In a Book Club Far Away(53)

Would she really be able to shutter the doors in six months? Would she be able to tell Alexis that she would have to move on? Could she let go of her employees? Could she afford not to? Every bit of saved money, except for a small amount earmarked for emergencies, had gone toward her venture. Yet, what had she gained?

Headaches, yes, but joy, too, and pride. That she’d created something from scratch, made from her own sweat and tears. This was something no one could take away.

She shook her runaway brain into focus and started on the food list. Cake from Just Cakes. Tea sandwiches, 3 types (cucumber, cheese, ham).

Someone cleared their throat.

Baby pink tablecloths.

“Excuse me, are you in line?” A low voice said behind her.

Tent flags draped in the living room.

“Uh-huh,” she said.

“The line moved.”

Goodness, Northern Virginians were impatient. She sighed, thumbed a final word on the phone, and looked behind her, eyes ready to roll.

Only to meet Henry Just’s level gaze.

“Hey.” She felt her entire body relax and warm. “I mean, I’m glad you could come.”

“I’m glad you asked me.” He drew her into his arms. He smelled good, like sugar and vanilla. “How was your night?”

“Okay.” She nodded and pulled back. The line had in fact moved, so she scooted forward. “Adelaide’s doing really well. She’s going to be discharged today sometime.”

“That’s great. You don’t sound so…”

“Oh, I just have a lot on my mind.” Her fingers found their way to her forehead, because yes, her brain had an overflow of unresolved issues that she didn’t quite know what to do with. “Plus, not enough coffee to function.”

“I get it. I mean, good, because I thought it was me. Since the last time we saw each other…”

She was now in front of the counter and the barista looked at her expectantly. Out of haste she ordered her usual, a latte, though a second later she wished that she had something sweet to go with it. She was a mess, trying to manage this crush-filled moment, and a little sugar always made her feel better. Henry handed his credit card over her shoulder and ordered for himself with his easy demeanor and casual familiarity.

As they waited for their drinks, Regina said, “You didn’t have to do that.”

They were shoulder to shoulder, and his hands were stuffed in his front pockets. He was half looking at her, half at the baristas making their drinks. Next to the bar counter came the loud roar of the milk steamer. “Regina, I don’t mind getting you coffee. I like you.”

The words seeped in slowly.

How was he so open, just saying what he felt? And why couldn’t she be like that, too?

She looked up at him, at his seemingly shy demeanor. His cheeks were slightly red, vulnerability in his eyes. “You like me?”

“Yes, I do. So meeting you for coffee, even grabbing you coffee. Sending you a book, hanging out with your goddaughter. I’m down for it. I hope I’m not too forward, but your time here is short.… And at the same time, I don’t want to be a creep, to be around when you might not want me, because I’m not sure if you really want me to be here, or if I’m just forcing something.” The red in his cheeks bloomed to the rest of his face.

“No, I… I like you, too.” The words popped out before she could stop them. “I’m… I don’t do this a lot, and I’m out of practice. I don’t know how these things progress.” She laughed at how this all seemed so backward. “I mean, you know that. But I really like that you’re around, and that you’re here.”

“Likewise. And great.” His smile reached from ear to ear.

It was good the barista called his name, and he stepped away to retrieve the cups of coffee, because Regina had to control her own heated cheeks.

He handed one cup to her. “Do you have time to sit?”

She looked at her phone. “I’ve got to get back to the hospital soon. But maybe you could walk me there? We can talk about the cake.”

His expression slackened. “Right, the cake. Speaking of, I have some time later on today and you can pick out what you’d like, on the cake.”

“And maybe”—she dared to step out of her comfort zone—“maybe we can talk about where you can take me. After we talk about the cake, I mean.”

“Oh—I’d like that.” His smile swooped all the way up to his eyes. The sides of his mouth wrinkled, which filled Regina with innocent giddiness.

He wanted to go out with her. She didn’t have to beg him for time, nor did she have to guess how he felt.

He was doing everything right. But as she pushed the glass door open and the chime overhead rang, Regina wondered if, in exploring her affection for him, she was adding to her growing list of unresolved issues.





CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Adelaide




Adelaide had just endured another visit from a resident, baring her abdomen yet again, when her phone rang. Matt’s name appeared on the screen, along with a photo of him holding Genevieve when she was born, wrapped in a faded, striped hospital blanket. Her daughter was a pink, screaming bundle. Matt’s glasses were slightly askew, a perfect representation of those three days of chaos, from Adelaide’s water breaking in the middle of dinner in a fancy restaurant, being induced, to an eventual C-section, and a second surgery from a nicked bladder from the C-section.