Two Hearts And A Baby

CHAPTER TWO

Julie spent her two weeks doing absolutely nothing and felt a bit better for it.  She still has this awful feeling something was going to go wrong Thanksgiving was upon them.  The girls treasured this holiday because of all the family they lost.  Being the only two left made this holiday even more special for them Julie baked pies for a couple of days.  She woke early on Thanksgiving morning to start the turkey.  Faith always slept in on this day no matter how much she tried to wake her up. 

            “Faith get up lazy butt up I need help with some of the cooking,” Julie shook her sister for the sixth time that morning.

            Faith groaned and rolled over mumbling, “Go away.”

            “If you hadn’t stayed out so late with Sam you wouldn’t be tired,” Julie scolded.

            “God, you sound like Mom,” Faith covered her head with her blanket.

            “I need something from the store, so you have two choices.  Get up and go to the store or get up and watch the turkey,” Julie turned to leave the room.

            Faith sat straight up, “Alright I’ll watch the turkey I don’t feel like going to the store.”

            “Either way I don’t care,” Julie walked out of the room.

            Faith sighed heavily as she rolled out of bed.  She loved Julie with all her heart but sometimes she could be a pain in the butt.  Lately her moods have gotten worse, but Faith contributes it to the pregnancy.  They never talk about Kincade the baby’s Father, she tried a few times, but Julie became enraged, so they never discussed it anymore.  Julie drove the short distance to the closest grocery store it didn’t matter if it was more expensive because she wanted to get back home.  Faith was getting better about things they didn’t argue about her telling Kincade about the baby anymore.  She even helped her plan, so they could have someone home with the baby always.  There would be no daycare for the baby and Julie had decided that Faith would make a great mother someday.  Pulling into the store she located a parking spot as close as possible.  Exiting the car and walking into the busy store she knew she was beginning to show but wore big clothes, so no one noticed yet.

Making her way to the aisle that held the gravy, she grabbed a couple of large jars.  She turned to head back toward the front of the store to check out and there he was.  Kincade was frustrated he was here at the store because he’d forgotten the one thing his Mother asks him to get every year for Thanksgiving.  The cranberry sauce he’d been so absorbed in his work lately that he completely forgot.  As he started down the aisle, he noticed her just as she bent to grab some gravy she straightened turned and stared at him in shock.

He smiled at her, “Hi Julie,” he called.

            Julie didn’t reply she just turned and hurried in the opposite direction.  Kincade stood for a few minutes confused then started to follow calling her name.  She could hear him calling but darted down another aisle in the hopes of avoiding him.  Finally, when she hit the front, she went to the line with less people in it. 

She prayed he wouldn’t see her, “Good morning, Happy Thanksgiving,” the checker greeted Julie.

            “Happy Thanksgiving,” Julie absently answered then looked behind her that’s when she saw him come out from the aisle she’d ran up.

            Kincade was scanning the store looking for her he didn’t understand why she’d run from him.  They had separated on good terms besides she’s the one who ended the relationship.  Julie prayed the woman would hurry up, so she could get out of the store before he spotted her.

            “That’ll be six dollars and seventy-eight cents,” the checker told Julie.

            Julie reached into her purse grabbed a ten and handed it to the woman.  The woman took the ten then gave Julie her change, “Your change is three dollars, and twenty-two cents have a wonderful day.”

            Julie took the money then smiled at the woman, “Thank you, have a wonderful day to.”

            Kincade spotted her at that exact moment, “Julie wait.”

            He saw her rush out the door and wondered about her behavior but finally decided to grab what he came for then head to his parents.  Julie jumped into her car before letting the breath she was holding out.  Her heart was racing so fast she thought for sure it would jump out of her chest.  Almost coming face to face with Kincade brought home how much she really wished she could tell him about the baby.  Maybe Faith was right it would take some pressure off her if she had him to help but she didn’t want to tie him down.  Then a thought came into her mind if she was having this much trouble with this then if something should happen to her would Faith be able to do it all by herself.  Maybe she should rethink the Will she was setting up so after Thanksgiving she’d go see the lawyer.  As she drove back to the condominium, she shook her head why was she talking as if she wasn’t going to raise her child.  The Will is just a precaution for if something should happen.  The death of her parents proved that, so she wanted to insure if anything happened to her, her son would be well taken care of.

            Pulling in and parking Julie went into the condominium and sighed with relief.  She didn’t want Faith to know she’d encountered Kincade at the store.  She would be angry with her for not taking the opportunity to tell him about the baby.  She would sit for at least an hour and tell her how stupid she was.  How could she not tell him when he was standing right in front of her?  Julie will be asking herself the same thing for the rest of her life.  When she felt, her emotions were in control she went into the kitchen where Faith was sitting at the table completely dressed.  Faith looked up at her and could sense something wasn’t completely right just the way Julie looked at her.

            “What happened,” Faith glared at her sister.

            “Nothing, why,” Julie walked over to the oven to check the turkey.

            Faith still glared at her, “I don’t believe you.”

            “Of course, you wouldn’t,” Julie slammed the jars of gravy down on the counter.

            Faith just looked at her completely stunned by her outburst, “Whoa back up just a second.”

            Julie turned to her, “No you back up a second I told you nothing was wrong, and you don’t believe me.  I don’t have to tell you everything that’s bothering me,” Julie instantly regretted her harsh words and burst into tears, “I’m sorry Faith it’s just been so rough lately.”

            Faith stood and went to her sister hugging her, “Oh Julie it’ll be alright.”

            Julie continued to cry while her sister soothed her, and they both realized this Thanksgiving neither one would forget.  It finally sunk in they only had each other and this baby a baby no one planned they would hold onto him at any cost.  This was a new beginning for the sisters. 

            Kincade arrived late to the house, and this wouldn’t make his Mother happy.  He parked and hopped out of the car when the door opened, and Susan came out.

            “Mom is furious right now,” she looked haggard.

            “I’m sorry, I forgot the cranberry sauce then I got sidetracked at the store.  Then traffic was horrible,” he hurried up the stairs and into the house followed by Susan.

            Susan didn’t think this was going to be a particularly good Thanksgiving and she was right because the minute they entered the kitchen Mom was all over Kincade.

            “How can you be late?  You know I like to start things on time and not be delayed.”

            “I’m sorry Mom, it’s been a long week then the store was crowded plus traffic was horrible.”

            Emily looked at her son, “Fine let’s get dinner on the table so we can finish our night.”

            He smiled walked over to her and kissed her on the cheek, “It looks great.”

            She tried to be mad at him, but it was hard, “When are we going to meet the new woman you’ve been seeing.”

            Kincade groaned, “Damn.”

            “Kincade watch your mouth,” she scolded him.

            “Sorry, real soon,” he moved toward the kitchen door to escape.

            “What is her name,” Emily grabbed the cranberry sauce container and emptied it into a bowl that matched all the other China she used.

            Kincade stopped, “Christina.”

            “Christina what,” she picked up the bowl that now had a spoon in it which also matched the silverware they used.

            “Stewart,” he replied as they left the kitchen for the dining room.

            “I knew some Stewart’s, I wonder if she’s related,” Emily was hoping so because that meant great breeding.  Her daughter had done well with Howard Alderwood so now it was up to Kincade to make a perfect match.  The rest of the night was perfect for her after finding out this information.