Not So New in Town (27 page)

Lucy adjusted the handbag strap over her shoulder as her foot hit the first brick step, and then came to an abrupt halt. Wobble went her knees as she almost fell out of her brown patent heels. Chest tight. Heart constricted. Could she be hallucinating? Lucy slid her sunglasses back to the top of her head and squinted. There at the bottom of the steps, holding an overflowing Toot-N-Tell bag with a drooping, pitiful bouquet of daisies, stood Brogan Freakin’ Reese.

Lucy struggled to breathe as all her feelings for Brogan came crashing back. Just like that. Her firm resolve disappeared into thin air. As much as she’d cursed him for breaking her heart, she’d never stopped loving him.

“Lucy, don’t move,” Brogan said in a rough voice. “I need to speak with you. I have so much to say…please.”

Rooted to the ground, Lucy’s feet wouldn’t budge as Brogan inched closer, his fierce gaze never leaving her face. “How’d you know…?” Duh. That damn Wanda, who never could keep her piehole shut. Brogan stood in front of her on the lower step, leveling their heights. Lucy stared directly into his tired, anxious green eyes.

“Don’t blame Wanda. Everybody’s concerned about you. The baby won’t drink Julia’s milk because she’s curdling it with worry. Parker mopes around, snarling at anyone who comes near him…especially me. And Margo beats the bread dough as if it’s my face.”

“Did Julia order you to bring me home?” She folded her arms as if to protect the precious blob growing inside her.

“No. But I was given strict orders not to blow it.” Lucy inched back on shaky legs. But the desperate look in Brogan’s eyes kept her from running. “Listen. I know I’ve been an ass. A complete moron…” He could say that again. “But these last few weeks, I’ve taken a good, hard look at my life. And the only thing I liked about it was you.”

Lucy’s heart doing the butterfly went for a flip turn. Brogan dropped his head and stared at the ground. “For years, I’ve been paralyzed from taking chances and living my life.” He lifted his head and pierced Lucy with his earnest expression. “But then I run into you on the side of the road, and it was as if I’d been hit by lightning with your pretty eyes, sultry smile, and snarky comebacks.
You
hold the ticket to my freedom. I was just too dumb and stubborn to realize it. I want it all, Lucy. I want you.”

Yeah, but for how long? Lucy slicked her suddenly dry lips, thrilled but confused by his confession.

One side of Brogan’s mouth tipped up in a half smile, and his eyes glimmered with doubt and hope. He reached for one of her curls. “Your hair…it’s all curly again…I like it.”

“Yeah, well, I needed a change. Besides, it’s easier than all that ironing.” She sniffed, running a hand over the back of her spongy curls. “Listen, I appreciate…you know, the effort, but I’m doing great here. I’m not ready to come home yet.”

A cloud of sadness hung over Brogan at her words. “Lucy, I know I’ve hurt you. And I know it’s me you’re running from. But you left without saying good-bye. You didn’t even leave me a note. Why?”

Because he’d broken her heart in a million pieces, and she couldn’t bear witnessing his reunion with Julia. “You were there for J-Julia…I didn’t want to get in the way.” Her voice wavered.

Brogan grabbed her elbow. “You’re wrong. I was there for you. I came home for
you
.” He loosened his hold, and Lucy shifted back.

“Look, Brogan, you’re forgetting something. Something real important. I’m having a baby.” She pulled the sonogram photo from her handbag. A spark of happiness flitted across his face as he held the picture of her grainy, adorable blob. “I know you don’t want this pregnancy. I understand completely, and I’m willing to do this on my own. I refuse for me or my baby to be anybody’s mistake or lifelong regret.”

“Lucy—”

“Let me finish.” She raised her hand. “Contrary to what you believe, I had no intentions of falling in love, and certainly didn’t plan for a baby, but I
did
fall in love, and a baby’s on the way. You suffered a miscarriage, a bad marriage, and a troubled relationship with your dad. I get that. It’s something you’ll have to work through.” Lucy spoke to her feet. “I’m happy with my decision. I answer only to myself and my b-baby,” she said above a whisper.

“
Our
baby.” She raised her eyes in surprise. “I want
you
and our baby. Not for the short term, not out of guilt, not because I feel trapped, but forever.” Brogan rubbed his hand across his mouth. “I’m sorry for running out on you, for leaving a shitty note. I’m sorry for not talking to you…with you. I didn’t mean any of it. It’s no excuse, but I was lashing out at the one person close to me…the one person I love.” He moved nearer. “Look at me…I’m holding a huge bag of junk food, all your favorites.” Brogan handed her the wilted daisies as he shifted another bag from his shoulder. “And this baby bag is jammed with things we’re going to need…diapers, bottles, rattles, booties, and there’s even a baby football in there.”

Brogan dropped the junk food bag on the step, and Lucy bit her lip to keep from smiling. Curious people exited the building and stopped to watch. “I haven’t slept in days, I can’t think straight, and I even ate an entire package of Oreos because that’s how much I’ve missed you. That’s how much I love you.”

