Family Pieces (42 page)

“I want my baby, Addison! I want to have this baby!” Karsen pleaded.

“I know,” Addison grasped her hand and prayed silently to herself,
Please let there be a heartbeat.

Brad paced in the waiting area. He had already read through every available publication and his patience had worn thin.

“Sit down, honey,” coaxed Hanna.

“I can’t. They’ve been back there over an hour. What if Karsen’s not okay?”

“She’s going to be fine.”

“You don’t know that.”

“And you don’t know that she’s not. But, I do know wearing a path in the carpet isn’t going to help, and quite honestly, you’re driving me crazy. Whatever is meant to be always happens anyway.”

Logically he knew she was right, but he couldn’t help it.

“Brad, sit. Please,” she said sternly.

“Fine.” He slumped down in the chair beside her.

“She’s strong, you know. You don’t give her enough credit.”

“Probably not. I just… I just can’t let anything else happen to this family.”

“At some point, you have to take care of yourself. What happens when you have a family? I mean, what happens if we have a family… someday? Are you still going to be saving Karsen?”

The words came out before she realized what she was starting. She saw anger cross his face. The scowl lines deepened in his forehead and his lips pursed. She hadn’t intended to initiate a serious conversation. She just needed to know he’d put her first someday.

“I’m sorry.” She tried to retract her statement before he could speak.

“That’s not fair.”

“I said I’m sorry.” She regretted broaching the topic at all. He turned to face her, but she looked only at the floor. Her last intention was to start their first fight, and in public, no less.

He knelt down in front of her and leaned in.

“It’s not fair that you compare Karsen to you. Karsen is my sister. We’ve always been close. But you…”

He paused. “Look at me.”

She raised her eyes to meet his.

“I love YOU.”

She stared at him in shock. She hadn’t expected to hear the word love. They’d been close, intimate even, but neither had actually verbalized the “L” word.

“I want to be with you. I want to have a family with you someday. But right now, she needs me, and I know as her friend you understand that.”

“I do know. I’m sorry.” She tried to withhold the tears forming in her eyes.

“I love you,” he repeated, wiping the tear from her cheek.

“I love you, too.”

“You two are going to have to stop being so lovey-dovey all the time.”

Addison stood looking down at them. Brad got up and they both smiled sheepishly.

“What’s the word?” Brad asked, trying to sound calm and collected.

“Karsen’s doing fine,” Addison assured him. She knew ‘fine’ wasn’t what he wanted to hear, but the details were not hers to tell. “She’ll be out in a minute. I’ll let her fill you in.”

Karsen finished dressing. She was filled with a newfound hope as she walked down the hallway, smiling at the photos aligning the walls. All infants delivered by Dr. Gallegos.
How lucky they were to have had such a compassionate doctor
, she thought.

Brad and Hanna stood anxiously as Karsen re-entered the waiting room. She embraced Hanna in a warm hug, holding her tight.

“Thanks,” she said into her friend’s ear as she held her.

“Are you okay?” Hanna asked.

“Yeah, I am now.”

“So?” Brad asked, not sure what really he was asking.

Karsen took a step back from Hanna. Her lips pressed together into a peaceful smile as she thought about what to say.

“I’m fine. Dr. Gallegos said I need to start taking it easy.”

“Does that mean …?” Hanna asked expectantly.

“The baby is fine.” Karsen’s eyes lit up as she took Brad’s hands. “I guess it means you’re going to be an uncle.”

“Seriously?” Brad was taken aback. His focus had always been on Karsen’s well-being. Hearing the word “uncle,” he realized he’d be more than a big brother now. He had a new role to play. “Are you sure about this?”

She smiled confidently. “Absolutely. I know it won’t be easy, but I want to keep the baby.”

“Hear that Hanna? You’re going to be an auntie,” Brad winked at her.

“What about me?” Addison interrupted. “What am I, chopped liver?”

“If it’s a girl, you’ll be her new best friend, Auntie Addison. After all, she heard you took Adelaide shopping at Barneys. Better have them increase your credit limit.”

They all laughed.

“I haven’t seen you smile like this in a long time, K.” Brad sounded relieved.

“I know.” She tilted her head slightly, looking up at him. He pulled her in and squeezed her shoulder in an awkward brother-sister, one-armed hug.

“I hope it’s back for good,” he said.

“Me, too.”

29

T
he ballroom glittered from the crystal balls sparkling against the dimmed lighting. There were immaculately set, circular tables with place cards indicating who would sit where. Lilies rose from slender glass vases surrounded by candles making the air sweet with their scent. Soon the room would spin with two hundred attendees. For now, Addison admired her mother’s efforts alone.

“I changed the arrangements at the last minute.” Her mom approached her from behind. Addison jumped. “Sorry dear, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“They’re beautiful, Mom. The whole place looks gorgeous.” Addison smiled slightly. Her eyes lacked the twinkle of optimism they usually contained.

“Thank you.” Mrs. Reynolds looked at her daughter. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Addison replied, her voice sweet but sad.

“That didn’t sound too convincing. What’s wrong, dear?”

Addison pulled out a chair and sat. Her mom followed suit, sitting in the adjacent chair facing her.

“For once, Mom, I don’t know. Insurance will help rebuild
Urbane
. My newfound brother and sister are fantastic. My friends and family are safe, and Karsen’s baby is going to be okay. Everything seems to have worked out, so why do I feel so empty?”

Her mom took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Addy,” she said softly, “I think it’s because you’re lonely.”

“I’m not lonely,” she said defensively. “Especially now. If anything, my family just got bigger.”

“But they’ll be returning home tomorrow. Brad and Hanna have each other. Karsen will have the baby and what about you? What is fulfilling Addison?”

“I don’t know. I’ll reestablish
Urbane
.”

“Addy,” her mom stood looking down at her. Her hand reached and gently tipped her chin up slightly so their eyes met. “I think you know what you want.” She paused. “And it’s not just
Urbane
.” She stroked Addison’s cheek; Addison closed her eyes and soaked in her mother’s touch.

“You’ll figure it out, Addy. You always do. Now, I’ve got to finish up a few preparations before our guests start arriving. Why don’t you go get dressed?”

She kissed Addison’s forehead, turned and began walking toward the door.

“Mom?” She waited for her to look back. “Thank you for the lilies.”

Her mother smiled pleasantly. She raised her hand to her mouth and blew Addison a kiss.

“Hanna, look at all the silverware. I’m going to embarrass myself, I know it.” Karsen stared at the properly set place settings.

“You’ll be fine.”

“Have you ever seen anything like this? Makes my prom look like it was held in a barn.”

“It was in a barn,” Hanna laughed.

Karsen whacked her shoulder with her purse. “Smart ass. You’ve been hanging around with Brad too much. Think you’re a comedian now, do you?”

“Who’s been hanging on me? Oh, I mean around…” Brad popped out of nowhere and slid his arms around Hanna’s waist from behind. He lowered his face to her neck. “Mmm you smell good.”

“Addison bought us a new perfume while we were out shopping. It’s called Sexy. You like it?”

“What’s not to like?”

“Ick. I can’t wait until you two get out of the PDA phase,” Karsen teased.

“I second that.” Addison approached, her appearance significantly changed from the casual jeans and sweater she’d worn earlier. Her hair was pulled into a loose up-do that flawlessly framed her face. She wore a deep garnet satin gown that plunged deep enough to be tastefully seductive. The girls’ mouths dropped noticing the six-carat diamond choker gracing her neck.