A Hero for Tonight (17 page)

“I was up late, and it was on the floor; I didn’t hear it for a while.”

His father glanced at Krista. “Where’s that fancy new phone we got you for your birthday? You know the one that does everything for you except answer itself?”

It wasn’t like his father to be so shrewd. Shane shifted uncomfortably. “Maybe I will have some tea. Is there still water in there?” He picked up the old red kettle and weighed it to see if there was enough for two cups.

“Get yourselves some and meet me in the living room. This won’t get any easier, so we might as well let you know what we’re dealing with.”

Krista handed him two mugs, a tea bag in each. Shane poured the water. From the living room, he could hear his parents talking, but couldn’t make out their words.

He set the kettle back on the stove and looked out the back window. Was it only twelve hours ago they fooled around behind the shed and fought in the snow?

Shaking off his thoughts, he picked up his mug. “Ready?”

Krista’s face was white, but she nodded, and cup in hand, led the way to the living room.

The room was brighter and his mother awake. His father sat in the chair his mother normally sat in next to the recliner, so he and Krista took a seat on the couch across from them. Staring at his mother, he noticed the heavy, dark circles under her eyes.

Mary glanced from one to the other. “You two look like you’re scared to death. That’s not going to help the situation.”

Shane set his tea down on the coffee table. “Stop worrying about us. We’ll handle whatever we need to.”

“Good, because your father is really going to need you, if we’re going to get through this.”

Shane set his jaw and nodded. “Whatever you both need. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

“Me, too.” Krista’s voice quivered.

“We’re in shock to be honest. Never in a million years did I think this would happen. When Dr. Sullivan called this morning, and we went in to see him...” His mother shook her head. “Well, I have to be honest, this was the last thing I thought he was going to tell me.”

Really? It never crossed her mind? He knew his mother was always the optimist, but seriously? Shane glanced at his father who was staring at his cup of tea, letting his mother do all the talking.

“So, the toughest part of course is going to be the confinement,” his mother continued. “I’m going to have to be in bed, a lot, and that’s going to make it really hard to get through the holidays and the store.”

“I’ll handle the store,” Krista piped up.

His mother nodded. “I know I can count on you. I had a thought, too. Maybe Melissa might be willing to help you out, at least on the weekends. She’s more than welcome to bring Brittany, so she wouldn’t have to worry about a babysitter.”

“I’ll check with her, but you don’t need to think twice about the store. I’ve got it.”

“Well, it’s only another month, and then fortunately, the market will be closed until September.” She closed her eyes and put her hand to her temple for a moment. When she opened her eyes, she looked directly at Krista once more. “We’ll have to talk about what to do about the store before next September. I don’t know where I’ll be by then.”

Shane’s jaw tightened, but he let her comment about next year go by. Truthfully, he couldn’t even imagine where they’d
all
be by then. His gaze slipped to Krista before he forced it back to his mother. “Don’t worry about Christmas either. I’m sure you’ve already done more than enough shopping.” Shane knew his mother started early and loved to shop right up until Christmas Eve, but this year she’d just have to let it go.

“I can do some online. But the cookies and—”

“I told you, we can go a year without cookies. Everyone will understand.” His father set his tea on the table and reached for his wife’s hand.

She sighed. “I guess they’ll have to, but I hate to let them down. Especially my customers, like Mrs. Henderson and Mr. Slayton. You know they look forward to my cutouts.”

“I can do them,” Krista offered. “You tell me what to make, and I’ll get it done.”

“Maybe that would work.” Mary shifted in the recliner. “At least from here I can talk to you in the kitchen.”

“You need to be in bed. Remember what Dr. Sullivan said. In
bed
.” His father looked to Shane. “Dr. Sullivan said she is to stay in bed at all the times, except for bathroom breaks.”

“Yes, honey. I promise I will do what he says, but the couch is the same as a bed.”

“If you’re on the couch, you’ll be tempted to get up, just for this thing or that.”

His mother reached out her hand and his father took it. “Do you really think I’m going to take a chance at anything going wrong?” Her voice cracked even as she smiled.

Shane’s mouth went dry, and he felt as if someone had punched him in the gut as reality hit home. His mother was seriously ill. He tried hard to think positive; cancer wasn’t always a death sentence. It could be treated. That was, if it was cancer. Whatever it was, she would be fine. She
had
to be.

His mother looked over at him, and then her gaze slid to Krista. “Aren’t you two going to even ask what the doctor said?”

Chapter Nine

Shane couldn’t speak. His mouth was numb, and somehow he thought if she didn’t say the word, he wouldn’t have to deal with it.

When he didn’t say anything, Krista set her tea down and moved forward on the couch. “What did the doctor say, Mary?” Her voice was calm and soft as if she’d done her best to keep it even.

His mother’s eyes filled with tears, and she glanced to her husband. Shane almost lost it when he saw the tears well in his father’s eyes.

When she looked back at both of them, a glowing smile graced his mother’s pale face. “I’m pregnant.”

For a long second, it didn’t register what she’d really said. Then Shane jerked his head back and frowned. “
What?
”

Beside him, he heard Krista’s shocked intake of breath.

His mother laughed. “Isn’t it the damnedest thing, honey? All these years, nothing, and now in my forties—wham.”

He looked at his father who grinned from ear to ear before focusing on his mother again. “A baby? You’re
pregnant?
”

His mother’s eyes welled with tears. “Trust me, we are as shocked as the two of you.”

