A Baby and a Betrothal (17 page)

She stopped speaking when Lelia elbowed her in the ribs. “All we could hear from the front was when the baking pans fell. None of the conversation. Not much, anyway. Promise.”

Katie looked at Suzanne, who nodded in agreement then turned to take the order of a couple who'd just walked into the store.

A bit of tension released from her shoulders. She didn't want anyone knowing about the pregnancy until she was ready to share the news. That thought in mind, she asked Lelia to follow her into the back.

When she went through the large swinging doors, she stopped short. The entire kitchen was spotless and a batch of perfect muffins sat cooling on the stainless-steel counter.

“I know the kitchen is your domain,” Lelia said quickly. “But we had a lull and I didn't want you to come back to a mess. I hope you don't mind.”

Katie shook her head, emotion surging at the small gesture. Or was it pregnancy hormones? She'd learn a lot about herself over the next nine months. “I appreciate it,” she told Lelia, “and that's part of why I want to speak to you.” She stepped closer to the counter, running her fingers across the cool surface. “I'm pregnant.”

Lelia drew in a shocked breath. Okay, maybe the argument earlier really hadn't been heard out front. “That's why Noah was so angry?”

Katie nodded.

“Because it's not his?” Lelia continued, her tone dejected and a little bitter.

“What?” Katie blinked several times. “No. The baby is Noah's. Who else? I haven't been with—”

She broke off, noticed the way Lelia relaxed and a smile split her face. “Congratulations, then,” the other woman said. “You'll be a wonderful mom.”

“Who did you think...? Matt?”

Lelia's gaze dropped to the ground.

“I've noticed that he's picked you up after work the past couple of days,” Katie said carefully. “Does that mean—”

“I feel awful about it.” Lelia covered her face with her hands. “Stealing my boss's boyfriend.”

“He's not—”

“But I really like him. We have so much in common and...”

“I'm happy for you, Lelia. Matt is a great guy but not for me. If you like him, I support you, especially because you're a great addition to our town.”

Lelia lowered her hands. “You mean it? You're not mad?”

“Not at all. In fact, the reason I told you my news is because with a baby to plan for, I'm going to need to make some changes at the bakery. Delegate responsibility. I was hoping you'd agree to become my first official manager?”

“Really?” Lelia practically bounced up and down. “You mean that?”

“I do. We'll increase your hours and you can start learning the business side of the bakery. I think we'll make a great team.”

“That's amazing.” Lelia reached forward to hug Katie. “I can't wait to share this with Matt. I was so worried you were going to fire me for not telling you about us right away.”

Pain pinched Katie's heart as she thought of the price she'd paid for waiting to tell Noah her news. “I wouldn't do that. Give me a few weeks to come up with a new job description. I have to get through Founder's Day and we have two big orders of wedding cupcakes for that same weekend.”

“Of course. I better get back out front.” She began to leave then turned. “Is Noah not happy about the baby?” she asked softly.

“It's complicated” was the only answer Katie could give without emotions getting the best of her again.

Chapter Eighteen

“R
emember the good old days when life wasn't so complicated?” Noah asked Jase as he helped load hay bales into the back of Jase's truck early on the first morning of the festival.

Jase hefted another hay bale then wiped his gloved hand across his forehead. “Life has always been complicated. You were just too checked out of it to notice.”

“I wasn't exactly checked out,” Noah argued but realized Jase was right. Before this summer, he'd been living life without ever getting too involved. He was good at his job, but when things got too complicated or bureaucratic, he'd slip away into the woods to recharge. Instead of stepping up when he finally learned about his father's cancer, he'd let his anger and hurt over being the last one to know spoil the last days he had with his dad. He'd avoided anything in life that made him uncomfortable, using the excuse that he wanted to keep things light and fun.

Even with Katie... No, she was different. Wasn't she? He'd tried with her, put himself out there—at least in his mind—and she'd let him down. The pain was a killer, a reminder of why it was better to stick to the superficial.

“So what happened?”

“Nothing,” Noah muttered and threw a hay bale, harder than necessary, onto the flatbed.

“Right.” Jase put his hands on his hips and gave Noah his best attorney stare. “Because a few days ago you were burping unicorns and now you look like you're ready to breathe fire on anyone who crosses you.”

Noah stood for a moment, thought about how to answer and finally settled on the truth. “Katie is pregnant.”

“Whoa.” Jase took a step back then reached forward and slapped Noah on the back. “Congratulations, man. That's awesome.”

“Are you kidding? This is the opposite of awesome.”

“Why? You obviously love her. She's been crazy about you for as long as anyone can remember. The two of you and a baby—it's the perfect family.”

There was so much wrong with Jase's words, Noah didn't know where to begin. “What do you mean ‘for as long as anyone can remember'? Katie and I only started seeing each other this summer.”

Jase looked genuinely confused. “If ‘seeing each other' is code for ‘getting naked' then yeah. That part might be new but you've been friends for years.”

