I snapped my head up. “What?”
“Lunch. I’m guessing that’s why you’re here. To get your barbecue fix.”
My mouth dropped open. He knows. He knows I’m pregnant.
“How did you know? How did you find out?” I shouted.
Keith gave me a suspicious look as his eyes ran over my body. “How did I found out what? What the hell are you talking about, Liza? Why are you acting like this?”
I was frozen. I couldn’t move or talk. “I’m…I just…I’m having kind of a rough day. So I’d rather be alone. But it was nice seeing you.”
I walked past him and didn’t look back. In the restaurant, I went right to the counter. My breathing was erratic and my heart pounded loud enough to feel it in my ears.
“Is everything okay, miss?” The young girl behind the counter asked. She had bleach-blonde pigtails and an adorable, tiny nose piercing. She smiled sweetly.
“Yes. I just saw an old boyfriend, that’s all.”
She frowned and nodded. “I hear ya. You stay here as long as you need to.”
I smiled and whispered, “Thank you.”
I turned back to watch Keith. He was wearing beige dress pants and a polo shirt. Typical attire for him. He was on the phone with someone and he seemed agitated as he looked back at the door I’d just walked through. Shaking his head he turned and heading out to the parking lot. I turned around and leaned against the counter.
Keith was here. In Austin. My phone buzzed and Keith’s name flashed on the screen.
Keith: You seemed upset. If you finally wised up and broke up with Walker, call me Liza. We can go for drinks or something. I miss you.
I called Walker. It went to voice mail. I took a deep breath and made my way over to the line to order. I would get my brisket sandwich and head to the doctor’s office.
Calm down, Liza. I told myself. Deep breaths. It’s all just a coincidence.
I SAT IN the waiting room of Dr. Monroe’s office waiting for Liza. When the door opened and I saw her walk in, I smiled, but it quickly faded. Something was wrong. I jumped up and went over to her.
“What’s wrong?”
She handed me her phone and I read a text from Keith. I was confused at first, but then it hit me.
“You saw Keith? Where?”
She swallowed hard. “Rudy’s. I walked right into him. He seemed surprised to see me, but I’m not sure.”
Liza was hell-bent on believing that Keith was following her. At first, I didn’t want to believe her. But when Christine told me that her ex-boyfriend didn’t send her those flowers, I started having doubts.
I pulled Liza to me and ran my hand up and down and her back. “Don’t worry, baby. I’m going to find out once and for all whether Keith is behind this.” She pulled away and looked into my eyes. I reached up and wiped her tears away. “Please don’t worry.”
She nodded. “I’m trying not to.”
I smiled. “Good. ’Cause it’s not good for the baby. Or you.”
She bit her lip. “I know.”
The door opened and a nurse called Liza’s name. I took her hand and guided her to the room.
Fifteen minutes later, Liza was smiling and tears were streaming down both of our faces as we listened to our baby’s heartbeat.
“Nice and strong at one hundred fifty-five beats per minute.” Dr. Monroe said with a smile.
The gel-covered wand moved on Liza’s stomach. Dr. Monroe clicked here and there.