Mr. August (14 page)
Finally, Libby pulled away and blinked through her tears. Her voice shook with the rest of her. “H-How did you know?”
Max’s eyes widened. “You mean…?”
Gulping sobs racked Libby again when she held up the pregnancy test. “It says I’m pregnant.” She shook her head. “There’s no way. It has to be a mistake.”
Max enveloped her in his arms. “Maybe it’s not a mistake, Libby.” He swallowed hard. He vowed earlier to tell her how he felt, and dammit, if this relationship was going to have a chance he had to say what was on his mind. Tiptoeing around a serious issue would do more harm than good. “I’m a blockhead, Libby, but even I know that no one throws up for two weeks due to the flu. Okay, maybe the flu lasts a full two weeks but generally the symptoms don’t.” He shrugged. “Everyone is different, but I still think there’s more going on than the flu. And I convinced myself to buy the pregnancy test just in case.”
“Yeah, I wondered about that too. I could only entertain the possibility in small increments; mostly because I was throwing up but also because I was afraid I was wrong.” Libby clutched the pregnancy test like a beloved friend. “I’m not holding my breath. My doctor made it very plain that the chances of me getting pregnant were slim to none.”
Pain etched her expression and Max wanted to kiss it away.
Libby’s phone rang. She didn’t rush to answer it. “It’s probably Doctor Shively with the results of the blood test. I can’t bear to hear what he has to say.”
“Would you like me to get it?”
Libby closed her eyes, shook her head, and swallowed hard. “No. I’m not a wimp. Well, I am, but I don’t want you to be the one to give me the bad news.”
****
It took Libby a week of sketching, erasing, revamping, using the computer-aided program and eventually starting over to get the design just right, and another two days to put it all together—a form fitting, floor length, sleeveless gown with a smidgen of lace. To complete the ensemble, four inch ankle-strap heels, and a thin, white beaded choker. Libby turned every which way, checking her look in the mirror.
“Libby?” Steph peeked around the door of the small church dressing room. “Are you almost ready?”
Libby couldn’t contain her joy. In the last few months her world had been turned upside down. First by Amanda. Then by Max. Life was like that. Sometimes everything had to fall apart before the right things could fall into place. A smile lifted the corners of her mouth…and her heart. “I think I’ve been ready since the day I met him, Steph.”
“Aww, Libby,” Steph put her hand to her heart. “I’m so happy for you.” She shook her head as though she was thoroughly amazed. “I knew it had to be love.”
Libby cocked her head. “How so?”
“The minute you said you took your clothes off to warm him, I knew you were a goner.” Steph looped her arm through Libby’s. “Come on, Lib. Your man and his furry sidekick are waiting.” From Libby’s place at the back of the church, she searched for Max. She found him doing the same thing from the front. Their eyes connected over the short aisle that separated them. Libby smiled. Max smiled. Love zinged between them. In a few short minutes she would marry the grouchy man from next door, the guy who drove her crazy and caused her lots of sleepless nights, her heart of hearts, the man who helped her defy the odds, the father of the miracle growing in her belly—Mr. August.
A word about the author...
Jan Romes grew up in northwest Ohio with eight zany siblings. Married to her high school sweetheart for more years than seems possible, she is also a proud mom, mother-in-law, and grandmother.
She likes to read all genres, writes about characters who give as good as they get, is a part-time fitness trainer, and enjoys growing pumpkins and sunflowers.
Contact Jan at:
www.janromes.com/
Twitter - @janromes
www.jantheromancewriter.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/people/JanRomes/1418424489
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