Changing Lanes (The Lone Stars Book 3) (26 page)

“There are some things women just don’t need to know.” Clint nodded.

“I hear you.” Devon agreed. Laney sure could use some cheering up today and cinnamon rolls would have gone a long way to put a smile on her face. He wanted to do something special for her—something meaningful that would help her get through losing Lara. His eyes strung with tears at the thought. He was going to miss that little girl more than he’d ever thought possible. He needed to do something for Laney and for himself.

Devon smiled to himself. The beginnings of a plan were coming together. He needed to enlist his mother’s help and maybe the front desk lady at Laney’s office too. What had her name been? Heather … no Helen. She was the Chief Smile Officer—well she was about to earn her title. Laney needed reminding of all of the lives she’d saved because those are the numbers she should be focusing on.

Six hours later, Devon looking over his right and then his left shoulder like he was making sure he wasn’t being followed, opened the front door to Laney’s office. Laney was in surgery and wasn’t there, but he couldn’t take any chances.

Once he’d explained his plan, his mother had arranged a private and secret meeting with Helen.

Helen was waiting for him with a huge smile on her face.

He knew exactly what he wanted to do for Laney.

“Is there anyway to contact some or all of the patients that Laney has saved?” Devon pulled a folded letter out of his left breast pocket. “I’d like to send them a letter.”

“I don’t understand.” Helen’s smile turned skeptical. “I don’t know if I can give you that info—HIPPA reasons.”

“I was thinking that Laney needs a Wall of Fame. My letter asks for them to send a recent picture of her former patient along with a quick note of what they are doing now. I was thinking we could make a display or something.” He could see it in his mind—what he wanted, but he wasn’t sure he was explaining it correctly.

Helen’s upper lip quivered and tears gathered in her eyes. “That’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard. She’s having a hard time with Lara’s death. She thinks I don’t know, but I see that she’s suffering.”

He could see it now, Helen was more than just an employee she was Lara’s friend. “Think you could manage to get me that list?”

“I can’t give you patient info, but I can compile it and send out the letters myself. Hand it over, and I’ll get started right now.” She held her hand out.

Devon handed her the letter.

“I’ve worked for doctors for the better part of thirty years, and Dr. Laney is the best one I’ve ever seen. She cares so deeply about her patients and truly wants to help them. She has a gift.” She unfolded the letter and skimmed it. “Nice. I’ll take care of everything.”

“Helen, you’re a good woman.” Devon nodded.

“That’s what all three of my ex–husbands said right before they left me.” She laughed to herself.

“Clearly they were all crazy.” Devon liked her. Helen was kind and just a little bit feisty.

“That’s what I said right after I told them not to let the door hit them on the butt on the way out.” She winked.

He could see this woman hanging out with is mother. They would get into some serious trouble. Maybe he shouldn’t mention it to either of them.

“And mum’s the word on this. I want it to be a surprise.” Devon just wanted to make sure they were on the same page.

With her right hand, Helen zipped her lips shut and threw away the key. She was like the crazy aunt he’d always wished he’d had.

Laney was going to be so surprised and happy. She’d been focusing too much on her losses and not enough on her wins. A Wall of Fame was just what she needed.

Chapter 22

A week later, Laney sat at her desk pouring over Lara’s file, looking for something she’d missed. She rubbed her eyes and continued to stare at the computer screen. The lab results hadn’t changed in the five minutes that she’d been staring at them, but she needed to do something.

Lately, her personal life was wonderful, but her professional life felt like it was falling apart.

Lara hadn’t woken from the coma and the analytical side of Laney’s brain told her that it wasn’t likely that she would, but her heart was breaking. She closed her eyes, and then opened them again in the hopes that some new idea would pop into her head. There had to be a way to save Lara. Just because things looked bleak, she wasn’t giving up. She couldn’t. Lara had to get better. There was so much she—they—hadn’t done together.

Losing any child was a pot–shot to the chest, but Lara, that was a kick to the soul. Children should be protected and loved, not stabbed with needles and poisoned with radiation. Why had she ever thought she could do this?

