“Now, Mary,” his dad said. “If she wasn’t feeling well, then we certainly wouldn’t have wanted her to be around Jose. What if she passed something to him? And then he brought it to lunch today, and we all got sick?”
Jose hid his grin, noticing his siblings did too. His mother’s eyes widened, and she crossed herself. “Of course, you’re right, Carlos!” Looking up at Jose, she bounced her head up and down. “I’m glad you didn’t meet with her. Goodness knows what illness she may have.”
His mother’s diatribe hit a snag when Justin, one of Rosemary and Stanley’s children, started crying when he didn’t get the biggest roll.
“Hers is bigger than mine!” he sobbed, pointing at his sister’s plate.
“Stop fussing, or you won’t get any bread at all!” Rosemarie said, lifting her brow and giving the mama look. Mary jumped up to get more rolls from the oven, making sure that a large one ended up on the plate of her tearful grandson.
Jose was grateful for the direction change in their focus so that it was no longer on him. The conversation flowed, and he, Jimmy, and their dad spent several minutes chatting about their jobs on the Chesapeake Bay. They worked for a major fishing company, and as part of the VMP, he patrolled the waters. Their jobs were different, but their livelihoods all came from their love of the bay.
By the time lunch was over and everyone helped with cleanup, he hugged his sisters and brother goodbye before moving to his mom. Pulling her shorter, slightly plump body close to him, he kissed the top of her head. “Thanks for lunch, Mom.”
Her arms wrapped around his waist, and she hugged him in return. Mary Martinez did many things well, and her deep hugs were among the best.
She leaned back, clutched his cheeks with her hands, and pulled him down so she could kiss each cheek. “I don’t want you to worry about anything, Jose.”
He didn’t have a chance to ask what she was referring to when she bulldozed ahead.
“Forget Paula’s daughter! I’ll find you someone better to go out with. It’s not good for you to be alone.”
“Mom, I’ve got my friends, I’ve got my job, I’ve got the American Legion, and I’ve got my family. I’m hardly alone.”
“Pfft!” She grumbled in her usual way. “Those are all good, but they won’t give me more grandbabies!”
“Grandbabies! Jimmy and Katy will soon be thinking about children, and there’s always Bethany and Jonas!”
“I want grandchildren from all my children! And you’re the oldest, Jose. You should be setting the example!”
Arguing with his mom would’ve been a waste of time, and it didn’t really matter. Her concerns came from a deep place of love for her family. Kissing her again, he moved to the door to shake his dad’s hand, accepting the clap on the back.
His dad leaned in and said, “She means well.”
He nodded. “And I love her for it.”
Heading back home, the smile was still on his face. He'd had a fun evening with a lovely woman, even if he’d never see her again. He had a lunch with his family. And now, he was looking forward to going home and enjoying his afternoon alone, relishing the peace and quiet.
2
ONE MONTH LATER - ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA
Melanie Landers walked through her small living room and down the short hall by the kitchen to get to the front door of her older Northern Virginia townhouse. She peeked through the security hole first, then threw open the door with a wide smile on her face. “Karen! I didn’t think you were coming until later, but I’m so glad you’re here! You can help me decide between the cheap Walmart curtains or the cheap Amazon curtains! Plus, I’ve got paint chips for the kitchen. Touch of Lemon or Buttercream.” Furrowing her brow, she pondered aloud, “Why are paint colors so often named after food?”
Her best friend, Karen, remained standing on the front stoop. Her usual smile was not in place as her lips were pinched together.
Startling as it dawned on Melanie that something was wrong, she reached out and grabbed Karen’s hand, drawing her inside the house. “Honey, what’s going on?”
Their gazes held for a moment before Karen exclaimed, “Oh, Melanie, I’m in big trouble.”
Leading her to the worn but comfortable sofa, she sat and pulled her friend down next to her. Karen’s fingers were cold, and Melanie tried to warm them with her own as they stayed clasped together. Her bestie was usually smiling when they were together, but this tearful version of Karen scared her. “What kind of big trouble? Are you talking about going to jail and needing bail money? Or your parents are pissed off again kind of trouble? Or a situation where you need me to get a shovel to bury a body? Or you just need a pint of ice cream and some wine?”
Her heart began to pound as her attempts to add levity were met with a tear falling down Karen’s cheek. “Oh no. What’s wrong? You’re scaring me.”
Karen took a deep breath. “Do you remember me telling you about my trip to the Eastern Shore last month when I went for that stupid bachelorette party for the lady in my office?”
“Of course, I do. You said the party sucked. A week later, the wedding sucked just as much when one of the bridesmaids slept with the groom, and the rest of you had to decide whether to tell her. Then that decision was taken out of your hands when the bridesmaid decided to announce it just before they all walked down the aisle.”
When Karen’s expression did not break into a smile at that memory, Melanie shook her head. “God, I’m so sorry. I’m rambling. You have me so nervous I’m just blabbing. Please, I’ll shut up, and you tell me what you need to.”
At that, Karen snorted while a little smile escaped. She continued to clutch Melanie’s hands.
“Remember the man I met at the bar that night?”
“The policeman, right? The one you said was really nice, and you slept with him.” When Karen had told her, she’d been both surprised and impressed. Neither of them had ever been so bold before. Melanie wasn’t opposed to casual sex but had always waited until she had gone out with someone at least long enough to determine that there was some affection. Karen had only slept with someone she’d been in a relationship with. So, for her to have a one-night stand had been out of character, yet she’d seemed fine with her impulsive decision, saying it was liberating to break out of her mold.
“Yeah, that’s the one. Well, it seems I walked away with something more than a good time.”
Gasping, Melanie clutched Karen’s hands even tighter. “Oh my God! Don’t tell me he gave you an STD? I swear, we can go to a doctor and take care of it! In fact, we can call my doctor right now—”
“No, no!” Karen said, shaking her head. “I didn’t walk away with an STD. He used a condom. But I guess nothing is one-hundred percent perfect.”
Melanie’s brain slowly caught up to what Karen was trying to tell her. Finally, as clarity settled, her mouth hung open, and her head moved back and forth. She whispered, “You’re… You are…?”
“Yep,” Karen said, popping the “p” on the end. “I’m pregnant.”