogan sat up on high alert. His head suddenly clear as glass. “Leaving where? Where is she going? Who’s going to take care of her? Did she say when?” His hand tightened in a death grip on his cell phone. “She’s not going back to that dickhead Tony Tiger, is she?” The baffled, beaten feeling he’d been experiencing minutes before magically disappeared, along with the heavy guilt. Every thought centered on Lucy leaving.

His
Lucy leaving with
his
baby.

Not if he had anything to say about it.

Gone was the suffocating feeling, suddenly replaced by an overwhelming surge of freedom, sweeping from his head to his feet, breathing new life.

Woozy, Brogan lowered his head into his hand. In the past, he’d kept his emotions locked away, always at a safe distance, but this time, his heart ruled and decided on a different course.

He’d fallen in love with Lucy. Love. Off the chain, over the moon, can’t say her name, in love. And it scared the living crap out of him.

Confronting his dad and running off to New York hadn’t solved a damn thing until this very moment. No longer would he allow his past to control his life. His pathetic dad, the screwed-up bigamist, had to live with the ramifications of his poor decisions. Brogan was not a screwup and had managed to keep the messy aspects of his life to a minimum. Yes, his career meant a lot to him, but he didn’t need it as a crutch to prove his worth. He needed Lucy. In just two short months, she’d become an intrinsic part of his life. He loved her and missed her…and he wanted his baby. He wanted it all.

“…I don’t know the details. She hasn’t exactly shared her plans, but you need to hurry back. If Lucy means anything to you, come home and work something out.” Brogan refocused on Julia’s urgent message.

“Lucy means everything to me.
Everything.
” Rearranging his work schedule in his mind, he said, “It’s gonna take me a few days to finish here, but I’m coming home. I’m coming home to Lucy. And, Julia, please don’t say a word to her.” Lucy had stopped trying to contact him three days after he’d left. He didn’t blame her. He’d treated her like shit. “I need to make this right. I don’t want to spook her. I’m sure there’s a voodoo doll with pins sticking in it, wearing my face.”

“Provided by Wanda, no doubt. By the way, I think an offer is coming in on your house.”

“That was fast.” Brogan shrugged off his dress shirt but couldn’t shrug off the feeling that selling his house was a bad idea. “Stall them. I need time to think.”

“You do realize I’m having a baby in two weeks.”

“Yeah, hold off on that too.”

“My legs are crossed, but I’m telling you…this baby wants out.”

Brogan massaged the back of his neck, thinking of how Julia had changed for the better. “Thanks, Julia. You did good.”

“I did, didn’t I?” He heard the smile in her voice. “Now get back here, and don’t blow it. And, Brogan…you better not break my sister’s heart again, or I’m gonna have you run through town buck naked and barefooted.”

She’d do it too. “I won’t give you any cause. I swear on my life.”

“Good. Don’t make me regret being nice.”

Brogan cracked a smile for the first time since confronting his dad at BetterBites. “I’ll text when I hit the road. Remember, not a word to Lucy.”

* * *

Lucy ended her call and typed a few notes on her iPad, pleased with the way her plan was falling into place. She’d already set meetings for presenting her marketing/social media package to three businesses in Blowing Rock, North Carolina: The Mountain Club Community Center, Speckled Rock Restaurant, and Hounds Tooth Lodge. All three sounded very interested in what she had to offer and looked forward to their meeting. Lucy planned to leave Harmony after Julia had her baby. Her due date was at the end of September, less than two weeks away. Once the baby was born, and everyone, including the baby nurse, was comfortably situated back home, Lucy would hit the road. Prepared for the next phase of her life.

After a long conversation with her dad, Lucy had sold him on her business plan, and he agreed for her to live for the next eight months in his mountain home, working and growing her baby. Lucy looked forward to increasing her clients in the quaint, touristy mountain town. She’d be only a few hours from Harmony—close enough to stay in touch, but far away from Brogan…
if
he ever returned.

Lucy scheduled an appointment with a nice hair salon in Raleigh for a fresh look and then called Grady to make sure her poor car was safe enough to drive to the nearest used car dealership, where she planned to dump it and buy something more reliable.

