Page 85 of Finding Fate

“I wish we knew what you’re having, but a surprise is kind of fun. Do you have a preference?”

“I would love a little girl, but it doesn’t really matter, as long as it’s healthy.”

Jenna smiled. “A granddaughter would be nice. But I agree, as long as it’s healthy. We’ll love it either way.”

Isabel smiled, too. Jenna was really starting to seem excited about the baby. She just wished that Chuck and her mother could try to be understanding about it, too. At least, her mom had been great about Tucker’s gift.

“Thanks for talking to my mom about the consent form. It means a lot.”

“Oh, you’re welcome, sweetie. It makes perfect sense that you’d want to do this ultrasound together without any of us parents tagging along,” Jenna replied, giving the teen a hug around the shoulders. The woman was fairly tall, and Isabel wondered if her baby would inherit some of the Patterson family’s height.

“But I want to see pictures as soon as the appointment’s over, alright? I’ll be going crazy here waiting.”

Isabel laughed. “Of course. We’ll come straight home. We can even have my mom here and show all of you at once.”

“Great idea. Maybe you can even ask the ultrasound tech to slip in a boy or girl picture?” Jenna winked. “I promise we won’t tell you.”

She shook her head, grinning, not wanting to tell the older woman that they wouldn’t because she and Tucker knew his mom wouldn’t be able to resist buying something that would give it away.

They worked over the potatoes in the first bout of silence since they’d started prepping the late lunch. It was oddly uncomfortable for Isabel. She could sense there was something on Jenna’s mind that she wasn’t sharing, and it was several, long minutes before the tall, platinum blonde broke the quiet.

“Izzy?”

“Yeah?” she replied, pausing from the last of her chopping to look up.

Jenna opened her mouth to continue, but then stopped like she was trying to decide if she really wanted to say what was on her mind. “Never mind,” she decided.

“What is it?”

“Oh, it’s silly. Don’t worry about it.”

“Jenna…I know that look,” she replied, looking at the familiar crinkles across her boyfriend’s mother’s brow. “It’s not nothing. Please just tell me. You’re going to have me worrying about it all day if you don’t.”

Jenna gave her a weak smile. “Yes, I guess you would…which brings me to my question.”

She waited, chopping as she did.

“I don’t mean to pry into your relationship with my son, but I know something’s bothering him. Something other than just being scared about y’all’s situation, and he’s not talking to me.”

Isabel sighed. “Jenna, I don’t think it’s my place to tell you what’s bothering Tucker if he’s not willing to tell you about it himself.”

“But you know what it is, then?”

“Yes.”

She sighed in resignation. “Well, at least he’s talking to someone about it…and you’re sure you won’t tell me?”

“I’m sure. Tucker will tell you if he wants you to know.”

“Ugh. That’s hard to hear.”

“It’s nothing against you,” she said to reassure her. “We’re just going through a lot. So much is different now.”

Jenna smiled and gave her another quick hug. “I know, sweetie. I know. Are you done with your potatoes? I’m ready to throw mine in the pot. Since your mom’s bringing the beans, I need to hurry up and finish the rice and guacamole so I can put the finishing touches on the cake. I thought of some things I wanted to add this morning.”

“I’m sure the cake will be great. All of your cakes are,” she replied as she quickly chopped the last two slices of potato and handed over the cutting board. “I’ll go ahead and start on the deviled eggs.”

“Hey, Mom; hey, love,” Tucker said as he strutted into the kitchen a few minutes later and walked straight over to the fridge for a sports drink.

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