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“Wow. I mean, holy shit, Bea. I’m going to be a dad.” Collin let the realization wash over him, sitting back down slowly as he said the most disturbing thing of all. “I hope it’s a girl.”
“Why?” I asked him.
“Because girls love their dads.”
“And what about their mothers?”
“You know what I mean, Bea.” He laughed.
I did.
•••
I ABSOLUTELY ABHORREDpregnancy. It truly was the most atrocious state of being. I was completely miserable. Between the state of my gigantic body and the seemingly daily expansion of my thighs coupled with my anxiety at becoming a real mother to an actual baby, I must have been a complete hell beast to be around. But Collin never faltered as the doting husband, eager to announce our happy news. It was decided by Hayes and Haven that a publicspectacle would be the best way to move forward, addressing the idea with their old friends, Archie and Plum Gerhardt. Excellent. Archie and Plum were celebrating their thirty-fifth wedding anniversary with a party on a megayacht in the Hamptons. All of Haven and Hayes’s friends would be there. The hosts were thrilled with the idea. Not terribly surprising. The olds loved to be involved with the youngs and our happenings. Something to keep living for in their advanced age.
I was thrilled by the idea as well because I wanted to see Gale Wallace-Leicester’s face when she received our happy news. There would be no avoiding her at this party. Sure, Collin wasn’t spending time with her anymore, but I knew their paths would cross at social gatherings. And what a dreamy reunion this would be. Another stake in her heart. She might quite literally turn to dust. It wasn’t a planned attack, but it wouldfeellike one and I didn’t want to miss her reaction in real time.
She had been so quiet the past few months.
Perhapstooquiet.
The Cases were sworn to secrecy about the pregnancy, and I believed they were taking it seriously. I’m sure it pained Haven not to share with Nora Wallace-Leicester, but I reminded her that it would be more prudent to announce after we had passed the twelve-week point. “I’m not superstitious,” I told her. “But better safe than sorry.”
“You’re right,” she said, giving me a brief caress on the shoulder, her tight lips turning up into a small smile. She was looking at me in a new light. The mother of her first grandchild. A baby to melt the icy exterior? How basic and boring to boot. That’s all it took to get her to like me?
•••
THE PARTY WASdecadent. Obviously—it was on a yacht. The dress code was garden-party chic. I wore a loose dress so as not tospoil the surprise, but I tucked another dress in my bag for a quick wardrobe change after the announcement. A soft pink body hugger. Not because I wanted everyone to touch my belly, I dreaded that even though I knew it was inevitable, but I couldn’t miss an opportunity for Gale to behold my burgeoning baby bump.
She arrived a few minutes after we did, keeping her distance from Collin, but making the requisite greetings to his family. Polite and brief. Collin’s parents were informed of the situation between us, my fervent decree that their close friendship could be no more, and didn’t get involved, per their parenting style. They weren’t the type to invite unnecessary drama into their carefully curated lives. I also assumed they thought we’d all work it out. It was just growing pains between friends going through a new stage of life. Regardless, no one mentioned anything about it on the yacht.
Haven took care to make sure my glass was filled with sparkling cider, which, again, was shockingly lovely of her. “We still want you to look like you’re having fun, Mama,” she whispered. I was surprised by how much her demeanor had changed toward me since she heard the news. All that for a baby. I didn’t feel changed at all, aside from physically morphing into a buffalo and being terrified I would ruin the baby. Or that she would turn out like me.
Likeus.
•••
THE TIME HADcome for our announcement. Haven stood in between Collin and me, taking each of our hands, preparing for the moment. She was glowing more than I was supposed to be, but I didn’t mind. It wasn’t exactly a bad thing to have her warming up to me.
Archie and Plum took their places at the front of the ship, Archieholding a microphone to address their esteemed guests. “Thank you all for joining my beautiful bride and me today,” Archie barked, red-faced and grinning, drunk as a skunk. “It means the world to us that you are here to celebrate our love, thirty-five years young. Cheers!”
He hoisted his drink up into the air and everyone toasted the happy couple. Archie cleared his throat again. I scanned the yacht for Gale. Wearing black trousers with a black blouse, she wasn’t difficult to find amidst the sea of florals and fascinators, but I nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw who she was standing next to.
Dave Bradford.
I needed to calm down. He was a guest. Of course he was going to be there. They had to be just chatting. Catching up. Nothing to worry about. Nothing at all. Would he tell her? No. He said he wouldn’t tell anyone. Besides, there was nothing to tell. It was just real estate. Any New Yorker worth their salt had a passing interest in such a thing. Dave narrowed his eyes at me, full of lust, but I didn’t return the gesture. That was done. Gale Wallace-Leicester clocked his wanton gaze at me before meeting my own. I smirked at her in kind, imagining how satisfying it would be to heave her overboard, but what was about to come was going to be so incredible to witness, she’d probably end up doing it herself.
I took a deep breath. I could relax, right? I had won.
“In the spirit of that love,” Archie continued, “we’ve just been told such wonderful news from longtime family friends. They asked if they could announce it here today among all of our mutual nearest and dearest.” Archie passed the microphone to his wife, Plum, all collarbones and Cartier, baring those pearly whites, the type of woman whose mouth always seemed open, unable to fully be at rest.
“Haven and Hayes Case stood next to us when we married allthose years ago,” Plum chirped, a stark contrast to her husband’s booming voice. “We’ve been present in each other’s lives for so many milestones, and we’re thrilled to hear that another is just around the corner. Collin?”
I smiled at my husband, watching Gale out of the corner of my eye. It was too good. She knew what was about to happen. I could practically feel the sizzle on the side of my head from the lasers shooting out of her eyes. Haven released our hands and put them together in front of her body, urging us to join Archie and Plum.
Collin took the mic from Plum. “Hello, everyone!” He was ebullient, full-on waving at the crowd like a camp counselor on his first day. “I’m very pleased to share with you all that my lovely wife, Bea, and I are expecting our first child!”
I smiled harder than ever before, my now-puffy cheeks rising up my face, and we shared a sweet kiss. The party erupted into uproarious applause; everyone loves news about a baby. I felt wonderful, with the expression on Gale’s face a well-earned trophy. She went pale, paler than usual, zero color in her face. Not a smile, nor a frown. She was frozen with the face of the nonplussed, doing her best to give me nothing, even though this had to be the final nail in her coffin. And yet, something still felt off to me. Amiss. Untoward. I couldn’t put my finger on it.
