In a Book Club Far Away

by Tif Marcelo

  She felt a small hand tapping her on the back. Then, Jasper’s lips stiffened. Sophie opened her eyes.

  “You’re kissing,” a sweet voice said.

  Sophie turned to Genevieve, who was smiling. Then, her eyes trailed to the kitchen door, where Adelaide and Regina stood, with sheepish expressions.

  CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

  Regina

  Regina spied out the front windows as Adelaide, Sophie, and Jasper climbed into Adelaide’s car.

  Holy hell.

  “What you lookin’ at?” Genevieve said behind her.

  “Your mommy, Aunt Sophie, and a blast from the past.” She did a double take. Genevieve had a Tupperware bowl on her head.

  “Mommy’s out the window?”

  “Mm-hmm. What a strange and unnerving day.”

  When she’d opened the door to Jasper, Regina felt as if she were teleported back in time à la Back to the Future. For a moment, she’d lost herself in the space-time continuum, and they were in Millersville. And in her shock, she had forgotten that she had a grudge against Jasper and welcomed him into the home without hesitation.

  It wasn’t until she closed the door behind them that reality hit.

  How many times over the years had Regina envisioned a moment when she could give Jasper a piece of her mind? More than she cared to share. And she’d had the opportunity, only to let it pass her by. Her guard was lowered because she’d accepted Sophie’s presence and importance in Adelaide’s life. Because despite their squabbles this week, she and Sophie had worked well together.

  Regina walked to the staircase and sat on the first step. She needed a breath, a moment.

  Genevieve sat on the step next to her. “You sleepy?”

  “No.”

  “You need a hug?” But Genevieve didn’t wait for an answer. She leaned against Regina and stuck her pudgy arms out only to reach halfway across Regina’s body, grunting in effort.

  It was exactly the hug Regina needed. She leaned down and pressed a kiss against Genevieve’s forehead. “Thank you, sweet girl.”

  “Y’welcome.”

  But Regina also needed strength, someone to bolster her, to remind her to keep vigilant and angry. So she took out her phone and dialed the only other person who was directly associated with The Fight.

  Logan answered on the first ring. “Hey. This is a surprise. Is Miko’s phone off? I’m grilling, and Miko’s in the tent. Miko—” he yelled.

  “Actually, I wanted to talk to you.”

  “Oh.” In the short silence, she heard a woodpecker. “What’d I do?”

  “Nothing, this time anyway.” She half laughed. “I’ve something to tell you.”

  “What’s up.”

  “When I arrived here about a week ago, I found out that there was someone else who was invited.”

  “Uh… did you want me to guess?” Logan chuckled.

  “Yes, goodness. Anyway, it’s Sophie.”

  “Whoa.”

  “And guess who’s here now.”

  “Um…”

  “Jasper.”

  Something sizzled in the background, and it filled the silence.

  “Hello?” she asked.

  “I’m…”

  “I know, right?”

  “He seemed okay?”

  She frowned. She hadn’t expected for that to come out of his mouth. “Y-yeah. He’s fine. He’s retired now. But anyway. You don’t sound pissed.”

  “Are you pissed?”

  “I…” Next to her, Genevieve stood with a flourish and toddled toward the living room. Regina followed a step behind, and with the brief distraction, thought twice. “I don’t know how I feel, except weird.”

  “It kind of brings it all back, doesn’t it?”

  “It does.” Still more silence.

  “Adelaide had some guts.”

  Regina laughed. “I know. I was so mad, I even walked out until…” She paused just before she rolled right into her story about meeting Henry for the first time. “It’s been a week.”

  “So what do you need from me?”

  The question snapped her back from her previously comfortable state. A reminder that Logan did not comfort. For him, it was about who or what someone needed, a transaction.

  As if sensing her change in mood, Genevieve got tired of the living room and went to the kitchen, to her standing easel. “I guess I wanted to discuss it, with someone who was there.”

  “But there’s nothing to discuss. We’re divorced already. What more is there?”

  “God, Logan.”

