“Sounds like fun. Okay, these are the craft papers. Let me show you the heaviest weight we have, and we’ll go from there.”

Sixteen

Reggie swung by the B and B to pick up Dena on her way to the community center. As Paisley had mentioned, the Advent activity for the day was to do something to help a homeless shelter. Paisley had texted that all the supplies had arrived, along with the time they were to meet.

Reggie had barely pulled into a parking space when she saw her sister walking out of the main building.

“I was watching for you,” Dena admitted, climbing in the car.

“I am the fun sister, aren’t I?”

Reggie meant the comment to be teasing and was surprised when Dena didn’t laugh.

“What?” she asked. “You feeling all right?”

“I’m fine. I have pressure bracelets that seem to be helping with the morning sickness, although I’m still really tired.”

Reggie started for the community center. Between the knitting project and tonight, she was spending a lot of time there.

“So, your lack of enthusiasm over my sparkling humor is because you’re tired?”

Dena sighed. “No. I’m sorry. You were very funny.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. It’s stupid. I’m fine.” She offered a big smile. “See? I’m great. Happy.”

“Uh-huh. You can’t fake your mood with me. I know you. Come on. Tell me.”

Dena groaned. “It’s totally ridiculous and you’ll laugh and I’ll feel bad.”

“No laughing. I swear.” A thought occurred to her. “Is this about Micah?”

Dena covered her face. “Yes,” she said, her voice muffled. “I’m such an idiot.” She straightened. “He’s the classroom parent for the month, and yesterday he brought snacks and guitars and sang and was just so amazing.”

“He sounds irresistible.”

“He is. It’s a nightmare. Afterwards, we were talking, and I swear I thought he was going to kiss me.”

She turned to Reggie, as if waiting for laughter.

Reggie pulled into a space in the parking lot before turning off her engine. “I’m listening.”

“It was a moment. I swear it was. Then he got this weird look on his face and left. He barely said goodbye. I don’t know what happened. What I’m most afraid of is I imagined the moment because, I don’t know, I’m pregnant and single and he’s Micah Ruiz. Maybe all this is happening in my head, and the reason he ducked out is he thinks I’m pathetic.”

Reggie reached for her sister’s hand. “I have no experience with this,” she admitted. “I’ve never dated a celebrity of any kind, so I don’t know how it usually goes. My first thought is if you thought he was going to kiss you, then he was probably going to kiss you. That’s not the sort of thing you get wrong.”

“And then?”