4. SECRETS

The drive to the restaurant was genuinely peaceful, with softly falling flakes floating downward in gentle spirals. Garrett never appreciated the snow as his wife did, but at the moment, as Carissa glanced sideways at him, he didn�t seem to mind it. She worked out of the home, having taken charge of a family-owned online business several years previous, but Garrett never could handle simply staying at home and twiddling his thumbs. The great outdoors were meant for him to discover and he went at his job with delightful abandon and relish.

�Sweetheart...� she hesitated and he sent a sideways glance her way.

 �Hmm?�

�Do you think we should tell them?� 

His brow creased and while his hand smoothed back a stubborn cowlick from his crown of unruly hair, he watched her curiously until the meaning of her words fully sank in. A blush crept up his neck and he gulped nervously. �Surely you don�t mean telling them, about that!�

She merely rolled her eyes, clasping small hands against the elegant skirt she had chosen for the occasion. �And what other surprise could we possibly have to tell, Garrett? I�m not going to simply leave this well enough alone. And besides, I could use some support from friends. I�m worried, and I know you are too, no matter how you try to hide it.�

He reached across the gearshift, taking one of her hands gently into his own and holding it tight. Sighing, he met her pleading gaze fully, than murmured, �All right, if you really want to tell them. Perhaps having Charity know will convince you to rest as the doctor says you should during these next few months.�

Her eyes sparkled and she squeezed his hand firmly, clutching it to her cheek before releasing her grasp so he could switch on the indicator switch. Pulling neatly into the restaurant parking lot, Garrett shut down the engine and than simply sat there, his eyes building up to a severely caged look.

Tamping down on her impulse to laugh, Carissa opened the passenger door herself, leaving him to follow along behind. �Now, dearest, you will be on your best behavior as you promised, and please leave the telling of our news to me. I�m having horrible visions of what you might say.�

Carissa spotted her friend the second she was within the doors of the restaurant, Garrett uncomfortably tugging at the tie which she had taken the time to straighten once more before entering the building. Charity was elegantly settled into what was most likely hers and Richard�s regular table. A matre�d graciously offered to take their overcoats, and Carissa hastily handed hers over, not needing his guidance to the table.

She could sense Garrett shifting idly from one foot to the next behind her, but upon seeing her friend for the first time in three months, none of that mattered. Enfolding her in a hug, one that she knew Charity always grudgingly accepted, Carissa happily sank into one of the empty chairs at the intimate table.

�It is so good to see you! We�re never going that long without visiting again.