“What the hell is this?” I held my belly protectively with one hand and gestured at the banner with my other.
The woman I recognized as Liz Montrose, who had posted the photo, turned toward Madison and Nora. “Madison, who is this? What’s going on?”
With slow, maddeningly calm movements, Madison set down her glass of champagne and stepped forward, hands clasped in front of her. “This is Savannah Mitchell.” Her face wore a frozen smile, like a Barbie doll’s.
Whispers ping-ponged throughout the room.Max’s ex … their surrogate … heard she’s a total bitch … crazy woman … What is she doing here? … Uh-oh, this can’t be good.
“What do you think you’re doing, Madison? Are you actually having a baby shower for a baby that’s not yours?” I demanded.
Liz stepped forward. “Excuse me, but we’d like you to leave. You were not invited to this baby shower, and you are not welcome in this apartment.”
“Not invited?” I laughed bitterly. “I’m the only one in this room actually having a baby! A baby that willneverbe hers!”
Madison gave me a pitying look. “Savannah, sweetie, please. I understand you don’t like me—and that’s a shame, since I’ve always tried to be gracious and supportive of you. But it’s really not nice for you to keep trying to come between Max and me. It’s time you accepted the fact that he doesn’t love you—he loves me, and we are going to be a family. He doesn’t want to be with you, Savannah.”
I tried to breathe through my rage, the very effort making me tremble. “I am not trying to take Max away from you. But Irefuse to let you try and replace me as this baby’s mother. That isnevergoing to happen!”
Madison clutched at her throat in exaggerated shock. She exchanged looks with some of the other women in the room; they shook their heads as if to say,This girl—what a sad mess.
She crossed her arms against her chest. “Savannah, my mom and Liz and all my friends have gone to a lot of effort to throw me this very sweet baby shower, so that Max and I can have everything we need to prepare for Baby Charlie. I don’t want to cause a scene. Why don’t we chat for a minute in the other room?”
Hearing the name “Baby Charlie” had me seeing red again, but before I could respond, Madison walked past me and down the hall toward the front living room. I threw glares at Nora and Liz before following her, my adrenaline pumping.
“Where is Max?” I demanded as I followed her. “Does he know about this baby shower?”
As we reached the privacy of the front living room, Madison whirled around to face me. “Why are you here, Savannah? Why can’t you leave Max and me alone?” She spoke loudly, clearly wanting everyone down the hall to hear.
“Why amIhere? Why are people throwing a baby shower for you, when you’re not having a baby? And what the hell makes you think you get to pick out his name?”
“My husband is having a child. I may be just the stepmom, but that doesn’t diminish my love for this child at all. I plan to give Charlie a happy home, with two parents who give him everything he needs in this world. Which is a lot more than he could ever hope to get from you.”
I would not be deterred. “I know it drives you crazy that Max is having a child with another woman, but you do not get to replace me as this baby’s mother. And you definitely don’t get to name him!”
Madison’s eyes flashed. “Charles is my father’s name, and the name of several generations of firstborn Clark men. And I know Max likes the name too.”
“I don’t care if he does! I will be choosing my baby’s name, not you.” I gestured down the hall toward the party. “Do you want to break it to your guests, or shall I? Sorry they’ll all have to get their silver spoons re-engraved.”
Madison’s eyes narrowed. “Why is it obvious to everyone except you that I am clearly the better mother for this child? You’re a crazy, unstable drunk, completely unfit to be Charlie’s mother. And someone needs to do something about it!”
Suddenly, Madison dropped to her hands and knees. She turned her head slightly to the left to look at the coffee table that was just inches away from her face, and then looked back up at me briefly with an evil smile as she swung her head, face first, into the sharp corner edge. She let out a bloodcurdling scream that sent chills down my spine, and then collapsed into a fetal position, clutching her face. “Help! Help! She attacked me!”
I was completely dumbstruck as I stared at her on the floor, writhing around.Oh shit.There was blood—lots of blood—spilling down her cheek and onto the carpet.
“Why would you do this to me, Savannah?” she wailed.
My mind was racing.What is happening?
Behind me, I heard footsteps and another scream. I whirled around—it was Liz, followed by Nora Clark and the rest of the party guests as they shoved their way into the living room. One by one, they caught sight of Madison’s bloody face and gasped.
“Oh my God—Savannah, what have you done?” Liz rushed to her friend’s side. “Someone get towels and ice!”
Madison started sobbing dramatically, patting her face and then staring at the blood on her hands. A deep gash along her cheekbone was pouring out blood, nonstop, and the entire left side of her face was swelling around her left eye.
“You’re so cruel, Savannah! Why would you do this? I was just trying to talk things out with you!” Madison wailed.
It was all too unbelievable. Suddenly a shadow fell across my vision. I looked up to see Nora Clark standing in front of me, her face drawn into a look of pure hatred.
“You are finished, you little whore. You hear me? Finished! I will bury you in court, and once that baby is born, you will never see it again.”
