She lets out a hearty, bubbly laugh, giving me the first real glimpse of the enchanting and insanely sexy woman I met that night. One who didn’t have the weight of the world on her shoulders. “Yes, Matt. You can have my number.”
I welcome the lightening of the mood, but nothing is sitting right with me. I know I have to respect that she wants to do this on her own, and I know that, logically, it’s the best thing for me and my future.
But then I keep looking at those auburn waves and wide brown eyes and delicate little nose and picturing them on a baby. My baby.
And my future might look radically different, but I’m not so sure that’s a bad thing.
Six
Ellie
I stab a piece of lettuce a little too aggressively and glance around the long dining table and feel the palpable buzz of energy that fills the air when all the Vices are in the same room.
Friday family dinners have been a staple of our family ever since we all got out of college, but of course I’ve missed most of them, having been traipsing around the world. That was, of course, before my entire life fell apart.
Now I’m here. Grounded in Florida. At a family dinner. The one night of the week where my four distinguished, business-educated, workaholic, buttoned-up brothers revert back to their immature teenage years.
Noah is arguing with Ethan, one of my oldest brothers and half the heir to my dad’s position as Vice Corporation CEO, about some budgeting technique. His twin, Jayson, is the family risk-taking gambler and could not be more the polar opposite of Ethan, who lives and dies by spreadsheets and tactical business logic.
The twins live in a constant dispute about who will really inherit the business. And no matter how many times my dad tells them they will split things equally, it’s hard to imagine them ever being able to co-run the family company. Jayson’s risks would give Ethan a new heart attack every week.
I take a deep breath and glance at my mom, who shoots me a classic knowing smile.
Trina Vice has always been my biggest supporter, and she took the shocking news of my pregnancy surprisingly well. Once the weight of telling my dad was off my shoulders, I called my other family members individually. My mom already knew, since my dad apparently called her the second I left his office. She didn’t press me with who’s the father? questions, thankfully. She knows I’ll tell her when I’m ready. I think.
But she’s been as loving as possible, and I feel calmer in her presence. This is the first time we’ve all been together since the word’s been out, and the herd of elephants in the room is starting to get oppressive.
“Well, what else, boys?” Mom sips red wine and tilts her head to the side. “Noah? How are things going with the Riders?”
“Mom.” Jayson jumps in and glares at her. “Come on. You can’t be serious.”
“Yeah, for real, you guys.” Clay says, furrowing his brow.
Clay is a couple of years younger than Ethan and Jayson but older than Noah. His fiery, creative passion for food is well utilized as the manager of all food and beverage services for Vice hotels.
I gulp, knowing that my brothers are referencing my whopper of a recent discovery that no one has brought up yet tonight.
“Lay off, jackasses.” Noah shoves a piece of prime rib into his mouth.
Mom smiles sweetly. “Elizabeth will talk about it when she’s ready. We’re her family, and we’re here to support her if and when she needs it.” She reaches across the table and gives my hand a squeeze.
The tiny gesture kicks off a swell of emotions in my chest, and I take a deep breath, letting the never-ending comfort of Mommy give me strength. “You’re right, guys. We can talk about it.” I toy with the lettuce on my fork. “Let’s just get it out there. I’m pregnant. As you all know.”
“I just can’t believe it…” Clay runs a hand through his long, floppy brown hair and laughs in disbelief. “I mean, you of all people? Having a kid? Pretty sure you can’t take babies four-wheeling in Costa Rica, Ellie Belly.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, well, it wasn’t exactly a choice, dipshit. Accidents happen.”
“Elizabeth has all of the resources she needs to handle this,” my dad asserts, dabbing the corner of his mouth with a cloth