Page 58 of The Bartender's Baby

“That fucking guy.”

Evie covered her laugh with her hand, her engagement ring evidence of how long-forgotten that fucking guy was, as Mom went off on some tangent about how she’d caught them fooling around in the basement and how she’d been so worried Evie would get pregnant and never follow her dreams.

“It never happened, so I don’t know why you’re bringing it up,” Evie said, once our mother finished her diatribe.

“Because I was so afraid and then you did go off and follow your dreams, and I was afraid you’d never get married and have kids and…”

My sister hid her face with her hand, glowering at me. Yes, my mother could be a little dramatic, but Genevieve also had very little patience.

I mean, I could see Mom’s connection. She was happy that her fears weren’t realized. Did she need to say it out loud? Definitely not.

“I can’t believe you’re getting married and having a baby. I can’t believe I’m going to be a grandma,” she said, circling back around. “How far along are you? Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl? We need to start thinking names!”

My sister held her hands up. “Wedo not need to start thinking about names. Calm down. I’m almost three months.”

“Ah.” Mom started to cry. “This is so amazing. I’m so happy. I can’t wait to help you.”

My sister slapped at my shoulder. “Actually, I think you’ll need to help him more.”

I didn’t mind her throwing me under the bus. I had a better handle on our mother. Besides, I would need help once the baby came. She lived in Toms River, New Jersey, with her husband, but I half expected her to sprout wings and fly here immediately.

“What do you need help with, sweetie?”

“Well…” I combed my fingers through my hair a few times. “I know you remember Tabitha.”

“Of course. The girl who wears all black and never smiles. I don’t know why, she’s so pretty. If she wore something with color, it would brighten her up a bit.”

Evie plopped her face in her hands, muttering something I couldn’t hear.

I ignored my mother’s advice and went on, “Yeah, her. The one who’s been managing the bar and doing my books and basically?—”

“Yeah, I know who you’re talking about. Is she okay?”

I nodded. “We started dating.”

Mom lit up. “Really? That’s wonderful. You know, I always thought you two had a little something going on. Whenever I came to see you at work, you were always watching her and, of course, always talking about her whenever I asked about the bar.”

“See?” Evie shot me a victorious look. “I told you.”

Mom tossed her hands in the air. “I’m so happy for both of you. Oh my gosh, I’m about to burst. I need to tell Nick. He’s going to?—”

“She’s pregnant.”

Mom froze at my words, mid-text to, I assumed, our stepdad. It took her a while to raise her gaze. “I’m going to be a grandma double?”

Before she could start off in another spiral, I stopped her. “I need you to chill out about this, okay? Because it’s complicated. So before you start making plans, I need you to listen to me.”

She set her phone down. I didn’t often—almost never—use a stern voice with my mother, but she had to understand she could unintentionally fuck up the best thing to ever happen to me. I didn’t want Tabby to be smothered, and my mother knew exactly how to do that.

“The last thing I want is Tabby to feel overwhelmed,” I said, more gently. “It’s complicated.”

“What’s complicated?”

“We just got together?”

I could see Mom doing the math in her head. “What do you mean? Did you—is this a…a thing where you didn’t… Was it a one-night stand or something? Don’t tell me that, Nathan.”

“We are together,” I stated, needing to fill in the blanks. “But it’s only been a few weeks, and she is pregnant, but the baby is…not mine…biologically.”

---