  “I’m just saying. We’re years past this,” Logan said. “I’ve said sorry, and I’m doing my part to make it okay with my son. I’m not sure what you want to discuss.”

  “Never mind. You’re right. There’s nothing to discuss.” It was easier for Regina to quit the conversation. They were exes, not friends. “Miko doing okay?”

  “Yes. He caught a fish earlier today.”

  “That’s great.”

  “Yeah, it made it easier for me to tell him that I’m PCS’ing this summer.”

  “What?” Regina’s voice echoed in the kitchen, so loud that Genevieve peeped from behind the easel to look at her. Logan moving was out of the blue. “You’ve only been in Georgia for a year.”

  “It’s to the Pentagon.”

  “Here?”

  “Yeah. Funny, right? Actually, not funny, because I wish I didn’t have to be away from Miko. But the job’s a good one to have right before I retire, and there’s a civilian job I have my eye on that I can probably slide into after. After all, I can’t stop working—we’ve got a long way before our boy’s through college.”

  And this was why, despite her annoyance with Logan, Regina had done all she could to keep father and son together. Logan took this responsibility seriously. “If this is a good move for you, for our son, then congrats. I just know that he’s going to miss you.…”

  “Would you consider…” He heaved a breath.

  Coming? Regina finished the sentence in her head. But Logan had gone silent, and so had she, and her brain was now running down a path that had suddenly unrolled in front of her. There was nothing defined about its destination, but she felt herself taking steps.

  Her brain mulled the facts: She was already closing down the shop in six months. Logan was moving to the DC area. She’d always wanted to be stationed here. She loved the area now. And there was Henry.

  Henry.

  She was interrupted by Genevieve’s singing.

  “It’s a berfday! My berfday!”

  The Tupperware bowl, still on Genevieve’s head, was visible over the top of the easel and it rocked while she wiggled her hips. Like she was having a one-person party.

  Except there was an actual party today.

  Which Regina was supposed to be preparing for.

  “Oh my God. I was so caught up. I have got to go.”

  “Okay?”

  “We’ll talk later. Tell Miko I love him.” She hung up. Then she texted all those who were involved with the party: Henry, Missy, and Sophie. Coast is clear! Come on over!

  Finally, she sent a final text to her business manager, Alexis: Would it be bonkers for me to move the business?

  CHAPTER FIFTY

  Adelaide

  Adelaide’s anticipated hour at her doctor’s for her follow-up had taken only fifteen minutes. She’d received a good bill of health, and she was ready to celebrate Genevieve’s birthday, now with an extra person, Jasper, in attendance. But Sophie had insisted that they go for a short walk to show Jasper a little bit of Old Town. At first, Adelaide resisted, but as soon as she stepped onto the cobblestone sidewalk, her spirits lifted.

  While Adelaide still had a winter coat on, the sun was warm against her face. She felt the vitamin D seep into her skin. She stopped to admire the newest shop window dressings on Burg Street. She took in the sounds of the neighborhood as it relaxed into its Friday afternoon vibe.

  She was sitting at one of the Bu
rg Street benches, waiting for Jasper and Sophie, who had decided to grab an ice cream cone, when she heard her name. Turning, she saw Missy coming down the street, with an elegantly wrapped gift. She was dressed in yoga pants and a quarter zip, with soft fuzzy boots on her feet. She was glowing, cheeks pink, blond hair coming out of its ponytail. “Hey!”

  “You look great!” Missy’s eyes scanned Adelaide from top to bottom. “How was your appointment?”

  “It went well. You off to a party?”

  “Uh, yes.” Her smile tightened, and she took a seat. “I was just thinking of you. Are you able to chat now?”

  “Um, sure… I’m waiting on my friend Sophie.” Yet, with how Missy crossed one leg over the other, as if to settle in, Adelaide didn’t have much of a choice.

  “So, it’s been years of planning and saving, but I’m veering from my original role as a Realtor to flipping homes.”

  “I… I know.” This wasn’t news to her, but Missy plowed on and explained her life story and her newest business venture. Adelaide said nothing because it would be rude, and quite frankly, it was nice enough to be outside and chatting.

