Starting Now (Blossom Street #9)(56)

Libby nodded, hoping to encourage her.

“When I suggested there was a reason Ava had gained all that weight and what I suspected, she dragged Ava into the room and asked her outright if she was pregnant or not.”

“What did Ava say?”

“She denied it. Really, who could blame her? I probably would have done the same thing.”

“In other words the grandmother refused to believe it?”

Lydia nodded, her brown eyes round and sad. “She claimed Ava was just fat and that I was a busybody … and she basically threatened me if I started spreading rumors about her granddaughter sleeping around.”

“Oh, Lydia …” Libby felt dreadful for her friend, and for Ava, too.

“I don’t think that’s the worst of it, though.”

“What do you mean?”

Lydia sat down and poured them each a cup of tea. The steam rose from the cups. Her hand lingered on the teapot as she set it back down on the table. “This morning Casey phoned Ava to tell her we were on our way to pick her up so she would be ready when we got there.”

“And?” Libby feared she already knew what was coming.

“Ava said she couldn’t come. Her grandmother won’t let her have anything more to do with me or Casey.”

At first Libby was at a loss for words, but as Lydia had said, Ava trusted her. “Maybe I should stop by her house this morning,” she suggested. Perhaps if she talked to Ava, reassured her that everything would work out, then the teenager might agree to let Libby pay for a visit to the doctor. She’d talk to Sharon first and get a recommendation for a female obstetrician from her. Libby’s own was male but she felt Ava might be more comfortable with a woman. Normally she would have asked Phillip. He was the first person who popped into her mind, but she couldn’t—wouldn’t—allow herself to do that. Still, he remained constantly in her thoughts.

“Would you be willing to go see Ava?” Lydia asked. “I’d feel so much better if you did.”

“Of course.” She sipped her tea and brought out her knitting. When Libby was this upset putting her hands to work calmed her. She wasn’t sure how this newly developed habit would play out in the office when dealing with a client, though. The thought of her reaching for her knitting in the middle of a legal discussion produced a smile.

“I feel just terrible,” Lydia murmured, elbows at her sides, holding her teacup with both hands.

“You did what you could,” Libby assured her. “I doubt it would have gone any better no matter who told Ava’s grandmother. While she might choose to deny that Ava is pregnant, she’ll be forced to acknowledge the truth soon enough.”

“But what happens until then?”

The teenager was Libby’s biggest concern as well. “I’ll do what I can to help her.”

“I’m so grateful.”

The bell above the door chimed, announcing a customer. Lydia helped the knitter, who was looking for alpaca yarn. She rang up the sale and then returned to the table.

“Where’s Casey today?” Libby asked. She liked talking to Lydia’s daughter. Perhaps she could learn something from her.

Lydia reached for her own knitting. “She’s with my mother. Casey and my mother have a special bond. Our daughter never knew any of her grandparents before we adopted her and she loves listening to my mother’s stories. She simply enjoys spending time with Mom, and it’s good for my mother, too. I do worry, though …” She let the rest fade.

“Worry?”

“My mother’s health is failing and I can’t help being concerned how Casey will deal with the loss once Mom … dies.” Her voice cracked as the last half of the comment came in a whisper, as if she had a difficult time facing the possibility of life without her mother.

“Don’t borrow trouble,” Libby suggested. This was something her own mother had told her. “There’s enough to handle for today; we don’t need to take on the worries of another day.”

Lydia’s hands rested in her lap. “You’re right.”

The back door that led to the alley where the staff parked opened and Margaret came into the store. She smiled when she saw Libby. After greetings all around, Margaret tucked her purse away, grabbed a cup, and joined them at the table. Soon the three were chatting, occasionally interrupted by a customer.

After hearing about the events of the night before, Margaret offered Lydia her own words of reassurance and basically said the same thing Libby had. It wouldn’t have mattered who delivered the news, Darlene’s reactions would have been the same.

“Ava will listen to you,” Margaret assured Libby. “She looks up to you.”

Libby appreciated the encouragement. She needed it.

Libby remained at the store until lunchtime. “I’ll get something to eat and take it over to Ava’s with me,” she said. She would bring a green salad and fresh fruit. As she gathered her knitting and her purse, she experienced a wave of affection for these two women who had become her friends.

For Libby to have spent two hours in a yarn store, visiting with Lydia and Margaret, would have been completely unheard-of only a few months ago. Once her law practice took off, she probably wouldn’t find the time to do it often.

She hadn’t taken a lot of time in the last ten years to cultivate friendships. There simply weren’t enough hours in a day to work as hard and long as she did and still have time for a social life. Her new friends gave her a sense of belonging, and community. Libby knew she could discuss her troubles with Lydia and Margaret and they would listen, really listen, because they cared and wanted what was best for her.