Arms of Serenity (Rock Services) Read Online Free Page A

know. I haven’t stopped smiling. Well, except when I was on the bathroom floor praying to the porcelain god. Thank you very much that I’m over that stage. By the way, the whole myth of morning sickness is a vicious lie. It’s a 24-hour, just when you thought it was safe and there isn’t a bathroom anywhere near you, sickness. Two weeks ago, I was at the grocery store and thought I was going to have to use my purse as a barf bag.”
    Becca couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh. My. God. The thought of you hurling into your monstrosity of a purse next to the cans of creamed corn is priceless. Oh Wait. Even better, split pea soup.”
    “Are you seriously trying to use a movie reference to make fun of my obvious suffering?” Anne squinted her eyes and stuck her tongue out at Becca. “For your information, I was in the produce section and was bent over hiding behind the melons.” Becca laughed harder. Anne struggled to keep her frown in place but couldn’t hold it as her own laughter burst out.
    Anne smiled down at her hand. “Not even out yet and already tormenting and embarrassing your mother in a grocery store.”
    Becca watched Anne as she rubbed and spoke to the baby growing inside of her. Anne was going to be a wonderful mom full of warmth and love. The joy and excitement over the expected bundle were evident in her eyes and voice. Becca couldn’t be happier for her and Josh, even though she could feel the familiar twinge of sadness. It was a longing for something lost and a hope long forgotten.
    Shaking the feeling off, she looked back up at Anne , who had grown silent. She was staring at the floor and biting her lip. That was Becca’s signal that Anne was nervous or worried or both. She went over to sit beside her on the bed.
    “Anne, what’s wrong?”
    “Nothing. I just…” Anne hesitated and took a deep breath. “Ok, here goes. I have an appointment for an ultrasound next week. I might even find out if it’s a boy or a girl. Becca, I really want you to be there. But I would understand if you don’t want to go or would rather I don’t ask you to do any baby stuff. I know my being pregnant can’t be easy on you and probably brings up bad memories.”
    Becca closed her eyes and tried to will away the knot that was suddenly in her stomach. Yes, there were plenty of bad memories, and no, she wasn’t truly over what happened. Honestly who the hell would be? One moment, one night had changed everything. Six years later she still carried the emotional baggage packed full of commitment and trust issues and a whole assortment of other fears. Even so, that was her own pile of crap to deal with, and the last person she wanted to hurt or push away was Anne.
    She opened her eyes and put Anne’s hand in her own hoping she could reassure her. “Anne, I love you, and you are my best friend. I want you to be happy, and seeing you happy makes me happy. Of course, I want to be there.”
    Anne shook her head and looked back at Becca with concern filling her eyes. “I love you, too. That’s why I don’t want to see you upset or be a reminder of what happened. What he did and said to you was unforgivable, Becca. I don’t understand how anyone could be so cruel. How could he leave you like that and say the horrible things he said? How could he not care that the two of you had just lost your baby?” Anne raised her free hand and wiped at the tears that had escaped down her cheeks. She sniffled and added in almost a whisper, “Damn pregnancy hormones.”
    Becca took a long breath and felt the memory of that night weighing heavy on her soul. She couldn’t answer any of those questions. Not that she hadn’t thought about it over and over again, twisting and turning his words and actions in every direction desperately trying to see him as more than a heartless bastard. It never worked, and she had long given up trying or wanting to understand. The reality was that Mike had walked out on her. And she would never know why