The Friends We Keep (Mischief Bay)

by Susan Mallery

  Nicole laughed. “Get me drunk and I’ll tell you everything.”

  “It’s a deal.”

  * * *

  “Hey, Mom,” Gabby called out as she walked into her parents’ kitchen. She was going to see the whole family in an hour, at her friend Pam’s for a Labor Day party. But what she was here to discuss wasn’t exactly party conversation.

  She’d put it off as long as she could. Makayla could still conceal her pregnancy with flowy shirts, but eventually the truth was going to come out and the longer she waited to tell her mother, the worse it was going to be.

  Gabby supposed she’d resisted for so long thinking that if she didn’t tell her mother, it couldn’t be real. Ridiculous, she thought. Wishful thinking. But there it was. She was an ostrich—burying her head in the sand and exposing her butt to the world.

  On the bright side, despite everything that had been happening, she’d managed to stick with the classes at Nicole’s studio and sort of stay on her diet. She was down ten pounds. A win she was going to hang on to with both hands. That would make it harder to reach for cookies.

  “Gabby!”

  Marie walked into the kitchen and smiled. She was dressed in white crop pants and a lacy shirt over a tank top. Gold earrings glittered, as did an armful of bracelets. When it came to jewelry, Marie was a big believer in go big or go home.

  Her mother hugged her, then motioned to the bar stools by the island. Because Gabby had told her she needed to talk, and all important conversations happened in the kitchen.

  “You’ve had me worried,” her mother admitted, watching her carefully. “You said no one was sick and all is well with you and Andrew, so what is it?” Her expression brightened. “You’ve decided to have another baby.”

  “Not exactly.”

  Gabby thought about everything going on. Her ongoing fight with Andrew, the way Makayla was so sad and confused, the twins starting kindergarten. Unexpected tears filled her eyes.

  “Oh, Mom, it’s a mess. All of it. My life is a disaster and I don’t know how to fix it.”

  Marie took one hand in hers and squeezed her fingers. “Tell me what’s going on. Then we’ll come up with a plan together. We can fix whatever it is. You’ll see.”

  Gabby’s relationship with her mother might be uneasy. Marie could be opinionated and bossy, but in the end she was warm and loving. If Gabby was willing to admit she was in over her head, all the preaching would stop and the love would start. She just had to be willing to show her belly.

  She sucked in a breath. “Makayla’s pregnant.”

  Marie’s mouth dropped open. “No. She’s just a child.”

  “Fifteen. Believe me, we were just as shocked. We didn’t even know she liked Boyd that way.”

  “The father’s name is Boyd? Who names their child that?”

  “Mom, that’s not really the point.”

  Gabby explained how they’d found out and that Boyd and Makayla had wanted to stay together. She recounted the conversation with Boyd’s parents and how he was gone now and Makayla was worried about what would happen at school.

  “She won’t even talk about adoption,” Gabby continued. “It makes me crazy. Andrew is totally on board with her having the baby.”

  “Of course he is.” Her mother smiled sadly. “Sweetie, he’s a man. This is his first grandchild. Not only does he get to see his dynasty continuing, but he has no idea what it means to stay home and take care of an infant. He expects you to do it, I assume?”

  Now it was Gabby’s turn to be stunned. “How did you know?”

  “He’s traditional. You both made such a big deal about you staying home with the twins. You made the right decision, of course, but it’s such a generational thing. In my day, a woman stayed home to raise the family. Now everyone wants a career and what happens to the children?”

  She pressed her lips together. “Which doesn’t help you. I take it you’re not happy about what he wants.”

  “No. I want to work. I know it’s different from what you did, Mom, but I’m so ready to get out of the house.”

  “Of course you are.” Marie released her hand. “Do you think I don’t long for something other than being everyone’s mother? That I didn’t dream about a job where I was respected for who I was instead of always being Gabby’s mother or your father’s wife?”

  No, Gabby thought in confusion. She hadn’t known that. “But you were always so happy.”

  “My family is a blessing. I’m grateful every day for the life I have, but sometimes, I’ve wondered how it would have been different. So Andrew wants you to give up your job to stay home with Makayla’s baby.”

  Gabby nodded. “He’s promised that he and Makayla will help.” She made air quotes as she said the word.

  Her mother tsked. “Help? It’s her baby. She should do more than help.”

  “That’s what I said, but Andrew wants her to be a teenager. She needs to go to school and I don’t want the baby to be a punishment, but what about taking responsibility? What about consequences?”

  “So the two of you are fighting.”

  Gabby hung her head. “Some.”

  Her mother leaned close and held her by her upper arms. “Gabby, listen to me. I know what I’m talking about. The children come and go but your marriage should be forever. Andrew can be difficult, but he’s a good man. Talk to him. When he doesn’t get it, try again. Don’t give up. You love him. I know you do.”

  “We haven’t been talking very much,” Gabby admitted, thinking about how she’d mostly been avoiding him lately. With school starting tomorrow, she’d been crazy busy, so keeping her distance had been easy.

