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“Dad and Genna are getting married at the end of June.” Hazel said it in a rush, avoiding Zoey’s eyes.
“Next month?What the fu...” She caught herself, but damn. The divorce hadn’t become final until February. He’d already forced her and Hazel out of their house so he could build a new one with what’s-her-name. What was the big rush to add one more major event to their daughter’s life?
She and Chris had vowed they wouldn’t bad-mouth each other to Hazel, no matter how intense things got during and after the divorce. She had to keep her end of the bargain. She’d deal with Chris later. “I mean...that seems...fast. I thought they’d wait longer, but...”
“Genna’s pregnant.” Hazel’s voice was flat, but that didn’t soften the cut of those words. Zoey felt like someone had just kicked her in the stomach, to the point where she almost wheezed from the impact.
“I’m sorry,what? It’s a shotgun wedding?”
“Mom...”
Zoey sucked in her breath and held it, closing her eyes. Chris and she had talked so many times about having another child, but it never happened. The doctor couldn’t find a physical reason for either of them, but Chris had still blamed Zoey. He didn’t say it out loud, but she’d felt it. There was a blank space between them where more children should have been. And now he was having those children. Without her.
“Mom? Are you okay?” Hazel’s hand rested on Zoey’s.
“I’mfine,honey.” She knew her words sounded forced. “It’s a surprise, but hey—a baby!” She hoped her smile wasn’t shaking as much as she was inside. This conversation wasn’t about her. “You’re going to be a big sister... How does that makeyoufeel?”
Zoey’s jaw tightened. This was typical Chris—doing things for himself with no thought of how they affected the people in his life. Cheating on Zoey. And now surprising Hazel with a new sibling.
“I don’t know. I mean...there’s going to be almost fourteen years between us, so it’s not like we’ll hang out or anything.” Hazel was trying to be nonchalant, but Zoey sensed her feelings ran deeper than what she was letting on. It would probably take them both some time to process it all.
“Maybe not when the baby’s little, but once you’re both adults, you could end up being great friends. Tani and her brother are ten years apart, and they’re super close now.”
“It’s a boy.”
Zoey bit her lip. Of course it would be the boy Chris had always wanted. Not that he didn’t adore Hazel, but he’d always talked about having a son.
“A baby brother. How sweet.” She was running out of strength to sound enthusiastic.
Hazel’s shoulder rose and fell in a tiny shrug.
“Genna asked me to be the maid of honor in the wedding.”
It was a nice gesture. Zoey should be happy her daughter was being included in the plans. It wasn’t as if there was any chance she and Chris wouldeverreconcile. That ship had sailed, burned and sunk. But...this made things feel veryfinal.Her ex was remarrying. And having a baby with someone else. And what wasshedoing? Well, for one thing, she wasn’t indulgingherselfby starting a brand-new family. She was focusing on her daughter. She was doing the right thing, damn it. She cleared her throat.
“Do youwantto be maid of honor?”
Hazel hesitated, and Zoey realized with a sharp stab to her heart that her daughter was trying to protect her. The kid had enough on her shoulders without thinking she couldn’t talk to her mom about certain things. Zoey turned her hand and entwined her fingers with Hazel’s.
“It’sokayto want to be her maid of honor. It’s really nice that she asked you. I’m sure you’ll have fun. I’m just saying if you don’t want to...”
“I told her I would.” Hazel’s voice was still low and hesitant.
“That’s wonderful!” Just freaking fabulous.
“Why are you yelling, Mom? Are you sure you’re okay?”
She did her best to smile, for real this time.
“I’m not gonna lie, this is...weird for me. I want your dad to be happy. I don’t really know Genna-with-a-G...” She stopped, her eyes falling shut. She’d been sabotaging her daughter’s relationship with the woman who would soon be her stepmother. It wasn’t fair to Hazel. Or to the woman Zoey would be coparenting with. “A-n-d I clearly need to stop saying that. Sorry. I barely knowGenna, but that will have to change now that she’s marrying your father.” She’d have to see the perky young blonde as more than just the woman who broke up her marriage. That had always been too simplistic anyway. Genna hadn’t lured Chris away—he’d been a willing participant in the affair. She looked into Hazel’s eyes. “This is new territory for all of us, and we’ll have to find our way through it together.”
Hazel studied Zoey’s face as if trying to decide how much she should say.
“Genna’s not that bad, Mom.” Another long pause. “But I’m glad you’re...you know...not with anyone. Not dating or...”
Zoey bumped Hazel’s shoulder with hers, trying to lighten the moment. “You don’t have to worry about that.” No way would she bring another person into the mix. At the same time, she felt a pinch of regret, thinking of sleeping in an empty bed night after night. For a really long time. “So what are you wearing to the wedding?”
“Genna’s going to take me shopping in Syracuse and let me pick out a dress.” Enthusiasm bled into Hazel’s voice.
