Risking Fate(38)

Amy was already in the salon, doing some paperwork when I walked in. “Hey girl. How’s those little boys treating you?”

“They are making me lose sleep.”

“Too bad you can’t have some real coffee,” she teased.

“You suck!”

“So Stacy called out and asked if you could take two of her clients today. You have a Chelsea at nine and a Beth at eleven. I tried to give you room for your other appointments.” She closed the schedule and started walking toward me. “I think your belly is growing every day. You know I won’t hold it against you if you want to stop working for awhile. Your station isn’t going to go anywhere.”

I smiled and sat down in my chair. “Thanks. It won’t be much longer before I can’t take it. My feet kill me at night.”

“Why don’t you just finish out this month and clear your schedule. Your clients all know you are having twins. They aren’t going to judge you for it.”

“Ty will be happy if I do that. He keeps fussin’ at me to stop workin’. So how are things for you? Did anything bad happen last night?”

“Nothing that I can’t handle, little lady.”

Amy walked away without me being able to reply. I was sure he was beating her. She kept wearing shirts that covered her arms and wearing pants instead of the skirts that she used to wear every day. I hadn’t told Amy about what happened during our last visit to Kentucky. I think she knew something was off, but with her own life being such a mess, I wasn’t exactly her first concern.

I hadn’t even realized that it was already noon, but when Ty walked in to pick me up for lunch, I felt relieved. I had packed us lunch, so we went outside and sat at a picnic table. “You think on your way home you could get some of those meatballs from the store that I like? I was thinking that Iz and I could make spaghetti and meatballs tonight.”

“You’re goin’ to cook?” He liked to cook, but I was usually the one that did it.

“Yeah, I want you to go home and relax. Your feet are starting to swell. I don’t mind and Iz likes to help.” He finished his sandwich and stuck his trash in the bag. “So are you going to pick me up at five?”

“Of course. You ready to head back to work?” His phone caught us both off guard when it started ringing. Conner had a specific ring on Ty’s phone so he knew to always answer and this wasn’t any ring I recognized. “Who is it?”

Ty ignored me and started to get up and walk away as he answered it. As quick as he walked away, he started heading back in my direction. I just sat there waiting for him to explain why he had to walk away. “Sorry bout that, Baby.”

“Who was that?” I’d never been so up in his shit before and I didn’t even care if he didn’t like it.

“It was just work. There was a bunch of noise and I couldn’t hear good.” I could tell from the way he wouldn’t look at me that he was lying.

He leaned over to kiss me and I reached in his pocket and grabbed the phone. Before he could argue, I looked at the last number. It was a cell number, but no name was by it.

“Miranda, what the fuck is your problem?” He pulled the phone out of my hand.

My Ty didn’t keep secrets from me. He left his phone out and didn’t care who was calling him when he was with me. “You just lied to me.” It was almost a whisper as it came out of my mouth. I grabbed the car keys and started walking toward the car.

“Baby, wait! Please.” He jumped in front of the car door preventing me from getting in. “It’s not what you’re thinking. I swear to God it isn’t.”

“Then why can’t you tell me?”

He jingled change in his pockets. “Because it has to do with Izzy and because what I’m doing is illegal, I didn’t want you involved. The person called with the appointment. Conner and I go in next Thursday for the test.”

I tried to push him out of the way, but he stood still and grabbed my arms. “Baby, I swear it was about Izzy. I am telling you the truth.”

I did believe him, but I hated that he felt like he had to keep it from me. I wanted to be involved. She was my daughter too. “I’ll pick up Bella and get your meatballs before I come to pick you up.”

“You’re going to make me walk back to work?”

“It’s two blocks Ty.”

He grabbed my waist and pulled it into him. “Please don’t be like this. I can’t stand it.”

“You promised no secrets. I’m not your girlfriend, I’m your wife, Ty. I’m almost six months pregnant and I can’t take this stress right now. I’m scared too. Don’t you get that? This just isn’t tearin’ you up inside, I’m feelin’ it too. I can’t stand that you’re shuttin’ me out.” Of course I got myself all upset and started to cry into his chest. “You lied and said it was your work and then you expect me to believe you. You can’t lie to me Ty.”