She wants the best for you, and she had a right to be upset by your news.”
“I have a right to be upset by her attitude, and by her being judgmental about me,” Claire said coldly. She was being intentionally petulant with her mother, which seemed very wrong to Margaret, and childish, since she was about to become a mother herself.
“You don’t need to abuse her, Claire. You’ve been very rude to her since July. Why do you want to hurt her?”
“She hurt me being so angry about the baby, and trying to force us to get married. She’s embarrassed that I’m pregnant. She’s not happy for us.”
“She’ll adjust to it, but she won’t if you continue to be nasty to her. Sooner or later, she’ll stop trying, and then you’ll regret it.” Margaret knew her daughter and Kate had her limits as to how much abuse she was willing to take. Margaret could sense that Kate had reached hers. Claire didn’t comment, but showed no sign of relenting and went cold whenever her mother was near her. Reed was embarrassed by Claire’s behavior, and tried to compensate and whispered to her when they sat on the couch.
“Why do you always act like a brat around your mother? She’s perfectly nice to us. You don’t need to punish her.”
“Whose side are you on?” she said angrily.
“The adults’ side,” he said firmly. “Why don’t you join us? It’s a winning team.” He was disappointed by her childish attitude, but he loved her in every other way. He was more in love with her than ever, particularly as the baby’s birth got closer. It was only four months away. Claire had already started decorating the nursery. It was a boy, which made Reed even happier. Stacey came over to sit next to Claire, and asked her about the due date and how she was feeling, which touched Claire. She warmed to Stacey immediately, although she had been shocked when Tammy had called her and said she was gay, after she’d told Kate. Claire was meeting Stacey for the first time that night. They chatted while Tammy and Reed talked business.
Anthony and Alicia were the last to arrive, half an hour late, but the Mexican food was staying warm in the oven, and the sushi was in the refrigerator, so Kate wasn’t worried about the dinner.
“She changed outfits six times,” Anthony whispered to Tammy when he kissed her, and she laughed.
She introduced him to Stacey, and they talked videogames. She said she had been addicted to them in college, and once she started playing she couldn’t stop. She knew several of his games and loved them.
Anthony was immediately caught up in the swirl of family activity, and after he introduced Alicia, he forgot about her momentarily, teasing his sisters, and chatting with Reed and Stacey, while Alicia stood shyly at the edge of the group. Kate saw what was happening and went over to her. Alicia had worn a cream-colored skirt and sweater, which showed off her figure and was perfect with her café au lait skin.
“All the kids’ partners are new to us,” Kate said warmly, “so you’re not the new girl at school, they all are. Don’t feel like the Lone Ranger. I met Stacey two months ago for the first time, and Reed this summer. I’ve heard a lot about you,” she smiled and lowered her voice, “I’m glad things worked out. He’s crazy about you.” Alicia beamed when she said that, and was relieved to see that Kate had worn a skirt, and so had Tammy, so she’d guessed right about her outfit. As she glanced at Kate’s skirt, she noticed her legs and gasped.
“Oh my God, what happened to you?” Her legs were still black and blue from knee to ankle, she had huge scabs on her knees, and Alicia saw that she had scabs on the palms of her hands too.
“I fell on the ice when it snowed two weeks ago. I felt really stupid. I was wearing six inch heels.” None of her children had noticed her legs, but they saw Alicia’s expression and looked down. Stacey was horrified.
“Why didn’t you call me? Did you see a doctor?”
“No, nothing’s broken, just bruised and scraped. The opposing counsel in a deposition I’d just finished bandaged me up. He’s a former Navy paramedic.”
“That must have hurt, Mom,” Tammy said sympathetically. Claire said nothing, yet again to prove a point. It was getting old, and Anthony