“Oh no! That’s terrible. I met Grace at the wedding. She seems like a sweet lady. She told me a little bit about Gunner and his father’s troubled relationship. I look forward to seeing them at Garrett and Emma’s anniversary party. I hope Gunner and his dad can make peace with each other.”
“Yeah, so does Ellie. Alright, Mom, I’m gonna let ya go, so I can get ready to head in.”
“Alright, sweetheart, be careful driving, and we’ll see you soon.”
***
Matthew came running out of the house the moment I pulled up and got out of my Jeep. He ran into my arms, and I picked him up and gave him a big bear hug. I held on to him just a little longer than normal.
“Ari! Put me down now. You will suffocate me with your bear hug!” Matthew said with a laugh.
“Oh my gosh! Do you think I’m that strong, buddy?”
“Where’s your horse, Ari?”
“She is at Jeff’s ranch back in Mason. She has a new stall, and she loves it. You’ll get to see her in a few days when you come out to Garrett and Emma’s big party.”
“Another party? Is this a wedding, too? Do I get to be in it again?”
I threw my head back and laughed. “Not this time, sweets. Come on. Are you ready to go eat?”
I looked up and smiled when I saw my mother standing on the porch watching. She tilted her head and gave me a funny look. She started to walk down the steps while I was buckling Matt’s seat belt.
“Y’all have fun this afternoon okay?”
I turned to look at my mom, I started to answer her when she stopped dead in her tracks.
She looked me up and down and then smiled. “Oh. My. God.”
I looked behind me and then all around me. “What? What’s wrong? Shit! Do I have a flat tire or something?”
My mother walked up and placed her hands on my shoulders. As she looked at me, she said,
“Arianna Katherine Peterson. How long have you known?”
What the fuck is she talking about?
“Um, Mom…when did you take up drinking in the mornings? What the hell are you talking about?”
My mom shut the door to my Jeep and pulled me a few steps away.
“Smile big, Ari. Let me see your gums?”
“What the hell, Mom? Oh my god, does Dad know you finally snapped? You need a vacation in a bad way.”
My mom threw her head back and laughed. Then, proceeded to try and stick her fingers in my mouth to look at my gums.
“Mom!”
“Ari, when did you find out?”
“When did I find out what, Mom? Oh my god, just come out with it. You’re starting to scare me.”
“That you’re pregnant. How long have you known?”
Fuck. A. Duck. What is with these women and their super-natural powers?
“How did you…what made you think…wait…” I couldn’t even talk right, I was so shocked that my mother just had to look at me to know I was pregnant.
My mother started to laugh as she pulled me into a hug.
She pushed me out at arm’s length, her eyes moving up and down as she examined me. Then, she frowned. “You haven’t told Jeff, have you?”
I let out a sigh and turned to check on Matt. He was playing with his Play Station. He looked so content, like he was in heaven.
“Mom I just found out last night. It was really weird because Emma was the one who told me she thought I was pregnant. Mom, you can’t tell anyone, not even Dad!”
“What? Why, Ari?”
“Can we talk about it later, Mom? I really just want to spend some time with Matt. We’ll talk when I get back, okay?” I kissed my Mom on the cheek before I ran around to the driver’s side of the Jeep.
I took one last look at my mom. She was blowing kisses to Matt. Then, she looked up at me with a sad smile. Shit. The last thing I wanted was sympathy from anyone.
***
“Ari, I like their chocolate milk shakes here,” Matt said.
I laughed because it was the fourth time that Matt had told me he liked the milk shakes at Mighty Fine Burgers.
Just then, I saw Brad Smith come walking in. Our eyes met at the same time and he gave me that bright-ass smile of his. The last time I saw him was when my parents took Ellie, Jeff, and me out to dinner on graduation night.
Brad gave me a wave, and I smiled and waved back.
“Hey, Matt, I’m gonna go order you a chocolate milk shake. Will you sit right here and eat your hamburger and french fries for me?”
“Sure, Ari! Make sure you get chocolate.”
I walked up to the counter and stood in line behind Brad. After he finished ordering his food, he moved to the side, waiting for me as I ordered Matt’s milkshake.
“Ari, my god, look at how beautiful you look. You’re practically glowing!” Brad said.
Jesus, please don’t ask me if I’m pregnant.
“Ha! Thanks, Brad. How are you?” I walked up to him and gave him a quick hug.
“I’m doing good thanks. How about you? I heard you and Jeff Johnson are an item now.”
I held up my left hand, showing him my engagement ring, and smiled. “Yep.”
“Well, I’ll be damned. Congratulations, darlin’. He’s one lucky bastard.”
I let out a laugh as they called my name for Matt’s shake.
“Are you eating alone? You want to join my little brother, Matt, and me?”
Brad looked over toward Matt and smiled.
“Sure, if he doesn’t mind the extra company, I’d love to join y’all.”
