In a Book Club Far Away(78)

But Sophie also envisioned Regina’s expression at finding out that Sophie had not gone to her first, and thought twice.

She would have to speak to Regina first, and alone.

“Oh, hey, babe!” Logan raised his eyes to the space over Sophie’s shoulder.

Sophie shut her eyes. She took a breath. She schooled her expression as she would with a vulnerable patient.

She turned. “Hey, Reggie!” Her voice sounded fake, but she went with it. “I was just in line for the bathroom and I saw Logan, and he was…” Her brain stuttered a step. “Waiting for you. I thought I would say hi.”

Regina’s expression was flat. “What were you guys talking about? It looked serious.”

“Nothing, just asking how he was settling in.” Sophie turned to Logan. “Right?”

“Yeah. And I was wondering where Sergeant Clemens was.”

“And I was saying that he’s… actually with the twins and Adelaide just on the other side. You guys should join us if you haven’t eaten. We grabbed a picnic bench and everything.” Sophie felt sweat beading on the back of her neck from the suspicion in Regina’s eyes.

“We’ve already eaten,” Regina said.

Sophie was desperate to lift the mood, to buy herself some time, to look less conspicuous. “Did you end up reading this month’s book club selection? The one that Kerry had to cancel?”

“Uh, no.” Regina’s face relaxed. “With redeployment and the third trimester, whenever I sit down, I end up falling asleep. I heard it was heartbreaking.”

“It is. It’s a nonfiction about the HeLa cells, which were taken from a Black woman and then grown for research, and yet, her descendants haven’t received a dime. At the heart of it, the book’s really about doing what’s right and calling out the wrong things when it’s necessary.” She wasn’t sure why that came out of her mouth, except that she felt a rush of protectiveness toward her friend.

Regina raised an eyebrow.

“Anyway, next book club is at my house. I’m sending out an email soon. But I’ve got to run. Seriously, my bladder.” She leaned in to hug Regina, an overkill, but necessary. “Come join us at the picnic tables, by the game tent, if you can.”

“Uh, sure.”

Sophie rushed to the bathroom line, which miraculously had shrunk, and she heaved a sigh. She really could have messed things up back there. This was not about her; this was about her friend. Her pregnant friend.

She had to protect her, though she didn’t know how to.





PART SEVEN




You can tell your story any way you damn well please. It’s your solo.

—The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson





CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

Adelaide




Present Day, Friday

What a difference forty-eight hours had made. On Friday morning, Adelaide was up at 9:00 a.m., feeling a million times better. Her energy had increased with more of Regina’s home cooking, and her spirits lightened with Sophie’s company. Though she still needed her pain meds, she’d worked up the energy to follow Genevieve around to make up for the days she’d been unwell, taking breaks as needed. This morning, she even put on some makeup and a little bit of lip gloss, and she looked forward to leaving the house, even if it was for her follow-up doctor’s appointment.

Most importantly, she couldn’t wait to celebrate her daughter’s birthday, even if it would be an intimate affair.

Adelaide entered her walk-in closet. She reached up to the topmost shelf, croaking from the anticipation of pain, and grabbed a hatbox. She opened it to a teddy bear smooshed to fit. The fibers of its fur were the softest she’d ever felt, and she’d known that her baby girl would love it. She pressed on the paw of the bear, and it spoke—with Matt’s voice.

When she finally arrived downstairs, close to 11:00 a.m., with the bear in the hatbox, she detected a frantic energy in the air, though nothing was amiss. Sophie was on the phone in the backyard, Genevieve playing just beyond her reach, and Regina was in the kitchen.

“Hey, look at all the food!” Adelaide looked over Regina’s shoulder.

“Hey, mama. Since today’s a special day and you’re up and around, I thought I’d make a little extra. We can always freeze leftovers for later.”

“You are the best! I have Genevieve’s present all ready. She can open it when I get back.”

“Oh, that’s right. You have your appointment,” Regina stated, not looking at her.

“Yep, at noon.” She went to the sliding glass door and knocked on the glass.

Sophie turned and made a sign that she would bring Genevieve inside.

“I feel really good today,” Adelaide said to Regina.

“That’s great. Why not extend your field trip today? Take a walk after your appointment?”

“Yeah, maybe.” Adelaide was getting a strange vibe from Regina but pushed it away. Whenever the woman cooked, she was in her own world. “I’ll wait for Sophie in the living room. Might as well check emails.”

She sat down in the small office area in the living room and opened her laptop. It had been almost a week since she’d been online; she could just imagine the notifications on social media and unread emails.