28. Sweet Guy

28

SWEET GUY

" Y ou are looking a little green today," Andi said to Amanda two weeks later. "Are you coming down with something?"

Amanda looked around the shop. It was early and only the two of them were there. Andi had an appointment in about twenty minutes but always got here early to set up.

"I'm pregnant," Amanda said.

"Congratulations," she said, hugging Amanda. Everyone had talked about Amanda wanting more kids and was surprised she hadn't had another by now. Liam would be three in AprilandAmanda was going to be thirty-seven, Drew thirty-eight. It was probably now or never at this point.

Which got her thinking of her own life and being thirty-one. How many more years before she might have a problem getting pregnant?

Best not to think that way and only could blame the fact that things were goingtoowell with her and Jarrett that it was crossing her mind.

"Thanks. I'm due in four months," she said. "Or thereabouts. The end of May."

"Oh my god," she said. "How have you kept this a secret for so long and why?"

"You're dating a family member. I can tell you. It's not a huge secret, but I lost a baby last year. Right after the first trimester. It's the second child I've lost in my life and, honestly, I consider Liam a miracle child because I wasn't sure I'd ever carry to term."

Andi hadn't known that but could understand it not being something talked about. "I'm so sorry about that."

"It's fine," Amanda said. "We wanted to get further along before we said anything, but now there are lots of pregnancy announcements in the family and when I wake up sick like today, it's hard to hide. That and this." Amanda pushed her baggy smock in and Andi could see the baby bump.

Now that she thought of it, she hadn't seen Amanda without the smock on in a few months. It was as if Amanda either came in with it on or got here before everyone else and put it on.

"Clever way to hide it," she said.

"Immediate family knew, but everyone had kept quiet. Sidney knows," Amanda said. "She and Kayla were some of the first ones months ago, but they wouldn't say a word."

"Oh my," she said. "So Sidney's twins and your child are only going to be about a month or so apart?"

"Six weeks give or take," Amanda said. "I'm having a girl. Just telling everyone at once. It's still scary to do it and we can only hope all goes well."

"It will," Andi said. "I can feel it." She hoped for Amanda's sake. Just went to show that all the money in the world couldn't give you the most precious things if they weren't meant.

"We hope so," Amanda said. "I'm going to tell the rest of the girls today or this week when I see them. I'll be taking time off again and will start to let my clients know. I'd like to refer some to you if you don't mind?"

"I'd love it," she said. She'd never turn it down.

"Good," Amanda said. "Many of my clients have noticed your work and I think you'd be a good fit for what some of them are looking for. And if they like you better and want to continue with you, I'd have no hard feelings."

"I'd never steal someone away," she said.

Amanda reached her hand over. "I know that. But the truth is, it won't hurt my feelings to have fewer clients. I only work two days a week as it is and then will be out for most likely two or three months depending on how things go. Not everyone can wait."

"No," she said. "I know that myself. And you can send anyone my way you want and I'll work them in. I appreciate everything you've done for me and even referring clients to me to get me started. I still have plenty of room in my schedule."

"No reason to overstuff your schedule," Amanda said. "You've got a boyfriend."

She grinned. "I do. But it's new yet and we both work a lot and don't have traditional hours."

"You'll figure it out because that is what people in love do."

"They do," she said. "I've never felt like I do now. It's scary."

"I've learned that love is," Amanda said. "Jarrett, he's a great guy."

"Hereallyis," she said. "And here is my client now."

She turned when Melody walked in. The second time she'd seen her in the time she'd lived here. This was going to be a long appointment. Highlight and style.

"Hi, Andi," Melody said. "I'm looking forward to this. I'm already getting the winter blues and it's justmid-January, but maybe a new style will help."

She missed the days when she just changed her style with any mood. It was best to stay under the radar now.

"That's what I'm here for," she said. "What are you looking for?"

Melody pulled up a picture on her phone and showed her. "I like this. All the shades of blonde blended in and some layers around my face and the back. I've got a bit of a natural wave and want to try to bring that back rather than always straightening my hair."

"Perfect," she said. "I think this style will look great on you."

