Page 57 of The Jackpot Screwer
“Please, don’t be sorry for me. I truly am getting used to the idea. And I’m looking forward to it all, except the birth of course.”
“Oh, we’re not sorry you’re having a baby, honey,” Aunt J replied. “Just thinking you must be worried, with Carter being the daddy and all.”
“Worried?” Apprehension gnawed at my gut, wondering why they’d say such a thing. “What’s wrong with Carter? What have you heard?”
“Nothing,” Aunt J replied, reaching out and patting my hand. “He’s a perfectly lovely boy—well most of the time.”
Aunt L touched her hair. “We mean the ginger, dear.”
“God, no,” I cried relaxing back into the chair, relieved that was all it was. “I love his hair.”
“Well, God willing your baby will be blonde, like you.” Aunt J frowned and looked at my head. “When you’re not dying it’s all kinds of silly colors.”
“Something is worrying you though. We can see it can’t we Janice-Ann?”
Aunt J nodded. “Most definitely. So, what is it that’s troubling you?”
I’d gone to see Ellie and talk things through with her, but she was busy. Therefore, I decided there’d be no harm in telling two ladies in their sixties all about my romance troubles.
“I think Carter has gone off me and might be falling for Nancy Andrews,” I blurted out, relieved at getting it off my chest.
The two aunts both tinkled a laugh and scoffed at me.
“Carter and Nancy.” Aunt L waved a dismissive hand at me. “Ridiculous. She’s far too young for him.”
“She’s the same age as Shaw,” I offered. “That’s not so young.”
Aunt L shook her head. “Nope. No way. I’m not having it. Carter is a little shit most of the time, except to you. You’re the only one I’ve ever seen him be nice to.”
“To be fair,” Aunt J offered. “He’s always sweet as pie to us.”
“Very true. Oh, and his mom and dad.” Aunt L tilted her head and paused, thinking. “You know, it’s actually mainly Ellie he’s a little shit with.”
The three of us nodded in agreement.
“You don’t think I need worry about Nancy?” I asked, wondering why on earth I thought they’d know.
“I doubt it, dear,” Aunt L replied. “Nancy went on a date with Minnesota on Saturday, anyway.”
“She did,” I gasped. “How do you know that, and I don’t?”
Aunt L smiled. “You need to go to bingo night, dear. You get all the gossip there.”
Baffled at how a bunch of old people knew the town’s dating gossip, I nodded and determined to get out a bit more.
“I guess he just doesn’t want me then,” I groaned, dropping my head to my hands.
“Of course, he does,” Aunt J sighed. “But maybe you need to show him you want him. You were the one who ended things, were you not?”
“Well, yes, but I feel stupid now. I’m worried it’s too late.”
“It’s never too late,” Aunt L replied as she stood. “Give him what all men want; sex.”
I gasped, shocked at her response. As far as I knew neither of the aunts had ever been married, but I supposed that didn’t make them virgins.
“Lynn-Ann is right, Bronte. You need to go around there with some nice panties and bra on and seduce him.”
“I agree with Janice-Ann and I thoroughly recommend black, or maybe a nice deep purple color.”
