Jay nodded and David knew Annie would tell him the news. He pulled out his phone and went to the missed call log. Her number was still there. All he had to do was hit send and get his answers. But he closed the menu and decided to wait until he could see her in person.
He stepped out into the cold night air and decided to walk to the hotel. It was only two blocks away and he needed the time to clear his head and think.
What a fucking mess.
Legally, he had parental rights, but he hoped that Kate would come to him on her own. He wanted things to be good between them, even if they weren’t together.
*
Kate sat on her bed, surrounded by pregnancy books and literature from the doctor. So much had changed from when she was pregnant with Laura. Worries about mercury in fish and nitrates in cold cuts and microwaves and environmental toxins… she wondered how any babies were born healthy at all. Kate’s biggest concern was the alcohol she’d consumed. There’d been the resort on St. Bart’s, the night she went to the theater, champagne at the benefit, a glass of wine here and there. The doctor assured her she probably had no reason to worry… she just shouldn’t drink anymore now that she knew she was pregnant.
Eleven weeks.
She got pregnant when they were together in California, that wonderful night when Kate felt like a desirable woman for the first time in her life. The night David saved her from momentous despair. Her birthday.
She patted her tummy. “A birthday baby.”
Trish bumped open the door with her hip and carried in a steaming mug of tea. “You conceived Junior on your birthday?”
Kate took the tea her sister offered and sipped the hot brew. “Yup.”
“I can only imagine what that must have been like for you.” Trish made a space on the bed and sat. “Living all those years with Richard and then falling into the arms of a guy like that? Wow.”
“I’m trying not to think about it.”
“You are a piss poor liar. All you do is think about him.”
Kate put her tea on the night stand and faced her sister. “Then I’ll get over it.”
“That’s a lie, too.” Trish’s voice had grown soft, and had a hint of pity behind the drawl.
Kate looked away and pushed her hair from her face. “I have to get over it.”
Trish scooted over and wrapped her sister in a hug. It was the kind of hug meant to comfort, but this one was also for support. Kate needed the support if she was going to do the right thing.
“No, Kate, what you have to do is tell your baby’s father what’s happened.”
Chapter 16
‡
Laura ran around her bedroom, looking for her black platforms while talking to Tracy on the phone.
“He’s so nice and polite… shit…” Laura dropped the phone. “Are you still there?”
“Yes,” Tracy said. “Has anything you know, like, happened?”
“We’ve been together for over a month.” They knew what the other one was talking about, but how sad that neither one could say it. There hadn’t been any sex yet, but the operative word was ‘yet’.
“So he’s kissed you?”
“Well, duh.” She tried to be cool about it, but kissing? Boy did he kiss her. His kisses were addicting. Laura didn’t know boys could kiss like that. Then it dawned on her that Jack didn’t kiss like a boy, Jack kissed like a man.
“Sor-ry. I’ve barely talked to you.”
Laura sat on her bed and blew out a breath. “I know. I’m sorry.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I like him, Trace, and this has disaster written all over it. He’s going to want to sleep with me, and I don’t know…”
“You’re still a virgin, right?”
“Yeah, although I wish I weren’t. It would be easier then.”
“Laura, if he has sex with you, he could get arrested.”
“Don’t exaggerate, Tracy. I’m seventeen; he’s not going to get arrested.”
“So, you’re thinking about it?”
Of course she was. She thought about it all the time. Jack made her body heat up in places Laura didn’t know she had. “I have to finish getting ready. He’s picking me up in a few minutes.”
“Is he going to meet your father?”
“Marie’s covering for me. Tonight, one of her friends is having some kind of seminar on Cosmic Meditation, so they went to center their karmas or some shit like that.”
“Oookaaay. I’ll bet your father will love that.”
“Who cares? I have to go. Jack just pulled up.” Laura glanced out the window and saw the headlights of Jack’s Envoy go out. She hung up the phone, spritzed on some perfume and gave a last look in the mirror. Maybe it was time to grow up and have sex. She could do a lot worse than Jack as her first. The phone rang again and Laura picked it up as she left her room. “Tracy, I have to go, he’s here.”
“Laura, it’s Mom.”
“Mom! Hi, uhh, I thought you were Tracy.”
“Apparently. Who’s there?”
“Oh, a friend from school.” The doorbell rang. She opened the door and held up one finger to Jack, who nodded when he walked in and closed the door behind him.
“Is it anyone I know?”
“No, I don’t think so. Look Mom, can we chat some other time?”
“Is Dad there?”
Laura rifled through her purse and popped a mint in her mouth. “No, he’s out with Marie.”
“Laura? You know the rule about dates. One of us has to meet who you are going out with.”
Laura walked into the kitchen and let the swinging door close behind her. “That’s your rule,” she hissed. “When I’m here Dad and Marie treat me like an adult. And… and… they have met him.” Okay. That was a big lie.
“Laura, I’m just concerned.” Her mother’s voice was firm, but Laura could hear the worry.
“Don’t be. Since I won’t be living with you much longer, it’s not your problem. Goodbye.”
She hung up and tossed the phone on the kitchen counter. Then she looked at it and felt a pang of guilt. Her mom did care about what was going on in her life, and she didn’t sound meddling or difficult. Laura wished she could talk to her about this—but if she did, no more Jack.
Laura left the kitchen and found Jack looking at the pictures on the table in the foyer. He smiled when she approached. He was so sweet. Laura figured she could stall sex for a little while, but looking at him, why would she want to?
“Are you ready?” he asked before kissing her hello.
“Yes, sorry. That was my mother.”
“I’ve met your future stepmom, but never your actual parents.” He helped her on with her coat and Laura looked up into his big blue eyes.
“I guess you’ll meet her eventually. My dad works all the time and my mother and I aren’t close. That’s why I live with my dad.”
“That’s too bad.” Jack paused as Laura locked the front door and took her hand when she put the keys in her purse. “Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why aren’t you and your mother close?”
Pausing, Laura couldn’t name one thing. Why did she hate her? She opened her mouth to say something, but it wouldn’t be the truth, so she stopped before taking the easy way out. “I’d rather not talk about it, if that’s okay. It’s pretty complicated.” He nodded and touched her cheek. Laura saw genuine concern in his eyes and she thought about how nice it would be to be able to talk to him about everything. “Where are we going?”
“The movies? Is there something you want to see?”
Laura smiled, and held his hand tighter. The movie was irrelevant. She wouldn’t be watching anyway.
*
Kate hung up when she heard the dial tone. “Shit.”
“What’s wrong?” Julie entered the kitchen. She’d been with Kate since Trish left for the airport.
“Laura’s going out. I think she had a date.”
“A date? On a Sunday? Where the hell are Richard and Morticia?”