by K Carr
“Hi, Jenny,” my mother-in-law nabbed me first. I returned the hug, a touch less enthusiastically than hers. Betty leaned back, frowning as she said, “You look tired. Have you been getting enough sleep? Have you been eating well? Oh, come here,” She hugged me again.
Over her shoulder I sent Derek a pitiful look. He smirked and gave me a little wave from where he stood.
“Jennifer,” Sebastian, Seb to family, smiled at me from his wife’s side. Betty released me and he held his arms open. Yep. A double-pronged attack. “How are you? It’s been too long.” He pulled back. “Let me look at you.”
I smiled at my father-in-law, hoping he would find whatever he was looking for and be satisfied. His face, like Betty’s, shifted into a visible frown as he pulled me back into the hug. Was my make-up messy? Did I have something on my face? They didn’t need to frown. I looked fine considering the fact I was home again.
“It’s good to see you.” he muttered before ending our embrace with a fatherly pat on my arm. “I told Connor we must have you and Meggie come visit us for a weekend,” Seb glanced over his shoulder, gaze searching the room until it latched onto my mother. Oh no. What was he doing? Raising his voice, he sought the backing of my mom. “Rose, when are you and the girls free? We haven’t had you around for ages. Did Betty tell you about the basement?” Seb nudged his wife and moving as one unit, I watched them launch their attack on my mom.
“We’ve had it completely re-done,” Betty gushed, falling into step with her husband as they approached my darling mom. “You have to come visit.”
I fought the urge to shake my head, and a good thing too because Connor was looking right at me. He managed a surreptitious finger-point in his parents’ direction and mouthed, ‘Sorry’. I shrugged and headed over to Derek.
“Hey, papa-to-be.” This time my hug was everything it should’ve been when hugging my in-laws.
Derek hugged me back tightly. “Hey, stranger.”
I sucked my teeth and pulled away while he raised his eyebrows at me, daring me to say something. I did say something, but not in my defence. Lala had already pointed out my bad behaviour when it came to seeing them. “Are you taking care of my Lala?” It was mock belligerence, meant to make him laugh.
Derek sighed, a touch too heavy for the cheerfulness I had been aiming for. Rubbing his chin, he confessed, “I don’t know, Jenny. She’s so,” he huffed. “So,”
“So Lala?” I offered.
He snorted, then chuckled. “Yeah, she’s lala alright. Lala in the head.”
The loud clearing of a throat had us both spinning around. “Ahem,” Lala, holding a plate of puffs in one hand and a napkin in the next, eyed us suspiciously. “You’d better not be talking about moi.”
“For a pregnant lady, you sure do move quietly,” Derek drawled, reaching out to take the plate from her with one hand while the other snaked around her back. He kissed the side of her head and chuckled. “No ribs?”
Lala’s gaze darted around the room then dropped nervously when she spotted Connor chatting to one of his cousins. “Shh. I portioned some out in a container already.” Lala looked at me. “It’s in the cupboard above the microwave.”
I covered my mouth with one hand, slowly shaking my head in disbelief.
“What?” Derek was quick to speak up for his wife. “She’s pregnant. She’s allowed to eat whatever takes her fancy.” Derek looked at Lala with adoration etched on his face. “Isn’t that what you say?”
“Yes,” She nabbed a puff off the plate and popped it into her mouth.
Derek and I laughed as her eyes slipped closed for a few seconds in an expression of delight. My heart melted when Derek said something to her in his native Korean language which was obviously very flattering going off her reaction.
“What did he say?” I tapped Lala’s arm.
She shrugged her shoulders, feigning ignorance and I rolled my eyes at them both. “You know, Lala,” I drawled. “When you first started going out with Derek, you swore you would get him to teach me Korean for free.” I squinted at their grinning faces. “Yet here I am, countless years later and still unable to understand more than the basic ‘hello, how are you’ spiel.” I shook my head. “So disappointed in you both.”
Derek snorted which turned into a guffaw and garnered a few looks in his direction. I spotted Connor watching us, he looked as if he wanted to come over but he remained where he was chatting to one of our neighbours. Oh shit – another neighbour, Moira Campbell, had seen me and was coming over. I shrank back without realizing I had done so. Lala nudged me with her elbow, probably about to ask why the hell I was suddenly in her space, when she observed the approaching woman.