Tears welled in Lucy’s eyes. She lowered her head, trying to blink them away. She’d waited a lifetime to hear those words from him. (Well, not about the cookies exactly, but you know…) Was it too late? Was this just for show? Floating before her watery eyes, she spied a small white feather. She glanced up, following more white feathers as they floated off Brogan’s shoulder. She caught one with her fingers. “Uh, Brogan, are you molting?” He shook his head, and more feathers soared up. A giggle slipped from her lips. “What is going on here?” She plucked feathers from his shirtsleeve, noticing for the first time his disheveled, unkempt appearance. “Brogan Reese, your shirt’s all wrinkled, you haven’t shaved in forever, your hair needs a trim, and your eyes look swollen.”

Brogan dug inside the baby bag, releasing more feathers. “That’s because I rode in a cargo truck hauling a million squawking chickens.”

Shock widened her eyes. “But why—”

“My Jag broke down somewhere outside of Yadkinville, and I hitched a ride.”

Reverse déjà vu. She wished she’d been a witness, cruising in her new SUV. He’d battled live chickens to get to her. The ice surrounding her heart had melted at the first chicken feather, and now it bloomed, ready to burst from her chest.

Cupping his scruffy face with her palm, she said in a soft voice, “Brogan, tell me why you rode halfway across the state in a chicken truck, carrying wilted flowers, bags of junk food, and baby diapers.” She smiled into the beautiful, rugged, tired face that she loved and would love forever.

“Don’t you know?” He shifted his head to kiss the inside of her palm, making Lucy’s toes tingle, along with her more important female parts.

“To get to you, so I could give you this.”

There in his large palm sat an open black velvet box with an engagement ring of white diamonds surrounding the most gorgeous canary diamond Lucy had ever seen. In awe, she touched the face of the yellow gem with the tip of her finger. “Is this for me?” she whispered.

“On one condition.” Lucy jerked her head up and stared into his sparkling green eyes. “I come with the ring. It’s a package deal.” Lucy’s smile grew broader. Brogan dropped the baby bag next to the shopper and moved up the step. He dropped to one knee, in front of everyone spilling from the office building and watching. “Lucy Doolan, will you marry me?” The crowd, including two pregnant women, all quieted down, waiting.

Lucy tapped her finger against her lips. “Hmm, I don’t know. You’re a bad influence on the baby, bringing all that junk food. My body is a temple…only healthy, organic food from now on.” Brogan threw his head back and laughed.

“Come on, lady, give the guy a break.”

“How romantic.”

“She’s got three seconds before I knock her out of the way and take her place.”

Lucy’s hands trembled as she stared at the crush of her life…her
only
crush.

“Lucy, my love, keeper of my heart, how long are you gonna make me suffer?” Brogan pleaded, still kneeling, holding the gorgeous ring.

“You really want me? Remember, I can be loco.”

“Never. You’re lovely and perfect for me. I love that you can’t carry a tune in a bucket. I love that you hate to exercise but do it anyway. I love your courage and your strength. And I love your big heart that you try to hide with humor and snark.” Brogan’s eyes and voice softened. “I used to believe that never repeating my mistakes and running from my past was the only way to live. I’d stopped living long ago…until I met you. You brought joy and love back in my life.”

“I’ll marry him!” someone sniffling yelled out.

Lucy, kind of liking this begging side of Brogan, prolonged his agony a bit more. “Gosh, I was really looking forward to being a single mom and—”

Brogan pushed to his feet and shoved the ring on her finger. “But most of all, I love that you never give an inch,” he said before wrapping her in his arms and kissing the chicken feathers right out of her. The crowd clapped and cheered, and Lucy started to laugh against Brogan’s firm, delectable lips. “Is that a yes?” he murmured.

“Yep. You’ve got me. No backing out, now or later.”

“Don’t want to,” he said, nibbling her lower lip.

“How about we celebrate back at my place?” She rained kisses along his jaw and chin.

Brogan held her within the circle of his arms. “I thought you’d never ask.”

Propped on the pink wicker ottoman in Julia’s sun porch, Lucy stared at her swollen feet and ankles. She felt like a bloated, beached whale ready to pop. “Arrrgh! Someone put me out of my misery.” She leaned her head back on Brogan’s strong shoulder. “Nine months is way too long for anything to grow inside you.”

Brogan kissed the top of her head. “Only two more weeks, babe. You can do it.” Lucy snuggled against her wonderful, kind, sexy, hunky husband. The only thing more wonderful was their soon-to-be-born baby daughter. Thrilled to be having a girl, they planned to name her Charlotte Elise after both their mothers.

