Her browse rose. “Ahh, now I see. Was it a one-night stand?”
I looked at her with a grimace. “I don’t know what it was, if I’m being honest.”
“Well, something happened between the two of you, or you wouldn’t be sitting here.”
I couldn’t argue with that. I simply nodded.
“Regardless, you have to tell him, Merit. He should at least decide if he wants to be a part of this child’s life.”
I sighed “I will. It’s just that I don’t know how to tell him.”
Janice took my hand and squeezed it. “You’ll figure it out, but do it quick. You don’t want him to resent you for keeping this a secret for too long.”
My stomach dropped at the idea of Dirk being angry with me for keeping this from him. I looked back at the picture. “Can you type just ‘hi’ and maybe an arrow pointing to her?”
“Of course I can!” Janice said as she deleted what she’d typed and then wrote in Hi, it’s baby here!
“Let me take a few measurements, and I’ll send the images to you, as well as print some out for you to take home.”
“Thank you,” I said as I wiped my tears away and took in a few deep breaths.
“I’ll give you a few minutes to get dressed again. You’re my last patient of the day, so do you want to go grab a bite to eat and catch up?”
I smiled. “I’d love to.”
Thirty minutes later, Janice and I walked into Nap’s Grill. The smell of something cooking on the grill hit me, and my stomach growled.
“Looks like someone’s hungry,” Janice said with a chuckle.
The hostess walked up with a bright smile on her face. “Just the two of you?”
“Yes, thank you,” Janice replied.
As we walked through the restaurant and into the side area, a strange feeling came over me. I paused for a moment before I kept walking.
Janice noticed and looked back at me. “You okay? Feeling sick?”
I laughed and shook it off. “Yeah—I mean, no. I’m fine.”
As we were taken over to one of the booths and I slid in, I looked around the restaurant. Sitting down and across from us was Dirk. And Kaylee.
Dirk’s eyes met mine, and I felt my breath catch in my throat. It had only been a couple of days since I overheard him talking to Brock, but it seemed like a lifetime.
I quickly looked away from him and at Janice. “We should go somewhere else.”
She gave me a befuddled look. “You suggested this place. Why the change of heart?”
I felt the color drain from my face, and I swallowed hard.
Her brows rose and she whispered, “He’s here?”
With a nod, I went to slide back out of the booth.
“Merit!”
The sound of Kaylee calling out my name gave me pause, and I looked at the door for a moment as I thought about bolting.
I lifted my hand and waved. Kaylee pushed out of the chair and made her way over to me. More like waddled.
“Hey, it’s good seeing you. Why don’t y’all join us?” Kaylee said as she smiled and looked between me and Janice.
I glanced over at Dirk, then back to Kaylee.
“Ty is grabbing him and Dirk a couple more beers.” She turned to look at Janice and then peeked at me.
“Oh, um, this is Janice Lewis,” I said. “She’s an old friend from high school. We ran into each other.”
Janice looked at me with wide eyes before she turned her attention to Kaylee. “It’s, um, a pleasure to meet you. We’re actually talking business. Merit is helping me plan a trip out to her family’s farm for my nieces and nephews next month for elderberry picking, but thank you so much for the invite.”
A wide smile grew across Kaylee’s face. She really was the sweetest person, and I hated that I harbored jealousy toward her. It wasn’t her fault Dirk and I were no longer close like we used to be. It wasn’t her fault Dirk dropped everything for her. She was very much in love with her husband, and anyone could see that.
“Oh, they’ll have so much fun picking the berries!” Kaylee stated. Then she turned back to me. “Were you going to the restroom? I have to pee like you wouldn’t believe.”
“Ahh…” I looked at Janice, who shrugged ever so slightly. “Yes…I was.” I dropped my purse back onto the seat and gave Janice a quick glance that said I was sorry, but it looked like we were staying. “I’ll take a water if the waitress stops by.”
Janice smiled. “Got it.”
Not daring to look at Dirk, I walked next to Kaylee as we headed to the bathroom.
“So, you only have a few more weeks. Are you ready?” I asked.
She sighed. “I’m so, so ready! I’ve loved being pregnant, don’t get me wrong. It’s been the most amazing time for me and Ty. I feel like it’s made us even closer, if that’s possible.”