Page 50

“ I t’s a good letter, Lucy.” Tresia folded the thick sheaf of paper and handed it to Lucy.

The action made her wince, just a little.

Every once in a while, the shoulder where Frances shot her reminded her of how close she’d come to dying.

“I wouldn’t change a thing.” She watched her friend wander over to the stove and pick up the coffeepot.

“It must have been hard, letting Josie’s daughter know what happened to her. ”

“It wasn’t easy, I will admit. I struggled a bit.” Lucy patted the pocket where she had placed the letter then poured the rich brew into cups and slid one across the table to her. “This is my fourth attempt.”

“Why did Mr. Applebaum ask you to write it? He’s a lawyer. A good one. He should know how to compose a letter.”

Lucy laughed, her face turning a lovely shade of pink as she put the coffeepot back on the stove and slid into her seat.

“Because, while he’s an excellent lawyer, he has all the finesse of a bull in a China shop and the situation required a little more delicacy than he can handle.

We didn’t know what Sheridan—that’s her name—knew of Josie’s life.

We didn’t even know Josie had a daughter until Mr. Applebaum opened probate, so the situation required a little more diplomacy than Mr. Applebaum possesses. ”

“Well, you did a good job. I’m sure Mr. Applebaum will appreciate it. Sheridan, too.”

“He’s helping you as well, isn’t he?”

She nodded, grateful that the good lawyer was, indeed, helping.

“And there’s a lot to do. As you know, Frances never stood trial for what she tried to do to me.

Her mind…isn’t what it should be. The loss of Hannah was finally too much for her.

She will be locked up in the sanitarium for a long time.

” Tresia stirred the coffee though she hadn’t added any sugar or cream to it.

“Devlin’s old friend and his wife are taking care of the ranch until Avery comes into her majority at twenty-one.

Mr. Applebaum is working on all the legalities of that as well as keeping Frances where she is so the doctors at the sanitarium can continue to help her.

I doubt she’ll ever leave, but she’ll be well taken care of. ”

Tresia sighed and pushed her coffee cup away, unable to tolerate the aroma.

In fact, it was making her stomach roil, and if she wasn’t careful, she’d been running for the chamber pot, as she’d done several times this past week.

Funny that it only happened in the morning and early afternoon—by evening, she was craving the rich brew.

She glanced up to see Lucy staring at her with the most peculiar look on her face.

“Everything all right? Is the coffee too strong?”

“I don’t know. I can’t get past the smell, which is so strange. That’s never happened to me before. Lately, when I’m brewing coffee in the morning, the smell is enough to make me nauseous.”

“Nauseous? Well, that’s odd.” Lucy’s brows rose as a smile lifted the corners of her mouth. “How long has this been happening?”

“Just the past few weeks or so.”

Lucy’s smile grew. “Anything else unusual?”

“I’m tired.” She let out a sigh. “Which is also unlike me. Some days, it feels like I can’t get enough sleep.

Other days, I have so much energy, I don’t know what to do with myself.

Teaching Corianna how to run Sullivan’s must be more exhausting than I thought, even though she’s catching on quickly.

” She was still happy with her decision to help Corianna leave Josie’s Parlor House and come to work for her at the store.

“She’s smarter than she ever gave herself credit for.

She loves the store almost as much as I do and she has some great ideas to make it better.

” Tresia reached for a slice of cake then changed her mind.

Just the thought of eating that sweet treat made her stomach turn.

She looked at Lucy across the table. “Why are you smiling like that?”

“Oh, no reason, but I think you should see my husband—in his professional capacity.”

“It’s nothing, Lucy. I’m not sick. I don’t even have a fever.”

“No, you’re not sick. You’re just…I think…maybe….” She clamped her mouth shut, but there was a glimmer of mischief in her eyes. “I’m not going to say anything. Let’s see what Ben has to say. He’s here now. I don’t think he has any patients at the moment. Why don’t you go see him?”

“Lucy, you’re being ridiculous. I’m just tired.”

“For me? Please?” Lucy asked then rose from her chair and grabbed her hand, forcing her to rise as well. It didn’t look like she had much choice.

“All right. Just to prove to you there’s nothing wrong with me.”

