Page 42 of Consuming Logan

Lacy with delicate appliqués, the modern cut accented the curve hugging beaded gown and the flowy lace train looked so delicious Ava’s mouth watered. Lina turned, her back to them. Cultured and elegant at first glance the dress’s keyhole back added an unexpected touch of seductress.

“Fabulous.” Ava and Janna echoed their voices breathy.

Lifting one pinky to stroke her threaded brows, Lina blew an air kiss at her reflection in the mirror. “Of course, I am.”

Janna frowned. “How’s Logan?”

Ava dropped her voice into a conspiratorial whisper. “I think he’s scared. Everything has changed. He doesn’t complain, but I can tell his hand still hurts.”

“When’s his follow up visit?” Janna asked, downing the last of her bubbly liquid.

First appointment of the day for them included an evaluation and then physical therapy. Logan seemed underwhelmed by the idea of returning to the hospital. He hated being a patient. For a man like Logan, injury meant weakness. Ava disagreed. He’d saved her.

“It’s been a week and he hasn’t received a call about the chief of surgery position. He’s a little nervous about the job, but I think my being pregnant is the scariest of all.”

Ava didn’t understand why, but Logan worried about the baby. She thought it weird. Why would a pediatrician be anxious about his baby? Ava had no history of physical illness and the ultrasounds were normal. Allthreeof them.

“Where’s your mom, Ava?” Lina asked aloud.

Ava’s smile slipped. “Granny Lou wasn’t feeling well,” Ava plopped into an armless chair. “I really wanted them here with us.”

When Ava reached her parent’s house her mother and father were ushering her eighty-one-year-old grandmother out of her blue sequined sneakers and back to bed. Guilt assailed Ava. What if all the excitement from yesterday had contributed to Granny Lou’s illness?

“Oh Ava,” Janna rubbed her shoulder. “I’m sure she’ll be bright as rainbows tomorrow.”

The inquiry dredged up the crap that had hit the proverbial church fan. Robert Lee’s announcement along with Logan and Maribelle’s meltdown had turned Sunday dinner into a major choke fest.

“Yeah, you’re probably right,” Ava slumped in her chair.

Lina bent and slipped off Ava’s shoes. “Do tell why your man called my Gideon late in the midnight hour for an emergency psyche consultation?”

There were three pairs of shoes, slides, pumps, and sandals in front of the mirror.

“Got more of that champagne?” Ava asked, sure she would need a stiff drink to get through the retelling.

“That’s for the grown & sexy people. Baby’s mama gets water,” Lina said, pushing the drink cart out of reach.

Ava recounted the blow-by-blow details of the big announcement. When she mentioned Maribelle’s accusation, Ariss’s threat, and her father’s declaration, gasps andoh snapsabounded.

“Oh my God,” Janna yelped. “I know Logan about lost his damn mind when Mr. Walters said you could come home.”

He had. Not that her father implied that Logan had failed in taking care of her, but Logan had received the message.

“Huh,” Lina rolled her eyes. “I’m surprised you’re not in a tower writing letters to Shrek and donkey asking them to come rescue you.”

“Seriously,” Ava chided. “My dad would notFioname.”

Lina gave them a sideways glance. “Let me ask you a few questions.”

“Sure,” Ava said dropping her purse on the side table.

“Did Mr. Walters crack a smile? Did he stutter? Did he retract his statement?”

No. No. No. They burst out laughing. Count on Lina to find the silver lining in every thunder cloud.

Janna went to the rack holding the gowns Lucy had pulled for Ava. “Try this one on, Ava.”

Lina clapped her hands together. The sound cracked like a sudden pop of lighting, startling Ava.