Page 3 of Stuck with You
2
The scent of freshly baked goods permeates the café, and I’m compelled to buy a blueberry muffin with my latte. The place is quiet, as it usually is on a weekday afternoon. I spot Gabbie, already sitting at the back, in our usual spot in front of the fireplace, and we wave hello. I’m sure Kayla is milling about in the back — her fiancé owns the place.
Just as I’m about to pay, Kayla pops out of the back. “Don’t let her give you a cent,” she tells the young lady at the cash register. She rounds the corner and swoops in for a hug.
As we head to our table, the doorbell clangs and Maeve makes an appearance, all smiles. We are all thrilled to see her because she now lives two hours away, and we don’t get to see her as often as we’d like.
Hugs all around, and we take a seat on the sofa and two cozy arm chairs.
I smile at little Charlotte, who is sitting in her stroller, hugging a juice bottle. She has her mother’s big brown eyes and wavy dark hair. “She’s so darn adorable,” I tell Gabbie.
She smiles. “Thank you. She’s a lot of work, but she’s worth it.”
Gabbie is very lucky. She has three beautiful kids; two with her first husband, a girl and a boy, and Charlotte, whom she had with her new husband, Eli, or Mr. Perfect, as we like to call him behind her back. She truly has it all.
I enjoy a sip of my latte, dig into my muffin, and pull my gaze away from Charlotte. Kayla and Maeve are already in full chat mode, talking about Maeve’s clothing store and sharing entrepreneur battles. Kayla is swamped these days; she’s a massage therapist, she teaches yoga, and now she owns a coffee shop too. Gabbie, like me, is a homemaker. She paints, and I make jewelry. We’re both creative.
“So who’s manning the store?” Gabbie asks.
Maeve blows out a breath. “We just hired a new girl… Jessica. She’s great. I’ve got two girls helping me out now,” she says, full of excitement. “And I’ll need it because…”
Gabbie and Kayla are both sitting at the edge of their seats. “Because?” Kayla says. “Because why?”
A huge grin practically splits Maeve’s face in two, and I suddenly realize that she’s glowing. “Because I’m pregnant,” she announces. “Three months along.”
Kayla and Gabbie both immediately swoop in for a hug. “Congratulations!” Gabbie cheers. “I’m so happy for you and Blake. It’s the best thing you’ll ever do.”
As she pulls away and leans back to her seat, she catches my expression and her smile fades. Her big brown eyes are apologetic. She realizes what she’s just said, and regrets it. She doesn’t know what to say now I’m sure. Neither do I.
I’m happy for Maeve. I really am, but I’m also devastated. I stand slowly and reach for her. I give her the best squeeze I can manage. “Congratulations, Maeve. That baby is going to be the best looking human on the planet,” I add, and everyone laughs.
I settle back on the sofa. “Seriously, I can’t wait to see him… or her.”
Gabbie is quiet now, averting my gaze.
“I didn’t even realize you two’ve been trying,” Kayla says. “You’ve been holding out on us, girl.”
Maeve laughs. “Well, you know how I can be a bit of a ditz sometimes. It was an accident… I’ve been forgetting to take my pill.”
An accident?
“Uh-oh,” Kayla says. “How did Blake react when you told him you were pregnant?”
She smiles. “He was over the moon. Everyone is. My mom… my sister, Mandy…”
She goes on but I don’t hear her anymore. I hate feeling this way, but I’m completely devastated. I’m such a horrible person. I should be happy for my friend, but all I can focus on is how unfair life can be. She wasn’t even trying, just going on with her life, oblivious, and just like that… she gets knocked up. She’s young and healthy, and she has years to have a whole gaggle of little ducklings. And here I am, old and barren. Jacob and I have been trying for ages… and nothing. Even after my surgery to remove scar tissue from my tubes, we still weren’t successful.
Suddenly, I feel sick. I stare at my half-eaten muffin and I have no desire for another bite. I hear their chatter but I don’t hear their words. I don’t want to be here anymore. I throw my hand against my face. “Oh… crap.”
The chatter stops and they all turn to me, beckoning me to tell them what’s going on.
“I just remembered,” I say. “Jacob and I have a meeting with our financial advisor today. I completely forgot about it.”
A little white lie.
“I should get going,” I tell them. “I’m so sorry.”
“No worries,” Maeve says.
