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I watched her descend with fascination. This was more action than I had gotten in the last three days combined. She allowed me to place my hands on her thighs, to hold her as she picked up my chin. Her kiss was sweet and lingering, provoking the obvious reaction. We made love, dispelling all of my fears in one glorious act. Now the house finally felt like home, and Tammy felt like my girlfriend. We were on the verge of something great, facing the world as a couple. There were just those two pesky little secrets standing in our way.
20
TAMMY
The customer stood in front of the register, fluffing her newly trimmed hair.
“You look wonderful,” I said, swiping her card.
“Thank you,” the woman said. “My grandnephew is having a birthday, and the whole family will be there.”
“Be careful you don’t steal the thunder from the birthday boy,” I teased.
“Go on.” She blushed, accepting her card back.
When she left, the store was empty, just me and Lindsey. Ava, the other hairdresser, was on her break. I liked these little lulls in the traffic flow, but I understood Lindsey would rather be making money. I started opening the mail, just to keep busy. Lindsey sat down in the waiting area to rest her feet. I realized she hadn’t had a break all day.
“So how are things going with Mike?” she asked.
I set the mail down. “Okay, sort of.”
“What does ‘sort of’ mean?”
“Well, we’re going to Mike’s parents for dinner. I’ve already met his dad. Now I’m supposed to meet his mom.”
“And that scares you because it’s a big step?” Lindsey guessed.
I nodded. “It is a big step. Mike says that his mom is really critical, and they don’t get along well. But there’s something else. There’s something that he’s not telling me.”
“Like what?” She sat forward.
“I don’t know,” I puzzled. “His dad let something slip about Mike’s ‘bad-boy past.’ And I met an old friend of his a few days ago, and there was something they were trying real hard not to say.”
“Maybe you need to sit him down after your dinner and ask him to tell you the truth,” Lindsey suggested.
I flinched. “I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I have my own secret. If he told me his, I would have to tell him mine, and I’m not ready to do that yet.” I squirmed.
“Do you mind my asking?” Lindsey pressed.
“I’m pregnant,” I obliged.
“Oh my God!” Lindsey sat straight up. She leapt to her feet and pulled me into a hug. “Congratulations! This is going to change so many things. Of course, you’ll come back to work after the baby?”
“Of course,” I answered, just now realizing that I could have been more tactful in telling my boss I was expecting.
Lindsey dropped the hug and stepped back. “You haven’t told him?”
I shook my head. “I’m scared. We haven’t known each other that long. What if he doesn’t want to be a father?”
“Oh honey,” Lindsey clucked sympathetically, “I know exactly what you’re going through. I was afraid to tell Jason that I was pregnant with Mary Ellen, and he found out in the worst possible way. You just need to rip the Band-Aid off, look him straight in the eye, and blurt it out. There are not many good ways to break the news, but you don’t want it to come out in a bad situation.”
I nodded. “I will.”
“Tonight?” Lindsey encouraged.
