Page 74 of The One I Love
“What!” Whitley screams. “How?”
Kendra sits up and rubs her hands together. “Oh, this is about to be good.”
I tell them every embarrassing part, including the panties on the floor and the blush on my cheeks when my kids called me out on it. I of course tell the sweet parts too, and the parts where I had to hold in laughter as my kids tried to play the parts of scolding adults.
“That’s fucking amazing,” Kendra says.
“It really is,” Whitley adds. “So are you going to tell everyone now?”
I knew one of them was going to ask the million-dollar question. “Yes and no.”
Kendra gives me a look that screams “you’ve got to be kidding me.”
“It’s not that easy,” I say as she shakes her head. “Once we let this cat out of the bag, our relationship is going to change.”
“Didn’t you already let your cat out of the bag and that’s how your kids know?”
“Kendra!” I scream, though I must admit, that’s pretty funny. Betsy is laughing so hard I think she’s about to fall out of her chair. Whitley might be hyperventilating.
“What I was going to say...we have to do this delicately. The kids, while I knew they’d have some feelings about it, were the easy ones.”
And they were. After the initial shock, and a day to process, we all sat down and they asked more questions and we laiddown some ground rules. They requested minimal PDA as they get used to us. But they also said that they didn’t care if Shane spent the night. When I asked if they were sure about that, they reminded me they already know what’s happening. No sense in making everyone pretend.
For now they are going to continue calling him Uncle Shane, but that’s more for keeping up the secret than anything. When I said they could continue calling him that even after everyone is in the know, Luke described a scenario where we’re all out, Shane and I are holding hands, and he or Mariah ask Uncle Shane for something.
After a good laugh, we acknowledged Shane’s days as an “uncle” are officially limited.
“So who’s next?” Whitley asks. “I haven’t told your brother yet, which is killing me.”
“You can tell him,” I say. “It’s not his reaction I’m worried about.”
“The guys?” Betsy asks.
I nod. “Yeah. I don’t think they’re going to be mad. It’s just…it’s going to shift the dynamic. I’ve always been the sister. Sometimes the mother. Shane has always been the single guy who people think is a monk. It’s just going to hit like a lightning bolt. When we do tell them, it has to be in a controlled space.”
“Makes sense,” Betsy says. “You can come over here. Neighbors far enough away that everyone can yell or fight and no one will call the cops.”
“You mean call Shane? Or my husband?” Whitley says, snorting.
“True. I still forget I’m living in a small town where I know half the police force.”
“Thanks, but it’s not them I’m most worried about.” I look over to Whitley, who immediately picks up what I’m thinking.
“Oh goodness gracious, your mother might die from a happiness-induced heart attack.”
“Bingo.”
“Really?” Kendra asks. “I’ve only met her a few times, but she seems pretty relaxed.”
“She is. Mostly. Except when it comes to me dating. And especially when it could involve Shane and me.”
“Why?” Betsy asks.
“She’s been best friends with Shane’s mom since they were kids. When they had us within months of each other they started planning the wedding. And Shane’s mom is just as bad. She tried to ask Whitley and Jake to add him to their bridal party just so we could be partners.”
“Are you serious?” Kendra looks to Whitley. “Are Shane and Jake friends?”
“Yeah, but not bridal party friends,” she says. “They work together and know each other because of Amelia. That’s pretty much the extent.”
