Page 1 of Bred and Butter

Ronnie

“Babe, there’s literally shit everywhere,” Frank, my sister’s husband, says, coming into the living room with what looks to be baby poop all over his t-shirt.

Emily makes an exaggerated noise and gets to her feet. “You know it doesn’t smell any better to me, ya know.”

“Yeah, but I’m going to throw up, then we’ll have that to clean too. Please, babe, you’re so good at it.”

She rolls her eyes. “I’m not good at it, Frank. I’m just the one that actually gets it done.” Her irritation with him is clear, but he sheepishly slinks away.

“Gee, so sorry I can’t help with that. My hands are all full.” I say dramatically, holding baby Rose to my chest and making her mom laugh. I even get a little baby coo from the tiny three-day-old. Her red hair is sticking out of her pink beanie, and my heart just melts looking at her.

I hear chatter from the kitchen and assume Mom and Dad have finally arrived. Brunch was a good idea, but I can tell my sister doesn’t think so. She’s healing after baby number two, and our mom can be a bit dramatic about…well, everything.

“Oh Veronica, good I’m glad you’re already here. My goodness, you two look so sweet.”

“Mom.” My reply is both a greeting and a warning, which I’m sure she will ignore.

“How’s work, dear? Are you seeing anyone?”

“Subtle, dear,” my dad says, joining us on the couch and kissing my forehead before casting his adoration on the family's newest member.

“Hey, dad.”

“Hello, sweetheart.”

“Subtle was me the last ten years while your daughter made a career baking sweets instead of making babies.”

I can’t help but laugh. This isn’t a new argument. `mom has made it clear since Emily and I were teenagers that she wanted us to get married and have babies, not worry about silly things like careers. I’m obviously the black sheep in my family.

“Mom, I work for Dominic Valenti, the genius who’s brought technology to the food industry.”

“That sounds all well and good for him and his wife, but what about you?”

“You did hear the part where I work directly under him? I’m learning from him, and he’s expanding, which I’m one hundred percent positive he’ll offer me a location to run, which will make me head baker, and it’ll come with a huge pay increase and set me up for life. I can have my own babies and support them.”

“Oh, don’t be ridiculous, Ronnie.”

“It’s a new era, mother. Women can be independent and do all the things, including starting a family.”

“Well, I suggest you hurry because pregnancy after thirty-five is considered high risk.”

Emily says casually as she comes back into the room, dropping a grenade on my mood without realizing it. Everyone goes quiet as my heart crawls into my throat. It’s not that I don’t want to start a family, but dating is hard when I work sixty hours a week and the dating pool is shallow. Literally overflowing with fuck boys.

After a long awkward silence, Rose stirs, and Mom jumps at the chance to hold her.

“Now, hold on, Mary Ann. I specifically sat here so I could hold her next. Be a good example for your daughters and wait your turn.”

I don’t know what’s funnier, dad’s snarky reply or mom's shocked face. It was the perfect ice breaker, and Emily and I laughed. Tears prick my eyes, and my sides hurt, but it’s great to laugh with my family. I’m always working.

Dad coos at Rose while mom fights a smile staring at the two of them. It’s sweet and full of adoration. A true testament to their thirty-year marriage.

This is the moment Frank decides to enter and wrap his arm around Emily’s waist, whispering something in her ear that makes her smile. It’s intimate, making me feel awkward and clearly the odd one out. Which isn’t new, but the weight of knowing I may never have it leaves a sour taste in my mouth. The knot in my throat grows but feels more nauseating.

Suddenly my Spice Girls “If you want to be my lover” ringtone blares from my purse.

“This is my boss. I’m going to head out back,” I tell the room after showing them my ringing screen with Dominic and Sophia’s wedding photo. They eloped in Hawaii and are now still there honeymooning. He shouldn’t be calling me. Slipping out the back door, I find a comfy spot-on Emily’s rocking chair and swipe to answer.

“You should not be thinking about work right now, Mr. Carmichael.” I joke, using my boss’s new wife's last name because I know it’ll piss him off more than most. Dominic, and Sophie’s brother, Dane Carmichael, do not get along well. Once upon a televised cooking show, my arrogant but brilliant boss made the legendary Chef lose his cool for millions, if not billions, of viewers. His restaurants took a huge hit…not that I’ve been stalking him. I haven’t. I swear.

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