“No, we just talked on the phone,” I said. “So you’re the one Jean recommends so highly?”
“I worked with Jean during her pregnancy with Victoria,” Harmony said, studying me. I scrubbed a hand down my face, getting my bearings.
“Sorry,” I said. “I’m just protective of my wife, and I didn’t—”
“No apology needed. May I?” She reached for my hand and I let her take it. I looked at Kate out of the corner of my eye as Harmony leaned down and studied my palm. Her hums of disdain and approval sparked my curiosity.
“Are you reading my palm?” I asked. “Are we gonna win our next game?”
A smile broke out on her lips and she looked up at me. “I can’t tell you that. But I see you’re very passionate and devoted.”
I shook my head and shrugged. “You know I got my wife pregnant and you know I want her to have the best care possible. So calling me passionate and devoted isn’t exactly insightful.”
The smile faded from her pale face. “You lost someone very dear to you as a child. And she was a child, too. I’m very sorry.”
The mention of Hannah brought on the usual wave of sadness. “My sister. But it’s not hard to find that out. Our foundation supports pediatric cancer research in her memory.”
Harmony’s smile came back. “Skeptical. I like that. You want your wife to be the dreamer while you’re the one who makes them all come true.”
“I try,” I said, looking at Kate. Her brown eyes were bright when she grinned at me.
“You’re a very good man,” Harmony said, bringing my attention back to her. “But you must let Kate fight this battle for herself.”
I wanted to ask what battle she meant, but the prickle of a chill danced across my skin. Awareness. I didn’t know if it was my own awareness or hers, but I felt it. I wanted to ask her if Kate could fight her way through this pregnancy and have a healthy baby, but I couldn’t. I didn’t want Kate to see my worry, or my hope. If she did, she’d feel guilty if something went wrong again.
“I have to shower and get to practice,” I said. “But, uh, where’s my TV?”
Harmony waved a hand as she and Kate sank back down to their spots on the floor. “The water and air elements are good for your wife now, and we needed that spot for water. I had it moved into the guest room.”
I bit back a comment and crouched down next to Kate to kiss her. She looked so fresh and pretty with her hair in a ponytail. I didn’t pray regularly, but I couldn’t help sending a hope skyward that she wouldn’t have her heart broken again. If miracles were possible, I’d do anything to score one for her.
***
I only advanced about 15 feet before the traffic light turned red and my car was idle once again. The only downside to living in downtown Chicago was the traffic. Normally it didn’t bother me, but today I was desperate to get home. I surfed through radio stations and thought about the reports I needed to write.
Going into the office on Saturday morning had seemed like a good idea, but it hadn’t been. I was just as alone there as I was at home. Ryke was on the road and this was Harmony’s first day off since she started working for us. When she arrived every morning, we followed a routine that included yoga, reading, outdoor walks, meditation and baking. I’d been skeptical when she told me homemade bread was on our agenda one morning, but quirky was her trademark, so I’d gone with it.
There was always something to focus on when Harmony was around. It freed my mind from the nonstop worry that was pressing on me like a lead weight this morning. I was getting close to ten weeks pregnant. The time when I’d lost the last baby. It was agonizing; the waiting and wondering if it was about to happen again.
Ryke would be home this afternoon, and I couldn’t wait. I wanted to go shopping, out for dinner, to a movie – anything that would distract me from thinking about my greatest fear.
Traffic crawled. I was about to jump out of my skin by the time I finally punched the gas pedal to descend into our building’s underground parking garage. I parked and flew through the garage like I was being chased. By the time I made it to the elevator, I was panting, and our doorman Rob lowered his brows as he turned the key in the elevator to send it up to our floor.
“Afternoon, Mrs. Ryker. Everything okay?”
I nodded and forced a smile. “Yeah, Rob. How are you?”
“Great. Your husband’s team played quite a game last night.”
“They did.” I smiled. “I bet they were out til the early hours celebrating Luke’s hat trick.”