Page 35 of Dump and Chase

“You having sex with Tangijust kind of happened?Did you both happen to be naked and you what? Fell on top of her?”

“Ava!” Mom said, scolding her with a slap on her hand.

“What? He’s ridiculous. It doesn’t just happen.”

“I thought you had to go to dinner,” I said, trying not to lose my cool.

“I think I have time for this shitshow.”

Mom slammed her hand on the table. “Stop. Both of you!”

We shut up.

“Does Tangi’s family know?” Mom asked.

“Yes. She told them before she came out here.”

“And she’s going to stay out there and have the baby?”

Good question. I didn’t know the answer. “Maybe?”

Mom blew out an exasperated breath. “How can you not know this? Do you plan to be part of the child’s life?”

“Yes, we talked about that, and it’s why I suggested the job in Vancouver. She’s in my condo now, living there. I plan to support the child in every way I can.”

“Were you sleeping with her the whole time you were here?” Ava asked.

Mom shot Ava the death glare, the one that would mean we were in a ton of trouble, but Ava didn’t seem to care or notice.

“It happened once. The day of Dad’s funeral.”

“Oh god,” Mom said again. “You slept with Tangi the day of your father’s funeral?”

“It just happened, Mom. It was magical,” Ava said, fighting back a laugh. I was going to kill her the next time I saw her.

“That’s enough,” Mom said. “You can go now. You said you had to leave for dinner. Bye!”

She pushed Ava away from the camera, and I was certain I could hear her laughing as she left. We generally had a great relationship, but there were times my little sister reveled in my misery. Mom watched Ava leave and then focused her attention back on me.

“What are you going to do?” Mom asked.

“I told you already. Support the kid and be part of his or her life.”

Mom shook her head. “No. This is a sign, Ethan. This is your dad trying to tell you something.”

Mom wasn’t overly spiritual, so this was a bit odd to hear.

“I have no idea what Dad is trying to tell me.”

“He’s telling you to be with Tangi. You’ve loved her from the moment you set eyes on her. You were miserable after she broke up with you. But now you have this link with her, a link you’ll have with her forever. Don’t let her get away again.”

I sighed. “Mom, Brandi and I are engaged.”

“Do you think Brandi is going to stick around when she finds out about this? I know enough about her that this will bruise her ego and tarnish her reputation,” Mom said, using air quotes. “Not to mention the humiliation. This is your opportunity to make things right with Tangi.”

“I get what you’re saying, but I’ve moved on, and despite being pregnant, I know Tangi has moved on too. I know you want this fairy tale of us getting back together, but it’s not happening.”

“I bet it’s going to be a boy.”

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