The four of us sit on the back porch and make small talk while dinner is in the oven. I can tell Charley’s nervous because she’s talking fast and about nothing in particular. I wish I could reach over and take her hand, maybe help ground her, but that’s probably crossing a line, and it would look weird in front of her parents. I hate this notion that we need to do this as friends and nothing more, but I also get where she’s coming from. Having a baby is already a huge change, and adding in a new relationship could be tricky.
I check on the food before coming back out, and when Charley glances over at me, I say, “About twenty minutes left.”
She chews on the inside of her cheek and nods, then announces to her parents, “I got you guys a little something.”
“Oh, honey, you didn’t need to do that!” Alice says with a smile.
“I know, but I wanted to.” Charley’s voice is soft and meek, another indicator of how nervous she is. Standing up, she pads inside and grabs the small gift bag off the dining room table, handing it to her mom before taking her seat again. She meets my gaze, and I give her, what I hope is, a reassuring smile.
“Well, Charley, this is so nice of you,” she gushes.
“Open it,” Charley softly pushes.
Jack looks from me to her, and I swear he’s picking up onsomething. My heart is in my throat as her mom removes the pieces of tissue paper one at a time. Up until now, I haven’t been too nervous. The way I see it, Charley and I are grown, and while this isn’t the most conventional way to bring a child into the world, this baby will be well taken care of and loved, and that’s all that matters. But now… Well, now my pulse is racing, and my stomach is uncomfortable, not knowing how they’ll react. Mostly because Charley will be crushed if they’re anything other than excited, and I don’t want that for her.
Alicefinallygets all the tissue paper out of the way—world’s slowest gift opener—and reaches in the bag, pulling out the two t-shirts folded inside.
“The black one is for Dad,” Charley murmurs. “And the pink one is for you, Mom.”
Jack is the first one to unfold his shirt and look at it, and his eyes dart over to his daughter. He doesn’t say anything because her slow-as-a-sloth mom hasn’t looked at hers yet, but there’s a glint of…something in his eyes, and I think it’s a positive something, but he’s a hard man to read. Her mother finally gets it open and holds it up in front of her.
“Promoted to Grandma,” she reads aloud, and then gasps, her eyes wide as she looks at her husband, then her daughter. “Honey, you’re pregnant?”
Charley worries her lip and nods. The way her chin quivers, I can tell she’s trying not to cry.
Then her mom slides her gaze over to me. “You?” she asks.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Alice shoves the t-shirt back in the bag and covers her mouth, eyes getting misty, and I don’t have to look at Charley to know hers are too. “Oh, honey, come here,” she says, standing from her chair. Charley does the same, meeting her mom in the middle as she wraps her arms around her daughter in a tight hug.
Jack and I both stand, and it feels a little awkward. I don’t know what to do, but he shakes my hand and pats me on the back. I kind of think he doesn’t quite know what to do either. Charley and her mom pull apart and take their seats, Alice’s gaze coming to me before sliding back over to her daughter. “When did this happen?” she asks. “I had no idea you two were even an item.” Then she breathes out a chuckle. “Although, when you told me you were moving in here, I certainly wondered.”
“We’re uh…” Charley spares me a quick glance before she says, “We’re not together, actually.”
Gaze alternating between me and Charley, Alice’s brow furrows. “I don’t understand. What do you mean, you’re not together?”
“Dear, I think it means her and Graham are not in a relationship,” Jack interjects, his tone almost condescending, like his wife’s confusion is silly.
“I heard her, Jack,” she snaps back. “I just don’t understand how she’s pregnant and they’re not together.”
“Contrary to popular belief, you don’t actually have to be married to get pregnant, Alice,” he mutters.
“Don’t you patronize me! I know that. I would just like to know why he”—she points at me—“has no problem knocking our daughter up, but doesn’t think highly enough of her to at least be in a relationship with her!”
“Whoa, uh…” I hold up my hands, but before I can sputter another word out, Charley cuts me off.
“Knock it off, Mom,” she grits out. “I’m the one who insisted we raise this baby platonically, not Graham, so just stop.”
Alice scoffs, turning her focus on Charley. “But honey, I don’t understand. Why would you want to do that?”
Heaving a sigh, Charley says, “Mom, I mean this in the nicest and most respectful way possible, but that really isn’t your business. Mine and Graham’s relationship status has nothing to do with this news. It won’t affect us being parents, nor will it bring this baby any less love.”
“Well, I, for one, am very excited for you,” Jack chimes in. “And I’m thrilled you’re making me a grandpa.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Charley murmurs, her voice cracking.
“Of course, I’m happy about becoming a grandma too,” Alice states. “I just…don’t understand.”
