First Kiss Last by Sara Miller (read e book .TXT) 📗

Leah did not want money or things for the baby. She wanted Cade. She needed him. Him helping but not being with her was going to be a fit punishment.

“Don’t tell me nothing, hun. I’m . . . I don’t even know what I am. Give me something I can do. Please.”

“I need a crib.”

“Done,” he nodded decisively.

He touched one of the curls in her hair without comment. Cade leaned in and kissed her cheek. Then he got up, turned off the light, and left the room.

Leah sat in the dark. She felt good to have finally talked to Cade. She also felt unsettled. But, he did still love her. And he wanted to help with the baby. So maybe . . . Leah could not finish the thought. Hoping hurt too much. She closed her eyes and let the dream darkness take her.

Chapter 42

“It’s been five weeks,” Lily told her. “Five weeks!”

“Yup.”

“You are due in a week.”

“I know,” Leah assured her sister.

“One week. That’s seven days. Which could mean any moment.”

“I know. Or it could mean two weeks. We have everything we need. Stop stressing.”

“I’m not. And we do not. You don’t have a crib,” Lily paced.

Leah was attempting to relax on the couch. Her belly was now larger than she could ever have imagined. Her ankles were swollen and her back had hurt all day. She had done nothing and yet she was tired. It was late and the girls were already in bed.

“I have a bassinet.”

“Ha! But not a crib!”

“Lily, sit down, you are making me crazy. You told me the bassinet was all I’d need for weeks. Why the rush?”

Lily flung herself on the loveseat dramatically. As annoying as she found her sister at this moment, Leah couldn’t help but laugh.

“Honestly, I thought I was supposed to nest, not you,” Leah teased, hoping to lighten the mood.

“Just tell me why you won’t pick out a freakin’ crib and I’ll drop it.” Lily eyed her suspiciously.

“Fine,” Leah sighed. “Cade said he’d take care of the crib.”

“You talked to Cade?!” Lily’s voice hit a pitch that would make dogs howl.

“Yes, now drop it.”

“No more crib talk. Promise,” Lily said.

Leah did not like the look on her sister’s face. She wished she had not mentioned Cade. He’d been the elephant in the room for weeks and up until now, she had managed to avoid it.

“So . . . you talked to Cade?” Lily asked as casually as she was physically capable. Which was not much.

Leah laughed again.

“Yes. Well, kind of. I think,” Leah closed her eyes and wished she had given a better answer.

“Explain, please.”

“I talked to him the way I talk to him,” Leah hedged.

“So you dreamt you talked to him,” Lily frowned. She jumped up and resumed her pacing. “But what if it wasn’t real? What if you didn’t actually talk to him? What if—”

“Lily!” Robert cut her off.

Lily and Leah stared at him in surprise. Not only had they not heard him come in the room, but they were startled at his reaction. Leah was not sure what to say so she kept her mouth shut. Lily didn’t.

“But Robert!”

“Don’t ‘but Robert’ me. This is their relationship and we need to stay out of it.”

Leah wanted to thank him but Lily barged ahead. So she silently thanked him.

“How do we even know they have a relationship if we stay out of it?” her hands were on her hips and Leah was glad it was directed at someone else this time.

“Because . . .” his gaze shifted from his wife to her and Leah was pretty sure she was about to take her thanks back. “I didn’t stay out of it.”

“Robert David Matthews,” Lily used his full name.

“We went out for beers and we talked.”

“And?” Lily demanded.

“And he knows. They did talk, I can confirm that—even though I still don’t understand it. He’s taking care of the crib like he promised.”

Robert went to Lily and put his arms around her. He pulled her back down to the love seat and kissed her. He smiled and spoke gently, “We need to let them do this their way.”

Lily pouted and her husband kissed her again.

Leah used the distraction to roll herself off the couch. She made a rather ungraceful exit, but thankfully no one noticed. She rubbed her aching back as she went.

She really hoped she’d have that with Cade someday. A real-life, true relationship and marriage like Lily and Robert had. But Cade had not called, messaged, or tried to contact her in any way. And there were no more dreams.

Leah sighed and waddled outside. She was tired but not looking forward to bed. Resting was practically impossible for her now. She was hoping fresh air would help.

It was a perfect June evening. The sun was setting and the air was warm. Lightning bugs flashed on the other side of the yard.

She looked at the recently installed porch swing and eyed it woefully. Leah had made that tactical error once and was not about to repeat it. Instead, she sat on the firm bench she knew she could get out of. Not the most comfortable, but safe.

Leah needed to talk to Cade. She wanted to know what he was thinking and feeling. All that girly stuff. Yet she was forcing herself to respect his space and feelings. It was a continuous internal struggle. She wondered if Cade felt the same way.

The closer she got to her due date, the more anxious she felt. Not about the baby, but about Cade. She wished . . . Leah could not seem to put her wish into words. So instead, she closed her eyes and just listened to the night sounds around her.

“Leah?”

Leah jolted at the sound of Cade’s voice.

“What are you doing here?”

“Depends. Where is here?” Cade looked around in confusion. For Leah, that answered her question. She should have known him being here was too good to be true. She must have fallen asleep.

“Robert and Lily’s backyard.