***
We sat there for a good fifteen minutes, catching up on things. Brad was going to vet school at Texas A-&-M, and was in town for the summer. Matt asked Brad twenty million questions. At first, Brad had seemed to be frustrated but then he must have remembered that Matt had Fragile X. Brad was trying to be patient, but I could tell it was getting to him. I’d only met one guy who had the patience of saint when it came to Matt, and that was Jeff.
Brad just finished telling Matt a silly joke. As we all started laughing, I glanced up and saw Jeff and Rebecca walking in. I let out a gasp, which caused Brad to turn around to see what I was looking at. Jeff saw me the moment he walked in the door. His eyes shot from me to Brad to Matthew and then back to me. He looked confused as hell.
Brad turned back and looked at me.
“Um, Ari, why is your fiancé walking in with another girl…a very pregnant girl?”
I couldn’t pull my eyes away from them. Rebecca had yet to see me. I was pretty sure that once she did, she’d run out the door screaming.
“Ari? Are you okay?” Brad asked.
I looked back at Brad and tried to smile.
“Ah, it’s a really long story, Brad. Jeff hooked up with this girl before we got together, and he just found out last week that she’s expecting, um…she’s having a,…um.”
I turned back to look at Jeff and Rebecca. That bitch was smiling at me. She leaned up and whispered something to Jeff. Then, he glanced at me, frowning. What the fuck?
“She’s having his baby, Ari. Is that what you’re trying to say?” Brad said.
“Jeff is having a baby, Ari?” Matthew asked. Then, he saw Jeff and yelled,
“Jeff!”
Reaching across, I grabbed Matt and pulled him back to me.
“No, buddy, we can’t talk to Jeff right now. He’s with…he’s with a friend right now, Matt. So, can you sit back down like a good boy and finish up your shake? We need to leave, buddy.”
I looked at Brad. He looked confused as hell. He kept looking at Jeff and then back at me.
“Ari, is there anything I can do to help out? I mean…shit. If you just need someone to talk to… you know, if you need a friend or something.”
“She has all the friends she needs, dude.” Jeff interrupted.
I looked up and saw Jeff standing there. giving Brad a go-to-hell look. Matt jumped up and ran toward Jeff. He bent down and gave Matt a big hug.
I felt the tears building in my eyes again, but then I looked over at Rebecca, who was glaring at me. My sadness was quickly replaced with anger. Bitch.
“Hey, buddy! I didn’t know you were having lunch with Ari today.” Jeff looked over at me and tried to smile.
“He called me earlier this morning and asked if we could have lunch today, ” I explained.
Jeff stood back up and walked Matt back over to his chair.
“So how’d you meet up with your friend here?”
Jeff asked me as he looked at Brad.
Brad stood up and introduced himself.
“Hi, I think we might have met last year. I’m Brad Smith.”
Jeff reached out and shook his hand. “Yeah…I remember you.”
“I just happened to run into Ari.”
“I asked him if he wanted to join Matt and me for lunch.” I looked back to where Rebecca was standing at another table. The look she was giving me made me sick to my stomach.
I swear to God the moment she has the baby I am going to beat the shit out of her.
“Looks like Rebecca’s waiting for you, Jeff,” I said with a faint smile.
Jeff just looked at me. Without another word, he turned around to walk toward Rebecca.
Fuck! Out of all the places they had to go to lunch, why did they come here?
***
By the time I got back to my parents’ house, the last thing I wanted to do was talk to my mom, but she was waiting outside, so I couldn’t avoid her. I helped Matt out of the car, and walked up to the house.
“Did you have fun with your sister today, honey?”
“Yep! And we had lunch with Brad. He is Ari’s friend, but Jeff didn’t like him.”
My mother looked up at me, and I gave her a don’t ask look.
“Run along inside, Matt. Your daddy is waiting in the living room for you. Ari, I have to talk to you for a few minutes.”
I gave Matt a kiss and hug good-bye. Watching him run into the house, I couldn’t help but smile. The fact that he picked up on Jeff not liking Brad made me laugh.
I sat down on the porch step and waited for my mom to join me.
“So, I take it you ran into Jeff? And who is Brad?” she asked.
“Brad Smith. We ran into him on graduation night, remember? I dated him for a bit in high school.”
“Yes, I do remember him now. And Jeff?”
I let out a gruff laugh. “Oh, yeah. Well, I guess Jeff and his baby mama had a hankering for a burger. I didn’t know they were going to be there. Jeff came up to the table, and I guess he wasn’t too pleased to see Brad sitting with Matt and me.”
“Wait. What was Jeff doing with Rebecca?”
“Oh, well, he was playing the good Daddy, Mom. You know, he’s painting the baby room, putting up the crib. Playin’ house, and all.”
My mother shook her head and looked at me. “Now, Ari, don’t be bitter. It’s not becoming for a young lady.”
I just looked at her. “I’m not bitter, Mom. I’m pissed! I’d bet you my inheritance that she is further along than she says. I’m going to find out, too, you just watch and see.”
“Oh dear Lord, I don’t even want to know what you have up your sleeve, Arianna. Just please don’t break any laws and embarrass your father.”