Page 52 of Despite It All
“Well, I was thinking… I could drive mom’s car.” Annabelle says in a tone I can only imagine has worked on Owen countless times.
But this doesn’t seem like the one. “Fuck no,” he says.
Annabelle is quick with her response. “Mom, help.”
I almost laugh, is this what it’s going to be like with Stevie?
Waverley sighs. “Hurry and see if they’re still here. If they can take you home, my keys are on the counter.”
Annabelle squeals and jumps up from her chair to hug Waverley. “Thanks, Mom!”
Waverley hugs her back. “Cleo only in my car, Annabelle, and an early movie. Be home by ten-thirty.”
“Ten,” Owen corrects. “And I’m texting the guys on shift tonight to keep an eye out for you. There’s forty bucks in my wallet under the umbrella, grab that first.”
She gives him a hug. “I love you.”
“Yeah, yeah. I love you too, kid. Now, go before I overrule your mom.”
“Yeah, right,” Annabelle says sarcastically but hurries off anyway.
When she makes it far enough away from us, Graham fake coughs. “Pushover.”
Owen throws his head back with an amused chuckle. “Ha! Don’t even start. I cannot wait until your girls are teenagers. It’s going to make me so fucking happy.” He turns to me next. “Stevie, too. You guys are in for it.”
“Hey, I didn’t say anything. Don’t put those teenage years on me yet.” I hadn’t really thought about Stevie being a teenager yet. I’ve been so focused on now but really the thought of going through the teenage years with Wyla to help doesn’t scare me.
“They aren’t that bad,” Waverley says. “He’s a little touchy right now because Belley has her first date next weekend.”
“No I’m not, because she’s not going,” Owen grumbles.
Waverley rolls her eyes and mouths to us, “Yes she is.”
I chuckle, pitying Owen’s situation but Graham and Levi don’t. “Oh, so Cleo is a cover up, right? She’s actually going to the movies with this boy?” Levi jokes.
“Oh no, Levi. Annabelle is smarter than that. He’s just going tohappento be at the movie theater, seeing the same movie as her. Total coincidence,” Graham piles on.
Owen groans, running his hands over his face, then stands. “Alright, come on, Wav. We’re going to the movies.”
Waverley shakes her head and pulls him back down. “Sit down, honey, we are not. We’re kid free, no way I’m wasting it.”
“Ugh, lucky you,” Winry says as she walks back up and Graham pulls her in his lap. “It’s impossible for me to be kid free for at least another eighteen weeks.”
Wyla comes up behind my chair, and I’d love nothing more than to do the same, pulling her in my lap, but I hold back. “Winry, don’t act like you don’t love pregnancy.”
“She’s got you there, babe,” Graham says, and Winry swats at him.
“Shh, you.”
Wyla chuckles lightly at her sister then places a hand on my shoulder. “I was thinking of walking to the jetty. Wanna come with me?”
Doesn’t she know I’d go anywhere with her? “Yeah, I loved to.”
I stand, and Wyla gives me a nervous smile. “Um, does anyone else want to come?”
Everyone better fucking say no, so help me.
“No,” Winry and Waverley answer for the group immediately.
