After cleaning her already spotless apartment for the third time since he left, a knock on the door was a welcome relief. Especially since Paulie was on the other side.
“Screw it,” the redhead said by way of hello. “The place is dead. I left Randy in charge and figured I’d see how you’re coping with Kevin not being around.”
“I’m bored, actually. I didn’t realize how much space he fills up in my day until he wasn’t filling it.”
“At least he’ll be back Monday.”
Something about the way she said it made Beth take a closer look. “When’s Sam coming back?”
“A couple of weeks, he said. Not that it’s a big deal. There’s nothing really going on there, anyway.”
“But there was once. Seems like he’s interested in rekindling the flame.” Too late she realized what she’d said.
Paulie pounced on it. “Kevin told you, didn’t he?”
Beth hesitated, but there was no sense in lying. “Yes, but I swore I wouldn’t tell anybody.”
“That bastard,” she said, but without any true heat in her words. “Since you guys are still pretending you’re not a couple, he doesn’t get the significant-other pass.”
“We’re not pretending. We’re really not a couple. Just two neighbors and friends who happen to be having a baby together.”
“Sure. You keep telling yourself that, sweetheart.”
“Speaking of pretending you’re not a couple, what are you going to do when Sam comes back?”
Paulie flopped on the couch and put her feet up on the coffee table. “I don’t know. There’s no sense in pretending we can make it work, but I can’t quite bring myself to toss him out of my life again.”
“Why can’t you make it work?” Beth sat down in the chair, wincing as her pants seemed to cut off the circulation at her waist, even unbuttoned with her shirt pulled out to hide it.
“He’s still necktie-deep in Boston society and I can’t go back there. It was a total hell. Social status determined by what shoes you were wearing and God forbid you should be seen looking at the sale rack, even if there was the cutest red sweater there. Seriously, Beth, you have no idea.”
No, she didn’t. Her childhood had been comfortable, but it was still hard to identify with a woman who’d never had to look at a price tag. “I still don’t see why you can’t make it work. Thousands of people commute from here to Boston. So could he.”
“He has to attend hundreds of fancy functions every year—the kind of functions you bring your wife to, all dolled up. And his wife would be expected to serve on charitable foundations and play tennis at the country club. That’s just not my thing. You got anything to drink?”
“Sure.” She stood, then had to pause to give her pants a hike. Not being able to button or zip them comfortably, she’d left them undone but, since her butt wasn’t getting any bigger yet, they wouldn’t stay up.
“Time to hit the maternity racks.” Of course Paulie had to notice.
Beth knew it was time to hit the maternity racks, but her bank account thought she should try to squeeze out a few more weeks—literally. She’d been determined to keep the medical bills at a fair fifty-fifty split and the bill for that ultrasound would be expensive.
Even if she went to the Goodwill store, springing for a new wardrobe would hurt. Then again, her pants falling down while she was carrying a tray of plates at work wouldn’t feel so good, either.
Paulie stood, excitement lighting up her face. “Let’s go shopping!”
“I’ll probably go next week and pick up a few things.”
“When? I’ll go with you.”
The idea of taking Paulie of the trust funds to the Goodwill store with her was so ludicrous she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “I…don’t know exactly when I’ll be able to go.”
“Let’s go right now. Randy can handle the place for a while.”
She really didn’t want to tell her she couldn’t afford any maternity clothes yet, but Paulie wasn’t going to give up. “I need to save up a couple more weeks first.”
“Oh.” Paulie looked disappointed, but then she perked up again. “My treat. Consider it my baby shower gift to you.”
“Oh.” She hadn’t really thought about a shower yet. There were a few women at work she was friendly enough with, but she wasn’t sure they were the kind of friends who threw baby showers. Kevin’s mom, sister and sisters-in-law. Her mom would fly up, of course. “If I have a shower, it’ll just be a small one.”
Paulie threw back her head and laughed. “Are you kidding me? I heard Mrs. Kowalski made Mr. Kowalski move his stuff out of the closet because she’s running out of space for all the stuff she’s already bought the baby.”
Beth’s cheeks grew hot again and she covered them with her hands. “Tell me you’re joking.”
“Nope. Trust me, by the time those women are done shopping, that kid won’t even need shoes until third grade. Which is why you should let me give you your shower gift early—something just for you.”