She washed her hands and looked at herself in the mirror. Still beautiful. Just . . . not as much.
On the way out, she slipped over to the waiter, who was just leaving the kitchen with two plates. “Tanner, would you mind doing me a favor?”
“Uh . . . I have to get these out.”
“It’ll be quick. After you clear our dinners, I’m going to surprise my husband. Would you take a movie?” She took her phone out of her purse.
“Yeah. Um . . . just put it in my apron.”
She did, accidentally brushing her hand against his groin. “Thank you,” she said, looking up at him.
“Yep.” He raced off.
Well, that was odd. She hadn’t meant to feel him up, but dashing away like that was a little bit insulting, Tanner! He was probably gay, she decided. But it had been completely innocent. Innocent, my ass, she could almost hear Kaitlyn saying. You’re cougaring like a she-dog in heat.
Well. Kaitlyn might not use those exact words. Maybe Melissa would call her tomorrow and tell her about the baby.
She walked back to the table and kissed Brad’s cheek. “Missed you,” she said.
“Missed you. Hey. Let’s talk about Ophelia,” Bradley said, and her heart warmed. He wanted so much to have the girl like him. “I was thinking summer camp would be good for her. Six weeks, eight weeks, say. We’d have the place to ourselves. Maybe we could travel some more.”
They’d be changing diapers by then.
“I’m not sure it’s the right time,” she said. She’d thought the same thing before she’d known she was pregnant, but it rubbed her the wrong way when Bradley said it. Ophelia was not his to boss around. “I think she’s made a lot of progress since coming to the Cape. Can you believe we’ve been here nine months? I think she feels at home, finally.”
“I’m happier than I’ve ever been,” Brad said. “Than I ever dreamed I could be.”
She forced a smile. They were supposed to be talking about her niece.
Their soups came, and Tanner didn’t make eye contact. “Enjoy,” he said.
She tasted it, closed her eyes, and tasted it some more. Golly, it was good. But a cup wasn’t what it used to be, was it, because suddenly, her chowder was halfway gone. “This is delicious,” she said. “I’m hungrier than I realized.”
Ooh, rolls, still warm from the oven! And the salad was amazing, so garlicky and good! Bradley’s oysters came, and she looked away as he slurped them down. Her stomach gave a twinge, and she put her hand over it protectively.
When the veal came, Melissa took a bite and moaned in bliss.
“I’ve never seen you eat so much in my life,” Bradley said, smiling at her like an idiot.
“Do I ever criticize what you eat, Bradley?” she snapped.
“Um . . . no. I just . . . I didn’t realize you were so hungry, that’s all.”
“Well, I am.” She ate her mashed potatoes defiantly, her mouth rejoicing at the flavors, the creaminess. Yes. She was going to need that pregnancy trainer. She would not be one of those cautionary tales like . . . like Jessica Simpson or Kim Kardashian, who’d looked enormous while pregnant.
But tonight was special, and she deserved it. When did she ever let herself eat like this? Never, that’s when. And oh, the food. It was all she could do not to order crème br?lée.
“All finished with the oysters, sir?” Tanner asked. There were three left on the plate, the ice melted under the shells.
“No, no, leave them. It’s a shame to waste even one,” Brad said.
“Thank you, Tanner,” Melissa said. He finally looked at her and gave a little nod. Good. A thrill of excitement tingled through her. It was time. Nope, not time. Tanner was bringing their dishes to the kitchen. Brad slurped down an oyster, and yuck, that noise. She’d had to force herself to learn to eat them, since she knew it connoted （word of the day!） a certain degree of class. The taste was fine, eventually, but they still felt like great big wads of phlegm.
Her stomach rolled. Think of something else, she told herself. She did. The ocean? No, too much movement. Um . . . brushing Ophelia’s hair? No, again, too springy and unstable. The yoga mat. There. Nice and solid.
She took a breath to make sure she was fine. Breathe in serenity, breathe out nausea. Better. Okay. Tanner was standing behind one of the posts, waiting for her. “Now?” he mouthed. She nodded, and he lifted the phone, turning it horizontally. Good boy.
“Bradley. Sweetheart. I have something very exciting to tell you,” she said, making sure her posture was perfect. She clasped her freshly manicured hands and leaned forward.