“Jenny,” Moira was only a few feet away. Fuck. A couple of strides and she was right in front of me. “How are you? It’s been too long.”
I murmured something suitable and tried to think of ways to avoid the unavoidable.
“I saw Megan running up the stairs,” Moira smiled at me. “She looks adorable in her cute dress. You look good too,”
“Thanks,” I muttered. “How are you and Grant?” I cast a quick eye over the people in the living room. “I haven’t seen him yet. We’ve only just arrived and I haven’t really had a chance to say hello to everyone.”
“Oh,” She patted my arm. “Don’t worry about that. How are you doing? Grant and I were just saying the other day how quickly the year has passed since – how are you holding up, Jenny?”
“Fine,” I forced past the lump in my throat. “Um, how’s work?”
Moira waved a hand through the air. “Work is work. When are you and Megan coming back-”
Lala’s loud belch startled Moira into silence. “Excuse me. Wow, that was a big one, wasn’t it?”
“Yes,” Derek, already knowing what his wife was up too, nodded vigorously. “Do you think you could top that one?”
Lala hummed, face twisted in concentration. “Maybe. Give me a second.” She pasted a smile on her lips and stroked her tummy as she addressed Moira. “This little one gives me the worst gas. Honestly, if I’m not belching like a pig, it’s whistling out the other end.”
I pressed my mouth tightly together in order to defeat the laughter fighting to escape. This was why I adored my best friend and her husband. Moira blinked quickly before smiling at Lala’s tummy.
“How far along are you?” she asked.
“Almost 24 weeks,” Lala answered proudly, then a frown furrowed her eyebrows. “I think another one is coming,” Sighing loudly in Moira’s direction, she continued oversharing, “I am really gassy today. Some days I’m fine, but,” Lala sighed again. Her shoulders stiffened up, as if in preparation, and Moira cleared her throat while her eyes darted around the room.
“We’ll catch up later, yes?” Moira leaned over to give me a brief hug.
“Yeah, yes,” I said. “Of course.”
The three of us watched her dash away. I turned to Lala and Derek. “You two are the best.”
Lala scowled at Moira’s back and hissed under her breath, “Nosy bitch.”
Derek tutted at her language, but seconds later he did add, “She didn’t upset you, did she, Jenny?”
I rubbed the corner of my right eye, pretending it was an eyelash bothering me. “No, it’s – I’m used to it I guess. The awkwardness of good intentions that never actually feel good.” I laughed, a cheerless sound which caused Lala and Derek to share a glance. A worried glance. “Oh,” I started rifling through my bag, I had yet to put it down. “I got you this.” I pulled out the envelope which held the gift card. “Here.”
Lala frowned slightly as she took the envelope. The paper was an eggshell colour, delicate and distinctive as the logo of the well-known spa. “What’s this?”
I shrugged, trying my best to act nonchalant. “Open it.”
Lala handed it over to Derek and took another puff, telling him right before eating it, “You open it.”
Derek put the plate down, well, he balanced it pre
cariously on the edge of the antique sideboard Connor and I had purchased for far below its actual worth. Steal of a buy it was. I stopped thinking about how much we had saved on the sideboard and focused on my friends’ faces as the envelope was opened. Watching their delight would be much better than watching the two framed photos on the sideboard. My heart was already beating painfully in my chest as I fought myself not to remember the day those pictures of my children had been taken.
“Jenny,” Derek huffed. He tilted the gift card so Lala could see it. “You shouldn’t have.”
“Yes,” I disagreed with him. “I should have.” I gently bumped my arm against Lala’s. “I’ve been a bad friend and I want to make it up to you,” I angled my head at Derek. “And you too. Think of it as a pre-baby pampering session for you both.”
“Thank you,” Lala sniffed. “And you’re not a bad friend. You’re my best friend.” She sniffed again.
“Oh no,” I stepped back. “She’s going to start blubbering, Derek.”
“I might too,” Derek teased. “And the best friend thing, I hope you know I trump you as best husband.”
