While she agreed that exercise was good for expectant mothers, Stella wasn't willing to have Hayley work all day and then walk close to half a mile home at this stage of her pregnancy. Hayley groused, but every evening Stella herded her to the car and drove her home. "I like walking. "
"And after we get home and you have something to eat, you can take a nice walk around the gardens. But you're not wal
king all that way, and through the woods alone, on my watch, kid. "
"Are you going to be pestering me like this for the next four weeks?"
"I absolutely am. "
"You know Mrs. Tyler? The lady who bought all those annuals we helped her with?"
"Mmm-hmm. "
"She said how she thought we were sisters because you give me grief like she does her baby sister. At the time, I thought that was nice. Now, it's irritating. "
"That's a shame. "
"I'm taking care of myself. "
"Yes, and so am I. "
Hayley sighed. "If it's not you giving me the hairy eye, it's Roz. Next thing, people'll start thinking she's my mama. "
Stella glanced down to see Hayley slip her feet out of her shoes. "Feet hurt?"
"They're all right. "
"I've got this wonderful foot gel. Why don't you use it when we get home, and put your feet up for a few minutes?"
"I can't hardly reach them anymore. I feel. . . "
"Fat and clumsy and sluggish," Stella finished.
"And stupid and bitchy. " She pushed back her damp bangs, thought about whacking them off. Thought about whacking all her hair off. "And hot and nasty. "
When Stella reached over, bumped up the air-conditioning, Hayley's eyes began to sting with remorse and misery. "You're being so sweet to me - everyone is - and I don't even appreciate it. And Ijust feel like I've been pregnant my whole life and I'm going to stay pregnant forever. "
"I can promise you won't. "
"And I. . . Stella, when they showed that video at birthing class and we watched that woman go through it? I don't see how I can do that. I just don't think I can. "
"I'll be there with you. You'll be just fine, Hayley. I'm not going to tell you it won't be hard, but it's going to be exciting, too. Thrilling. "
She turned into the drive. And there were her boys, racing around the yard with the dog and Harper in what seemed to be a very informal game of Wiffle ball.
"And so worth it," she told her. "The minute you hold your baby in your arms, you'll know. "
"I just can't imagine being a mama. Before, I could, but now that it's getting closer, I just can't. "
"Of course you can't. Nobody can really imagine a miracle. You're allowed to be nervous. You're supposed to be. "
"Then I'm doing a good job. "
When she parked, the boys ran over. "Mom, Mom! We're playing Wiffle Olympics, and I hit the ball a million times. "
"A million?" She widened her eyes at Luke as she climbed out. "That must be a record. "
"Come on and play, Mom. " Gavin grabbed her hand as Parker leaped up to paw at her legs. "Please!"