In a Book Club Far Away(21)
“I know. But I’ll figure out a way to get back in time.” His gaze dropped briefly to her belly, and a hint of a smile bloomed on the corner of his lips. “Until then, you’re going to take care of you. The both of you.”
She nodded and shut her eyes. “It’s only been seven weeks. My first appointment isn’t even until next week.”
“Each day is another step closer. And we’re going to celebrate every milestone.”
She felt him tip her chin up.
“Open your eyes, babe.”
She did and found his expression as loving as ever, even as the crowd began to clear around them. “How do you do that? Be so optimistic. After everything you and I have gone through? This could all be nothing. And we could end up disappointed, again.” More than disappointed. Heartbroken was more like it, but she couldn’t put words to the loss.
“We could, but we might end up being the happiest parents on the planet.”
Adelaide felt a surge of panic rush through her. “We need more time. Because if it doesn’t happen, that’s another nine months when—” Her fears spilled out. Six years they’d tried to have a baby, ever since they’d gotten married. And yet…
“Adelaide.” He smiled thinly. Now she looked around and realized that they were truly the only ones still together. Off to the side, Jasper was waiting. Sophie had taken up a spot in the first row of the bleachers, an empty seat next to her for Adelaide.
“I love you. I love you. I love you.” Adelaide wrapped her arms around his waist, feeling foolish at their wasted time, not just today but all the days they’d had since their last deployment.
He ran his fingers through her hair, then brushed her cheek with a thumb.
I’m not going to cry. I refuse to cry.
Matt kissed her on the lips, sweet and chaste. “I love you forever.” Then he picked up his bag and walked away.
The rest of the morning was a blur. Adelaide only remembered Sophie’s warm hand in hers throughout the formation, and Regina, who she hadn’t seen in days, sobbing on her other side. The march of soldiers to the buses, the trail of buses leaving the quad. Scout’s cold nose against her elbow while she soaked in the tub later on that evening.
And starting to bleed that night.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Sophie
“It’s time to get ready for bed. Unlock this door, right this second, you two.” At 2101 Liberty Road, Apartment B, Sophie pounded on the bathroom door, her ear pressed against the wood. From the other side, she heard the giggles of little girls, the water running, and the clattering of something on the linoleum. “Olivia Renee Carmela Grace. I swear to God above.” She raised her eyes heavenward in a silent prayer and caught sight of the heating vent that was surely taking the sound of her voice and probably her very loud and frustrated thoughts up to her second-floor neighbor.
“‘Having kids is the greatest gift,’ she said. ‘Twins? Double the fun!’ she said. You lied, Auntie May! Do you hear that, you two? Your great-aunt lied because she only had me to raise and had no idea that double the fun meant double the trouble!” She took a breath, then crossed herself for good measure, just so she wouldn’t be proven wrong in her belief that ghosts didn’t exist and superstition was a simple way to explain life’s hard lessons. “Rest in peace, Auntie May. I appreciated all the love you gave me. I didn’t mean any disrespect.”
The door clicked open, halting Sophie’s tirade, and she watched it widen to reveal two seven-year-old little girls, each with a face full of makeup.
“Oh… oh my!” Sophie rushed to the sink to turn off the faucet, which was on at full blast. She palmed her forehead, which was still damp with sweat. She’d accidentally taken a late-afternoon nap—her insomnia had been at full throttle since Jasper left a week ago—and mid-dream she was startled awake by what could’ve only been her sixth sense. Her mama sense, honed over the years of raising two very mischievous, like-hellions-when-they’re-together little girls.
She took another deep breath to calm herself. Let it out slowly. This wasn’t a big deal. Just because she’d spent a small fortune on her makeup didn’t mean she needed to overreact. “Let’s get you both cleaned—”
When Sophie turned around, she discovered the girls had taken off. But before she could formulate her next step, the cordless rang in her pants back pocket. She had a habit of carrying the cordless with her around the house, since her cell phone had horrible reception.
She pressed the on button. “Hello?”
“Hey, babe.”
Sophie melted, right there on the lineoleum tile. Despite their decade-long relationship, she never got tired of this—his phone calls. There was something romantic about his voice in her ear, when she let her imagination wander to what Jasper was doing right at that second. Besides, it was easier to multitask on the phone; this moment was the perfect example.
“You have perfect timing.” She tore a paper towel from the holder and dampened it with water to wipe down the smudges of lipstick and foundation in the sink. She hooked the phone to her shoulder, and tilted her head to secure it. “How are you?”
The girls cackled like hens in the background, and a second later, someone was screaming “Mama!” so she quit her attempt to clean up and padded to the kitchen, where Olivia had commandeered a boxful of fruit snacks. Olivia was two minutes and six seconds older than Carmela and was, as usual, attempting to assert her dominance.