She didn’t do tears, not since her childhood. That’d cured her of them. Or so she thought. Now she was pregnant and a basket case.
Nuts.
So were her out-of-control feelings for Leo. She reined them in, too. At least, she tried. It was crazy how she’d trekked through most of her life with a tight grip on her emotions, corralling them, allowing only a few select people through the gate. Fi, her parents, her grandfather, Ava, and then she eventually took a chance and let Leo in.
And now she was feeling everything. Too much. And it wasn’t the baby. No. This all started the moment she’d met Leo, then escalated when they’d kissed. Ever since their first one, she’d been an emotion receptor or something. They overflowed in her, but it was okay. He made it all good. Made her feel…amazing.
But now…without…
She inhaled and cut that train of thought right off, then did her best to stuff those unwanted emotions back in the caboose. Her time here was up. She could pack up and leave. Maybe without even talking to Leo.
She had mixed emotions about that.
Coming here today, Kaydee had kind of hoped to run into him. Even had a nice fantasy about it. He’d take one look at her, tell her he was sorry, beg her forgiveness, hold her close, and never let her go.
A snort rumbled up her throat but came out as a half sob. Which she promptly covered up with a cough.
Fi glanced over at her. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” She lied with a smile. “Just dust or hair or something in my throat.”
More like a piece of her broken heart.
Lordy, she really couldn’t wait to see the doctor this week. Surely he had some kind of pregnancy emotion supplement or something like that to decrease them. She really had to go nine months like this?
Not going to make it, she thought as she folded her cape and shoved it into her case, along with her scissors and clippers.
Without Leo around to soak up the overabundance of feelings, she was going to burn out. She sighed. They should talk. Probably. Maybe. He’d left without confirming it yesterday. Not much more she could do or say, although God, she wanted to.
Damn, those darn tears again. Ducking her head to pretend she had more to pack, she made a quick swipe of her face, hoping no one saw. That was a conversation she could do without.
She just wanted to go home and let go of her control in private.
“Thanks so much for today,” Jovy said, walking toward them. “You both made a lot of people happy.”
They decided to hold the clinic in the rec room at the house because it was familiar to some and had a friendly, relaxed vibe. Group therapy was held there, plus the pool table gave the ones waiting something to do.
Fi smiled and waved a hand. “Ah. We were happy to. This was a great idea.”
Kaydee decided to let those two talk. She wasn’t much in the mood anyhow. Kind of all talked out from the conversations with those she’d worked on, and the fussing and gushing from the women about the baby when she’d first arrived.
Shock had hit her first, followed by hope—that mean bitch. It’d resurfaced to flutter in her chest, making her think things might actually be okay. Why would Leo tell them about the baby if he wasn’t happy?
Then reality had set in and snuffed hope out cold. If he was happy he would’ve come back last night. Or called. Or come over this morning or made a damn effort to seek her out. She was on his ranch, for God’s sake.
No. It’d probably just slipped out of his mouth like it had slipped out of hers yesterday.
Inhaling, she snapped her case shut and stood. “Well, I’m ready if you are, Fi,” she said, hoping her friend picked up on her “get me the hell out of here” vibe.
Fi had insisted on driving today, and Kaydee let her, happy to close her eyes and take a nap on the way down. Exactly what she planned to do on the way home. At least her crazy fatigue was handy for something.
Fi exchanged a look with Jovy before she met her gaze. “Sure.”
Kaydee was too tired to wonder what that was all about. She’d worry later. Right now, she was ready to go.
“Don’t forget this,” Jovy said, handing Fiona the donation jar that they tried all day to convince the woman they didn’t want. It fell on deaf ears. Stone had warned them his wife was stubborn. “And you don’t need to leave yet,” Jovy said. “Why don’t you stay for some cake or Vince’s cannoli? They really are to die for. And there’s a delivery coming later you’re going to want to see. Trust me.”
As tempting as all that sounded, especially the cannoli part, Kaydee shook her head. “No thanks.” She glanced sideways at Jovy as they walked to the front door. “I’m kind of beat, sorry. Maybe next time.”