“Friends. That's it.”

“Because you're an idiot,” Jase agreed. “You were busy bedding the wrong women while the right girl was waiting patiently the whole time.”

“No.” Noah's world started to spin again and he wondered if things would ever get back to normal. If he'd even recognize normal. “I was her friend.”

Jase arched a brow and stared.

“Do you do that in the courtroom?” Noah asked, adjusting the collar of his T-shirt, which suddenly felt too tight. “Because it's annoying as hell.”

“I'm not a trial lawyer,” Jase said calmly. “Don't change the subject. If Katie is pregnant, why haven't I seen you two together? Why do you look miserable?”

“She didn't tell me.”

“What does that mean?” Jase shook his head. “She's already had the baby and hidden it from you?”

“Don't be an ass,” Noah mumbled. “It took her a week to tell me and that was only because I heard her arguing with Tori about it. Emily had found out and somehow Tori was eavesdropping when they discussed it.” He moved his shoulders as if that should explain everything, but Jase continued to stare. “It was like my parents all over again. I can't deal with that. Not from Katie.”

“Oh, boo-hoo,” Jase mock cried. For a man known for his levelheadedness, he looked as angry as Noah had ever seen him. “You can't deal? What's the matter? Is your ego bruised?”

No, my heart
, Noah wanted to answer but remained silent.

“Let me make sure I understand.” Jase all but spit the words. “You can't deal, so you've deserted Katie to manage with the whole situation on her own.”

Noah shook his head. “It's not like that. I told her I want to be there for the baby. I'll be at all the doctor appointments.”

“How generous.”

“What do you want from me?” Noah scrubbed a hand over his jaw. He'd forgotten to shave for the past several days, felt lucky he'd remembered to brush his teeth.

“I want you to grow the hell up.” Jake pointed a finger in Noah's face. “Did you ever think she was afraid to tell you because of how you'd react? Remember, this girl has been by your side every time things got serious. And no offense, man, but you don't handle serious so well.”

“That's not true.”

Jase held up a hand, ticking off points as he spoke. “What happened when you found out your dad had cancer? You barely spoke to him the last two months of his life. You missed your chance to say goodbye.”

Noah clapped a hand to his chest, the painful memory threatening to suffocate him.

“Then your girlfriend cheated and that was awful but—”

“Katie was the one who sent the anonymous note.”

“More power to her,” Jase said. “You were better off without Tori. But how did you deal with that? You dated the longest string of flash-in-the-pan women you could find. All with Katie watching from the sidelines. As I remember it, you made her run interference more than once when things went sideways.”

Noah winced. “She was willing to help.”

“Because she
loves
you. She saw the worst of your behavior and loved you anyway. Believed you were better despite yourself. Of course she'd be afraid to tell you. You've given her no reason to trust you. Her parents were as selfish as people get, and still she turned out good and kind. But lacking in self-confidence, a fact that—no offense—you've used to your advantage all these years. Now that she needs you, you turn on her.” Jase lifted his hands, palms up. “Before you start calling me an ass, take a long look in the mirror. I wouldn't be surprised if you started braying at your reflection.”

Noah felt his mouth drop open and snapped it shut again. As he did it was as though the blinders he'd worn for all these years were stripped away. He'd been a fool. He was still a fool. And worse. He'd hurt the one person who mattered most to him, all because he was too scared to do anything else.

“Are you sure you're not a trial lawyer?” he asked Jase, shaking his head. “Because any jury who heard that closing argument would convict me without a second thought.”

“It's not too late.” Jase took a breath, spoke more softly. “Unlike in the courtroom, in life you get a second chance.”

“If she'll give it to me.” Noah's stomach rolled at the thought that he might have blown it for good. How would he survive without Katie and their baby as a part of his life? Without the chance to prove how much he loved her?

Jake flipped him the keys to the truck. “Only one way to find out.”

* * *

If it was possible to be asleep while working nonstop, that was what Katie was doing the morning of the Founder's Day Festival. It was sunny and warm, already close to eighty degrees, which meant it would be downright hot by the time the events began at noon. She'd been at the county fairgrounds since sunup, managing the volunteers who assembled booths and directed vendors.

She'd thrown up twice behind the beer tent, but luckily it didn't seem as if anyone except Emily noticed her nausea. The other woman clearly wanted to talk to her, but Katie had managed to stay busy and unavailable. From the sympathetic looks Emily shot her across the food-judging tent, Katie guessed Noah had talked to her. She'd seen his mother earlier, as well. Now that she was feeling better, Meg was helping to judge the baking contests. She couldn't tell what Meg knew, but was avoiding her just in case.

She wasn't ready to talk to anyone about her pregnancy.

Other than Natalie and Olivia, none of her friends knew. Each day Katie fell more in love with the life growing inside her, but she was unsure of the future. She also wasn't ready to admit how bad Noah's rejection hurt. Eventually the pain would dull. She'd had enough experience with heartache over the years to believe that. At the same time, this was different because no matter how Noah felt, they were tied together forever.

