The Road to Rose Bend, Naima Simone [jenna bush book club .TXT] 📗

to work,” her father said, and when Sydney looked at him, she didn’t miss the slight frown that marred his brow as he glanced from Cole to Sydney. When their eyes met, the frown cleared, and he almost awkwardly patted her knee again. “See you soon, Sydney.”

She hadn’t expected her normally reserved father to say, I love you. But damn the part of her that held its breath waiting for it, longing for it. Damn the part that ached because she didn’t hear the words.

“Bye, Dad,” she said, and watched his back as he disappeared through the door.

Let it go, she ordered herself. At least he came in to be with her, to see his first grandchild. Given the state of their strained relationship, beggars couldn’t be choosers. And if it struck her that a child shouldn’t have to beg for her parent’s affection, well... She’d accepted that a long time ago and yearning for something wouldn’t change it.

She should know.

But one of her doubts could be laid to rest. Her father would love and accept his granddaughter. That glimmer of tears had been real.

“Here you go, Sydney.” Dr. Prioleau handed Sydney a long printout of the sonogram images she’d captured. Releasing Cole’s hand, Sydney cupped the paper, cradling it as if it might poof into thin air any second. “Congratulations. I’m happy for you. You can set up your next appointment date at the front desk. Do you have any questions for me?”

“No, not at the moment. But believe me, as neurotic as I am, I’ll reach out if I do.”

The other woman laughed. “I’m here. I’ll see you next month.”

Dr. Prioleau left, her heels clacking against the floor. Damn, she really did need to find out where her doctor shopped. Those heels were bangin’.

“Ready to get out of here?” Cole asked, cupping her elbow as she pushed off the table.

“Yes.” She strode over to her purse and carefully stowed the sonogram printout inside. “And I know you’re probably sick of me saying this, but thank you,” she said, continuing to fuss with her purse so she didn’t have to look at him.

With the shenanigans her body insisted on doing whenever he was within breathing distance, and the emotional gauntlet she’d traveled today, she didn’t trust her face not to betray her.

“You’re welcome, Sydney. Thank you for letting me stay.”

She finally turned around. The smirk on her lips felt more like a defense than a true show of amusement. “Like I had a choice. ‘Get it through your thick head. I’m staying’,” she mimicked him, dropping her voice several ranges. She shook her head, and then sobered, studying his face. “Are you sure you’re okay? Regardless of what you’ve said, this cost you, Cole.”

He didn’t immediately reply, his focus switching from her to the wall behind her. “Yes, it did,” he finally said. And her stomach bottomed out.

“I’m so sorry—”

“No,” he interrupted, his eyes shifting and clashing with hers. She nearly flinched at the intensity there, the stark emotion that had her wanting to back away and insanely, cuddle close. “Don’t apologize. This was my decision, and I’d make the same one again. I don’t know who convinced you that you’re not worth putting first, but you are. And you deserve that. Demand it.”

She blinked, his words punching straight to her heart. Had anyone ever told her she wasn’t a priority? No. But they’d hammered that message home her entire life.

Her parents, first with Carlin and her illness, and then with their grief.

Daniel, with his career and his opinions and needs.

And then herself. She was the biggest culprit of not placing herself first in her own life.

But admitting that to herself had her cringing and backpedaling. No way she could confess it to Cole. Not the town golden boy. Not the beloved mayor. It smacked too much of self-pity.

So, she said nothing. And as she pulled the door open, she couldn’t help but mentally chuckle, and even in her head it sounded razor sharp. The irony remained that if she ever allowed herself to do something as foolish as falling for Cole—which she would not—he would just be one more person on that short list. She would never be first with him.

His wife already occupied that place.

And no one ever had a hope of displacing her.

CHAPTER TEN

“OH MY GOD. Are you having sex?”

Sydney jerked to a halt outside of Mimi’s Café, coughing and almost spitting out her bite of glazed doughnut.

“What?” she nearly shouted. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Leo cackled like a hyena in her ear. “That moan sounded particularly dirty. And since I’ve read that pregnant women run hot...” Her friend laughed again.

Sydney finished chewing the treat and swallowed before answering. “You’re crazy. And I nearly died because of you. Death by glazed doughnut. I would’ve haunted your ass, too.”

“You’re at Mimi’s, aren’t you? Only a doughnut from Mimi’s makes a person moan like that. I secretly call them orgasms in the mouth.”

“Dammit, Leo.” Sydney choked on another burst of laughter. “Really?”

“What? All I do is work, and it’s been a while,” she whined, then ruined it by snickering. “Stop punishing me for missing your doctor’s appointment! Which I’m so sorry for, by the way. If I could’ve been there, I would have. And I hate that I missed seeing the baby for myself. So put me out of my misery! Tell me! What’re we having? A little Arwen or Aragorn?”

“Well, I’m having...” Sydney dragged out the last word into five syllables.

“Tell me!”

“A girl.” Sydney laughed, the delight that hadn’t dissipated in the slightest spilling out of her. All over Main Street. “I’m having a little girl.”

Leo’s scream rang in her ear. Grinning, Sydney held the phone away from her until the squeals stopped. Or rather, lowered in volume.

“I’m going to need the hearing in that ear, thank you very much,” Sydney griped to her friend.

“Oh, stop bitchin’. We’re having a girl. I’m going to be an aunt. I get to buy her dresses and