  But as the minutes wore on, Adelaide glanced at her phone, at the time. Sophie and Jasper were taking forever.

  “So,” Missy continued, “I need someone with an eye for both style and the bottom line to design these homes, and I want it to be you. It’s only one house to flip for now, and we would be learning together. I would pay you fairly for your time. But here’s the new news: I know that I had said that you could take your time, but I’d actually need the answer in the next couple of weeks.”

  Adelaide straightened, gingerly. “You need an answer that quickly? I…” Her first instinct was to scream Yes yes yes! The mental image of her putting design and colors and textures together to create beauty sent a feeling of joy through her. “Genevieve is starting part-time preschool in the fall.”

  But could she do it?

  A body rushed up to them. “Hey, ladies!”

  “Janie!” Adelaide waved. Janie Woo had her son, Malcolm, by the hand. She pushed her plate-sized sunglasses up to her head. The woman leaned in to give both Adelaide and Missy a kiss on the cheek. “What are you up to?”

  “I was just headed into the toy store and…” Her eyes widened.

  “You’re headed to a party, too?” Something didn’t sit right in Adelaide’s gut. Two of her mommy-group friends buying presents the same day, for a party that Genevieve wasn’t invited to?

  “Um, no?” Janie said.

  Adelaide shook her head, confused. “Did I miss an invitation while I was down for the count?”

  “Oh, no!” Missy squeezed her forearm. “She and I, totally separate gift reasons. Right?”

  “Right! Anyway, I have to run. Oh my God, I need to use the bathroom all of a sudden. You know how it is—mom bladder! Love you both. You look fabulous, Adelaide. I can’t wait to have you back to full swing.” As if given a boost of adrenaline, Janie kissed the both of them goodbye and hustled into the store.

  “That was odd,” Adelaide said, more to herself.

  “You know Janie. She’s everywhere.” Missy coughed. “So, about my proposal. I know we’re not in a boardroom or anything. But I think we’d be great together.”

  “You do know I’ll be leaving, probably in a year.”

  “I understand.”

  “And I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom to Gen. All of the work I’ve done for you thus far has generally been when I can get literally the only sitter I trust…” Then, realizing that this part wasn’t Missy’s job to figure out but hers, she said, “But I’ll get you an answer soon.”

  Two weeks. In two weeks Adelaide would have to find a more reliable sitter. And she’d need to be at 100 percent. And she’d have to talk to Matt about it.

  “Awesome. Well, I’ve got to go, and so do you,” Missy said.

  They both stood from the bench. Adelaide raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean I need to go?”

  “Uh… because you… need to lie down.” She leaned in for a hug and patted Adelaide on the back. “I’ll see you. Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  But as she watched Missy hike up the road, she caught sight of Henry, with a tall box in his hands, darting down the street. Both going in the direction of her home.

  She texted Sophie: Where are you guys? I’m ready to head back.

  Something was definitely up.

  CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

  Regina

  June 2012

  Regina arrived at the clinic for her thirty-six-week appointment and clutched her yoga-ball belly after her short day’s work. Her uniform was feeling tight, her pants’ elastic band cutting off her circulation. She was officially over the pregnancy—gone was the third-trimester euphoria. Her once almost manic energy that compelled her to scrub the baseboards was replaced by an all-time record exhaustion.

  She was sweating just thinking of it.

  Regina was given a clipboard of forms to complete, and she sat on a plastic chair in the crowded waiting room. She placed her bag on the empty chair next to her, for Logan, who was on his way, and she worked on the forms methodically.

  But Regina’s mind wasn’t on the page. She was thinking of her friends who she hadn’t seen in about a week, since the festival. During previous appointments, Sophie and Adelaide had been by her side, even at her first ultrasounds, filling exam rooms with banter and laughter. Her current surroundings were the complete opposite.

  Adelaide had been right about priorities shifting, but Regina hadn’t realized that with it would come melancholy. Grief.

