Undertow (10 page)

There’s one store devoted entirely to purses, and the owner is so friendly. She always tells me to park the stroller by her desk, and I can try on all her quirky bags. One is made from tennis shoes and another from old album covers. One looks like a satin pillow with the faces of Japanese geishas painted on the side. They’re all works of art, and I have to struggle not to buy ten of them.

From there I make my way down to the shoe store where the owners have set up a little play area for kids. So thoughtful! I can try on heels that look like they came straight off the runway in Italy. Snake and leopard skins, feathers and Lucite, daisies and open-toes. They’re all stunning. I sneaked a pair of ten-inch bright green heels in embossed crocodile. They’re gorgeous and they’re on sale, so that counts for something. Daddy left me a little legacy when he died, and while everything’s still Mama’s, she gave it to me now. It’s fun to have a bit of breathing room, and I deserve a little treat after working so hard.

In the clothing store, I tried on all the latest in New York fashions. The girls there helped me decide on a pair of jeans and a bright tank top to match my new shoes. I could pair it with a scarf or jacket for cooler evenings, and they helped me choose some chunky accessories to tie everything together perfectly and even match my purse. I just had to buy them. They were practically made for me. We all agreed. And since I was getting closer to my pre-twins size, I needed to update my wardrobe. What would people think if the wife of the most important developer on the Gulf Coast were wearing last year’s fashions?

At the toy store on Newhope Avenue, I picked up a few developmental toys for the babies. I wanted them to be smart, and they couldn’t just play with each other all the time. They were starting to wake up when I decided we’d better make our way back to the car. The stroller was almost tipping over backwards from the weight of all the bags I’d looped on the handles. But I felt so refreshed.

I decided if my plans with Billy hadn’t worked out, and I’d had to figure out a way to support myself, owning a little shop like that would’ve been the perfect thing. I’d always had impeccable taste, and I would have no problem finding the hottest items at market in Atlanta or Dallas.

Driving home, I imagined the possibility of things being different. I remembered the first time I saw Billy at school. Lexy and I were walking from one class to another, and there he was, leaning with his back against his locker looking in a book. I saw those blue eyes, and I think I said out loud that he was the one. He was already tall but skinny. He hadn’t really filled out yet, but that would come later. Like most of the local boys, he’d end up spending every summer doing what amounted to manual labor on the farms, but I wasn’t complaining. All that heavy lifting paid off for us girls.

I remembered he was so serious and focused even then. Bryant was on the football team, but not Billy. He taught himself to play golf. He taught himself to do everything. And then they got their big idea junior year. Up until that point, we’d been practically inseparable, but once he and Bryant got started on their plan, he did nothing but read, read, read. Everything he could get his hands on about development and business and economics. It was practically impossible to divert his attention, and as the end of senior year started closing in, I’d had to do something to keep my dreams on track.

I didn’t regret it. Not even a little, even with things like they are now. We’d find our way back together. This was just a temporary setback, and these storeowners would have to settle for my patronage rather than my companionship. I wouldn’t do anything differently. I loved my life, and I loved my babies. I just wished I wasn’t so tired all the time.

I was asleep most nights when Billy got home, but that was one bright spot. I could feel him over there beside me again.

The other night, I managed to get both twins to sleep at once and decided to sit up and wait for him. By 10 o’clock, I was asleep. Still, I roused when he slid into the bed and moved toward him. I wasn’t fully awake, but it only took a few kisses to let him know I was willing. His soft lips and gentle touch reminded me why we had three babies. That was a good night, and I’d drifted to sleep in his arms.

Aug. 10, 19--

Well, I just got the shock of my life today! I would never have believed this one was coming, even if someone had sat me down and warned me.

It’s been three months since Miss Stella’s funeral, and in that time I haven’t seen a hair on Lexy’s head. Every time I call, she tells me she’s tired or she’s working on some project she simply can’t leave.