She picked up the nearest stack of papers and hurled them against the wall. She was pissed … at herself and at whatever Supreme Being who thought childhood leukemia was a good idea. Babies should be born with a little expiration date tattooed on the bottom of their left foot. That way, the rest of the world could be ready when the time came. Life was precious and perfect and came to an end. Nothing lasted forever … except heartache.

She picked up a stapler and chunked it against her closed office door. It was childish and destructive and felt wonderful. Next, she threw the penholder and then the tape dispenser, and then her wooden ‘inbox’ full of mail. She kept on going until the only thing on her desk was the phone and her laptop.

Now that the rage was dying down, she felt mildly better. Allowing herself to give into her feelings was hard, but it was also freeing. Keeping everything bottled up had led to headaches and sometimes even esophageal spasms. Now her office was a mess, but her head was clear. Most of the gnawing anxiety that she’d missed something was gone.

She needed to either start yoga or kick boxing—something to relieve the stress. Running usually did it, but now it wasn’t enough.

Her door burst open, and January stood there in all her sun–tanned glory. “Redecorating?”

“Something like that.” Laney was embarrassed at having been caught during a weak moment.

“I like it. It’s sort of a destructive meets
Hoarders Buried Alive
thing.” She shook her head. “But you really need some stacks of dirty dishes and mountains of Beanie Babies to really pull it off.”

Laney laughed. “Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind.”

“So you’re probably wondering why I’m here.” January’s smile faltered. She’d never been one to beat around the bush.

“I haven’t gotten there yet. I was still pondering the Beanie Babies.” Laney felt a thousand times better. Having a friend to distract her from her troubles was just what she needed. “Have a seat.”

Laney pointed to an overturned chair in front of her desk. “ What can I do for you?”

January righted the chair, sat down, took a deep breath, and made eye contact. “I’m pregnant, and I need a birthing coach.”

It took a full minute for the words to penetrate Laney’s brain. “I’m sorry, did you say pregnant?”

“Yes, I’m knocked up. The father is an asshole and won’t be in the picture. I need your help. You’re the only one I trust to get me through this.” Her shoulders slumped and her voice shook. “I loved him, and I thought he loved me, but I just told him about the baby and he hung up on me.” Short sobs rattled out of her. “I don’t know what to do. Well besides blocking his number so he can’t ever call me again … the prick.”

Laney was up and pulling her friend into her arms, before she’d even given it a thought. “Hush now, we’ll get through this together. You’re going to be a wonderful mother, and your baby will have four doting aunts. Who needs men?”

“They suck. He sucks. I feel like such a fool.” Tears rolled down her cheeks.

In all the years she’d known January, she’d never seen her cry. January was strong and sarcastic and the most independent woman she’d ever met.

“I knew you were seeing someone new, but you don’t talk about him much.” Laney stroked her back like Sweet Louise had done when she was hurting.

“He’s quite a bit older than me. We were keeping things quiet.” She shook her head. “I don’t know what to do now.”

“Have you had a blood or urine test to confirm it?” Laney went into doctor mode.

“No, just a couple of those home pregnancy test thingys.” January wiped her eyes. “I was hoping he’d come to the doctor with me, but it looks like he’s out of the picture. I have terrible taste in men.”

Laney didn’t want to agree with her, but it was kind of true. “Well, you’re better off without him. Who needs him anyway? You have us, and pretty soon you’ll have a beautiful baby. Men come and go, but best friends are with you no matter what.”

“Thanks.” The sobs started up again.

“Let’s get you an appointment with your OBGYN and then go from there. I know it feels like the end of the world now, but I’m excited at the prospect of a baby. I get to spoil him or her, and I plan on babysitting a lot.” She continued to stroke her friend’s back. “Devon’s going to be so excited at being an uncle.”

Laney wasn’t sure why that had popped into her head. Her future was with Devon—it was so clear to her now. She’d never really thought about it before, but she wanted to be with him forever. It should scare her, but the idea was comforting … like coming home after a really long trip and knowing that her life was waiting for her.

“I can tell by the look on your face that something really important just happened.” January shook her head. “You really have the worst poker face in the world.”