It was early May in Harmony, and Lucy’s due date was looming. She and Brogan had tied the knot back in late October, down by the lake, with everyone from Harmony and for miles around showing up. A proud Harper Doolan had given Lucy away, while Wanda, Julia, and Bertie had stood in attendance, wearing deep-purple dresses and carrying orange-and-pink bouquets. Javier and Vance Kerner had been groomsmen, and Brogan had asked Parker to be his best man. Brogan had even invited his half brother and sister to the wedding, whom he’d been making an effort to get to know. Brogan’s dad had died a month after his last visit and had left Brogan a considerable sum from his will, along with the worn nautical bracelet from his wrist. Brogan put half the money away in a trust for the baby, and the other half in a money market account for Parker. He truly treated Parker not as a nephew, but as a son.

Everyone had danced, drank, and feasted on food provided by BetterBites, Hog Wild, and the Dog. A round candy table had been set up and included clear bowls and apothecary jars of M&M’s, Mallo Cups, Hershey’s Kisses, Red Hots, MoonPies, and Cheetos, all provided by Dottie Duncan and the Toot-N-Tell. When Lucy hadn’t been dancing with her gorgeous husband, she had been rocking her seven-week-old niece in her arms. Baby Lucy, her namesake. Lucy hadn’t cared if baby spittle messed the scalloped lace neckline on her empire-waist wedding gown; she was gaga, head over heels in love with her perfect baby niece and couldn’t wait for her own baby to join the world so they’d be inseparable playmates. Brogan had kept his newly renovated house and had given it to Lucy as a wedding present, along with hiring Bertie to help decorate the nursery. Brogan spent the majority of his time working in Harmony. He and Javier had hired three capable guys to help manage their other locations.

Lucy shifted to get more comfortable, and Brogan supported her shoulders. “Where’s baby Lucy, my precious angel? I haven’t seen her all day.” Russell Upton entered the room, carrying a squirming, eight-month-old cherub, wearing a pale-green sundress with bright-pink bloomers, and orange gunk stuck in her dark, fuzzy hair. “Here.” He plopped her in Brogan’s lap, because he still had one. “She just spit up all her peas and carrots, and was trying to eat one of Julia’s furry pink socks.”

“Well, pink is your favorite color, isn’t it, my angel?” Lucy cooed in a baby voice as she kissed her niece’s grubby hand.

“Pookie Bear, could you bring me some ginger ale? I’m feeling meh.” Wanda lounged on the other wicker chair, holding her five-months-pregnant belly. Russell gave Wanda a kiss and hurried from the room. “Luce, all I can say, if I get as fat as you, I might have to shoot myself.” She and Russell had gotten married for the second time last November…
inside
the Methodist church. And they’d honeymooned at Harper Doolan’s mountain house in Blowing Rock.

Brogan patted Lucy’s stomach. “Lucy’s not fat…she’s just—”

“Watch it. Or you may never play with your favorite toy again,” Lucy warned.

Brogan’s eyes twinkled. “I think that’s
your
favorite toy, and I wouldn’t dream of depriving you,” he whispered, nibbling on her ear.

“Please, not in front of the baby…or me. I’m about to vomit over here,” Wanda grumbled.

Baby Lucy pounded Lucy’s fat belly with her fist, making silly, gurgling noises. “Don’t you pay any attention to your stepmama. She’s just mad because she can no longer wear her skintight, leopard-spotted hooker dress, and she’s afraid her boobs might explode,” Lucy said in another baby voice to her niece, but grinned at Wanda.

At the sound of yelling voices, everyone lifted their heads. Suddenly, Parker burst into the room, followed by Russell and Julia. “Uncle Brogan, my mom says I can’t go to football camp this summer, because she has me signed up for some nerdy science fair. Tell her no, please,” Parker begged.

Julia shoved a water glass with fresh mint at Lucy. “Here, drink this.” She pointed her finger at Parker. “I said no such thing. The camps don’t conflict with each other, but if you don’t clean up that pigsty you call a room, you’re staying home all summer, babysitting and running errands for me.” Julia’s voice had escalated in warning.

Lucy sipped her water. “Trust me, Parker, you don’t want to run your mom’s errands.” Julia shot Lucy her bitchy glare-down and then blew her a kiss with a wink.

Parker hunched his shoulders and struck the sullen teenage pose. “That’s so unfair, Mom. Tell her, Uncle Brogan. She’ll listen to you—”

Baby Lucy’s face turned redder and redder as her family’s voices grew louder, and she started to cry in that horrible, high-pitched baby scream that could pierce ears and break glass. “Aww, come here, my little angel.” Lucy picked her up from Brogan’s lap and rocked her. “You want Aunt Lucy to sing you a lullaby?”

“No!” everyone chorused together.

Startled, Lucy looked up and then laughed at the anguished expressions staring back at her. “My singing is
not
that bad.”

Julia grunted, reaching for the baby. Parker rolled his eyes, Wanda gave a loud snort, and Brogan wrapped his arms as best he could around Lucy’s expanded middle.

“Uh, babe, yeah, it is. I’m afraid you’re banned from singing to anyone’s baby…including ours,” he said in his warm, caramel voice before kissing the song right out of her head. Lucy’s heart soared with love, and the baby kicked inside her for joy.