“Well, we’re not everyone, and I said no.”
“Stop being stubborn. I want to find out, and I’m carrying these babies,” Zoey responded, heated.
Susan coughed, uncomfortably waiting as we both argued in front of her. I loved my wife, but this was something I wouldn’t budge on.
“Zoey no. I don’t want to know. Let’s be traditional for once and find out when you give birth.
“Fine. You won’t need to know, so Susan can tell me.”
“Are you serious?” I raised my voice, unaware I had done so. “You couldn’t keep a secret to save your life. Remember when you bought me that expensive watch and engraved it for my birthday? You dropped hints all week about how annoying it was not to wear a watch or tell the time. I knew you had bought me a watch.”
“How dare you,” she gritted. “You said you had no clue!”
“Well, you shouldn’t have been so loose with your purchase. The answer is no, Zoey, neither one of us is finding out.”
Zoey eventually calmed down and dared not to bring up the topic again, though she complained to everyone else calling me an ‘insensitive asshole.’
I don’t ask for many things in our marriage and am open to compromise, but this is no longer up for discussion. We will never get this moment back again—the first time we welcome our babies into the world as a surprise.
“And we can do a yellow theme which is neutral. I’ll speak to Lucille, and we’ll sort out all the food. Just make sure our girl is dressed up and get her there on time. Maybe text me just before, please?”
Mia thinks she has it all planned out, but she has the easier task.
Somehow, I have to get Zoey to dress fancy and convince her to go to Lucille’s.
This could be the challenge of a lifetime.
Chapter Five
Zoey
“Can you explain again why we have to spend the day with my family?”
The bristles of the brush glide through my hair removing the unwanted knots. With the shorter style, I manage to keep it healthy, and according to my book, pregnancy does wonders for your hair. It gives it this ‘sheen’ that no salon treatment can beat.
Drew is buttoning his light blue dress shirt, one of my favorite pieces of clothing on him. Checking himself in the mirror, he glances side to side to inspect each angle then grabs some aftershave, spraying it lightly against his neck. For a visit to my parents’ house he appears to be overly dressed. Then again, so do I.
My wardrobe these days consists of maternity jeans and baby-doll blouses. Gone are the days of trying to squeeze into my regular clothes and shoes. Stubborn me learned that the hard way when I was adamant I could, only to get my arm stuck in my recently purchased Cher tee which ripped the seam under the armpit. If only I could turn back time.
“And I just think this dress is too much.” I play with the loose white fabric in my hands, the dress flowing down to my ankles and covering my bejeweled sandals. “Have you seen Dad’s old sweats with the hole near the crotch which, God forbid, makes me want to dry heave each time he wears them?”
Drew has repeated the same story telling me to drop by to say hello, and then he takes me out to lunch close by at some fancy restaurant. I know of the restaurant, know the price tag and the posh people who hang out there, hence, why I agree to frock up.
“You ready?” he asks, kissing the side of my neck, grinning. “You look gorgeous.”
“Hold on.” I grab my wedding ring set and slide it on my finger only for it to slide as far as my knuckle. Frustrated, I push it further to no avail. “My rings won’t go on.”
Drew places my hand on his, gently pushing it with the same result. “Babe, the swelling is natural.”
I don’t believe him, taking them out of his hands in a frenzied panic. My normally pale skin turns a flushing red as the metal rubs against my skin uncomfortably.
Drew places his hand on top of mine, willing me to stop. “You’re going to get it stuck.”
I hadn’t removed my wedding rings since the day we got married except for last night. On a whim, I decided to paint the pots on our patio to match the outdoor pillows. Not wanting to paint over them, I removed my rings and forgot them until now.
While Drew thinks this is no big deal, the reality has hit hard for me. Another piece of my existence that’s no longer me. I love my rings. They represent my commitment to my husband, and without them I feel lost.
I don’t say another word aside from reminding Drew we will be late.