It was my mom’s friend, Mrs. Patel. And her eyes were laser focused on us.
Last week, I’d finally told my parents about Henry. My mom had started crying, and my dad had just sat there nodding like a ventriloquist’s doll. Like he couldn’t quite comprehend the situation—or the ventriloquist had gone to lunch.
“Mom,” I’d said. “I’m sorry, I?—”
“Sorry?” she’d shrieked. “This is fantastic news!”
It was then I realized she was sobbing tears of joy. This was truly a shock to me. I’d have thought for sure my mom would lose her mind that she’d been left out of the whole process—intentionally or not.
“Anaika told me just the other day your father and I could have a perfectly full life without grandkids. She’s always bragging about her little grand-babies. Ha!” She’d actually crowed.
Anaika was Anaika Patel, and she was slamming her car door now. She strode across the street with no regard for the cars that had to stop for her once more.
“Sam! What a marvelous coincidence seeing you here!” she crowed once she reached us.
Mrs. Patel, I could see up close, had a glint in her eye that made me seriously wonder if she’d been roaming the streets looking for me. She loved me—and normally I loved her. She’d always slipped me treats when she came over to visit my mom when I was little, and I’d been friends with her daughter growing up.
But her spotting us here was a coup for her. Exactly, I knew, the fodder she was looking to bring back to the town’s sewing circle. Particularly to my mom.
“Oh, isn’t heprecious?” Mrs. Patel said when she reached us. “Look at those eyes! Can I hold him?”
I grimaced. I already knew I was in enormous trouble for letting one of Mom’s friends meet Henry before her. EspeciallyMrs. Patel, with whom mom had a fairly longstanding rivalry with, mostly over their kids’ various accomplishments.
“He’s just having a snack right now,” I said, trying to put her off.
The fiery look of victory in Mrs. Patel’s eyes made me feel like an absolute ass. I needed to bring Henry to meet my parents. But I wanted Mom to meet Ellie at the same time, and I didn’t know how to broach the topic with her. I didn’t even know how I was supposed to introduce her. My friend? The mother of my child? A woman I can’t stop thinking about, but who refuses to get involved with anyone, because she’s convinced it’s what’s best for her kids? Who even if she did want to date, wouldn’t even consider a future with me, and forgood reason because I’m a fucking flake. Not to mention the shit I pulled the other night in her room. I felt so stupid for that hopeful thought this morning.
I was so busy spiraling I didn’t notice Mrs. Patel had reached for Henry’s buckles with the stealth of a cat burglar until he was nearly out.
I jerked the stroller sideways, standing up. “Sorry, we’re in a bit of a rush.” I buckled Henry back in.
“Oh really?” Mrs. Patel narrowed her eyes.
Diya, Mrs. Patel’s daughter, used to complain in high school that her mom could smell a lie from three towns away.
“It doesn’t look like you’re rushing anywhere,” Mrs. Patel said. “It looks like you’re enjoying this beautiful day with your coffee and your handsome son.”
Mrs. Patel wasn’t wrong. That was exactly what we were doing.
“Well, yes,” I admitted. “But now we’re done and have to leave.” I downed the last of my coffee, then threw my paper cup in the nearby trash bin, taking the stroller with me lest she get any more ideas.
“Where are you rushing off to?”
“We’re uh…” Why was I letting this lady intimidate me? I set my shoulders back. “We’ve got plans.”
“Lunch plans? Because I could?—”
“Yes, actually,” I said. Could she see the sweat on my brow? “Yes, we’re bringing Henry’s mom lunch.”
Mrs. Patel grinned like the Cheshire cat. “Is thatright?”
That had been the wrong bluff. Mrs. Patel had latched her claws into the fib like she was a cat and it was a mouse with broken legs. “Let me take you. I’ve got a car seat in the car of course, for my darling little?—”
“Nope. We’re going on foot. Saving the environment.”
Henry tossed the empty bottle onto the ground as if underscoring my lie.
“Really?” I whispered to him. I picked up the bottle, stuffing it into the bottom of the stroller.
