Page 44 of Unexpecting

″What? Why wouldn’t you tell me something like that?” Brit screeched, giving him a poke with her long nails.

“I just did, dear. Please don’t hit me. I just found out this morning. Apparently, she’s his assistant.”

Both Brit and I looked over to where Morgan was still talking animatedly to J.B. “I was hoping that wasn’t the reason,” I said bleakly.

″He’s such an asshole to do that to her. And to do it now—just before the wedding. What was he thinking? If the whole wedding party wouldn’t be thrown out of balance—I took everyone’s height and colouring into consideration, you know, in planning the ceremony—I would so not let him participate in our special day. Right, Tom?”

I sneaked a glance at Tom, who had an expression of resignation on his face. “Of course, dear.”

This, of course, reminded Brit of her wedding, and she started talking about the tuxedos the groomsmen were renting and how they had to complement—not match since Tom must stand out on his own—Tom’s own tuxedo. I kept glancing at Tom, wondering how he fared listening to Brit, but it seemed like he’d tuned her out. Sounds like a good idea, I decided.

Shortly though, Brit switched the subject by complimenting my dress. “It makes you look really good,” she told me sincerely. “I think you have lost weight. Not that you need to or anything.”

″Thanks,” I said. I was wearing a new blue and green sundress with a halter top. Normally I prefer not to go backless—too many freckles—but I fell in love with the dress as soon as I saw it. And even J.B. coming up behind me, poking my back with the remark about playing connect the dots, didn’t put me off it. I had my hair pulled back in a curly ponytail and even took some effort with my makeup. Even I thought I looked pretty good.

″Is David coming by?” Brit asked.

″He said he might.” I hadn’t said anything to either Brit or Morgan about David yet. Nothing about how he wanted to have a baby with me, or that he is now gay. I was trying to come to terms with it first.

″Well, you know I’m not in love with the idea of you allowing an ex back in your life,” Brit sniffed, “but I sincerely hope he can manage to get you off this baby kick.”

I decided not to respond to her, because really, what was I supposed to say?

Brit—sometimes it’s difficult to understand my friendship with Britney. It all comes down to two things—I know Brit loves me, since she has, unbelievable as it may seem, proved it countless times, and I’m a very loyal person. Most of my close friends have been in my life for ten, fifteen years. Coop, Emma, and J.B. are, of course, the exceptions, since mosteveryone else I’ve known since university or even high school days. I like to keep people in my life, and most of them seem okay with staying in it as well. With Brit, as little as we see eye-to-eye about things these days, I do love her, and as of yet, she hasn’t done anything horrible enough to justify the loss I would definitely experience if I gave her the boot.

“We can’t stay long,” Brit was now saying as Tom handed her a plate of garlic-chili shrimp hot enough to scorch the tongue. “Tom’s boss is taking us out on the boat to watch the fireworks. We have to meet him by seven-thirty at the harbour.”

″Isn’t that your sister?” Tom asked me.

I looked over to see Cooper give Libby a hug by the gate. Coop adores my sister. He’s always glad to see her, they find lots to talk about, and her open admiration of his cooking abilities always pumps up his ego. When I’m in one of my truly envious-of-Libby days, I torture myself by thinking Coop likes her more than he likes me.

I excused myself and walked over to my sister. “Hey, my big girl,” I said as Maddy flew into my arms. I was just saying hello to Luke when I heard a voice behind me that made me feel like I’d swallowed the tequila worm out of the bottle.

″Well, goodness, if I’d known there’d be a party, I might have dressed up a bit.”

The attempt at the pseudo-Southern accent froze the smile on my face. As my horrified eyes met Libby’s, I heard Luke’s “Oh, shit,” and watched him abandon his children by scurrying off toward the other side of the yard, where the table full of food was laid out. Libby and I turned around in unison, to find our mother at the gate of the backyard with two men.

″Um, hi? What are you doing here?” I asked my mother, using a voice that cracked like a prepubescent boy’s.

″Well, you could sound a bit more welcoming, sweetface,” my mother, aka Terri-with-an-i, said with a huge lipstick-y smile. She gave one of the men standing behind her a tug on the arm. “Isn’t this lovely to find both my girls here? And my darling grandbabies!” Terri reached down—difficult to do in the tighter-than-tight red skirt she was sporting—and tickled Max’s foot. “Hello, Maxie baby. And where’s my sweet little Madison?”

″It’s Max,” Libby said through clenched teeth. Our mother always has this effect on her. I value my life enough not to tell Libby that when she’s pissed off at Terri, she looks just like her.

″Hi there, Mrs. Samms,” Cooper said easily, like it’s every day my mother shows up uninvited at one of his parties. “It’s nice to see you again.”

″Oh, it’s Cooper, isn’t it?” Terri said coyly. She gave him a kiss on the cheek—aiming for the mouth, I suspect—but Coop moved at the last moment (smart man!), then reached up to wipe the cherry red lipstick mark off his face. “You get better looking every time I get to see you. I always say my Casey is so lucky to live with such a handsome man.”

″I didn’t invite her,” I hissed to no one in particular.

″Well, of course, you didn’t, sweetface, although I’m a bit hurt you didn’t think of it. No, Eric and I are heading out for a night on the town to celebrate, and we thought we’d stop in, Casey, and see if you were home. We brought along Eric’s little brother to introduce to you.” Terri pulled a second man beside her. “This is Derek. I thought you might have a lot in common. I thought the four of us might pop out for a drink, but seeing as you’re having this little party…”

I stared at my mother for so long that I didn’t even glance at Derek. “Pardon?” She was not thinking about setting me up with someone, was she? And for it to be the brother of the guy she’s dating…?

″Oh, Casey, don’t be rude. But I guess I should start with Eric, shouldn’t I?” she giggled. Terri’s attention was on me, and I noticed she’d forgotten all about her darling grandbabies. Maddy was hanging onto my leg, staring at Terri with fascination. “I’ve been meaning to talk to both of my girls for ages, especially now with so much to celebrate.”

″Well, let’s start your celebration here, then,” Cooper interrupted smoothly, seeing a way to escape. “What can I get you to drink, Mrs. Samms?”

″How many times, Cooper? It’s Terri, please. Especially for handsome young things like yourself.” I felt like gagging. Does my mother feel the need to flirt with everyone?

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