Annie squared her shoulders. “By no means,” she said. “And I do have a job. And after my student teaching next spring, I’ll have a job at the school.”
“Do you really think they’ll still hire you? An unwed mother? Is that a good example to set for these children?” Her mother grabbed her arms. “You’re pregnant, Annie. Derrick is here. He’s single. This is a perfect opportunity for you. Why don’t you—”
Annie pulled away from her. “Mom, really, you’ve got to get over Derrick. I’m not going back to him.”
“Then who? Who will you go to?” Her mother threw up her arms. “I can’t believe this. You do know how this happens, don’t you?”
“Are you trying to be funny?”
Her mother stared at her. “I wasn’t even aware that you were dating anyone.”
“I’m not.”
“Then what?” But her mother shook her head. “No. I don’t want to know.” She touched her forehead and closed her eyes. “This is so depressing. And your father will have a coronary, I’m sure.”
“I’m sure he won’t,” she said. She grabbed the bridge of her nose and squeezed. “I’ve got to…go by the store,” she lied. “I’m sure we’ll talk about this later.”
“Well, I’m sure we will,” her mother said. “You can’t drop this bombshell and think it’s over and done with. I mean, whatever in the world will the neighbors think? What about the people at church? How can I explain this?”
Annie sighed. “Tell them I’m a heathen,” she said as she went back to her room.
Common sense told her to stay put. It would be dark in an hour. But the prospect of having dinner with her parents after her mother had filled her father in on…well, on her condition…wasn’t appealing in the least. And her stomach warned her that she probably shouldn’t eat anyway.
Her lone safe haven was Fat Larry’s, but she knew the store would be closing soon. She could always drive out to the bay. Jordan wouldn’t turn her away.
With that thought, she grabbed her keys and slammed her bedroom door. Her mother was again hovering over the sink, washing the broccoli and cauliflower that she had not.
“I’m heading out,” she said.
“Dinner will be ready in—”
“Don’t wait for me,” Annie said quickly.
She realized how mad her mother was when she didn’t protest that statement. She hurried to her car, wanting to get out of there before her father got home. She sped away, heading toward Fulton. She’d take the road along the bay, hoping to relax. She lowered all four windows in the car, breathing deeply of the salty air as it blew in. The road was busy and several cars were pulled off to the side, the occupants holding up binoculars as they scanned for birds in the waning twilight. As the road twisted around the bay, she turned, crossing over the highway and heading to the north to Copano Bay where Matt’s beach house was. Well, Jordan’s house now, she supposed.
She’d been out there only a couple of times. Matt had made it a point to have an office party each summer. They’d close early on a Sunday and he’d have them all out. The margarita machine was the hit of the party…that and the Jet Skis. And the buffet. Everything that his parents’ restaurant served, he’d have for them. Fun times.
Yes, Matt had been fun. Was that why she’d slept with him? Because he was fun? No, of course not. She wasn’t like that. She didn’t sleep around. Which was really the problem, wasn’t it? Couldn’t she be like other women? Go out with a guy, sleep with him, have fun…no commitments. Like the guy she’d met in one of her classes…Jason. She’d gone out with him a few times, but when she’d made it clear that she wasn’t interested in sex with him, he’d moved on to someone else.
He was cute. He simply didn’t…didn’t stir anything in her. She blew out her breath. It wasn’t like Matt stirred anything either. But it had been a stormy April night and the prospect of going home to her parents was simply too disheartening at the time. She wanted to do something. She wanted to be a twenty-nine-year-old single woman. Not a twenty-nine-year-old divorced woman living at home with her parents.
“So let’s have sex with Matt Sims,” she murmured. And why the hell didn’t she insist he use a condom?
Because getting pregnant never once entered her mind.
She turned onto Bayside, trying to remember which side street to take. When she saw Pelican Drive, she turned there. It was almost full dark now and her headlights splashed across the oak trees that lined the street on both sides. She saw the entrance to the driveway and smiled at the sign. Pelican’s Landing. Fat Larry—well, a mini version of Fat Larry—was perched importantly on top of the marker.
She drove on, the winding lane ending at the carport. But it wasn’t Jordan’s rental car that was parked there. Instead, it was a newer model SUV. Maybe Jordan had company. She should have called first. She was about to do that when she saw Jordan step out on the porch and wave at her.
“I should have called,” Annie apologized.
“No problem. Come on in,” Jordan offered.
Annie pointed at the SUV. “Yours?”
“I’m leasing it,” Jordan said. “A lot cheaper than the rental car.”
Annie stood under the porch light and Jordan studied her. Annie finally nodded.
“Yes. I told my mother.”
Jordan drew her inside and closed the door. “And? Was it as bad as you expected?”
“Yes. She hates me.” She followed Jordan out to the deck where a bottle of wine and a lone wineglass sat on the table. There was no evidence of dinner.
“I’m sure she doesn’t,” Jordan said as she sat down. “I used to think my mother hated me too.”
Annie frowned. “Why?”
Jordan shrugged. “Because I’m gay. I thought she would hate me for sure. I convinced myself that her tears were because she hated me.”
Annie’s mouth dropped open as she sank into a chair. “You’re gay?”
“What? You didn’t know?”
Annie shook her head. “No. Matt never said anything and…well, it never occurred to me, I guess.” Annie leaned forward. “You don’t…look gay.”
Jordan laughed. “What does gay look like?”
“I don’t know. Short hair, masculine, men’s clothes.”
Jordan laughed again. “That’s a really old stereotype,” she said. “Besides, my hair is fairly short.”
“It’s not short. It’s the same length as mine.”
Jordan’s eyes widened in mock surprise. “Oh my God! Are you gay too?”
Annie laughed. “I wish. Then I wouldn’t be pregnant. Of course, I know my mother would hate me for sure in that case.”
Jordan poured wine into the glass, then looked at Annie. “I’d offer you some, but, pregnant and all.”
Annie sighed. “I know.”
“So what happened with your mother? She doesn’t like the thought of being a grandmother?”
“Oh, she would love it. If only a husband came with it,” she said. “And, you know, I’m still in college, I live with them, my sole source of income is Fat Larry.” Annie met her eyes. “She wants me to have an abortion.”
Jordan gasped. “No. You’re not, are you?”
Annie shook her head. “No. I couldn’t. But I’m going to have to find a place to live. Some cheap apartment or something. I can’t go through this with her. Not for nine months. She’ll drive me crazy. She’s already suggested I get back with Derrick.”
“Get back with him? Because you’re pregnant?”
“I told you, she loves him.”
“Maybe she should marry him.”
Annie laughed. “Perhaps I’ll suggest that to her the next time she brings it up.”