But even as she argues, her eyes lock with mine, and it’s impossible to misread the worry there.
“I’m sorry to run out on you, Mable,” I say as I gather my stuff. “My nails were going to look really pretty.”
At the moment, I have one hand sporting Candy Apple and one hand that’s totally bare, but I’ll worry about that later.
“Nonsense. You go get that girl checked out, and y’all come back here another day for manicures on the house.”
“Come on, Leanna. I’ll drive you over to the doctor.”
“I think I’m making this out to be a bigger deal than it is,” she says as we head out the door toward my nan’s car. I’ve been driving us around this afternoon just to make it easier. Her car’s still back at the diner, and I don’t feel comfortable taking her back to get it just yet.
“I’d like to stay with you if that’s okay. I wouldn’t want to be by myself.”
She gives me an appreciative smile as we climb in and then I peel out of the parking lot, heading toward Pine Hill’s sole family practice doctor. There’s not an obstetrician nearby. We’d have to go one town over to Maken for that, and it’s already getting late. There’s a chance the doctor’s office is already closed for the day, so I tell Leanna to call Dr. Sanders on the way and hand me the phone. As expected, the front desk girl tries to tell me they can’t fit Leanna in today as Dr. Sanders is done seeing patients, but I ask her twice to put Dr. Sanders on the phone. Every summer while I was growing up, Nan would deliver bushels full of her prized tomatoes to Dr. Sanders so he could use them to can his signature salsa. The second he gets on the phone and I explain the situation, he tells me to come right in.
Once we arrive, it’s obvious Dr. Sanders was closing up shop. His front desk area is already deserted, and there’s only a medical assistant there to unlock the door for us. She smiles kindly and starts to show us back to one of the rooms.
“I could sit in the waiting room—”
“No.”
That one word is uttered so quickly and firmly I know Leanna means it.
I’m grateful for Dr. Sanders and his practice, grateful for this little town of mine that tries its best to take care of its own. He stayed an hour after he needed to so he could run a few tests on Leanna and even did an ultrasound. When we all heard Leanna’s baby’s heartbeat, we sighed in relief.
Dr. Sanders walked her through the possible causes for why she was experiencing some cramping that ranged from the hilariously innocuous (she might have just had some bad gas) to slightly more concerning. For that reason, he suggested she see her obstetrician as soon as possible, but for the time being, he could confirm the most pressing matter: she wasn’t losing the baby. The little nugget was safe inside her with a perfect heartbeat and no signs of distress.
“I feel so silly now,” Leanna tells me once we’re back outside of Dr. Sanders’ office, sitting on the curb, waiting on Trey.
“No! Come on,” I reassure her. “We’ve all been there. You get into your head about something and start to think the worst. I can’t imagine what it’s like having to worry about another human inside of you! You did the right thing. Even Dr. Sanders said so.”
She gives me an appreciative smile and knocks her shoulder against mine as a silent thank you. We only sit for a minute longer before Trey’s SUV cuts off the highway. Now that the sun’s gone down, it’s impossible to not get blinded by his headlights as he pulls into the parking lot and parks right in front of us. Leanna only reached out to him after she’d been seen by the doctor, and once he knew we were here, he insisted on coming to get her.
He cuts the engine and the lights fade. A second later, he’s out of the car—unexpectedly coming from the passenger side—and already talking.
“I could have come with you to the doctor,” he says as soon as he gets out. “I could have been in the appointment with you.”
“I didn’t want to pull you out of practice,” Leanna says, standing just in time to receive the full force of his hug.
“Are you kidding? Fuck practice. You think I care about—”
He starts showering kisses on her hair and face.
She laughs and tries to push him away, but he doesn’t let her.
“How is she?” he asks.
“The doctor says she’s okay. I was probably worrying for nothing, but I’ll confirm everything at the OB tomorrow. Dr. Sanders recommended one nearby and called ahead so they could squeeze me in. I didn’t want to fly all the way back to Los Angeles.”
“Good. I’ll go with you.”
Another car door slams, and I look away from them then freeze when I see Ben. A moment ago, it didn’t register for me that since Trey got out of the passenger side door, that meant there was another person driving the car.
Ben’s here.
My stomach somersaults around and around as I get a look at him, trying to seem casual about it. He hovers near the car, giving the couple some relative privacy. His attention shifts to me and I realize I’m still sitting down on the curb. I smile gently and push to stand, annoyed to find that my legs have gone a little wobbly. I slide a hand over the clothes I changed into after I left the diner—the junky t-shirt I throw on when I’m on my way to clean houses and some athletic shorts.
Why can’t we ever meet on an even playing field?
Oh right, because there is no even playing field.
I could be standing here in a ballgown and he’d still be out of my league.
He’s wearing jeans and a pale blue U.S. men’s basketball t-shirt like they were both specifically designed to grace his body. The t-shirt is a little snug across his broad chest and arms. The blue color looks great on him, just the right shade to bring out his olive skin and dark hair.
I’d tell him that if I had a tongue that worked.
He nods in my direction, and I smile again before looking back at Trey and Leanna. They’re still talking, having forgotten all about us until Ben clears his throat.
Trey looks back at his friend.
“Right, okay. C’mon, let’s go home. Ben’s going to drive us to get your car. It’s still at the diner, right?”
Ben steps forward. “Actually, I was going to suggest that you two just take the SUV back. Leanna, you’ve had a long day.” He looks toward me and my stomach squeezes tight. “Maybe Raelynn wouldn’t mind driving me back to get your car?”
“No, yeah. Of course,” I say quickly, wanting to be helpful.
Leanna shakes her head. “No. I feel bad. It’s late and you’ve already been with me all day. You probably want to go home and unwind—”
I laugh and shake my head. “It’s fine. I swear. Go home, and I’ll help Ben get your car back.”
She nibbles on her bottom lip as she tries to smile, and I think she’s trying to hold back tears. I’m not surprised. Today’s been so stressful for her. She steps away from Trey and swoops me up into a big hug. Her arms are so tight around my waist I couldn’t escape even if I wanted to. It’s been so long since I’ve had a hug like this, and I’m momentarily frozen, unsure of what to do. Oh right…hug her back.
“Thank you for being so nice to me,” she says quietly. “You really are the sweetest.”