It was getting to be too much. I could deal with a husband I never saw, but not a best friend. Will had just started back to school, so I decided to drive to her little cottage in Dolphin Shores and pay her a surprise visit with the twins. She hadn’t seen them since the funeral, and I hoped the sight of their little sunny faces would cheer her up.

I was the one surprised when she answered the door.

“Oh my god! Lexy, you’re pregnant!” I shrieked and hugged my best friend, laughing.

“Meg, what are you doing here?” She turned white as a ghost. “You brought the twins!”

I ignored her odd reaction. “Let me see you!” I said. “When did this happen? Who’s the daddy?”

She literally looked like she might faint. “It’s… well, it’s somebody from work. You don’t know him. Oh, Meg. I really wasn’t expecting to see you today.”

I blinked, not sure how to take that. I had always dreamed of us having babies together, and even though I was a little ahead, it wasn’t by much. “I’m sorry. Are you feeling bad?”

“No.” She shook her head not meeting my eyes. “I just hadn’t told you about this, and… and now here you are.” She stepped back. “Come in. Sit. Let me get something for the babies. Do you want some coffee?”

“Sure, thanks. But Lexy! Stop being weird,” I went to the table, putting the twins down. They were crawling and pulling up on everything, which made it hard to sit for long. “So who’s this guy at work? I know everybody there! Is it Rain Hawkins?”

“What? Oh, god, no.” She swallowed hard, clearly worried. “It’s a guy in Atlanta.”

“Somebody from the advertising firm?”

She looked puzzled, but quickly shook her head. “No. He’s… umm… He’s one of the investors. I’m just so embarrassed about all this. I couldn’t tell you. We were all out and there was alcohol, and, well…”

“Miss Passionate Romance? You always wanted to be swept away.”

She laughed, but it seemed more desperate than happy. “This is more like being swept under and out to sea.”

“So what’s the deal? If he’s an investor, then he’s loaded! Have you told him? Are you getting married?”

“Um… well, yes and no.”

“Lexy!”

She breathed. “Oh, Meg. It’s so complicated. I can’t marry him. I’m just… I’m just going to have the baby and take care of him myself.”

She looked so stressed, I was hesitant to press her for more details.

“So it’s a boy?” I asked, hoping to ease her mind.

She nodded.

“Are you okay?” I asked. “Do you have enough money?”

“I’m fine. Money’s not a problem,” she said. “I’ve got plenty of work to do, and Bryant asked me keep going as long as I can through the pregnancy.”

“Billy’d better be acting right. Why, you’re practically family!”

“Bill’s… fine.” She studied the table. “He hasn’t said anything.”

“Well, you tell him if you need anything.” I got up to refill my coffee and tried to think of happier words. “A little boy,” I said. “That’s wonderful! I have so many little boy things. I can give him all of Jack’s little hand-me-downs. Most of it’s barely even worn.”

“Oh, no,” she said. “That’s too much.”

“What’s mine is yours! And what about a baby shower? We need to get that going. Have you registered anywhere?”

“Meg.” She shook her head. “That’s… no. I don’t want a shower. Really. It’s okay. I’m taking care of this myself.”

“Oh, Lexy,” I said, sitting across from her and taking her hands. “I can understand you being embarrassed about
how
it happened, but after all, it’s your first baby! And it’s a sweet little boy. You have to be happy about it.”

“You don’t understand.” She wouldn’t meet my eyes.

“What? About accidents? Are you kidding?” I breathed a laugh. “Listen, just because things aren’t ideal, that’s no reason to lose your joy over your first baby.”

“Yes, but you were at least with your husband. I’m… well, I’m alone.”

“You are never alone if I’m around. And we’re going to be excited about your new baby. What are you planning to name him?”

“I don’t know.” She pulled her hands away, and sat up straighter. “James is an old family name, but I want it to be something different. Something unique.”