“Best husband?” I drawled with high eyebrows. “Oh, you know about the other three then? But you’re right, you are the best out of the group.”
Derek’s grin disappeared immediately and both Lala and I burst into low giggles. He snorted, rolling his eyes at us and picking up the plate so his wife once again had easier access to the puffs. “Ha ha, funny. Real funny.”
Out of the corner of my eye I spotted Connor on his way over as Lala proceeded to joke around with Derek. The tension started building along my spine the closer he got until it felt as if my whole body was vibrating when he finally came to a stop on my right.
“Do you want me to get you a soft drink, Jen?” he asked.
He was close enough I could smell his aftershave, all woodsy and nice. Clearing my throat I shook my head. “No, I’m alright for now.” Megan and I didn’t live here anymore but I still knew were the damned kitchen was. Why was he standing this close to me? “Are you enjoying your birthday?” It was a stupid question to ask but my mind didn’t want to co-operate with me. He was too close and I was conflicted.
Connor managed a smile. “Yeah, it’s alright, I guess.” He looked across at Derek, perhaps seeking male support. “When you get to our age it’s not a big deal.”
“Our age?” Lala was just about to reach for another puff. As relaxed as she appeared, I could feel her eyes scrutinizing my face, checking up on me perhaps. “Now I know you know you’re older than me and Jenny. I’m still young.”
Connor chuckled. “Yes, Lala, I know I’m older…by all of two years? Wait a year and a half. Max.”
He moved a little bit and now I could literally feel the warmth from his body. Why was he standing this close? “Same old Lala. Crazy as a bat.”
“And that’s why I stole some of the ribs,” she boldly admitted then placed the puff in her mouth while Connor playfully narrowed his eyes at her.
“I’m gonna tell Rose,” he drawled. “You’d better put them back. I know how many she made,”
“What are you?” she mocked back after a quick chew and swallow. “Five? I’m gonna tell, wah wah wah.” Derek sniggered and I simply shook my head at their antics. Lala continued to tease Connor. “Besides, Mama brought it for the party, not just for you.”
“Ahem,” Connor folded his arms and tried to stare her down. I don’t know why. Ever since back in the day when we’d all met, it was a known fact Lala was fearless. But still, he tried. “Actually, it’s my birthday, and my mother-in-law brought me one of my favourite foods to my party, at which you’re a guest who, let me just say, is minutes away from being ejected from the festivities.” He was going all out with the possessive pronoun.
Lala looked at me, then at Derek, then she did a slow half turn while scanning the rest of the guests. It was all very theatrical. “And who is going to eject me? You?” she chuckled and reached for the last puff on the plate. She had motored her way through the little savoury bites. “Oh, Connor, you poor misguided man.”
Derek was openly laughing now. It had been a while since we had the opportunity to observe our respective spouses acting foolish with each other.
“Firstly,” Lala waved the puff in his face. “I knew of Mama’s ribs long before you even appeared in our lives,”
Connor rolled his eyes, countering with a droll, “Please, you met Jen when you started college, I met her around the same time-”
“It’s not the same time, I had years on you.” Lala shushed him with another wave of puff. “Secondly, Mama loves me more-”
Connor cut her off with a loud snort of faux outrage. “Wrong again, Lala.”
“Thirdly,” Lala proceeded as if he hadn’t spoken. “You don’t season your food, and such a culinary travesty is why you hold no claims to Mama’s well-seasoned ribs.”
Derek’s eyes were wide. He scratched his nape and tried his best not to look at Connor as his shoulders shook. Lala was a jugular taker, she just went straight for Connor’s.
Spluttering, Connor tried to make a comeback. He turned to me, seeking validation. “That’s not true, is it, Jen? I do season food. My food tastes great. Tell her.”
Before I could decide whose side to take, Connor’s uncle who was on the edge of the group passing by, stopped in his tracks right next to us. “Jennifer, it’s been a while.”
I forced a smile of greeting. “Hello, Paul. How are you?”
“Good, good,” Paul swung his arm around Connor’s shoulder. “I see the birthday boy is finally enjoying himself.”