  “Talk to him,” her mother repeated. “Work this out. Your marriage is worth saving.”

  “I know.”

  “I’m not going to tell your father until after the party. You know him. He’ll say something and no one wants that.”

  Marie rose and pulled Gabby to her feet, then hugged her tight. “My baby girl. Let me know what I can do to help.”

  “I will, Mom. I promise.”

  “That’s my girl.”

  * * *

  “Pam never invites me to her parties,” Morgan whined. “Why is that?”

  “Because she doesn’t know you.” Hayley smiled at her sister. “I work for her son and I used to work for her husband. You have nothing to do with her.”

  “But you always say she throws really great parties.”

  “She does.”

  “Then I should get to go.”

  Morgan had simply shown up fifteen minutes ago, with no explanation, no anything. Just a knock on the front door. Rob was at the grocery store, picking up the wine they would take to the party. Hayley had thought briefly about not letting her sister inside, but then had decided she wasn’t going to be afraid or back down. Not anymore.

  They were standing in the kitchen. Hayley had to fight against customary politeness to keep from inviting her sister to sit down. She and Rob were leaving as soon as he got back—this was going to be a short visit.

  “You’re not coming back to Supper’s in the Bag, are you?” Morgan asked.

  “No. That’s why I sent you a letter resigning.”

  “But I need you. The business sucks. I hate it. You did all the crap work. Now I have to. Or hire someone to do it. It’s not fair.”

  Hayley realized that with great sorrow had come freedom. She no longer needed the job, so she didn’t have to put up with anything she didn’t want to. The word victim played in her head, but she’d never been her sister’s victim. She’d been a willing participant.

  There were nights when she woke up crying—not from any physical pain, but from loss. Deep, bone-chilling loss. But more and more there were times when she felt powerful. Because the choices were all h
ers now.

  “You could sell the company,” she suggested calmly. “Get a job working for someone else.”

  “Why on earth would I do that?”

  Morgan’s dark hair hung in thick curls. She was beautiful, as always, if one ignored her petulant expression. The permanent sulk was starting to give her lines around her mouth. Wasn’t that just so very sad?

  Hayley knew she was being bitchy, but was willing to go with it. She remembered their mother saying that it was okay to be a little mean now and then, as long as you felt bad afterward and didn’t make a habit of the behavior.

  “I miss Mom,” Hayley said, thinking their mother would have had a lot of sage advice to give about so many things. “Do you still have the scrapbooks she made for us?”

  “What? No. I have three kids and a husband. I barely have room for a pair of socks in my house. And who has time to look at stuff like that?” She used both hands to fluff her thick curls, then let them fall back onto her shoulders. “I can’t do this anymore. There’s too much stress. I need to get away. Can you take the kids for a long weekend?”

  “Sure.”

  “Just like that?”

  “I enjoy my niece and nephews and I haven’t spent enough time with them lately. Of course they can stay with Rob and me while you get away.”

  “Good.”

  “Are you taking Brent?”

  “God, no. He’s part of what I need to get away from. Jeez.”

  Hayley found escape in humor. “You’re not the nicest person on the planet, are you?”

  “I don’t have time to be. My best employee just quit. I’ll text you the details.”

  “I look forward to hearing from you.”

  Morgan stared at her. “What’s gotten into you? You’re different. I thought you’d be all mopey and sad, but you’re not. Don’t you care that you can’t have kids anymore? Was that all just a game?”

  Hayley felt the path in front of her split in two. She could react from pain or from power. The choice was hers. Morgan was never going to be more or less than she already was. This was as good as it was going to be for her. But Hayley could still pick her path.

  She walked to the front door and held it open. “I’m happy to take care of your kids for a weekend because I love them and they’re family. But you do not get to speak to me like that in my own home.”

  “What’s with you? I didn’t mean anything.” Morgan grabbed her bag and huffed. “Fine. I’m sorry. Satisfied?”

  “Not yet, but I’m getting closer.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Gabby inched her car forward in the long line of parents dropping off their kids at school. Makayla sat next to her, her hands clenched tightly in her lap. She radiated tension.

  “You okay?” Gabby asked quietly.

  Makayla nodded.

  “It’ll get easier after today. Once you’re in a routine.”

  “I’m going to get bigger. People are going to find out.”

  As far as Gabby knew, Makayla still hadn’t told any of her friends she was pregnant. She hadn’t wanted Gabby and Andrew to tell the school, either. Gabby had insisted on having a conversation with her counselor so there would be a record of her condition, in case something happened. Makayla also had a three-week reprieve on gym class, so she wouldn’t have to get changed in front of the other girls and then wear an outfit that would make her pregnancy obvious.

  Gabby honestly didn’t know what to say. The end result was inevitable. As Makayla had said—she was going to get bigger. There was no hiding where this was going. She probably had about two months until there was nothing anyone could do to conceal her condition.

  Gabby reached out and placed her hand over her stepdaughter’s fists. Funny how in the past few weeks Gabby’s emotions had shifted. She was no longer angry. Somehow she had moved to a form of acceptance, with a little sadness thrown in. She still wasn’t ready to raise the child herself, but she was able to separate her feelings from what Makayla was going through.

