“Was she doing okay?” Matt persisted.
“Yeah, I think so. She talked to her doc and he didn’t sound too concerned. Just wanted her to take it easy.”
“It’s good she went to bed,” A.J. said. “I’m sure bonehead falling on her today had a lot to do with the spotting.”
Simon scowled at the mention of Mike. “He doesn’t watch out for her like he should.”
“I have to agree with you there,” Matt said, nodding his head slowly. “I don’t know what she sees in him to be honest. I’m tempted to have a talk with her.”
“Maybe so. You’re her brother after all,” A.J. spoke up. “Maybe you can talk some sense into her.”
“I think she’s having a hard time right now,” Matt said regretfully. “I feel to blame. I’m not sure it was the right time to talk about marriage with Steph.”
Simon remained silent, not agreeing or disagreeing with that sentiment. In truth, he did agree that the timing was rotten. He had no doubt Toni was dealing with a lot. Adapting to her pregnancy not to mention moving out of the house she’d called home since she was child. He wanted to be angry with Matt, but he couldn’t begrudge him his happiness.
“I’m heading to bed,” he announced, unable to stand it any longer. The kiss was haunting him. He had replayed it over and over in his head until it became one continuous stream.
He said goodnight and went straight to the bathroom. He needed a shower. A very cold shower.
Chapter Fourteen
After a sleepless night, Toni got up and showered. She had gotten up several times during the night, checking to see if she was still spotting. To her relief, there had been no evidence of blood and she’d experienced no cramping.
The guys were late sleepers, and if she was lucky, she’d be able to get out of the house without getting a lecture on staying in bed or encountering Simon.
A flush crawled over her face at the idea of looking Simon in the eye. His apology was too fresh on her mind, and the look of horror in his face when she’d kissed him was enough to make her want to keep her distance for a while.
She tiptoed out of her room, relieved to see the kitchen empty. She froze when she saw Simon asleep on the couch. Had he waited up for her? Acting quickly, she scribbled a note and left it out on the bar so they guys wouldn’t worry. She poured a glass of juice to take with her and headed back out to her Jeep.
The first order of business was to find a part time job. She had a few ideas and would check them out before she got desperate enough to go flip burgers. Lonnie Bristow, the head of Emergency Medical Services dispatch had offered her a job before when she’d filled in one summer. Perhaps he needed a PRN person.
She drove to central dispatch, just two blocks from the fire station and the county run ambulance service. Luck was with her and Lonnie was in his office.
He looked up when she knocked and smiled welcomingly. “Hey Toni. Come on in. What can I do for you?”
“Hi, Lonnie.” She slid into a chair in front of his desk and nervously took in a breath. “I was wondering if you had any PRN positions open.”
He raised his eyebrow in surprise. “Sure. I always need dispatchers to fill in. As it is, most people are working extra hours. You asking for yourself?”
She nodded. “I still work for Doc Johnson so I could only work weekends or in the evenings, but I’d like the part time work.”
“I sure won’t turn down an experienced dispatcher.” He rolled back in his chair to the file cabinet behind him and rifled through one of the drawers. He pulled out an application and handed it to her. “Fill this out and get it back to me. When would you like to start?”
“As soon as possible,” she replied, taking the paper from him.
He handed her a pen and studied her for a moment. “I’ve known you for a long time, Toni. What’s going on? Are you in some kind of trouble?”
She raised her eyes to look at him. “Oh no. No trouble. I’m sure you’ve heard by now.” She paused a moment. He hadn’t been at the barbeque, but as much as the town loved to gossip, she couldn’t imagine he hadn’t heard.
“Heard what?”
“That I’m pregnant. I just need the extra money until the baby’s born.”
He tried to mask the surprise, but his eyes gave him away. “No, I hadn’t heard. Congratulations.”
“Thank you. You’re the first person to actually congratulate me and mean it,” she said with a smile.
“I can well imagine,” he said dryly.
She handed the application back to him.
He glanced over it a moment, then looked at his calendar. “Want to come in Monday after you get off work and reacquaint yourself with the surroundings? Sarah is working then, and she’ll be glad to show you the ropes again.”
“That would be great.” She got up and extended her hand. “Thank, Lonnie. I owe you one.”
“Hell no you don’t. If you only knew how badly I needed dispatchers. I should be down kissing your feet.”
She grinned. “I’ll see you Monday then.”
Feeling a little lighter, she got into her Jeep and checked her watch. It was only ten. Well, now that she had another job, she could go look for baby things anyway. And it sure beat going back home and facing Simon.
Tomorrow she’d run her job idea by her doctor and get his okay before she committed to the whole shebang. She needed the job. Needed the money. Needed to get away from Simon before she imploded. But she would do nothing at the expense of her baby. Their baby.
By seven, she was thoroughly exhausted. She’d hit every department store in Beaumont, not to mention every baby boutique and furniture store. Her list had been compiled of exactly what she wanted. A crib small enough to fit in her bedroom. A bassinet for the living room. Lots of must haves, according to the saleswoman, like a swing and bouncer.
Unable to avoid the inevitable any longer, she turned homeward, praying that A.J. and Matt were at home so she could avoid any conversation with Simon. All three trucks were in the driveway to her relief. She parked then trudged into the house.
Three sets of eyes stared at her when she opened the door. Her fatigue must have been evident because they immediately pounced.
“Where the hell have you been all day?” Matt demanded. “You look like hell.”
“I’m tired. I’m going to bed.” She started toward her room, avoiding Simon’s gaze when A.J. spoke up.
“Is everything okay, Toni?”
She smiled crookedly. “Yeah, just overdid it. G’night.”
Not waiting for them to say anything more, she escaped to her room and locked the door behind her. No sooner had she gotten undressed and into bed a knock sounded at her door.
“Toni, it’s me Matt.”
“I’m in bed,” she called.
“I want to talk to you.”
“Can it wait? I’m really tired.”
There was a long pause. “Okay. Get some rest. We’ll talk later.”
She laid back and closed her eyes. Then the tears fell.
Monday she congratulated herself on going the entire weekend without seeing Simon more than in passing. She’d work in dispatch after work and the guys were starting a forty-eight on Tuesday, so the earliest
she’d see Simon would be Thursday afternoon. Provided she didn’t work that night.
She got off a little early so she went home to change before she headed in to her second job. When she let herself in, the guys were all watching TV in the living room. She called out a hello