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I settle into a chair across the table from Val and Kat, feeling pleasantly tired. “Where’s Gabby?”
“I put her down for a nap,” Val confesses with a fond smile.
I sigh as I lean back in my chair. “Girls, I am officially beat,” I say with a sheepish smile. “And there is absolutely no way I will ever remember everyone’s names.”
They both give a tinkling laugh. Kat rolls her eyes, and Val just shakes her head. Leaning forward, Val confesses, “We don’t remember half their names either. But there are so many Knights it could take years.” Val glances over her shoulder at her mother-in-law, “I don’t know how Bonnie remembers them all.”
Kat looks over at me, a flicker of satisfaction in her gaze. “Carson seemed happy to introduce you to everyone,” she says.
I nod as I agree, “I noticed that myself.” A small smile spreads across my face.
Kat gently probes, “So, everything is going well between you two?”
I shrug, feeling a slight pang of unease flutter in my chest. “I guess as well as it can.”
Val pulls herself up off the chair. “Anybody want anything? I swear this is my last trip to the dessert table.” Her dimples flash.
Kat answers, her eyes twinkling, “I’ll take anything with chocolate. I’m not picky.”
Val laughs and then looks at me. I cave and say, “If there’s any more of that Cherry Delight I brought, please bring some for me.” As she goes to turn away, “Or anything with cream cheese!”
Val’s steps falter for just a moment, a funny look on her face. She then makes her way to the dessert table. Kat and I continue to talk about the different family members we’ve met.
Val’s back with cheesecake for herself and a chocolate brownie for Kat. She turns to me, a large helping of Cherry Delight on the paper plate. “That’s the last of your dessert,” she says with a smile.
She sits down across from me, and we all dig in. As I greedily lick the last bit of dessert off my spoon, I sigh. “I could have eaten the entire dish.” Val and Kat look equally satisfied as they clean their plates.
I feel Val’s eyes on me as I wipe my lips with a napkin, a speculative look in their depths. She glances around to make sure no one’s listening. “Anna, you know when we were discussing our pregnancy cravings…” Her eyes go from my now empty plate to me. “You said you had an insatiable craving for cream cheese…” She lets the words trail off, but her eyes study me keenly, searching for a reaction.
I feel my face lose all color, the blood rushing from my head. I’m suddenly at a loss for words. I lick my lips and then look down at my plate. Tell-tale color then floods my pale face. I look up, “I forgot I told you that,” my voice barely above a whisper.
Two sets of wide eyes stare back at me, then flicker to each other in silent communication. Kat is the first to reach out, her hand warm and reassuring on mine. “We won’t say anything. Will we, Val?”
Val nodded solemnly. “Not a word.”
I take a deep, shaky breath, forcing myself to calm down. I lean forward, I confess in a hushed tone. “I haven’t confirmed it. I haven’t even taken a home test. But the signs all indicate…” My words stop as I give a brittle laugh, “I can’t get enough cream cheese, and I’m so emotional. I’ve always been irregular, but—“ My gaze darts between them, seeking solace. “I have a doctor’s appointment next week.”
Val leans forward, her concern evident. “Has Carson noticed?”
I shake my head, “No, like I said, I’m very irregular, and I haven’t had morning sickness.”
“That’s a blessing, at least,” Val says with a sympathetic glance.
Kat asks quietly, “Are you happy about this? I ask because, well, you seem a little… sad.”
I give a wavering smile, “I’m happy, truly. It’s just that I don’t know how Carson will feel. I don’t know if he wants a future… with me.” I glance over at them with a sorrowful smile, “I’ve hurt him in the past…” I glance away, my eyes unfocused.
When I look back at them, I murmur, “I don’t want to go over past mistakes. But I don’t know if Carson could ever love me…” Again, my voice trails off. I give a rueful smile as I shrug. I briefly close my eyes, and when I open them, they are filled with determination. “And I would never force Carson into something he doesn’t want.” There’s a finality to my words.
Kat states with a dry smile, “Well, it’s not like you got into this condition by yourself. He can’t blame you. He’s equally responsible.” Val nods her head in agreement.
A sudden wave of gratitude washes over me. “Girls, thank you. I mean it. It feels good to have you two as friends.” They both lean in to give me a huge hug, their embrace a silent promise of support.
With a deliberate switch in topic, we chat about lighthearted things as the sun dips further down the horizon. Its rays cast long shadows when we scrape back our chairs and stand. The smoky scent of the grill lingers in the air, a reminder of the day’s festivities.
Bonnie approaches us, her voice warm. “We have a cleaning crew coming. They should be here in fifteen minutes. We only need to handle any leftover food. They, thankfully, will take care of the rest.”
We follow her over to the guys as they transfer any remaining barbecue into large aluminum foil trays. There’s enough meat that Bonnie insists we each take home a tray.