  “You have your cell,” she said. “I’ll be around. Call me if you need me.”

  Makayla nodded.

  They reached the drop-off point. Makayla started to get out of the car, then, at the last minute, turned and hugged Gabby.

  “Thank you,” she whispered, tears glistening in her eyes. Then she was gone.

  Gabby drew in a breath, before forcing herself to turn and smile at the twins. “Ready?”

  They both grinned back.

  “We’re ready, Mommy. We’re going to have fun.” Kennedy spoke with confidence, as if there were no alternative to a good time in kindergarten.

  “Yes, you are,” Gabby told her.

  She drove out of the high school parking lot and onto the street. The elementary school was only a few blocks away and the start time was such that she made it with minutes to spare. After finding a parking space, she helped the twins out of the car and walked with them to the classroom.

  There were kids everywhere, from ages five to eleven. The differences in sizes and how they talked was amazing. Some of the sixth graders looked closer to twenty than ten with their trendy clothes. A few even had on makeup.

  Kenzie had chosen the outfits for the day—summer dresses in matching fabric but in different colors. Gabby had already taken about a thousand pictures, but she used her phone to snap a few more as the girls paused by their classroom.

  Kennedy hugged her. “Mommy, we’re going to be fine.”

  “I know you are. You’re both going to do great.” Gabby crouched down and put her arms around them both. “You’re both so smart and you get along so well with other children. I love you and I’m proud of you.”

  She stood and watched the girls walk into the classroom. They greeted their teacher and went to their seats.

  Kindergarten orientation had been the previous week. There’d been a “practice” day with everyone arriving and having a chance to meet. Now the girls talked to other students as they waited for class to begin.

  Gabby stood outside with a group of other parents. They all looked shell-shocked, as if unable to believe this had happened.

  Andrew hurried up to join her. He’d been stuck home on a conference call.

  “Did I miss it?”

  Gabby wiped away tears and pointed through the glass in the door. “They’re doing fine. It’s going to be okay.”

  He put his arm around her and drew her against him. “Our little girls,” he said quietly. “You did a hell of a job with them.”

  “It was both of us.” The words were automatic but she found she actually meant them. Until recently, she and Andrew had always been a team. Now she leaned against him and wondered when they would be again.

  Her mother’s advice weighed on her. To make things work, she was going to have to be mature and didn’t that suck.

  “Want to get a cup of coffee before you go to work?” she asked.

  “I’d like that.”

  He followed her to Latte-Da where they got their drinks, then settled at a table outside on the sidewalk. There was still a hint of morning coolness in the air and not many people walking around. It was as if they had Mischief Bay to themselves.

  Gabby studied her husband. She loved him. Even when he made her crazy. Which meant she needed to establish communication between them.

  “I’m sorry.”

  Words she’d been planning to say, only he’d been the one to say them first.

  She stared at him. “Excuse me?”

  “I’m sorry, Gabby. I never meant to hurt you. I was so focused on Makayla and how we were going to handle the baby that I couldn’t see that by insisting, no, assuming, you would take care of him or her, that I was making you feel less important. I didn’t see that I wasn’t respecting you as a perso
n. As a partner and the woman I love.” His mouth twisted. “We have to agree on where we’re going together. As a couple and a family. It’s not a solution if one of us feels betrayed.”

  She wondered if she looked as shocked as she felt. Part of her wanted to reach out and touch Andrew’s forehead. Did he have a fever? How on earth...

  “My mother,” she said slowly.

  “Marie cornered me at Pam’s barbecue yesterday. She lulled me into thinking she was on my side, then pounced.” His smile was rueful. “Except what she said got me to thinking.” He reached across the table and took her hand in his. “Gabby, I don’t want you unhappy or mad at me. I don’t want you to sacrifice everything for Makayla’s baby. There has to be a way to make it work where the compromise isn’t all about you.”

  Tears burned. “I’d like that,” she whispered. “I don’t want to be mad, either. And I don’t want Makayla punished. I just need to not be the push point.”

  “I agree. Somehow we’ll figure this out.”

  “As long as we keep talking,” she said. “And we don’t assume anything.” She hesitated. “I’m worried about Makayla.”

  “In what way?”

  She told him about their shopping expedition. “She hasn’t mentioned the pregnancy to her friends. They’re going to figure it out at some point and I don’t think it’s going to go well.”

  “Do you think she’ll be bullied?”

  “I don’t know. I worry that she’s withdrawn too much. She’s a social kid. But since she found out she was pregnant, she hasn’t had anyone over. With Boyd gone, she’s on her own. That’s not good. She needs her friends.” She picked up her coffee. “None of this is easy.”

  “I couldn’t get through it without you. Candace is less than no help. I swear she deliberately makes things more difficult.”

  “Maybe you should talk to her. Makayla needs support right now. More than she ever has. I’m not saying we need to coddle her, but this isn’t the time for her mother to go off on one of her rants.”