Big Witch Energy - Kelly Jamieson Page 0,66
My cousin’s twelve-year-old daughter says, ‘Oh yeah it is, that’s why Mom and Dad are breaking up.’ Everyone’s jaws drop, and we all stare at her. Then my mom says, ‘Why do you say that, Gem?’ and she says, ‘Because Mom is a high-maintenance bish and we’re all sick of her shit.’”
Our mouths drop open too, and then we all burst out laughing.
“Oh my god!” Felise says. “For real?”
“Truth.” Kesha holds up a hand. “My cousin and her husband were apparently going to tell everyone at some point, but Gem spilled the tea. It was so awkward. We were all just sitting there. Nobody knew what to say. Then Latasha laid into Gem for using the word shit, which was obviously just to cover up her embarrassment.”
“Is Latasha a high-maintenance bitch?” Magan asks.
“Totally.” Kesha rolls her eyes. “She wouldn’t go swimming at a family barbecue because it would wreck her hair and makeup. She complains about everything—the heat, the cold, the service anywhere she goes. She’s constantly sending us selfies of everything she does.” Kesha rolls her eyes.
“Wow.” I shake my head. “So they’re getting a divorce?”
“Seems like it. But don’t count on it. Remember my other cousin Mika? She and her husband got divorced, and the next thing we knew we got an invitation to their second wedding. To each other.”
“How did that happen?”
“They got a divorce because she got pregnant after he had a vasectomy. But it turned out it was his kid, they just didn’t wait long enough after the procedure to stop using other birth control.”
Felise and Magan are entertained by this. “We have a big wacky family too,” Felise says. “But not quite that wacky. And my boyfriend has a weird family.”
“I didn’t know this.” I prop my chin on one hand. “How so?”
“The first time they met me, they asked if we were going to have children.”
Hannah chokes on her wine. “Oooh. Kind of early for that.”
“Yeah. And when I said not right away, she looked at me and said, ‘If you’re not interested in having children, I don’t know what the point of being alive is.’”
My eyes widen and I snort-laugh. “Oh my god!”
“Yeah.” She rolls her eyes.
“Women aren’t worth living unless we procreate,” Magan says in a sarcastic tone.
“Um… do you get along okay with them otherwise?” Kesha asks.
“No.”
I bite my lip. “Oh dear.”
“Yeah, it’s kind of an issue.” She looks down at her wine.
“Oh no. Are things not good with you and Dallas?” I lean closer to her.
She makes a face. “I thought I could handle his parents, but… I don’t know.”
“Are you two talking about marriage?” Hannah asks.
“Not really, but we sort of talk like we’re going to be together forever. Long term. I’m starting to think I can’t do it.”
“Oh. I’m sorry, Magan.” I squeeze her shoulder.
“Thanks.” She leans her cheek onto my hand.
I see Kesha and Hannah watching us with warm eyes. I smile at them and they smile back.
“It’s so cool seeing you with your sisters,” Hannah says.
I glance at Magan and Felise. “I think it’s cool too.”
The music stops as they announce the start of karaoke. I straighten. “Let’s sing!”
“Yes!” Kesha and Hannah both agree. We do this all the time.
“My favorite is ‘Love Shack’!” I tell Felise and Morgan.
“Uh…” They exchange glances.
“You don’t do karaoke?” I ask them.
“Never have,” Felise admits. “But I’m game!”
“I couldn’t get Trace to do it,” I say. “The night we met. But I think now I understand why.”
“Why?” Magan looks at me curiously.
“Because of his brother. He said they used to play guitar and pretend they were in a rock band.”
“Ohhh.” Felise and Magan make identical sounds of sad understanding. “I guess we were too young to remember that.”
“That’s sad,” Kesha says.
“It is. He misses his brother. Well, his whole family.”
“That’s pretty amazing that he talked to you about that,” Magan says slowly.
Is it? We talk about all kinds of things. I nibble my bottom lip briefly. “Did you hear about my interview?”
Felise and Magan’s eyes pop wide, then slide over to Kesha and Hannah.
“They know.” I wave my hand. “It’s okay.”
“They… know?” Magan blinks at me.
“Yes. They’re sworn to secrecy.”
“You know the consequences if they tell someone else,” Magan whispers.
“I know. I trust them.”
Magan and Felise are silent.
For a moment I’m scared that I’ve done something to upset my sisters. I don’t want to upset them. But also, I hate keeping secrets. From all of them. I glance nervously between them and my friends.
“I guess it’s too late now,”