“You never know.I love my husband and child, but there are days they try my patience.”
“You’re not leaving Kevin for all the diamonds in the world,” I tell her.
“You’re right.I love them too much, but this bracelet is saying things to me.”
Chloe looks across the table at Ava, her hands folded one over the other on the table, putting her weight on her arms.“Ava, spill it, who’s her sugar daddy?If anyone would know it would be you.”
I look over at Ava, and she looks at me with a slow smile.I don’t know what she’s working up in her mind.I better answer Chloe before she does.“It was a birthday slash Christmas present from Nick.”
Chloe and Isabelle’s heads snap up like puppets on a string when I say Nick’s name.They know Matt and I aren’t together anymore, but I haven’t told them the rest.I know it’s a lot to tell them on a lunch date, but I just want to get it over with and let everyone know.They’re going to freak out.
“Don’t get too excited, guys, and envy her.”Ava sits back in her chair, one hand over her lap, the other tapping her fingers on the table while she talks.Mimicking the local busybody I’m sure everyone has in a small town, she whispers across the table with an undesirable look on her face.“She also got a gift that will last a lifetime, one that will act up on her at the most unexpected times.A little something most of us try to avoid getting when we put it down in the bedroom.Safety first, ladies, safety first.”
Isabelle is wearing a stunned expression, her hand over her mouth.“I am fine with my almost one carat and husband.”
Ava pokes out her lips and nods her head at Chloe to confirm what she’s also thinking.Chloe swallows, opens her eyes wide, and turns to me speaking in a hushed tone.“He gave you a disease?”
“No!”I yell, five octaves too high.I cover my mouth and look around the restaurant apologetically.A couple of people are staring in our direction.I can’t believe Ava is letting them think Nick gave me an STD.
“Ava!”I snarl.
“I am so glad I let you have him,” Chloe says, sounding relieved.
Ava smiles at me impishly, pleased with herself.“He gave herpregnancy.She’s knocked up.”
“I knew it!This is awesome.”Isabelle screeches, drawing more unwanted attention to our table.“One of you was going to have a baby and I’m happy it’s you first.No offense, ladies.”
“None taken,” Chloe and Ava say.
“We’re glad it’s her not us,” Chloe says.
“It all makes sense, the way you were looking at the food, the seltzer water the entire meal, and the biggest tell, the bathroom breaks.I was the same way when I was pregnant with Conner.”
“I noticed it too.I didn’t want to say anything in case I was wrong.I was beginning to think you had a habit with the white powder.I see it a lot in the store.You’d be surprised who’s sniffing the powder.”
“These days nothing surprises me, Chloe.”I take a drink of my seltzer and smile.“I’ve surprised myself so much in the last six months I’m thinking I don’t know myself.”
Isabelle floods me with rapid-fire questions.“How far along are you?When’s the baby due?How excited is your mother?You’re going to have the cutest baby, hopefully with his eyes, oh my God.Where are you going to live?Are you getting married?Are you moving in with him?”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down.”I hold my hand up to stop her and smile while trying to think of answers to her questions without giving away too much.“No one’s getting married, we haven’t even discussed marriage.It’s overwhelming enough dealing with this pregnancy.As for your other questions, we’ve been living together for the past six weeks.I’m four months pregnant, so the baby’s due in September.”
“You move fast.I should start taking lessons from you.You got the man, the money, and the baby to seal the deal.”
“It’s not like that, Chloe.I don’t want anything from him.He loves me.We want to raise this baby together.That’s all that matters for now.”
“Then you’re a damn fool.Take everything he’s willing to give you.You’re going to need it after you have the baby, when your body is tore down from the ravages of pregnancy.Love and his baby can’t secure your future.No one’s ever paid rent with love.”
Ava puts her cocktail down and rolls her eyes at Chloe.“Don’t listen to her.She’s jaded because she can’t find a decent man.My cousin loves you.You’re the only woman he’s loved, and he wouldn’t leave you.He will always take care of you and his child.If he didn’t, I would personally beat the shit out of him.”
“I know Nick loves me, and for now that’s all that matters.We’re taking it one day at a time.”I know Chloe is not being a hater.She has a hard exterior on the outside, but inside she’s vulnerable.She’s been hurt a lot by men in her life.In high school she was wild and out of control, drinking and partying all the time.She broke down one day and told me her father used to beat her mother black-and-blue and made her watch while she cried for him to stop.One day he left them with a mountain of bills and no money…she said it was the best day of her life.I’m the only one she told.So I understand where she’s coming from.
“Cat, Ava’s right, don’t listen to Chloe, she doesn’t know what she’s talking about.Is Nick excited about being a first-time father?”
“He’s still getting used to the idea of us having a baby.His hand is on my stomach all the time, talking to the baby.He insists on being at all my doctor’s appointments, driving me crazy and asking all kinds of questions.”
“That is so cute,” Isabelle gushes.“You’re not even showing.I hate you, when I was four months with Conner I looked like I had a beach ball under my shirt.”
“I’m showing a little; you can’t see it now, but I have a little baby bump.”
