Falling for the Mom-to-Be. Jenna Mindel

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СКАЧАТЬ knew exactly what Ginger meant. “It’s way too soon.”

      Her friend snorted. “Says who?”

      “Seriously? Anyone would think it’s too soon. Besides, how can I even think about someone else after Jack?”

      “Jack’s gone, hon.” Ginger’s voice grew soft and full of sympathy. “It’s okay to care for someone new. Especially someone who understands what you’re going through. Matthew knows how much this hurts.”

      Annie’s throat grew tight. That’s what was scary. Matthew knew her well. He felt what she felt. But half of her also felt dead. Grief had a way of numbing emotions, and some feelings never came back. Not exactly a prize for a guy as sweet as Matthew Zelinsky. He deserved better. He deserved someone whole. And someone young.

      * * *

      The next day, Matthew took in his and Luke’s handiwork from atop Annie’s home. The roof was nearly done. With rain forecasted for the looming Memorial Day weekend, they’d finish up in the nick of time. He stretched and yawned.

      He spotted Annie resting in a lounge chair after she’d spent the morning weeding her flower beds. Her small garden plot lay untouched and unready for planting. Now that it was only her, maybe she didn’t want to plant vegetables.

      That small reminder of Jack’s death hit him like a punch in the gut as a sense of loss swamped him. Jack had always bragged about his wife’s cucumbers and tomatoes and onions. He used to bring bags of her homegrown veggies onto the laker. Matthew hated the thought of Annie giving it up.

      She hadn’t moved from that lounge chair in a while. Had she fallen asleep again? Dressed in loose overall shorts and a T-shirt, Annie had a large floppy hat covering her face so he couldn’t tell if she was awake or not.

      He checked his watch. Nearly noon. “Hey, I’m going to buzz home real quick.”

      “What for?” Luke took a long swig from his water bottle.

      The sun scorched them both and lunch would be a welcome break.

      “I’m going to grab that fish we caught last night. We can grill it here for lunch.” Maybe that’d bolster Annie’s spirits. She loved a fresh catch.

      “Good idea.”

      Matthew climbed down the ladder. “Anything you want to go with it?”

      “Coleslaw.”

      He nodded. Annie had been feeding him and his little brother every day. Lunch was ordered in or picked up from the corner IGA store. They’d had pizza, sub sandwiches and even a bucket of fried chicken. Stuff Annie didn’t eat. Today, he’d grill something for her and maybe pick up a couple funky salads, too. Annie liked a lot of greens. She’d eaten a whole plateful of rabbit food last night at dinner.

      It didn’t take long to buy what he needed. The small house he shared with one of his older brothers—and soon Luke—sat on the edge of town. Right near the locally owned and operated grocery store. In less than half an hour, he was back at Annie’s lighting the gas grill.

      Luke worked on the roof while he grilled and Annie continued to snooze. The woman could really sleep. Did the baby sap her energy, or was it depression? Grief could fall into despair.

      He prayed Annie wasn’t so wrecked by Jack’s death that she couldn’t sleep at night. She had smiled, though. Laughed even. With him. So he had hope that she was making her way back.

      He stepped inside to gather plates, utensils and glasses full of ice. Annie kept the cooler outside stocked with water and pop. She’d also made sun tea in a big glass jar with a spigot.

      Luke appeared from the roof and set the table.

      Annie woke up and, looking dazed, headed toward the deck gripping her midsection. “What’s that garlicky smell?”

      “Lunch.” He lifted the lid and pulled the tray of perfectly seasoned walleye fillets off the grill. “Luke and I caught these last night.”

      Annie’s face went pale. No. More like ashen-green. He’d seen that same skin color when rookies got sea-sick on the lakes. She slapped a hand over her mouth and backed away. Fast. She didn’t make it far before she retched in an empty flowerpot.

      He set the fish back on the grill and bounded down the steps with a handful of napkins. “Wow, Annie, I’m sorry. I thought you’d like fish and didn’t think...”

      She breathed deep and held out her hand to stay back. “I’ll be fine in a minute.”

      He watched her heave once more but nothing came out. He placed his hand on her back and held out the napkins.

      She gripped his hand. Hard.

      He suddenly chuckled at the situation. Who threw up in an empty flowerpot? “You done?”

      “I don’t know.”

      He caught his brother’s eye. “Luke, grab a bottle of water, would you?”

      Luke had filled his plate but stood frozen in place, eyes wide. Then he moved quickly, slamming the cooler lid and bounding down the stairs with water. “What’s wrong with her?”

      “No, don’t...” Annie retched again.

      Luke backed away. “Whoa...”

      Matthew took the water bottle from his brother, no longer seeing the humor in this. “Do me a favor.”

      “Yeah?”

      “Take my truck and go get your stuff. We’ll finish the roof tomorrow.” Matthew threw him his keys.

      Luke caught them. “How will you get home?”

      “Just do it.” He didn’t think Annie wanted an audience, and since she gripped his hand tighter than a vise, he wasn’t going anywhere soon. Besides, he could walk the couple miles home if he had to.

      “Okaaaay.” His brother narrowed his gaze. “So, what’s the deal here?”

      “Go, will you?”

      Luke nodded. He grabbed his plate on the way.

      Matthew ignored the swishing sound of his brother getting a pop from the ice-filled cooler before finally leaving. He handed Annie the water bottle. “Here.”

      She shook her head, scattering tears. Her hand trembled in his as she lurched down and dry-heaved one more time.

      Helpless, he rubbed her back.

      “Ugh! Sorry,” she mumbled and let go of him.

      He noticed that her hands shook as she pushed back her hair. He poured water over the napkins and handed them to her.

      She wiped her mouth and forehead then took a swig of water from the icy bottle. “Thanks.”

      He frowned. “Sorry about lunch.”

      “It’s СКАЧАТЬ