And it’s true—my younger sister’s cheeks are rosy, her hair is lush and full, and she’s practically glowing.
Amy unwinds the pink scarf I made her back when I used my free time to knit and not obsess over my stalker’s next life-ruining move. “Oh, do I?”
“Let me fix you a plate.” My mother bustles over to the serving dishes.
“What’s your big announcement?” Gran asks loudly.
“Let poor Amy have something to eat,” Mom says.
“I think maybe we can do the announcement first,” Amy says, sounding slightly breathless.
“Let me guess.” I take another bread roll and smear honey butter on it. “You’re pregnant.”
“Stop it, Mandy.” My mom flicks my ear. “She’s still in college—she’s not pregnant.”
“Actually…” Amy gives us a pained smile.
There’s a soft knock on the front door, and the hardwood floor in the foyer groans as male footsteps enter the house.
“You didn’t invite one of those gas station men over, did you, Ma?” my mom hisses to my grandmother while my dad continues to shovel his casserole in his mouth.
Amy looks nauseous.
“Oh my god, Kenny!” Lauren jumps up with a cry, racing to him. She wraps her arms and legs around him and kisses him. “I knew you couldn’t stay away from me. Are you here to propose?”
“Uh, well… I, uh…” He looks desperately at Amy. “Did you tell them yet?”
Amy grimaces. “I was about to.”
“Oh my god.Oh my god.” Lauren looks between the two of them. “Oh. My. God! You!” Lauren hauls back and slaps Amy in the face.
“You can’t hit me—I’m pregnant!” Amy screeches at Lauren and returns the slap.
“You cheating ho!” Lauren screams, throwing anything on the table she can reach at Amy.
Kenny gets spattered with casserole.
“You stole my boyfriend!”
Amy’s fingers latch onto Lauren’s hair, ripping out some of her extensions. “You were mean to Kenny. He’s with a woman who appreciates him. You were using him for money. You didn’t want to give him a child!”
“Fight! Fight!” Gran yells as my sisters roll around on the floor screaming and hitting each other.
My father quietly stands up and tiptoes out of the room.
“I would have given him a child—instead, he wanted to sleep with a literal child!” Lauren screeches as she rips Amy’s shirt.
“I’m twenty!” Amy hollers. “I’m an adult!”
“No, you’re a cheating, scheming ho!”
“She’s pregnant. Stop fighting.” My mom hits my sisters with her napkin. “That’s my grandchild. I don’t want my grandchild to come out as a lump. Lauren, get off of her. Mandy, do something.”
“Amy, you can’t seriously want to have a baby with Kenny, of all people?” I ask over the din, grabbing Lauren by the arm and hauling her back.
Amy immediately bursts into tears, just like she’s five again and using crocodile tears to worm her way out of a punishment and stick me with the blame. “You’re not being supportive.”
“She’s selfish and spoiled!” Lauren screams, trying to push her way around me. “You always take her side, Mom. Kick her out of the family!”