“I doubt that’s possible.” Shane didn’t like to think of his parents doing...
that
. “But how? I mean, Mom, you’re
forty-five years old!
”

“I haven’t gone through menopause yet. The doctor said a lot of unplanned pregnancies happen to women in their forties. But there’s a lot of risk involved; there will be tests to make sure the baby is fine, and unfortunately, strict bed rest due to health concerns.”

“I, uh, didn’t think you could get pregnant?” Krista commented.

“Neither did we.” She smiled fondly at her husband. “We tried and tried after Shane, and it never happened. Now, for whatever reason, out of the blue, I’m pregnant. I thought I’d be looking at grandchildren soon; instead, I’m going to be raising another child.”

“That’s why everything needs to be so careful,” his father said. “We need your help. Your mother has got to stay in bed. This is a risky pregnancy to the baby...and to her.”

“That’s what I was going to ask next. Is this safe for you? At your age, to carry a baby and give birth?” Krista asked.

“I’m healthy and in good shape. The doctor sees no reason this can’t be a full-term pregnancy if I follow his orders.” She laid her hand over her stomach. “I’m still in shock, amazed that this has happened.”

Shane didn’t know what to say. He was going to have a baby brother or sister? One that was twenty-five years younger than him?
Too weird.
This was all too weird.

Unable to sit any longer, he stood.

“Shane?” his mother called to him as he started to leave the room.

He stopped, then turned. Relieved as he was she wasn’t dying, his mother, who he considered middle aged, was
pregnant
. This was too much to process. “I just need some air.”

He walked from the room and out onto the front porch, breathing in large gasps of cold air. His parents had always wanted more kids, but never in a million years did he think they still could.

The door opened, and he turned, expecting Krista, but it was his father.

Shane shoved his hands in pockets and stared out over the front yard. “I can’t believe this.”

His father stepped to the porch railing and turned to face him. “When Dr. Sullivan called us this morning, I thought the worst. When he started laughing and told us that we were
expecting...
well, for a minute, I thought he was playing a joke. I wanted to punch him.”

“Do you really want to raise a baby now when you should be thinking about what you’re going to do in retirement?” Shane blurted.

His father’s hand landed on his shoulder. “It’s a lot for all of us to take in, but don’t lose sight of the joy in all this. For whatever reason, a new baby is coming into this family, and I have to believe he or she will be a blessing, just like you were.”

“I guess.” Shane still couldn’t bring himself to say he was happy about the whole idea.

“So, now that we have that squared away, how about you tell me why Krista is still wearing the Thanksgiving sweater she wore all day yesterday?”

Shane couldn’t look at his father and ducked his head to hide his smirk. “Guess she must really like that sweater to wear it two days in a row.”

His father snorted. “I’m in too good a mood this morning to lecture you, but just remember, that girl in there is damn special to your mother and me. If something happens to her because of you, there will be hell to pay.”

“Yes, sir.” He had no clue where he and Krista were going.

“Let’s get back inside. Your mother is worried that you’re mad at her.”

Shane twisted his mouth. “I’m just mad there’s no coffee.”

His father laughed. “I’ll go down and get us some from the gas station.”

While the guys were out on the porch, Krista fought her shocked haze about the announcement. “We thought you were going to tell us something entirely different when we got here.”

Mary nodded. “I’m sure you were, but you can understand, this wasn’t news you share on the phone.”

“I still can’t believe it. A
baby
. How wild is that?”

“Pretty wild. All those years of trying everything with nothing happening, and now,
poof
, out of the blue, I’m pregnant.”

“I know you’ve been tired and dizzy, but other than that, do you feel okay?”

Mary picked up the glass of ginger ale and took a long sip. “Exhausted. Like I couldn’t lift a feather. I can’t believe how tired I am. This morning, the smell of coffee had me heaving, which I thought was curious until—” She gave a small chuckle. “—the doctor gave me the news.”

Krista watched her friend’s face, loving how excited she was. For many women, a baby at this stage might be a disaster, but Mary glowed.

“I’m so happy for you.”

“For all of us. This isn’t just Gary’s and my baby, you know, this is a new family member for all of us. I know Shane isn’t too happy about it right now, but I’m so proud at the role model he will be for a new brother or sister.”

“Are you worried? I mean, about being older parents?”

Mary shrugged. “I haven’t had time to think about it. I suppose it will be different. We were so young with Shane. Barely twenty, and now we’re in our forties. It’s obviously going to be different, but hopefully in good ways. Plus, if Shane were to have any kids, say in the next five years, they could grow up together.”

Her friend narrowed her eyes, and Krista felt her face flush. She finished her tea and set the cup down again. “Don’t read too much into anything.”

“Like the sweater you’re still wearing from yesterday?”

“This isn’t what it seems.”

“It seems to me that you and Shane are sleeping together on a regular basis. Are you really sure about this? You know what it would mean if the two of you end badly.”

Krista lifted her chin and tried not to feel embarrassed. Mary was her friend, but she was also Shane’s mother. “We aren’t going into this thinking it’s a forever thing. Nowadays people sleep together without
being
together.”

“I’m not that out of touch. I’m aware that folks just hook up, but you and Shane aren’t just some random people, and one of you is going to get hurt. My problem is figuring out which one of you to worry about first.”

“Right now, you need to worry about that baby and yourself. Let Shane and I sort this out on our own.” Krista stood up and picked up the empty tea cups. “Are you hungry? Can I cook you some breakfast or something?”

“Maybe just some toast and peanut butter. Do you mind?”

“Nope. I’d be more than happy to get you whatever you need, as long as you stop interrogating me.” She smiled down as she walked past.

In the kitchen, she set the cups in the sink, added a couple slices of toast to the toaster and looked longingly at the coffee maker.