“Good to see you, Mrs. Taylor.” Evan stepped back and put his arm around me. She furrowed her brow as she looked between us.
“Paige, you got too skinny. And you look tired. You need to learn to stop burning the candle at both ends.” Mom shook her head at me as I rolled my eyes.
“I tell her that all the time.” Evan nodded at my mother, who now looked even more confused.
“Paige, didn’t you say you were bringing the new guy you were seeing? Because it looks like you’re here with—” I gave her a sheepish smile as I glanced over at Evan. He pulled me closer and kissed my forehead. My mother’s eyes bugged out of her head as she covered her mouth with her hands.
“Oh my God! Finally! After all these years of praying and lighting candles that you would finally find someone decent. I never thought I’d see the day!” I groaned and put my face in my hands. This was going to be the longest baby showerever.
“Paige, I thought that was you!” Great-Aunt Rose hobbled out of the kitchen as she rushed over to me.
“Hi Aunt Rose! You remember Evan?” She smiled and squeezed Evan’s hands.
“Sure I do. Nice of you to be here for your friend today.”
“Well, Aunt Rose . . . he’s actually—”
“He’s here with Paige, Rose. Can you believe it?” My mother nudged her shoulder as my aunt’s mouth opened wide.
“Paige, we’ve all been so worried about you. I was afraid you’d end up marrying that small boy you were engaged to, but now you’ve finally found someone nice!” Aunt Rose gave Evan a creepy once over. “And he’s cute, too!”
“He’s also standing right here, Rosie—and he’s not cute and deaf.” I wanted to crawl into the corner, but Evan just laughed.
“All right, leave them alone.” My uncle strode over to where we were all standing and put his arm around me. He’d always babied me since I had no father and didn’t seem surprised at all, so I guessed Jack had told him already. I was grateful he was awesome as usual and hadn’t spilled the beans before I was ready.
“You knew, John? And you never told me?” He shrugged at my mother and cast me a glance.
“It wasn’t my place to tell you, Tess. Maybe Paige felt you would, I don’t know, get too excited or something.” I laughed and kissed him on the cheek.
“Hey, Big John.” Evan shook Uncle John’s hand and squeezed his shoulder.
“Good to see you, son.” My uncle grinned as he pounded Evan on the back. Evan was the only one he let get away with the nickname.
“Oh they’re here! It’s so nice to see you both together!” Aunt Marie sprinted over and tackled us. I peeked at Evan over her bear-like embrace and shook my head. He still found this horrifying ordeal hysterical.
“Another one who kept it from me,” my mother noted to Aunt Rose over her shoulder.
“Stop, Tess! This is wonderful! I couldn’t be happier right now. I have a grandchild on the way, my son is here, and these kids make a fantastic couple” Aunt Marie grabbed both our chins and gave them a squeeze. It’s nice to have someone call you a kid when you’re past thirty.
“Hey, hello! Having a baby over here. Jesus.” Jack strode over with Ellie, who was also beaming at us. “They totally took our thunder, babe.”
“I don’t want the thunder. Please, by all means, take it back.” I held my hands up in surrender.
“Paige I expect, but why didn’t you say anything?” My mother smacked Jack’s shoulder, making him wince.
“Ow, Aunt Tess! Paige wanted to be the one to tell you. And bad enough I have to watch them suck face all the time at the office, I don’t need to keep talking about it—”
“Jack! Geez!” I hit his other shoulder. Jack huffed at me and shook his head.
“Ignored, then beaten up.” He turned to Ellie. “I have to say, not liking my first shower so far.”
Everyone went back in the kitchen as Ellie waddled into the living room, and I breathed a huge sigh of relief that the first round of interrogations were over. I suspected the “don’t screw things up” and the “are you engaged yet” talks were right around the corner.
Evan wrapped his arms around me from behind and kissed the top of my head.
“So we’re outed. How does it feel?”
“Feels good. Not so good that my family likes you more than me, but . . . nice.” I rubbed the back of his hand as he tightened his embrace.
