“It’s not important,” Courtney said softly. She wasn’t ready for that bit yet.
Carl slammed his fist on the table, making the silverware clatter against the wood. Courtney’s wine sloshed over the side. “Of course it’s fucking important,” he said, standing, his face stained red. “You’ve been fooling around with somebody and I want to know who it is.”
“Carl!” Mary looked up at him, her voice tremulous. “Be kind.”
“Who is he?” Carl’s jaw was tight.
Courtney curled her hands into fists beneath the table, resting them on her thighs. Ellis was staring d
own at his half-eaten plate, while Mary’s watery eyes were set on Courtney. Carl walked around the table, putting his hand on Courtney’s shoulder, making a shiver wrack down her spine.
“Who’s the father, Courtney?” he asked again.
“Stop asking her,” Ellis finally spoke. “It’s none of our business.”
Courtney shot him a grateful look.
“Of course it’s our business. She was married to my brother. Your son. She still lives in his house.” Carl blinked, tipping his head to the side. “The car I saw outside that time? Is it the father’s?”
“Sit down, Carl, and eat your dinner,” Mary urged. “You’re upsetting her.”
“I can’t sit down,” he said, his voice low. “And I can’t eat another damn thing.” He inhaled sharply. “I need to get out of here before I do something I’ll regret.”
Courtney reached for his arm, but he jerked it away. “Carl, this doesn’t mean I didn’t love Shaun.”
“You told me you weren’t over him.” His voice was sharp.
“I’m not.” She let out a ragged breath. “Or I wasn’t. I don’t know.” She wasn’t sure how she’d envisaged this going down, but this wasn’t it. “I’m sorry,” she said, her voice gentle. “I know this must be a shock for you all.”
“I imagine it was a shock for you, too,” Ellis said, his eyes sparkling. “Now are you sitting down, Carl, or are you going? Because I want to eat this ham.”
“I’m leaving.” Carl shrugged on the jacket he’d slung over the back of his kitchen chair.
“Please stay,” Courtney said to him. “I’d like us to enjoy dinner together.”
Carl shook his head. “You all go ahead and eat at my brother’s table, while the woman he loved is knocked up with another guy’s baby. But I can’t eat another damn thing.” He pulled his keys from his pocket, and stalked out of the kitchen and through the living area, wrenching the front door open. He didn’t look back as he stepped outside before he slammed it behind him.
Courtney slowly turned back to the table and folded her silverware on her plate. Well that went well.
“He’ll come around,” Mary told her. “It’s just a shock. That’s all.” She picked up her fork and scooped up some potato, lifting it to her mouth.
Ellis leaned over to grab his own fork, then wiped it on his napkin before cutting up another piece of ham. “This is really good,” he said, spearing it into his mouth. “You’re a fine cook, Courtney,” he said once he’d swallowed it down, giving her a toothy smile.
They were good people, her in-laws. She’d always felt lucky to have Ellis and Mary on her side. And Carl? Well he could be hot headed, but he was still grieving Shaun’s loss the way they all were.
“You should eat,” Mary said softly. “For the baby.” She reached across to squeeze Courtney’s hand. “There are two of you to think about now. And if I’m going to be this little one’s grandma then I get to take care of you both.”
Courtney smiled at her. “Thank you for being so understanding.”
“A baby is always happy news,” Mary said firmly. “Always. And Carl will agree, when he calms down.”
Ellis lifted his wine glass to his lips, winking at Courtney. “I’ll drink to that.”
“I have this amazing new foot cream,” Lainey said as she and Courtney sat in the cottage the following evening. She’d been giving Courtney a pedicure, promising that it would relax her after yesterday’s encounter with her in-laws. “It’s supposed to make even rhino skin go smooth. Though I think it might have met its match with you.” She wrinkled her nose. “You need to take better care of your feet.”
Courtney wiggled her toes. “These are working feet. I stand on them almost twelve hours every day.” She swallowed a laugh as Lainey rubbed the cream into the soles. “Hey, that tickles.”
“I’m surprised you can feel anything through this thick skin.” Lainey shook her head. “I’m booking you for a weekly mani pedi starting next week. No arguments.”