No one says anything until Grant finally opens his mouth.
“Good for him.”
My parents just stare blankly at me.
Funny how enthusiastic my mother was before. Pushing and encouraging me to marry Perry. Excited over the dress fittings and the planning. She put the entire wedding together for me while I walked around in a daze, in total shock over marrying a complete stranger. She wept at our wedding. Told me I was making the right choice and was a beautiful bride.
The moment the most recent incident happened with Seamus, my father expressed his disgust and she sided with him. That was it. Case closed.
And now here I stand with my parents, the both of them watching me as if I’m a stranger. I should be used to this, but it still hurts.
Tremendously.
“Ah, look. It’s a cluster of Lancasters.”
Caroline approaches, pulling each of my parents into a hug. Even Grant, who goes reluctantly before he introduces her to Alyssa. We all make small talk, my parents saying more to my mother-in-law than they bothered saying to me and I can’t help but stand there, clutching my glass of water so tightly I feel like it might shatter at any moment.
Where is Perry? I could really use his support.
“What are you drinking?” Caroline asks me.
“Water.” I take a sip, my throat suddenly dry. What does it matter, what I’m drinking?
“Hmm.” Her smile is knowing, as if she’s in on my secret, and I remember what she said to me when we went shopping a few weeks ago. “Do your parents know?”
“Know what?” my father asks flatly.
Caroline smirks before she announces, “I’m fairly certain Charlotte is pregnant.”
My mother gasps. Grant’s mouth hangs open. Alyssa’s face is full of sympathy—I’m sure at Caroline putting me on blast—and my father says the worst thing of all.
“Huh. Are we sure your son is the father?”
My cheeks are so hot, they feel as if they could catch fire. Swallowing back all the insults I want to spew, I whisper, “Excuse me.”
Before I dash away from them, my vision blurry with tears.
How dare he say such a thing? Why would he think it’s not Perry’s child? I cannot believe he said that.
I just… I can’t.
But then again, I can.
He probably suspects I went back to Seamus of my own free will, which hurts. Though I suppose if he doesn’t know the full story, and is looking at it from the outside, I can almost see how he’d assume such a thing.
Doesn’t he know me though? Understand how I operate? It’s so incredibly painful that he would think such a terrible thing about his only daughter. He has no faith in me. I’m nothing but a stupid girl who finds herself in trouble everywhere she turns.
That’s what he thinks, at least. But no more. I am not that girl. I’m a married woman with a husband who supports me and a baby on the way. I’m confident in my position as Perry’s wife and mother of his future child.
I wish my parents could see that. And believe in me.
I find a quiet corner behind a towering Christmas tree twinkling with white lights and take a deep breath, trying to compose myself. I would kill for one of those glasses of champagne they’re passing around like candy right now, but I can’t drink any alcohol. I don’t want to hurt the baby.
Perry’sbaby.
That I even have to clarify that in my own thoughts is mortifying.
Blinking, I carefully dab at my eyes with my fingertips so I don’t ruin my makeup. Releasing another shuddering breath, I try to calm my racing heart, resting my hand on my chest and swallowing hard. If Perry were here, he’d know what to do, what to say to calm me down. He’d probably want to insult my father and defend me in an argument, so for missing out on that, I’m glad he’s not here. We don’t need to cause any family drama at the holiday party.