“You look awful,” a voice said at her shoulder.

Katie spun around to find Emily and Meg standing behind her.

“What she means,” Meg tried to clarify, “is that you seem tired.”

“I meant she looks like death warmed over,” Emily said then dodged a maternal slap.

“Can we help you with something, sweetie?” Meg's voice was kind, her eyes a little hopeful. “You could go home for a few hours, put your feet up and have a snack.”

Katie shook her head. “I'm fine and I promised to organize the food contests myself. Edna Sharpe and Karen Solanes are both vying for a blue ribbon in the fruit-pie category this year, and they've been fighting and accusing each other of cheating all week. I have to be here to mediate so things don't get out of hand.”

Meg sniffed. “Edna's crust is always too crumbly. She doesn't have a chance against Karen's strawberry rhubarb.”

“Even so...” Katie shook her head.

“We're worried about you,” Meg said then leaned in to wrap her arms around Katie. “I'm also excited for you and Noah.”

Katie stiffened for a moment then let herself relax into Meg's motherly embrace. Katie hadn't told her own parents yet but didn't expect them to be rejoicing at the news of becoming grandparents.

“He'll come around,” Meg whispered. “It takes Noah a while to process things...” Emily barked out a laugh at that assessment and Meg leaned back to shoot her daughter a glare before returning her gaze to Katie. “But he cares about you and he'll do the right thing.”

Katie forced herself to nod, too afraid to speak and break down completely. There was that phrase again. But she didn't want to only be “the right thing.” “I have to get through this weekend,” she said after a deep breath.

“We can help,” Meg offered again.

“I need to be here.”

“Why?” Emily asked, one eyebrow raised.

“Because...” Katie started, not sure how to explain her reasoning.

Because she didn't want people to think she was weak and incompetent, the way she'd felt most of her childhood. Because she needed them to remember this weekend and her good reputation when the news eventually leaked that she was single and pregnant.

“Because I can't stand to be alone right now.” The words slipped out before she could stop them.

“I'm going to kill my son,” Meg said, shaking her head.

“This isn't Noah's fault,” Katie answered quickly. “Don't be angry with him. He needs you right now.”

“
You
need him.” Meg gave her another hug then stepped back. “And to rest. Promise you'll take a break later. I'll handle Edna and Karen if things get out of hand.”

The walkie-talkie clipped to Katie's belt chirped. Jase had given it to her this morning so they could communicate from opposite ends of the fairgrounds. At the same time, an older woman called to Katie from the far side of the tent. Katie pressed her fingers to her temples. Busy was difficult enough, but she couldn't very well clone herself to be two places at one time.

“You take care of things in here,” Emily told her. “I'll go see what Jase wants.”

“Thank you.”

“I'll go with you, Katie.” Meg straightened her shoulders. “Just to keep those women in line.”

Once again, Katie was reminded that she wasn't alone. That she was part of a community that would support and care for her, even if her own parents never had.

Although she had Meg and Emily's help, she was pulled in a half dozen different directions over the next couple of hours. Her other friends arrived to pitch in, as well, but still everyone seemed to clamor for her attention. Her stomach continued to feel queasy, so she skipped the doughnuts and apples set out for volunteers.

By the time they were ready to open the ticket gates, she felt almost dizzy with exhaustion. Come to think of it, she felt dizzy, period. She was standing near the table that displayed the pies for one of the first tasting events. Her eyes drifted closed for a moment then snapped open as she felt herself sway.

The last thing she saw before she went down was Noah stalking toward her.

* * *

The first thing Noah saw as he entered the food tent was Katie drop from sight. Pushing people out of his way and vaulting over the corner of the table, he sank to the ground next to her.

“Katie, sweetheart.” He lifted her head off the ground then took a breath as she opened her eyes, blinking up at him.

“Sorry,” she whispered.

“No apologies.” He smoothed a strand of hair off her pale face. “Are you hurt?”

She shook her head. “Didn't have a chance to eat. I'm fine.”

“Katie, what is going on?” Edna Sharpe elbowed several onlookers to stand over the two of them. “You need to get up now, girl. The judging is about to start.”

He followed Katie's gaze to where people were streaming into the tent, filling up the rows of chairs lined across the center. But when she started to stand, he scooped her into his arms. “She's not judging anything, Edna.” He glared at the older woman, who glared right back at him. “I'm taking her home.”

“You can't.” Edna's voice hit a note that would make a dog wince. “We need her for the judging. She's the expert baker. She always judges the finalists.”

“Not this year,” Noah growled. “She needs rest more than you need her.”

“It's fine,” Katie whispered. “You can let me go, Noah.”

He looked into her eyes. “No way, Bug. I'm never letting you go again.”

Her eyes went wide as he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her mouth. God, it felt so damn good to hold her again. How had he ever thought he could live without her?