For the next several hours she chatted with her client while her hair was lightening.

She was combing Melody's hair out and admiring the shades of blonde she mixed into her client's brown hair getting ready to cut it.

Right before she was going to blow dry out the new style, her phone vibrated. She'd normally let it go but pulled it out to just see if it was her next client canceling.

It was Jarrett asking if she had time for lunch.

She texted him back she did.

"You're smiling," Melody said.

"I am?" she asked.

"You should see your face. It just lit up. I bet it's a man you're talking to."

She laughed. "It's my boyfriend. He's going to bring me some lunch."

"That's sweet," Melody said.

"He is a sweet guy," she said. And had to remind herself for all the times she thought of what she'd lost in her past life, she had this future she was enjoying.

"Which is hard to find," Melody said. "Trust me, I know. I've lived on this island for about two years and it's so hard to find a guy. Most of my dates are people I've met in Boston and then I go there and come back or they come here. And when you have to do that, they expect you to stay the night or they stay here. I should have thought of all of that when I moved here."

"Why did you move here?" she asked.

"I'm a nurse," Melody said. "I was in Boston and the position opened here on the island. It pays a lot more and there were incentives to come. I know it costs more to live here, but when I did the math, I'm still making a lot more. I was looking at that and not thinking of my social life."

"Do you like it here?" she asked. "I've heard a lot of people don't last fora number ofreasons."

"I do love it here," Melody said. "It'ssmall townliving but gets busy in the summer. There is a ton to do and if you want to get off the island, it's not that hard. Just takes some planning. I know it's not for everyone and the job market isn't wonderful here unless you're in tourism."

"Seems to me there is a lot to offer," she said. Best decision of the past two years was landing on the map here.

"Yes and no. You aren't finding as many jobs, but what they've got pays so much more. I weighed it in my mind and knew it was worth trying."

Andi pulled out a brush and blow dryer and started to style Melody's hair, their voices rising while they talked. "I thought the same thing when I moved here. I thought, wouldn't it be wonderful to live on an island."

"That's a good way to think about it," she said.

When she was done with Melody's hair, she flipped the back of it over her shoulders so that her client could see all the shades of blonde.

"I love it," Melody said. "Thank you so much. I'm in such a better frame of mind already."

Andi laughed that she was able to do that for someone today, actually lifting her spirits some too.

"You're welcome," she said and took the smock off. The door opened and she turned her head to see Jarrett come in with a bag of food. "I'm almost done, Jarrett. You can go in the back if you want."

Since he'd been here before, everyone knew they were dating. Amanda hadn't minded either. The other women had people back there with them too.

"I'll set up," he said.

"That's your boyfriend?" Melody asked. "That's Jarrett Bond."

"It is," she said. "You know him?"

"Not personally," Melody said. "But most know the Bonds on the island. His brother is the chief of police and another is a fireman."

"Mac and Alex," she said.

"They come from William's side," Melody said. "I'm sure you know that. Not the rich ones."

She held back the laugh. "I find the whole thing silly. Jarrett and his brothers are very successful and money isn't everything."

"No," Melody said. "That was wrong of me. I shouldn't have said it. But I'm sure you know that Catherine's side has a lot of medical professionals and, working in the hospital, people talk. I shouldn't get sucked into it. I didn't mean any insult."

"None taken," she said. "I get it, but I think being new to the island, none of it makes sense to me. You're going to get extremely wealthy people anywhere you go, then middle class and working poor and the poor. That is life. That shouldn't be how people are classified or looked at or judged."

"Nope," Melody said. "It's better to think of it as you've got a sexy man that carries a gun and can protect you. I know a lot of women are all about protecting themselves, but maybe I'mold fashioned. Give me the hero any day over the banker or lawyer."

Andi started to laugh. "I agree one hundred percent."

She cashed Melody out,gotherself one hefty tip out of it that had her smiling as she walked back to Jarrett. She moved right to him, pulled him up from the chair he was sitting inandplastered a massive kiss on his lips.

"What's that for?" he asked.

"Because being a hero is much hotter than a banker."