“Of course you do! You wouldn’t be you if you didn’t name the baby something original.”

I watched as she ran her fingernail down the line in the tabletop. “What do you think about Comet?”

“I hear it’s a great toilet cleaner.”

She smiled, and I was so glad to see my friend relax ever so slightly. Lucy crawled over and started fussing for her lunch, so I picked her up and slid her under my shirt.

Lexy watched me before speaking again. “You’re right.” She looked down again. “That’s terrible. What about Indigo?”

“He’ll never be at a loss for what color pants to wear.”

“Eric?”

“That’s not unique.”

“Well, I was thinking of the Vikings.” Her dark eyes flitted to mine and then away again. She picked up a spoon to stir her coffee. “He might be an artist, but he also might be an ambitious developer-conqueror like all the other fellows around here.”

“Like Billy?”

She dropped her spoon, splashing coffee on the front of her shirt. Then she quickly rose and grabbed a rag.

“You’re right. Eric is too common.” She seemed flustered. “Julian. What about Julian?”

“Oh, yes! I love it!” I smiled. “It’s unique, but soothing. Sounds like the ocean.”

Julian.

Driving back to our home in Fairview, I was beside myself. Billy had to know about this. I couldn’t believe he hadn’t told me! I guess he’d wanted to let Lexy do the honors. Or maybe he couldn’t care less. I knew he wasn’t big on pregnancies and babies these days.

I was wide awake when he arrived home that night, ready to get to the bottom of it all. After rattling around in the kitchen a while, he finally came back to the bedroom, handsome as ever, and started stripping off his suit and tie. For a few seconds, I waited and watched. I didn’t want to deter his progress.

“I went to visit Lexy today,” I finally said.

He stiffened, but then quickly went back to undressing. “How’s she liking her little beach house?”

“She seems happy there. I didn’t really get a chance to ask her. I was too surprised.”

“Surprised? By what?” He actually seemed unaware.

“Have you seen her lately?”

“She’s working more with Bryant these days.” His voice grew quieter. “I haven’t seen Lex in… probably four months.”

“Since the funeral?”

“I think you’re right. That was the last time.”

“Well, that’s odd.” I sat up frowning. “How can you two work in the same office and never see each other?”

He shrugged. “She said she wanted to work evenings a while back, so she comes in after I leave. Her assignments are mostly written out now.”

I nodded chewing my lip. “She must be trying to hide it from you.”

“Hide what?”

“Well, I’m not sure if I should even tell you now. You clearly don’t know.” I changed positions, moving back down to lying in the bed.

“Meg, I’m tired. Either tell me or let me shower.”

“She’s pregnant.”

I was very disappointed in Billy’s reaction. He didn’t even flinch. Just stood and went back to undressing.

“Did you hear me?” I said.

“So she’s pregnant. There’s no law against that.”

“Billy!”

He exhaled, and I watched his shoulders drop. “What’d she tell you?”

“That’s about it. She’s pregnant, and she said it’s some guy in Atlanta. She said she isn’t even seeing him! Think she’s telling the truth?”

His back was still to me. “Why wouldn’t she be?”

“Well, who could it be? Do you have any ideas?”

“I don’t keep tabs on her.”

“Billy, this is serious.” My brow clenched as I watched him now in his boxers, putting away his tie and belt.

“Why? She’s still working as far as I can tell. Bryant hasn’t complained to me about anything. As long as she’s doing a good job, getting the work done…”

“I can’t believe you,” I cried. “I just tell you my best friend is expecting a baby with some mystery man who could be anybody, and all you can think about is work?”

Finally, he came over and sat on the bed, taking my hand. “What do you want me to say, Meg? You want me to fire her?”

“Of course not! I just thought you’d be more interested.”

“I’m interested that she’s well. You seem to think she is, right?” I nodded. “And she’s getting her projects done. Bryant hasn’t said anything, so that must be working out. I don’t know what else I can do about it.”