Shutting down her laptop, she left her phone untouched on her desk. She had stopped waiting for a call that never came, and by leaving her phone, she was less tempted to check every thirty seconds or so. Somehow, Brogan would have to become a distant memory in order for her to survive the next five to fifty years. Of course, they’d have to share custody, but she hoped to be secure in her new life and over his harsh rejection before that day arrived.

Clearing the depressing thoughts from her head, she went downstairs to prepare Julia’s dinner. Julia had surprisingly stopped with the useless lists of errands, and had even been sweet in sharing some of her pregnancy stories. If you can call vomiting four times a day, stretch marks, and weird cravings like salmon-covered ice cream sweet stories. Lucy wasn’t so sure. More likely, Julia was trying to scare her into never having sex again for as long as she breathed. Solid tactic, because it was working.

Lucy put her fear of babies and single motherhood on the back burner as she prepared Julia’s meal of kale salad with grilled organic chicken. On the other hand, Julia had nagged, argued, and even pleaded for Lucy not to leave Harmony. Her idea of a big happy family included Lucy living here, where they could both raise their kids together. Seeing herself as Julia’s permanent maid and gofer made Lucy shudder. However, having friends and family around to help deal with the day-to-day of parenthood did hold some appeal. And she would miss Parker something awful, and even Julia. In their weird, stilted way, they’d formed a bond that was growing stronger every day. And Lucy was most proud of that. But the urge to conquer this chapter in her life on her terms compelled her even more. She could do this. She wanted her career by her rules. And by all that was holy…she was no longer
loco
!

At the sound of a loud knock, Lucy headed for the front. As the door opened, Wanda and Russell stepped into the foyer. “Hey, what’s up?” she asked, surprised at seeing them both.

Color infused Russell’s cheeks, and he shuffled his loafer-clad feet.

“We’re here to visit Julia,” Wanda said, dropping her handbag on the bench.

“Sure. Go on back. I’m fixing her dinner. You guys hungry?”

“Nah, Russell’s taking me to the Dog later. You wanna come?”

Lucy shook her head. “Got a big day tomorrow.”

Displeasure pinched Wanda’s features. She had sided with Julia (a first!) in wanting Lucy to stay in Harmony and not move away. “Russell, head on back. I’ll help Lucy with dinner.” Wanda had no intentions of helping…more like lecturing and browbeating.

“Okay, honey-bunny. Don’t be too long.” A look of pure terror dashed across Russell’s face before he moved toward the hallway. Lucy knew the feeling and felt sorry for him.

“Aren’t you afraid of leaving them alone together?” Lucy whispered in a worried tone.

Wanda grabbed her by the elbow and pulled her along to the kitchen. “Nope. He has repented for the error of his ways. Besides, after me, he has no energy left for anyone else.” She grinned like someone who enjoyed sex…a lot. “Now, what the hell do you have to do tomorrow that’s so pressing? You better not be sneaking out of town without telling anyone.”

Tossing the salad, Lucy glared at Wanda. “No, oh bossy one. I’m getting my hair done, and I’m trading in my car. Need something more reliable. I’m becoming a mother, you know.”

“All the more reason you should stay here, so I can check on you and lend a hand.” Wanda sat, plopping her elbow on the table with her head in her palm, looking unhappy and upset.

Dropping the salad tongs, Lucy sat in the chair next to her. “Don’t you see? I have to do this on my own. I’m not moving very far, I promise. You can always come for a visit and stay with me. I’d miss you if you didn’t.”

“How far?” Wanda narrowed her eyes. “Where’re you moving?”

Lucy shifted in her seat. She’d hoped to keep her destination secret until she’d left and gotten settled. She didn’t want uninvited guests showing up unexpectedly, or the Harmony nosy bodies announcing her every move and wanting updates on her pregnancy.

Lucy hedged. “It’s not completely decided yet, but—”

“The truth.” Wanda crossed her arms.

“As soon as it’s final, you’ll be the first to know.” Lucy held her breath, waiting for Wanda’s explosion.

“Hmmm, and if you don’t, I’ll hunt you down and snatch you bald.” She pushed back her chair and stood. “Better go check on Julia and Russell before I have to turn the garden hose on them.”

“Thought Russell had mended his ways.”