A few moments later, she was ushered into Ben’s office through the separate entrance and looking at him. “I’m not even sure why I’m here. I’m not sick, but Lucy insisted.”

“That’s fine.” He laughed. “You don’t have to be sick to see me.

In fact, you’re one of the healthiest people I know, but it couldn’t hurt.

You’re here. I’m here. Let’s just examine you.

” He led her into the examining room and helped her up onto the table.

“There’s a reason why Lucy wanted me to look at you. What did you tell her?”

Tresia shook her head and played with the strings of her drawstring purse, a little nervous. “Just that I’m tired. And the smell of coffee makes me nauseous.”

He smiled as he fitted the earpieces of his stethoscope into his ears and pressed the chest piece to her heart. He listened quietly for a few minutes. “Your heart is good, beating normally.” He moved behind her and pressed the chest piece to her back. “Breathe in.”

She did as she was told, although this seemed pretty ridiculous. She was just tired, that’s all.

“Again.”

She pulled air into her lungs and let it out slowly.

“Very good,” Ben said as he came around so he could look at her, the stethoscope now around his neck.

He looked at her eyes, then felt along her jawbone with the pads of his fingers and lower still to her throat.

“I detect no swelling and your eyes are clear.” His smile was reassuring, as it always was.

He was a great doctor—kind, compassionate, and truly knowledgeable.

“Is there anything else besides being tired and the smell of coffee making you nauseated? Is coffee the only thing? Any other changes that are different than before? Differences in your body?” He hit her with rapid fire questions, almost too fast to respond to, then took her hand and pressed two fingers to her wrist where her pulse beat. “Hmmm, nice and steady.”

Her face warmed with embarrassment as she thought about what he asked though she should be able to tell Ben anything.

He was her doctor and had been treating her professionally for quite some time.

“Well, my clothes have been feeling a little tight.” She gestured to her chest. “Especially here. And my breasts are tender. Tightening up my corset is sometimes…uncomfortable. Taking it off is worse.”

He said nothing, but his smile grew and his eyes danced with mischief like Lucy’s had just a short time ago. “When was your last monthly flow?” he asked, rather bluntly in her opinion.

And surprisingly, she really had to think about that.

Truthfully, she hadn’t been paying attention.

Married life, plus making sure Avery was happy and healthy, while teaching Corianna how to run Sullivan’s had kept her so busy, she hadn’t noticed.

“I don’t know,” she admitted finally, a little embarrassed by that, too.

She’d always been as regular as clockwork and knew her schedule down to within a three-day window. “It’s been at least two months.”

“You’re right. There is nothing wrong with you.” He smiled in that reassuring way he had then took her hand in his. “I believe you’re going to have a baby.”

It was the last thing she expected to hear. “What?”

“You’re going to have a baby,” he repeated. “Are you surprised?”

Surprised didn’t even begin to describe what she was feeling at the moment. “Well, yes! I never thought I would become pregnant. I didn’t think I could.”

“Why not? You’re young and healthy.”

“But Brett and I tried for a long time.”

He removed the stethoscope from around his neck and laid it on the desk in the corner then came to stand in front of her, his hands on the examining table on either side of her hips. “Did you ever think it was Brett’s condition that prevented you from becoming pregnant?”

“No, I never did. I always figured it would happen if it happened and then, when it didn’t, I just thought…that I wasn’t meant to be a mother.”

“Well, you are now—” he gestured to her belly “—not only to this little one, but to Avery, too.”

He took her hand and helped her slide from the table. “Congratulations, Tresia.”

Stunned by the news, she left Ben’s office then let herself into Lucy’s kitchen. She was waiting, hands on her hips, a look of expectancy on her face.

“I’m going to have a baby,” she announced, still reeling then shook her head, not sure if she should laugh or cry. “How did you know?”

Lucy chuckled. “I’ve been a doctor’s wife for a few years now, plus I have three sisters-in-law. I know some of the signs.” She handed her a glass of lemonade and gestured to a chair. “What’s wrong? Aren’t you happy? Haven’t you always wanted a baby?”

“I did. I do. I didn’t think I could.” She let out a sigh as a thought occurred to her, dampening her happiness. “I’m worried about how Devlin is going to react. You know he lost Hannah in childbirth.”

