Her mom gave her a long, speculative look. “Will you tell me the truth, if I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Do you have . . . feelings . . . for this woman?”
Lauren blinked, stunned. “Uh . . . what?”
“It’s all right if you’re gay—”
“Mom!” Lauren didn’t know whether she should laugh or cry. “I’m not gay. I have gay friends, yes, but I’m not gay.”
“You haven’t dated . . . ever.”
“That’s not true. I had a boyfriend in high school, we made a baby, and I . . . chose not to date as a single mother.”
“It’s okay if you are gay, Lauren.”
Lauren choked on a gurgle of laughter. “I know it’s okay. I think gay women are beautiful. I think they’re wonderful. But I’m not interested in having sex with a woman.”
“Are you interested in having sex with a man?”
Shaking her head in disbelief, Lauren looked away, gazing out past the gravel driveway to the front paddock and the pasture with the gnarled oak tree in the center, to the rolling hills beyond. “Where is Dad? Did he put you up to this?”
Her mom’s silence was telling and Lauren made a soft exasperated sound. “Tell Dad that I’m sorry to disappoint him, but I am heterosexual.”
“You like men.”
“Is that a statement or a question, Mom?”
Candy sighed and gripped the arms of her chair. “Lisa just thought that maybe . . .”
“Yes?” Lauren prompted, turning around.
Her mom sighed again. “Lisa thought that perhaps that . . . John . . . turned you off men.”
Lauren laughed, blushed, shook her head. “No, Mom,” she said, her voice dropping, deepening with amusement. “You can sleep at night. He didn’t.”
* * *
Audrey Lauren Roussel was born at 11:59 P.M. on Saturday, May 12, arriving into the world with a lusty cry and kicking legs.
She was perfect. She was also beautiful, weighing in at just under eight pounds, her skin a dusky pink and cream, and she had a thatch of dark brown hair and huge brown eyes.
Lauren hadn’t been sure how she’d feel when she first held her new niece, but the moment Matthieu put the swaddled infant into her arms, she felt nothing but joy. And the fiercest rush of love. Unconditional love. She’d do anything for this baby. Anything.
She dipped her head and kissed the top of Audrey’s soft, sweet head. What a gift she was . . . what a blessing for this family . . .
Lifting her head, Lauren looked over at her sister and was startled to discover Lisa crying.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, moving carefully closer to the bed with the newborn in her arms.
“Just so happy you’re here. So happy to see you holding her.”
“I wouldn’t have missed this for the world,” Lauren said, and it was true. Witnessing Audrey’s birth had been nothing but healing and good.
“You’ll be her godmother?” Matthieu asked, stepping toward them, unable to stay away.
Lauren gazed down at the baby and discovered that Audrey was looking up at her, her dark eyes unfocused, and yet there was an intensity in them, a fierce concentration. Lauren kissed her again, in love. “Absolutely.”
* * *
Sunday morning in San Francisco, Sarah had left her phone charging in the kitchen during their homemade brunch, missing the call from Boone.
She’d been waiting impatiently for his call all morning and only discovered the missed call when she was clearing dishes from the table just after noon.
Disappointed, she immediately unplugged the phone and headed for the living room, where it was quiet, to call him back, wondering if he had news. Hoping he had news. Hoping a team—a good team—wanted to pick up his contract.
But Boone didn’t answer when she returned his call and so she left him a message, asking him to call her back as soon as he could.
Hanging up, Sarah dropped onto the couch and tipped her head back, staring at the ceiling, wondering why he had called, hoping it was good news, hoping that he hadn’t played his last game in Major League Baseball. Because his career might make her crazy, but it was also his career, and while she had a love/hate relationship with baseball, she loved that he did something he loved. She loved that he was passionate about his work. She loved that he did something few could do.
Maybe it’s why she’d stayed with him when she found out about his affair. She hated the affair but loved him. She also understood that he wasn’t like your average Joe. He lived in the spotlight. He was paid big money to perform on demand. He was expected to be larger than life. And he had been.
Her phone vibrated in her hands with a text. She grabbed it and read the message. It was from Boone. On phone with Arnie. Will call as soon as I’m done.