“I’m pretty great, thanks for asking.”
She looked pretty great too, considering. Her hair was a couple of inches long and done in a messy pixie style. She wore a full face of over-the-top makeup, which included blue eye shadow that somehow, really worked on her. “We’ve just been to see the doc.”
“Is everything—?”
“Wonderful!” she said. “The tumor is barely visible, can you believe it?”
I couldn’t believe it. “You must be ecstatic. Are you going out to celebrate?”
“No, headed home like a boring married couple,” Laura said, but the way she smiled at Sean made them seem more like loved-up teenagers. “Did you need Sean?”
“It can wait.”
“No, no.” She grabbed Sean by the elbow and shoved him toward me. “Please. Talk.”
I swallowed the enormous lump in my throat. No wonder she’d been the one to turn Sean from a womanizer into a one-woman man.
“I’ll wait downstairs,” she said to Sean. “And I’ll see you soon, Neva.”
“Thanks, Laura. And, um, great news.”
Laura wandered down the hallway breezily. After her appointment, it seemed, she didn’t have a care in the world. Sean and I waited until the elevator doors closed and she disappeared from sight.
“Sorry to interrupt,” I said. “I just wanted to run something by you.”
We stepped into an alcove. Sean’s face was apprehensive. I hadn’t spoken to him properly since he found out I was pregnant. I suppose I couldn’t really blame him for being nervous. I decided to cut to the chase.
“My baby is breech.”
He managed to look relieved and concerned at the same time. “Oh, Nev. I’m sorry.”
“So I guess that means you don’t know of any new and hugely effective procedures to turn babies this late in pregnancy?” I forced a laugh.
“I wish.” He looked genuinely sad for me. “You can always try, but—” He touched the top of my belly and pressed down. “—I don’t like your chances.”
“And I don’t suppose you know anyone who would deliver a breech baby vaginally?”
He raised his eyebrows. “Surely you wouldn’t want to try?”
“No, I guess not.” I sighed, deflated.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah.”
“You and Patrick all ready for the baby?”
I nodded.
“Good.”
We both shuffled a little.
“It’s funny,” Sean said. “Patrick never mentioned that you two were seeing each other. Back then, I mean.”
I tried to look Sean in the eye, but he evaded my stare. “Does Patrick tell you everything?” I asked.
“No.” His gaze shifted to my belly. I didn’t breathe. “So you’re definitely sure about your dates, then?”
“Yes. Definitely—”
Before I could register what was happening, I was in Sean’s arms. He squeezed me, too tight, one arm around my waist, the other pressing my head to his chest. I smiled at his obvious relief and allowed him to hold me briefly. When he started to loosen his grip, I stepped away.
“That’s great. It’s … really exciting for you and Patrick. You’ll make great parents. I always knew he was in love with you.”
“You … did?”
“I have eyes. Most people thought you were in love with him too.” He laughed. “Obviously they were right. Anyway, it’s great that you guys have finally got it together.”
I felt my cheeks warm. Was it possible that Patrick and I had both been into each other all this time? How had I not seen it? Particularly when Sean had?
“Well, I’d better run,” he said. “Laura’s waiting.”
“Go, go,” I said. I gave him a push, then followed him out of the alcove. Marion stood nearby, watching Sean hurry toward the elevator, then her eyes snapped back to me. It might have been my imagination—or perhaps the fact that I’d had very little sleep—but I could have sworn she was giving me a dirty look.