Baby Daddies - Tara Brown Page 0,73
has so much to tell me, but he doesn’t know when he’s leaving. Sean’s going to some place in Van that nurses you back to health and then does a rehab program. It’s lengthy, like a year or something. So when Sean goes there, Lori’s coming home.”
“Right, family needs to be separated from the patient while they sort out their triggers. A friend did this. It was brutal.” Josh cringes. “I don’t envy anyone in that family. It’s a long road.”
“Yup,” I agree though I have no idea. But his words confirm what I already recognized yesterday when I accepted Stan’s job offer. Lori has a long road with Sean, meaning a lot of time on the West Coast.
Josh parks and we get out, finding Dad in the yard tinkering with the lawn mower. He stands and sighs heavily. “If this is about that party, I’m not going.”
Josh laughs at the fact that Dad already knows, but I scoff. “You’re going and you’re going to like it.”
“What she says,” Josh adds.
“No one asked me how I felt about a surprise party,” Dad grumbles. “So surprise! I’m not coming. I hate parties.”
“That’s a lie. You love parties and reminiscing over all those glory days as a cop.” Josh sits on the bench across from where Dad’s messing with the mower. “We have two hours to get you ready for the ball or the wicked stepmother will turn us into pumpkins and smash us.”
“Josh, what did I say about calling her your wicked stepmother?” Dad arches a thick dark eyebrow.
“Listen, if the shoes fit—”
“Anyway,” I cut in before this escalates, “Judith has gone to a lot of trouble for this party. You are going. So go inside and shower, now please.” I point at the house, not taking no for an answer. Mostly because the blame will rest on my shoulders and no one else’s.
Dad stares for a second like he might fight us on this, but slumps and gives in. “Fine, but I want it known I’m not happy.”
“Duly noted, no one cares. Happy birthday.” I laugh, making him laugh too but his is bitter. He finishes the beer on the table and saunters up to the house, favoring his right hip a bit. “Stop limping, you’re as bad as our old dog when it was groomer day.”
He ignores me and walks into the house.
“You gonna tell him about the baby?”
“No, he’s miserable. He hates surprises and attention. Adding babies and unwed daughters to the evening won’t fix anything.”
“Especially since Sarah is engaged to her new rich boyfriend.”
“What?” I glance over, wincing. “Seriously?”
“Yeah, I heard Judith bragging about it this morning when me and the boys were sound checking. They’re going to announce it tonight at the party in a toast.” He steps in and nudges me gently. “Just wanted to give you the heads up.”
“Fuck,” I whisper. “I just can’t get a break here.”
“No, I’m starting to see what you mean. Maybe you need a young priest and an old priest, my dude. At this point you should be asking yourself if this is some curse or something.”
“Shit!” I storm up to the house to get ready myself. I’ll have to keep the news of me and Lori and the baby under wraps for a while longer. Maybe in a couple of years from now I can tell them we adopted a toddler.
By the time we’re ready to leave the house, I’m exhausted but at least I look hot. The news of the engagement drove me in petty ways as I got ready and now I’m a smokeshow. Tons of makeup. Sexy pale blue chiffon halter dress with a huge slit and side boob. Hair curled and finger combed out into sexy locks. Nude stilettos that will make me tower over Judith and Sarah. It’s petty and I should be ashamed but I’m not. Maybe I will be later. But I doubt it. Judith will find a way to make me feel small, despite my high heels.
Josh drives, joking and laughing with Dad as I stare out the window.
Even with Judith and Sarah, my mind is stuck on Lori. I want so badly to hold him and make sure he’s okay. The tone of his texts has been odd, distant.
“So what’s the story?” Dad asks. “What are you saying is the reason we’re here with Jenny looking like a supermodel?”
“Gee thanks, Dad.” I pat him on the arm.
“I have a gig?” Josh suggests with a shrug.
“That works.”
Josh parks the SUV