“You’ve got a big day tomorrow, babe, and just had a long car ride. Take it easy while I help Mom in the kitchen, okay?” I nod dutifully, knowing better than to argue with him. He leans in and gives me a kiss on the nose then stands and gestures to Mom. “She’s all yours, Marcy. Riss.”
Ginger smiles at me then at Kale, and I watch as they both leave the room, wondering what heck I’m going to end up eating this time. Kalli plops down beside me and takes my mind off Kale as she prattles on and on about the baby shower. Mom and Marisa chime in whenever they can, and poor Steve just spends the afternoon staring at the television, but I don’t miss the way he smiles into his beer from time to time as he watches us when he thinks no one is looking. I’m exhausted and sore from the car ride, but being surrounded by a loving family makes it all worth it, and every ounce of frustration slowly slips away.
Kale
“WHERE’S KAYLIE?” I ask as I follow Mom into the kitchen.
Mom sends an indifferent wave in my direction. “Oh, you know your sister. Always more than fashionably late,” she answers before pulling her head out of the refrigerator and glancing at me, an eyebrow cocking up. “Actually, between you and me, I think she’s seeing someone, but she won’t admit it.”
She hands me a beer, and I open it, taking a long swig. “Really? I’ll see what I can get out of her. She wasn’t seeing anyone at Christmas, but I guess it’s been a few months.” I lean across the island as I watch her begin to roll out the dough so she can make her homemade pasta. “What about Kalli? I don’t get any of the gossip anymore, and if she’s told Lucy anything, she hasn’t mentioned it to me.”
Mom doesn’t say anything as she hands me a bowl of fresh tomatoes and a knife before directing me to the food processor so I can start making her marina. I start chopping and she finally looks at me.
“Let’s just say you might have an extra babysitter in your neck of the woods sometime this summer.”
I pause, looking up at her. “What do you mean? Kalli wants to move to Tennessee? I never thought she’d move out of your house until you kicked her out,” I say jokingly.
Don’t get me wrong. I’d love having my sister nearby, but she’s always loved living in Gulf Shores, and as far as I know, she loves her job at a first-grade teacher at the school we grew up in. Plus, I can’t see her leaving the beach for boring-ass Clarksville, Tennessee.
“I could be wrong, but I’ve seen a few job searches on the computer for schools in the Nashville area.”
I mull it over as I transfer the tomatoes to the food processor and turn it into a pulp. “I had no idea she wanted to move up there. That seems random,” I comment, and Mom gives me a knowing look.
“I swear, you men are so oblivious. I thought with having grown up with two sisters you’d be more astute, Kale Montgomery.” I frown as she continues. “Your sister’s been in love with Xavier Cruz and his little girl since the moment you brought them home with you. Did you not notice the way she couldn’t take her eyes off him this past Christmas? Or how she went out of her way to ensure that Lily was introduced to manicures, pedicures, and all things woman because she knows she doesn’t have a momma?”
Shaking my head, I disagree. “Kalli was just being Kalli. I know she had a crush on him when she was a teenager, but she’s dated plenty of guys since then. She’s a total flirt and the girliest girl I know. Between me and Kaylie, she’s never had anyone to do that kind of stuff with, so she was just having fun doing it with Lily.” I try to convince her, but in the back of my mind, I wonder if she’s right, if Kalli really does have a thing for Xavier that’s more than just her unrequited teenage crush.
He hasn’t dated much since I’ve known him, even though his mom and I have both encouraged it. Part of me thinks Angela left him too broken, and he’s decided Lily’s the only girl who needs his attention right now. Before, I might’ve agreed with him. Now that I’m with Lucy, however, I have a feeling that the love of a good woman is something Xavier needs desperately, and I wonder if Kalli really could be that person for him.
“Maybe so, but I’m telling you, I know what I saw. But enough about your sister. How are things with you and Lucy? She’s glowing, Kale. She’s absolutely beautiful,” Mom gushes, and I nod in agreement.
“Things are good. Hell, they’re great even. The closer it’s getting to her due date, the more tired she’s become, but the doctor said that’s normal. I’m making sure to keep plenty of fiber in her diet because she swore that if she gets hemorrhoids it’s going to be my ass that’ll suffer.”
Mom laughs, shaking her head. “I don’t blame her. When I was pregnant with the twins, I had the worst—”
I hold my hand up to stop her, not wanting to hear another word. “Okay, Mom. A little TMI there. I don’t know. I’m sure Lucy’s probably getting tired of me watching her all the time, but ever since the scare with Lily, I can’t help it. I just keep telling myself that it’s only six more weeks until I can breathe easy.”
She gives me a soft, sympathetic look. “Oh, Kale, you have no idea. The moment that baby is born, the last thing you’re going to do is breathe easy. You’re twenty-nine years old and I still worry about you.”
Leaning across the counter I give her a kiss on the cheek. “I know, and I love you for it. But you know what I mean. I’m just ready for him to be here, to hold him in my arms. A tangible, living, breathing little human being.” As I continue to make her sauce from the recipe I know by heart, I feel her eyes on me. Looking up, I catch her gaze and know what’s coming. “No, I haven’t and I don’t want to talk about it.”
She rounds the island and places a hand on my arm. “Kale, don’t you think you’ve waited long enough? She’s bound to find out, and it needs to come from you.”
Turning to look at her, I shrug my shoulders in defeat. “I know, and I promise I plan on telling her. It’s just that… I’ve waited too long, I think, and I know telling her will just upset her, which is the last thing I want to do in her condition. I don’t know why it matters anyway. It doesn’t change anything between us. It’s just a horrible piece of my past that I’m trying to shield her from for as long as I can.”
“Okay, Kale. I understand, and I’ll respect that. But I have a feeling Lucy’s stronger than you’re giving her credit.”
Wrapping my arm around Mom, I give her shoulders a squeeze. “Thanks, Mom, and trust me. I know how strong she is, but I’m just trying not to stress her out. Can you get that?”
She looks up at me and nods before moving back to the pasta. She changes the subject to baby names, and I breathe out a sigh of relief as I silently pray that I can get through the rest of the weekend without it coming up again.
I’M NOT surprised when Lucy’s ready to turn in early. Her energy levels have been slowly decreasing the closer we get to her due date. Dinner was uneventful, even after Kaylie showed up in a rush halfway through, muttering apologies and giving greetings all at once before settling in for Mom’s homemade lasagna. After dinner, Steve and I watched a baseball game while the women all talked about childbirth, and I did my best to tune them out. I had to laugh when Steve commented that it was a damn good thing I was having a boy, and as much as I love all the women in my life, I couldn’t disagree for a second.
Now that we’re lying in bed, I’m feeling restless beside Lucy, and as much as I try to calm my shaking leg, I can’t.
She turns to face me, bringing her own leg up in between mine in an effort to stop me, and it mildly helps. “Why are you so anxious tonight, Kale?” she asks, looking directly at me.