Free The Wedding Circle by Ashton Lee Page A

Frankly, I just don’t think I’ll have the time anymore to keep coming up with all these recipe ideas, much less show up at the radio station early every morning, what with the diapers I’ll have to change and the formula I’ll have to fix.”
    â€œThat sounds so familiar. I remember those hectic days when Douglas and I were on Lindy’s two o’clock bottle schedule. My goodness, we thought we would never get a wink of sleep again. The truth is, a baby turns everything upside down,” Connie observed, reaching over to rub Becca’s arm gently.
    â€œThat’s what I’ve been told, but I don’t think I’ll mind in the least.”
    â€œNo, you won’t. But I think I heard you say there were two reasons. What was the other one?” Connie continued.
    This time Becca’s sigh was drawn-out and weighted with worry as her face clouded over. “It’s because of my Stout Fella. As some of you probably know, he’s been having these horrible stabbing pains in his feet that just won’t go away.” She paused to gesture at the floor with her index finger several times. “I’ve been teasing him that it was all due to wearing those ridiculous cowboy boots of his. Ha! He thinks they help him with his real-estate deals somehow. Talk about your superstitious beliefs! Unfortunately, it turns out he has neuropathy. In fact, he has a condition called insulin resistance, and he’s got to completely change his eating habits. I mean from top to bottom. I’ll have to do a complete makeover of the pantry.”
    â€œBut he’s lost all that weight already,” Maura Beth pointed out.
    Becca frowned and waved her off. “No thanks to me in the first place. I’ve been fixing him tons of carbs and sweets ever since we got married. Hey, we’ve both even laughed about the way he ‘islands’ his ice cream all the time. But the neurologist up in Memphis said that he could actually reverse this insulin condition if he lost even more weight and paid strict attention to his sugar and carbs intake. I’ve got to try to help him do that now.”
    â€œThis sounds almost like diabetes,” Maura Beth said.
    â€œIt isn’t yet, but that could be the eventual result if we don’t do something quick. I just hope it’s not too little, too late,” Becca answered, sounding both maternal and determined.
    Connie looked puzzled as she patted her big hair. “But haven’t you been including more healthy recipes in your shows lately? Why, Voncille had us all over for breakfast to listen to that very first one where you told your audience you were putting the broccoli back in The Becca Broccoli Show. We just thought that was the cutest thing we’d ever heard.”
    Becca waited for the nods of recognition and polite titters to die down. “I appreciate that, but the basis of the show is still plenty of comfort food with carbs and sugar, and that’s not what Justin needs right now. The way I see it, my first obligation is to my husband and child. The show’s been a wonderful creative outlet for me—really, it’s been a great ride. But I think it’s run its course.”
    The table went silent for a while as everyone took it all in.
    â€œAll I can say is, I’ll miss you on the radio,” Miss Voncille said, finally. “In fact, I know good and well I’ve become addicted to it. I set my alarm every morning so I can get up and hear it. Oh, yes, Locke mumbles and complains, but then he turns over and goes right back to sleep while I head out to the kitchen to have my coffee and listen to you.”
    The others were nodding in agreement as Becca quickly replied. “I’m flattered. But I do believe I have something that’ll take care of your withdrawal symptoms.”
    Miss Voncille beat the others to the punch. “Oooh, quick! Tell us!”
    â€œWell, I’ve almost