Love and Other Lost Things: A totally heartbreaking page-turner by Melissa Wiesner

Author:Melissa Wiesner [Wiesner, Melissa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2024-08-06T00:00:00+00:00

EIGHTEEN

TEN YEARS AGO

“Janie, look at this.”

Jane tore her eyes from the endless row of diapers to find Matteo standing in front of her holding a tiny pair of knit booties.

“Can you believe how small the baby’s feet will be?” He reached out to give her stomach a rub. “Especially with how huge you are.”

Jane stepped away from him, pressing a hand to the top of her bowling-ball belly. “I’m not huge. This is what pregnant women look like.” She focused on the shelf in front of her. Huggies and Pampers, what was the difference? This is when I wish I could call Mom.

“Don’t be so sensitive,” Matteo muttered, tossing the booties into the cart. “I’m just having a little fun.”

Jane sighed. She probably was being sensitive. Her back hurt, her ankles were swollen, and yeah, she felt huge. While Matteo looked as fit as ever in his tight black jeans and T-shirt. She’d caught two other women and a man checking him out in this store alone—while nobody was going to look at her twice except to feel sorry that she had to endure being nine months pregnant in a Los Angeles heatwave.

“I’m sorry,” she said, taking Matteo’s hand. “The booties are adorable.”

“Whatever,” he said, wandering off.

Jane watched him disappear around the corner and her lungs squeezed with anxiety. She should chase after him and smooth things over. He’d been a perfect partner throughout this pregnancy. All of her fears that they’d have another incident like the one the day she’d gotten the positive test had turned out to be completely unfounded. Sure, sometimes he got a little grumpy when she didn’t feel like having sex, and he expected her to clean and cook dinner every night, even though she could barely reach the stove around her midsection. But he’d been so excited, almost like a kid himself, buying baby toys and adorable little clothes, and making a list of names.

Jane tossed a package of newborn Pampers into the cart and followed it up with the same sized Huggies, and then she steered her cart after Matteo. She found him chatting up the pretty young woman at the checkout counter. She’s probably my age. But the checkout girl’s hair was glossy and her stomach flat.

“Hi,” Jane said, sidling up next to Matteo.

“Jane, hey,” Matteo said. “Vanessa was just telling me that most women only gain, like, 25 pounds during pregnancy.”

Vanessa gave Jane a smirk. It was like she knew that Jane had gained more than that.

Matteo laughed. “I’m just messing with you.” He wrapped an arm around Jane’s shoulder. “You know I think you’re gorgeous.”

Jane forced a smile as she unloaded her baby items onto the counter.

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