Lucy’s face paled a bit and she lost a little of her enthusiasm. “No, I didn’t know, but it’s going to be all right. You’re not Hannah. He knows that.”

Tresia took a deep breath. “How am I going to tell him that I’m pregnant?”

“What’s pregnant?” A small voice asked from the doorway.

Tresia turned in her chair quickly to see Avery and Savannah, the both of them wearing the efforts of their goal to dig a hole all the way to China.

Before she could compose herself, Savannah rolled her eyes like Avery was the dumbest person on earth. “She’s going to have a baby, silly,” she said. “That’s what pregnant means. You’re going to be a big sister.”

Avery’s eyes widened in surprise as she looked at her friend. “I am?”

“Don’t get so excited.” Savannah let out an exaggerated groan. “Babies cry all the time!” She jerked her thumb toward her chest. “I know. I’m big sister to three brothers, and they’re all a pain!”

Lucy let out a sudden peal of laughter then slapped her hand over her mouth. When she recovered from her apparent shock, she admonished the girl. “Savannah! That’s not nice to say. I have three brothers, too, and they’re not all bad.”

Savannah shrugged. “But it’s the truth. They are a pain…sometimes. I still love them though.”

Tresia held out her hand for Avery, who hadn’t moved from the doorway, still apparently surprised.

She moved forward and Tresia pulled her onto her lap, despite the mud on her clothes, hands, and face.

Even Cecily, who she clutched in her arms, was covered in mud.

There was a bath in Avery’s future…as soon as they got home.

She pushed Avery’s curls, which were getting long, away from her face then grasped her little chin between her fingers.

“Is that all right with you, sweet pea?”

Avery nodded eagerly, no fear or apprehension in her expression.

She may have been too young to remember what happened with her mother, or had been shielded from the truth, which was a blessing in many ways.

“Let’s go home and tell your father.” She rose from her seat, Avery still in her arms, then leaned in for a quick hug for Lucy.

“I’ll see you tomorrow. And thank you, Lucy. This is kind of wonderful!”

As they walked home, Avery clutching her hand and skipping beside her, Tresia wrestled with exactly how she was going to tell Devlin the news. The words just wouldn’t come to her, no matter how hard she tried.

She was saved from having to find the right words at all. Avery ran through the front door and saw Devlin. “I’m going to be a big sister!”

The words evidently stunned him as well because he released the vase of fresh flowers he’d set on the fireplace mantle, and just stood there, his mouth open even as Avery launched herself into his arms. “Mama’s gonna have a baby!”

The expression on his face made her hesitate. She couldn’t tell if he was happy or sad or concerned or all three.

“Is it true? Are you…?” He lowered Avery to the floor then took a step away from the fireplace, a slew of emotions passing over his face.

Tresia nodded, still unsure, as she closed the door and just stood there, waiting to see what he would do or say.

It only took a moment for a big smile to lift the corners of his mouth and then she was in his arms and he was dropping kisses all over her face and laughing.

“Does this mean you’re happy?”

“I am. Incredibly so.”

She laughed as he picked her up and whirled her around, then quickly realizing what he was doing in her condition, set her down. “I shouldn’t have done that. Are you all right?”

“I’m all right, Devlin. I’m not made of porcelain. I won’t break though I am a little nauseated.”

“I’m sorry.” He led her to a chair, the most comfortable one in the parlor, and made her sit, then knelt in front of her. Avery took advantage of the situation and crawled into her lap.

She ran her fingers through Avery’s curls, then reached out to cup Devlin’s cheek. “No need to be sorry.” Her gaze roamed over his face and she saw his concern. Was he thinking of Hannah? “Dr. Ben says I’m young and healthy and should have no problems.”

He nodded, as if understanding all the words she didn’t say. “Are you happy?” he asked finally.

“I am.” She smiled as he took her hand from his cheek and kissed the palm. “Very much so.”

And she was. Who’d have thought she’d have everything she’d ever wanted—the store, a husband who adored her, and children to love, and it was all because of Lucy Hart and her matchmaker mischief. She’d have to remember to thank her…but not too soon!