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Laughing at his question, she asked, “Imagine all the old biddies talking about us if we showed up in church together. Why would you want to do that?”
“Because it’s important to you.” He frowned.
Rafferty didn’t attend church at the same place her family did. In fact, she had no idea where he went. That had been a topic that hadn’t come up. But now was not the time to talk about it.
“But how would I explain you to my family?” She zipped up her jacket and looked at him. He was still in pajama pants and a T-shirt, super sexy as he watched her.
“You could tell them we’re seeing each other,”
“Why would I do that?”
He looked at her quizzically. “Because we are.”
“No, Rafferty, we’re having sex. That’s different.” She was running short on time as it was and didn’t need him distracting her. Mia gently pushed him away.
His arms dropped as he said, “Oh, is that how you see us?”
“Rafferty, I don’t have time to do this now.” She turned to the door.
“Are you coming back here after?”
“Yes, but I don’t know when that will be.” And she left for her short bitter walk to her apartment.
Now Mia was sitting in a pew listening to the pastor talk as she tried to decide if she had been wrong to not let Rafferty come. But what would everyone have thought? That Mia was just his next conquest? Most likely.
When it was time for the actual baptism, she pushed him from her mind and watched Mandy in front of the church. When she had first seen her today, Mandy had looked good and was in a better mood than she had been in months. But now, standing in front of the congregation, she was starting to lose that new good mood. Was it because her ex was right next to her, or something else? Something with her pregnancy?
She would corner her in the back room of the basement during the reception and get her to talk. Not that they hadn’t just been in there when the book club had toasted the baby before the service began. Mia hoped the book club would always get together whenever there was a special event in each other’s lives, in their little room in the basement. Or wherever since maybe all the events wouldn’t take place in this church. Just, so far, they had.
“I thought Mandy wanted to be the godmother?” Ruth leaned over and asked her.
“She does.” Whispering back, Mia leaned toward her friend.
“Doesn’t really look like it.”
“I know,” Mia agreed.
What she didn’t tell her friend was that she had an idea of what her cousin’s issue was. Biting her lip as she watched her cousin looking at the baby in her ex’s arms, Mia realized she hadn’t checked on her cousin as much as she should have since she had confided in her two weeks before. No extra calls, no visits, nothing. All her time had been consumed by Rafferty.
After the service, Mia followed Ruth and Anderson into the basement for the small family gathering that was happening there. As she filled a paper plate with food, she watched as pictures were taken of the baby. Mandy was there and looked paler than she had during the service.
Sitting down next to her mom, she watched Ruth and Anderson sit by the other members of book club and their boyfriends. But since it was her family event, she decided she should sit by her parents. As soon as she was done eating, she would go back with them. Taking a bite of her ham bun, she realized she had lost track of Mandy.
Looking around, she didn’t see her anywhere. Her eyes were still scanning the church basement when she heard Rafferty’s name mentioned. Snapping back to the conversation, she heard her mom tell her sister Darcy, who had come for the event. “… and since then, Rafferty has worked for Anderson at his insurance office. But they’re in Rafferty and his dad’s old building. Very confusing.”
“Who is Rafferty dating now?” Darcy asked. Everyone knew he didn’t date any one woman for long.
“I heard a blonde from Campbell, but nobody has confirmed it,” her mom, Dotty, said.
“I heard it’s been going on for almost a month, but who knows with that boy.” her aunt Dolly stated from across the table.
Mia stopped eating and stopped looking for her cousin. Of course, Rafferty was seeing someone. She was just a side piece for him. Why had she even trusted him? What was two weeks when you have a blonde over in Norden eight miles away? Just far enough to where gossip takes a long time to get between the towns.
“Have you heard anything?” Darcy asked her, with her mom and aunt looking on interestedly. Why did everyone think she knew everything?
“I, ah …” she stammered.
She was reprieved when Tess tapped her on the shoulder and asked in a whisper, “Have you seen Mandy?”