  A tightening began on the underside of her belly, and Regina shifted in her seat. Braxton-Hicks, she was sure of it—she’d been having the false contractions for a couple of weeks but without any real pain. She was probably dehydrated, not to mention sleepy from insomnia that had kicked in full force.

  The stomp of boots down the hallway snapped Regina out of her thoughts, and she looked up, a smile ready on her face for Logan. But instead of her husband, it was Lieutenant Gabby Cole, her current work-cubby mate, also in uniform.

  “Hey!” she said. “Appointment, I see?”

  “Yep, an ultrasound. How about you?”

  She held up a green file folder in her hand. “Ophthalmologist. Yours is way more exciting than mine. You alone?”

  “No, my husband will be here soon.”

  “Ah, you sure?” An eyebrow raised.

  Regina laughed at this. What an odd question to ask her. “Yeah.”

  “Oh, I thought I saw him heading off post. Blue pickup truck, right?” She hiked a thumb above her shoulder, then her gaze dropped. “Or maybe it wasn’t him? Anyway, I’m actually late. See you at work. I hope things… work out well. In there. The ultrasound, I mean.”

  She frowned at the other woman’s skittishness. “Thanks. I’ll see you when I get out of here.”

  Regina stared back at her phone, faceup on the chair next to her. Not a single notification from her husband, despite her having reminded him of her appointment before he walked out the door that morning.

  She sent another text: Hey, did you forget my appointment? In five minutes.

  She bit her lip, unable to shake the odd vibe pricking her senses. She wished that with all the technology of these phones, there was a way to log into Logan’s phone to see exactly what he was doing.

  She shook her head at her silliness. Doubts and suspicions were unlike her, though they were rearing their ugly heads. The other day, she glanced over at his phone when it buzzed in the middle of the night, and it ended up being his mother, which was not unusual. And then Regina had been on him about his schedule lately. She often wondered who exactly he was going out with.

  She was being ridiculous, because Logan had also shown he was trying to change. He’d come home early from work when in the past he’d worked overtime. He’d checked in on her throughout her day, just to say hi. The other night, he’d scrubbed the house from top to bot
tom, and then run out to get groceries, and had insisted she sit when she was perfectly capable of taking out the garbage.

  This was a new side to him, a softer side, a more thoughtful side. Was he overcompensating to make up for the drama? Yes, of course—she wasn’t a fool. But she believed him, though she was still bothered by whoever had turned against him. Was it someone in the neighborhood? Was it someone in the unit? She’d discounted Adelaide and Sophie. Sophie, who’d acted weird at the festival but who texted her often to ask about her pregnancy. And Adelaide, who texted her about great baby toys and organizational strategies. Regina, at least, knew that with them, she was safe.

  The other two hadn’t brought up the rumors but Regina didn’t mind because she didn’t want to discuss them, either—it was humiliating, with everyone connected somehow. Her and Logan’s problems needed to remain theirs, solely.

  But no matter what, these women were her sisters through it all.

  The door squeaked opened across the way, and Ms. Samson, her midwife, walked out, wearing scrubs. Behind her was a couple: the pregnant woman was in uniform, the man in civilian clothes. She had a strip of ultrasound pictures in her hand, and her face was flushed with a definite glee. The mood was contagious and put a smile on Regina’s face.

  “I’m ready for you in the other room, Lieutenant Castro. Is there anyone with you today?”

  “Yes, my husband, but I think he’s just running late.”

  “No problem. When he checks in at the front desk, they can bring him to this room. I’ll have the nurse hook you up to the monitors so we can check your baby’s heartbeat and check for contractions, and I’ll return and check you out.”

  She texted this information to Logan, and while she removed her uniform top and draped it on the chair and sat down on the reclining examination table, she patiently waited for her husband to answer back. A nurse entered and took her vital signs, then motioned for her to lie down so she could get hooked up to the stress test machine.

  Regina gripped her phone in her hand and took a deep breath as a puddle of warmth spilled on top of her belly. She shut her eyes for a brief moment and calmed herself. She had read that babies felt all the feelings of their mother, and Regina refused to pass on her suspicions to her child.