AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m guessing another no,” I mutter under my breath.
She hums but doesn’t outright criticize my lack of knowledge this time. My palms sweat, and my heart rate kicks up a notch. My confidence is normally pretty unshakeable, but I’m in unchartered territory here. I’m dangling over the edge of a cliff, and this woman incrementally lowers the rope rather than pull me to safety.
Steeling my spine, I raise my chin and paste a haughty look on my face as I turn once again to the waiter.
“I’ll just have a Caesar salad, please.”
“Oh, for goodness’ sakes, do you know nothing? The dressing has raw eggs, dear,” she sneers.
Nathan’s palms connect with the table in a resounding crack, and he rises from his seat in a manner that has everyone’s jaw agape and eyes wide. I
ncluding mine.
“Enough,” he snarls directly at the woman who gave him life. “You aren’t doing this. Not today. Not any day.”
An awkward silence descends on our table like a black fog, and I glance around to see if any of the other guests gawk at us like a train wreck reality television show. Fortunately, it appears our family drama plays out without an audience. Even the waiter discreetly disappeared from our spectacle.
Not about to give in just yet, Regina tries another route, and this one is like a serrated stab to my heart.
“Janessa has only been gone for two years.”
“Mom!” Nathan hisses and flexes his fingers into the wooden tabletop.
With a trembling hand, I grasp my glass of water for a sip. Pride is fleeting that I manage not to spill and give her something else to gripe about.
Red blotches spread across her cheeks. “I’m just saying. How can you be ready for such a big step when your wife hasn’t been gone that long? You’re still in mourning. Heck, the ground’s still practically fresh.”
Nathan holds himself back so tight he looks about ready to snap in two. The man’s never contemplated laying a hand on a woman in his life, but this may be that very first time. Her words strike incredibly low, and for what? To make a point about something she has no say in? He’s not going to stand for it. Frankly, neither am I.
“You can go.”
My steely tone pulls her attention from her fuming son, and the flash in her eye tells me she’s just getting started.
“Sweetheart, this doesn’t concern you.” She injects her voice with faux sweetness.
These are the actions of a hurting woman—and a confused one at that—but it doesn’t make it right. His mother deserves a bit of grace to come to terms with this somewhat shocking turn of events.
I tell myself these things, but in the end, I remember that I carry what amounts to her first grandchild within my womb, and it will be over my dead body that I allow her to act this way in the presence of my kid. Momma bear unleashed.
We all can’t deliver Jesus’s caliber of forgiveness.
“You know what, Regina? It absolutely does.” I plant my hands on the wooden table and rise. “You don’t get to throw the loss of his wife in his face when it’s convenient for you. And if you think for one second you can treat me the way you have been for the past twenty minutes and remain a permanent fixture in my child’s life, you have another thing coming.”
An outraged gasp falls from her lips, but I continue without allowing her a word. She had her opportunity and squandered it.
“Now, I’m willing to give you one chance to think about your reaction today, and I’m even willing to let you walk out of here and take some time to come to terms with the path life has given to Nathan and me. But if you think for one second that the next time I see you that you can spout off this instant rejection of my baby, you better believe that you won’t be meeting he or she until you’re the one under fresh dirt.”
Silence descends the table again, but I’m done. Gathering my purse, I twist to Nathan, who still hasn’t moved an inch.
“If you’ll excuse me…” I mutter beneath my breath, holding in a fresh wave of tears. The torrent building behind my eyes is the commencement of an ugly cry, and I’d rather an entire restaurant doesn’t witness the hippopotamus-like snot bubbles about to release from my sinuses.
He steps out of my way as if in a trance, and I push by without resistance. Nobody calls my name. Regina doesn’t offer a last-minute apology at my departure—not that I expect her to. I feel like an outsider, and that makes the pressure in my chest that much harder to ignore.
I rush past afternoon diners enjoying a meal that, let’s face it, I’m friggen upset I didn’t even get to order, let alone eat. I make a silent vow to read the gosh darn baby book as soon as I get home. After my cry-fest, that is. Honestly, this entire day makes me wish I had a cat or seven to keep me company. Humiliation takes residence in my bones. I don’t even want to call my best friend, that’s how embarrassed I am.
The front doors remain propped open, and the first step into the light, breezy day is absolute bliss after that twenty minutes of torture. I should perform some ceremonial dance in thanks that the awful woman in there isn’t my actual mother-in-law. I hope both she and Nathan know that I absolutely meant what I said. A person with such awful judgmental qualities will not partake in my child’s life.
“Kiersten.” Nathan’s low growl caresses my name and pops me straight out of that place in my head. The one that forces replays of horrible and embarrassing moments over and over again as if my psyche is hell-bent on making me endure every single iota of pain from it that I can. Thank god for baby daddies with impeccable timing. The cycle is just getting started.
