Page 43 of Travis

“That’s fair. I guess it’s kind of hard to have a shotgun wedding if you’re technically still married.”

“You’re funny. Way to shove that in my face.”

“I didn’t mean to. I was just stating the obvious.”

“Easy for you to say, Hanna. You’re just about to get married. You don’t know the half of it yet.”

“It can’t be that bad, Cher.”

“As long as you’ve got the right husband, no, it’s not bad. But if you marry an asshole like I did, it’s a different ball of wax.”

Marshall, Cher’s ex-husband, is no asshole. Aside from the fact that she was seeing Ricky on the side, the only thing that Marshall did wrong was encourage Cher to work. He believed in her, and if that’s his sin, then I'll take it. He knew that she was bored. He probably also knew that she was having an affair because of said boredom. Twenty bucks says that once this baby comes, and mama and daddy buy all kinds of crap for her, Cher will leave Ricky, too, for more sympathy and money.

Liam is eying me, guessing what the conversation is about. He rises to come over and talk in my ear at his to-be sister-in-law. My eyes widen as he blurts into the phone. “As long as you don’t do anything to fuck up our wedding, you’re golden.”

My eyes just about come out of the sockets. I just had a minor stroke. I pound him, even though my eyes are dancing, because he knows he got me. I thought for sure that the jig was up, and that he was going to rat me out, letting Cher know that I told him about her pregnancy. He winks, and I hear her gasp. “You didn’t fucking tell him, did you?”

“No.” I lie.

“You’re lying through your teeth, Hanna. I knew you couldn’t keep it to yourself.” her voice is raised. She’s pissed off.

“I swear I didn’t tell him.” I say.

“Tell me what?” Liam blurts. I smack him again. He’s enjoying this way too much.

“Hanna...” Cher warns.

“I didn’t tell him.” I shriek, but Liam’s smile is contagious. I really think he was serious earlier, about what he said. He doesn’t care what happens at the wedding. As long as we get to be married, that’s all that matters. And suddenly I don’t feel as unsettled.

“She didn’t tell me.” Liam says out loud in a singsong voice.

“You so told him.” She says flatly. “I know that you can't keep anything from him, Hanna. You sap.”

“Thanks.” I'm facetious. “I’m about to marry him. And based on this conversation, any idiot would have figured it out by now.” I say, playing the ‘I’m smarter than you’ card, which almost always works, seeing as Cher is as dumb as a brick.

“So he knows?” she whines, and my battle has been won.

“He’s figured it out. Plus, like I said, it was kind of obvious at the fitting, Cher.”

“You mean you knew then?” her voice has raised an octave, in shock.

“Um...you ate six donuts, Miss ‘I can’t eat donuts, I’m vegan’. Everyone knows if they were watching you. That’s why I say that mama probably already knows.”

“Shit.” she sighs, exasperated. “Then, why didn’t you tell me?”

I shrug. “I didn’t think you wanted me to know, or anyone else, for that matter.” I feel my gut unfurl, thinking that I've got my sister right where I need her to be. “You might as well tell them, Cher. They’re probably already a bit insulted that you haven’t. They’re all going to be at the wedding. You don’t want anyone giving you the cold shoulder, do you?” I say, playing on the fact that it isn’t enough that her friends like her, that my friends have to like her, too. This screams at her constant need for validation.

“And nobody has said anything to you?”

“Nope. Tact, Cher. It’s a noble thing, you know.”

Liam winks at me. I wink back. I just hope that my sister catches on to the concept. “You just better hope that mama doesn’t say anything to you tomorrow at the final fitting. And y’all better tell everyone, seeing as you’re going to have to get the seamstress to put an elasticized waist on that dress of yours.”

That gets me a high-five from Liam.

Unfortunately, it sets Cher off. “You know, Hanna, you could be a little bit more supportive here. I’ve been there for you all through this wedding planning and everything, and I feel like you’re just trying to minimize the fact that I'm pregnant. Your wedding is going to last one day, but I'm going to be pregnant for nine months, and raising a baby for the next eighteen years. I think that what I'm going through is just a little bit more important.”

My brows lift. “Really?” I scoff, shocked. “Cher, life is about decisions. Liam and I made the choice to get married, and all I’m asking is for me to have my one day, just like you had your one day. I’ll support the shit out of you with this kid, but I'm telling you once, if you do anything to screw up my one day...” I trail off.

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