AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I gave Rob a wide-eyed look at the “spliffy-jiffy” and then handed my keys to Cash. “Here, take my pass key for the parking garage. Then you don’t need the concierge to buzz you back in.”
Cash smiled. “Thanks, man, be right back.”
“All kidding aside,” Jen said, “you have a lovely home. I hope this suits—it’s just a little something.” She handed me a delicately wrapped gift bag. I thanked her and put it aside on the kitchen island, intending to open it later.
“Please open it now,” she said. “If you don’t like it, I might have a chance to exchange it.”
“Of course,” I said. “Let’s all sit down. Rob can handle the drinks orders.”
Sitting down on the couch, I pulled the white tissue paper out of the bag to reveal a tiny crystal figure of a mouse. It was delicate, sparkly, and so completely my taste.
“It’s vintage, from the early ’80s. I found it in a pawn shop around the corner from our house. It’s Swarovski crystal.” Jen laughed. “I can never say that name right.”
“It’s spectacular. I’m going to put it on my bedroom dresser for safekeeping while we have dinner.” I paused. “Can you even return stuff to the pawn shop?”
Garrett laughed. “Only if we take a deep discount of fifty percent or more. Jen was being polite about returning it. You’ll need to pawn it off on someone else if you hate it.”
“I don’t hate it, not at all—it’s the season for sparkly things, I think.” I smiled at Rob. “I might get confused about who I am with all the beautiful presents I’ve received this Christmas. I’m feeling very spoiled, indeed. Thank you both for being so thoughtful.”
My voice had an odd tremor in it that didn’t feel entirely authentic because I was talking too quickly. I stood up and took the gift to my bedroom so I could both get away from the living room for a moment and stop myself from staring at Jen, from scrutinizing her from the tips of her shoes to the ends of her neatly bobbed hair. My first impression of her was that she was lovely, considerate, and sweet. Exactly the kind of girl I could imagine Garrett with. Exactly the kind of girl that he would settle down with for life.
When I came back into the room, Marianne and Jen had slipped easily into conversation, holding their heads close together in that way that women do, with a sense of camaraderie that made me long for my sister. I should have invited them to dinner too. At least then I would have had Meghan to lean on throughout, and no one could break a tense situation like Jason. He was impossible to embarrass and would say anything that came to his mind. Or I could have invited more people and turned this into a drinks thing with just appetizers so the crowd could conceal my ulterior motives.
Marianne was rattling off news from Banff about old friends having babies, getting married, and getting divorced—all the little things that make up casual conversation between two friends who are familiar with each other but not often in contact. I hated Jen for a moment, for being so small, for her pixie-like hair, for her quiet, gentle voice, for the determined way she sat on my couch with her legs crossed, already comfortable, already in command of the social situation.
Rob and Garrett were talking by the sliding doors that led out to the balcony. I heard the wordsLeafsandembarrassment to hockey.
“Rob!” I shouted. “You didn’t get Jen any wine!”
“She declined,” Rob said. “Has she changed her mind?”
“Oh, no, thanks,” Jen said. “I’m not drinking tonight. I’m the designated driver.”
Marianne laughed. “You always get stuck being the DD, don’t you? Let your hair down! I’m sure we’ll be here long enough that you can have a couple of glasses.”
Cash came back into the apartment then carrying the bag that Marianne had forgotten in the car. “Putting your key in this key-happy bowl right here, Kelly, okay?”
“Sure.”
Marianne pressed the issue. “Why don’t you have some organic wine? I’m telling you, it’ll change your life. Hangovers are half of what they might be on the regular stuff.”
“No, I’m fine, really,” Jen insisted. She looked flushed for a moment, like she didn’t know quite what to say to put an end to Marianne’s pressure.
I knew why in an instant. Without thinking, I blurted, “You’re pregnant.”
The air in the room stopped circulating for a single second, and then another. No one moved. Jen turned an awkward shade of pink and said quietly, “No, no, that’s not it, I promise. I’m taking antibiotics, and you’re not supposed to mix them with alcohol.”
“Thank god,” I said.
Jen looked a little mortified, and I stumbled further over my words. “My foot couldn’t have been any bigger in my mouth. Everyone I know is pregnant, and it’s got me all muddled.”
It was an awful, uncomfortable moment, and it caught me completely off guard. I stumbled away from the couch and leaned against the island. Making assumptions about other people, about their lives—letting the thoughts spill out of my mouth without any self-control. That’s how I hurt people.
“Oh man,” Garrett said. “That would have been an odd way to find out I was becoming a dad.” Trying to lighten the mood. Trying to cover up for my being so impossibly rude.
“Is there a bathroom around?” Jen asked. Tears were threatening, I could tell. I knew the feeling well.
“Use the one in our room,” I said. “Here, I’ll show you. Come on with me.” I put my hand on Jen’s back as she held back tears and shook a little. I felt big, gruff, ruthless, and lacking tenderness.