“Uncle Paul,” Connor mumbled, embarrassed it seemed by his uncle’s insinuation Connor’s jovial mood was due to…me?
“When are you coming back home?” Paul asked. It was blunt. Blunt enough that not only was I shocked into silence, but Connor, Lala and Derek were also. Paul, oblivious to the expression on my face, continued in the wake of our disbelieving silence. “It’s been long enough now. You took vows before God-”
“Uncle Paul,” Connor shoved his uncle’s arm off his shoulder. “That’s enough.”
“What?” he asked, confused and glancing between Connor and myself. “What’s wrong with what I said? I’m concerned is all. As the head of your household you need to put your foot down. Seb’s been too relaxed with raising you, my boy.” Paul looked at me. “I’m only thinking of what’s right for you, Jennifer. You and Megan-”
“Uncle Paul,” Connor cut him off again, colder this time around.
“What?” Paul flung his hands up in frustration. “Why are you staring at me like that?”
He truly was perplexed and that in itself was freaking me out. I always silently thought Connor’s uncle was a bit of a dick. Over the years I had learned to ignore his overbearing stance on religion, and life in general. He was one of those ‘I know best’ sort of men and I pitied his wife Susan. She deserved sainthood for putting up with him, then again she must be fine with it…with him…to remain married.
But his complete lack of awareness on how inappropriate his comments were? Given our particular circumstances? Wow. This was a new low.
“I’m going to get something to drink,” I said and crooked my arm out for Lala. “Come with?”
She nodded slowly while her gaze slid from Paul to her husband in disbelief. I wasn’t thirsty. I simply didn’t have the energy to explain to Paul the many ways he was stepping out of line. He was Connor’s family, not mine. I refused to deal with him, plus my mom was looking over in our direction and if she only suspected Paul was badgering me she would be on him in an instant. My mom had never warmed to him either.
“What did I say?” I heard Paul complain to Connor as Lala and I walked away with Derek trailing behind us.
“Jesus,” Lala hissed to me. “I’d forgotten how much of an ass he is. Ugh, how do you put up with him?”
I snorted in response. “I don’t. We only see them once or twice a year, and even
then I try not to go past the ‘hey, how are you doing’ stage.”
“Hmph,” She patted my arm. “Well, you just did that and it doesn’t seem to be working. You might need a restraining order, Jenny.” Lala checked over her shoulder to see how close Derek was before she whispered to me, “Although, I have to admit there are some in his family I could do without seeing…ever.”
I looked back at Derek and quickly turned my head front when he saw me.
“What are you two whispering about?” He hurried up to us.
“Nothing,” I lied then stopped when the unmistakeable shrieks of laughing and thudding of feet on stairs announced a band of rambunctious children. Megan and her cousins were back downstairs. They came barrelling into the living room, running in-between the adults and asking if there was ice-cream. Apparently they had been discussing the best flavours of ice-cream and were ready to do an actual taste test. Megan was now standing in front of us and asking me to get ice-cream. I glanced behind me at Connor as I tried to explain to our daughter, “Sweetie, I don’t know if Daddy bought ice-cream for the party.”
Realizing I didn’t have the answer she wanted, which was confirmation the freezer was stocked with all flavours of ice-cream, she darted off towards her father. I watched with a smile playing along my lips as she bombarded Connor with demands for ice cream. If there was no ice cream in the house, there soon would be. Megan had her father firmly wrapped around her finger.
“So,” Lala drawled softly. We resumed our walk out the living room with Derek on our heels. “How was your vagina after having Meg? I’m thinking of an elective C-section instead of vaginal delivery.”
“Are you actually canvassing for labour and birth details?” I asked with a bark of laughter. It sounded brittle, almost on the verge of breaking…like I was. Had Connor swapped around the framed pictures in the hallway? I knew the one with us on the beach used to be nearer the kitchen.
“My mom told me I busted out her vagina like a torpedo,” Lala advised nonchalantly. “I don’t want that happening to me with this little bumble bee.” She tenderly stroked her tummy. Pregnancy had changed my best friend. She was softer now in some aspects. Then she said, “I’m not trying to be the broken vagina woman who everyone whispers about,”