sending me irresistible waves of energy that vibrated up my spine, beckoning me out to the water. Cruz and Brad were due to pick me up in an hour for what promised to be a fun day, and even the looming specter of Olivia’s visit wasn’t going to ruin my good mood. I got up to dress, putting my hair into a ponytail and smiling back at the happy-looking girl in the mirror. When things with Ethan were settled, I felt invincible.
I was sipping my coffee when Abby burst into the kitchen like a ray of sunshine. For a heavily pregnant woman, she was surprisingly light on her feet.
“Good morning sweetie-pie,” she smiled brilliantly, once again reminding me of my mermaid sister, “You sure look like one happy camper today!”
I smiled back at her, for she was right as usual. Abby and Lorelei both had a genius for experiencing joy and spreading it around. When they were happy, which was most of the time, their smiles infected you like a highly contagious virus. Neither one of them had an ironic or cynical bone in their body.
“I bet you’re looking forward to seeing Cruz.”
“I am,” she said, sliding into the chair next to mine, “I understand he’s bringing a friend for me to meet.”
“Uh, yeah, Brad,” I said casually. “He seems like a good guy.” I wasn’t sure how much she knew about Brad and Cruz’s relationship.
“Do you think they’d stay for breakfast? I can make something…” she seemed unexpectedly nervous.
I jumped in, “I’m sure they’ll have already eaten.” I imagined how Cruz would cringe if Abby tried to serve one of her healthy concoctions to Brad. “Because,” I added diplomatically, “We’re going to be surfing all day.”
Abby got up and started bustling around nervously, straightening the fruit basket on the countertop and fussing unnecessarily with the flowers on the table.
The sound of the door opening made her jump, and I followed along behind her to see an equally anxious looking Cruz in the doorway, Brad standing behind him.
“Hi mom,” Cruz said, embracing Abby, “Wow! You’re huge.”
“Cruz!” I scolded him. “Hi Brad,” I waved. Abby just smiled and patted her stomach.
“Uhm… Mom, this is my friend, Brad.” Cruz gestured behind him awkwardly.
Abby stepped around Cruz, “It’s nice to meet you,” she shook his outstretched hand with both of hers, “Please call me Abby. Can I get you some coffee… or tea… or anything?”
“We have to get going,” Cruz blurted out.
“I’d love a cup of coffee,” Brad smiled at Abby, following her into the kitchen.
Cruz squeezed my arm in a death grip as we trailed behind them. Brad asked Abby questions about how far along she was, inquiring as to the baby’s due date, and asking if she’d settled on any names. Abby chattered away happily while she fixed him a cup.
“Cruz?” Abby held up the pot, “Can I get you one?
“OK,” he sat down next to me, fiddling with his piercings, unusually quiet.
Before we knew it, Brad and Abby were talking and laughing like old friends, and Cruz watched them with a strange combination of surprise and relief. He looked at me and shrugged, and I couldn’t resist flashing him my best “I told you so” grin.
“How do you know so much about pregnancy?” Abby asked Brad.
“I just finished decorating a nursery for a good friend of mine,” he replied, “She’s in her third trimester with twins!” he added excitedly. He went on to discuss ultrasounds, baby monitors and the relative merits of gliding versus traditional rocking chairs in detail; before we knew it the two of them were walking down the hallway to see the nursery Abby had set up in Cruz’s old room.
Cruz pressed his forehead on the kitchen table, “Unbelievable.”
I laughed at him, “What did you expect? Everybody loves your mom… And your mom loves everybody.”
When they came back in the kitchen, Brad and Abby were chatting about their common love of yoga, and comparing notes about the different styles they practiced. She gave him some tips on breathing exercises to pass on to his pregnant friend, and launched into a description of the intricacies of her pre-natal yoga class in detail.
“Please kill me now,” Cruz muttered under his breath, and even I grew tired of watching him fidget uncomfortably.
“So, where are we going surfing?” I interjected.
Soon we were saying our goodbyes, Brad embracing Abby with a kiss on each cheek at the porch, telling her how he was looking forward to meeting Dutch sometime soon. I grabbed