Page 100 of The One I Hate
Mom leads Charlie toward the dining room, leaving me standing alone and a little overwhelmed by the last five minutes.
“Dad?” I ask as my pops comes to stand next to me. “What just happened?”
He gives me a firm slap on the back. “Don’t try and understand. Just go with it. That’s what I’ve been doing for forty years.”
So far, so good.
Dinner has come and gone. We’re now sitting in the living room, everyone having their version of a night cap as Charlie is peppered with questions. All have been pretty basic, and mostly about Charlie moving to Rolling Hills, her family, and of course, the diner. Her face lit up when she started talking about all the things she was adding to the menu, while keeping some of the staples that Mona’s was known for. Including french toast.
That was my request.
“So how long have you been seeing each other?”
Shit, we didn’t practice this answer.
“Um…”
I don’t know how to answer Ainsley’s question. Probably because I don’t know the actual answer and when our clock officially began. Was it in college or the wedding or when we drunk fucked or when she told me about the baby?
“Are we finally getting to the good part? I promised I’d FaceTime Quinn.”
“What?” I ask. “Why are you doing that?”
“She has FOMO. It’s not every day our big brother, who claimed he only had fun uncle energy, tells us about how he is now an expectant daddy.”
I might be annoyed that they are calling my sister who lives in Arizona, but I can’t hide my smile. “See, Bug, everyone is calling me daddy.”
She shakes her head in disapproval. “Just stop.”
“Oh my God, is that what he calls you?” Ainsley gushes. “That’s so romantic.”
Maeve shoots our third sister a look. “You think a stranger looking at you in a grocery store is romantic.”
“Enough!” Quinn’s voice comes barking through the living room. Which is impressive because she’s only a face in a telephone. I didn’t know she could yell like that. Then again she’s an elementary school teacher, so that makes sense. “Apologies. I hate having to raise my voice like that, but Simon, you’re avoiding the question. How long have you been together, and when am I booking a ticket home to see my niece or nephew?”
“Well,” I stutter again. Shit. I need an answer.
“We reconnected a few months ago,” Charlie chimes in, saving the day. “And the baby is due in May.”
Phew. At least Charlie remembered the “keep it simple, stupid” plan.
I glance over to Maeve, whose eyebrows are raised and questions are written all over her face. Out of all my sisters, Maeve knows me the best. She’s the closest to me in age andthe oldest of the girls. If there’s anyone who knows when I’m throwing out a line of bullshit, it’s her.
“Simon?”
“Yeah, Sis?”
“I came in and decorated this lovely woman’s restaurant just a few days ago. And I understand about you not mentioning the baby. However, I find it odd that when you asked me to come decorate a restaurant, you didn’t mention it was for your girlfriend.”
Every set of eyes turns on me and I instinctively swallow the lump in my throat. “Well…she…I…”
“Simon?” This comes from Mom with her patented disapproving tone. “Are you two not dating? I thought you were together?”
“We are, Mom.”
Charlie lets out a small gasp. “We are? When did this happen?”
My jaw drops a little at her reaction. I mean, we didn’t have the talk, but I thought we were on the same page. Especially after last night.
