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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!"


Tags: Nora Roberts In the Garden Romance