“No I don’t.” Laney laughed, but she did. It was time to admit it.

“So what new earth–shattering conclusion have you just come to? I need something to take my mind off my own earth–shattering conclusion.” January put her hand on her flat belly as if she needed an explanation.

“I just realized that not only am I in love with Devon, but that I want to spend the rest of my life with him.” It sounded so strange coming from her lips. Usually such large life decisions took years to figure out.

“Wow, that’s big.” January nodded. “But you two fit together. It’s not apparent at first, but when you’re together you complete each other.” She rolled her eyes. “That was the corniest thing I’ve ever said. I think the pregnancy hormones are screwing with my head.” She bit her bottom lip. “But it’s kind of true. When y’all are in a large group of people, you seemed to gravitate toward each other—not because either of you aren’t comfortable in groups, but because you genuinely like to be together. It’s nice to see two people who enjoy each other’s company so much that they don’t need anyone else. I hope that doesn’t change.”

Laney had never really thought about it. When she was with Devon it felt natural, like they should always be together. He liked that she wasn’t perfect, and that awkward side of her was completely okay with him. Likewise, she loved everything about him too. More than anything, she wanted them to always be together.

“So now that you and Devon are officially a couple, you should ask him to marry you.” January was completely serious.

“What?” That was preposterous. She couldn’t ask him to marry her … could she?

“Why not? I happen to know a thing or two about men. In today’s world, the woman can ask as easily as the man. Don’t let him get away. He’s one of the good ones—I should know. I seem to only pick the bad ones.” She sighed dramatically. “He wants you … you want him. Why shouldn’t you be together?”

January sounded so tired. It must have been a rough day for her.

“Tell me about your mystery man.” It didn’t really matter if he was going to be there for January because Laney and the rest of the Tough Ladies would be.

“Not much to tell. Like I said, he’s older and apparently doesn’t want kids … or me. I’m so good at the falling in love part, it sucks that I’m not so good at inspiring the same in men. Falling in love alone—the one–sided love affair—seems to be my specialty. Why is that?” January sounded like she wanted an honest answer.

“There’s nothing wrong with you—it’s them. The men you pick aren’t always emotionally available.” Laney was trying to be nice. The men January picked weren’t always physically available either. Sometimes they were married. Was this what happened?

“No, he’s not married. That only happened once, and I didn’t know he was married when I met him. That little bombshell came weeks later.” January wasn’t defensive so much as self–effacing. She was tougher on herself than she was on other people. “My baby–daddy isn’t married if that’s what you think. He’s just an asshole. Can you believe that he hung up on me when I told him about the baby?” She shook her head. “I can’t believe that I actually thought I loved him.”

“He’s sounds like a complete dickhead.” Laney agreed. Anyone who hung up on their girlfriend when she clearly was in trouble deserved to die a thousand deaths at the hands of January’s friends. Friends could always dream up much better torture than the actual person who’d been wronged. It was a Universal Law.

“If anyone knows what he’s like, it’s you.” January said under her breath.

Laney had no idea what she was talking about so she let it go. January was dealing with some major stress right now, so possibly talking about the absentee father was a bad idea.

“Okay, so I’ve been chosen to be the birthing coach.” Laney smiled proudly.

“The others are going to be so jealous.”

“Yeah, well before you crow too loudly, just know that you’re the logical choice. Nina travels too much, Susie would seriously freak out, and Charisma would probably make me do push–ups during the delivery. You’re the only sane one among us.” January grinned. “You won by default.”

“Wow. That’s so incredibly un–flattering. I don’t know whether to hug you or punch you.” It was Laney’s turn to roll her eyes.

“Just keeping it real, Lanes.” January stood. “I have an appointment with a new OBGYN tomorrow at nine–thirty. Think you can sneak away and come with me?”

Laney pulled up her calendar. Her first patient wasn’t until noon. She blocked the morning and sent a quick email to Helen letting her know that she’d be out of the office. “Okay. Tomorrow morning, I’m all yours.”

“Goody.” January did her best Marsha Brady impersonation. Sadly, it was the only impersonation she did.