Say You Want Me(59)

I weep for the broken girl inside me who so desperately needs this.

And I cry tears of happiness that I have someone like Macie Hennington in my life.

This is another thing Wyatt unknowingly gave me.

“Don’t cry, honey. I didn’t mean to make you cry.” She rubs my back, and I release her.

“I’m sorry.” I step back and rub my eyes. “It’s these damn hormones. I swear, they make me a freaking lunatic.”

She half smiles and rubs my arm. “Wyatt’s told me a little and then Presley told me a whole lot more about your mama. I’m real sorry. I love my boys more than anything, even when they drive me nuts. You’re not without people who love you, Angie. You’ve got a whole town full of Mama’s who will come to your side. Especially if we get to love on that baby, okay?”

I nod. “Thank you.”

“No thanks needed, honey. It’s what family does.” Nothing I could say right now would adequately describe what I feel. She seems to sense that and handles it for me. “I really better be on my way. Rhett wants me to make his favorite meal, and I haven’t done a thing yet. You go on and find out what you’re havin’! Then call me.” She winks.

“You got it.”

She rushes off, and I head home, which is comical since we live on the same land. The entire time she rides behind me, I replay the words she spoke and how she just held me and let me cry on her shoulder. She is warm and loving—the kind of woman you love instantly. I decide right then that I want to be more like Mrs. Hennington than my own mother.

She veers off toward the main house, and I head to our place. Huh. Our place. I really like the way that sounds.

When I pull into the driveway, Wyatt is there waiting. “Hi, baby!”

I jump out of my car and rush toward him. “Hi, honey!”

He gives me a long, wet kiss before releasing me. “How was your day?” Wyatt asks.

“Good. Yours?”

“Better now.”

I smile and he leads me toward the truck. Once we get settled and are on our way, I fill him in on my day. He laughs, rolls his eyes randomly, and comments here and there.

“Oh!” I exclaim.

“What?”

“Mrs. Kannan is putting in a cappuccino machine!” I grow excited again. “She said that she’d been thinking about putting one in, and she heard I know a lot about them. She made me promise to show her how to use it when it gets here.”

He nods, but his eyes stay focused on the road. “That’s great.”

I figured he’d comment a little. I mean, he knows my deep love for coffee. This is about as close to a Starbucks as I’m going to get, and I was trying to open the conversation a little. “Wyatt?”

“Hmm?” he doesn’t even glance my way.

“Did you hear me?” I ask with a little bite to my voice.

“I did. You love coffee. It’s great. I’m happy you’ll have the comforts of home while you’re still here.”

What the fuck?

I lean back in my seat and try to figure out what the hell crawled up his ass. I don’t think I said anything wrong. If anything, I was trying to get him to ask more questions so we could talk about me staying for a bit longer. My mind was truly made up weeks ago, but the last few days solidified it. I’m not ready to leave him. I’m not saying I’m ready to get married or anything . . . just maybe give this parenting thing a real shot together.

Then it clicks. Today is the first time he’s going to get to see nugget—he’s probably just nervous.

We get to the office where I’ll have the ultrasound. He doesn’t really say much, but he doesn’t miss a beat as he helps me out of the car, opens the office door, and makes sure I sit.

“Did I do something?” I ask, unable to ignore it anymore.

“No, why?”

Am I losing my mind? “You’re being distant. I talked about the cappuccino machine, and then it was like boom!” I clap my hands together. “Wyatt disappeared.”

“I’m sorry, Ang. I’ve got a lot on my mind.”

“Okay . . . like what? We talk about everything. I don’t understand why you’re pulling away from me right now.”

“Angelina Benson.” My name is called by a pretty nurse by the door.

I guess this conversation is tabled.

We get up, and he places his hand on the small of my back. I’m half tempted to swat it away, but I’m a little nervous suddenly. She leads us into a room with the ultrasound machine, gives me some quick instructions, and leaves.

I hop on the table and fear starts to invade my mind. I worry my hands, and Wyatt walks over. “What’s wrong?”