Chapter Twenty-Nine

Jen

 

I collapsed on the sofa. Thank goodness Hannah had paused the movie.

“Can we take a nap after the end of Nightmare?”

“Aww, we wore out the pregnant lady,” Hannah teased.

“You try building a new human and see how zippy you feel.”

She sat next to me. “Maybe we’ll start trying next year.”

I gave her my attention. “Really?”

She shrugged. “He brought it up after your news. You know Mike…he’s all in when he’s in, so…I’m open to it.”

“Baby fever,” Beth said. She plopped down next to Hannah. “One of those primal things to ensure the survival of the species. Women around babies want babies and the ovaries say ‘sure!’”

“Except you,” I said, pointing at my sister. “You’re way too young.”

“Duh.” She eye-rolled. “I like boys, but they’re dumb right now.”

Celeste ruffled her hair passing by to one of the chairs. “Smart girl. Get your shit together, then settle down.” She sipped from her glass of cider rum punch. “Though I’m never having kids.”

“Why?” Hannah asked.

“Don’t get her started,” Beth replied.

“It’s not for everyone,” Maria said.

“Thank you,” Celeste agreed. “I like being the fun aunt.”

“As for Miss Shelley,” Maria continued. “Boys mature later than girls. Take it from their mama. There’s nothing wrong with focusing on you until they catch up.”

“Was it as hard to raise boys as it looks from the outside?” I asked.

She seesawed her hand. “Yes and no. What I saw from comparing with other moms is that girls are easier pre-puberty and boys are easier in the teens. They’re rowdy and energetic, but that’s why mine all played sports. But no fights in my house. If they had an argument and couldn’t use their words, they had to wrestle in the backyard.”

“And no biting or groin shots?” Beth said.

Maria nodded. Smiled. “Exactly. Sportsman’s rules. Girls…”

“Drama,” Shelley said. We laughed.

“Seriously, why do we have to go through that phase?” Beth asked. “High school girls are mean.”

“Poor nerds,” Celeste replied with affection.

“It’s true, though,” Hannah added. “I was shy and it sucked.” Then on her own at eighteen and had to grow up really fast.

“Well, I’m popular,” Shelley said. “But I don’t tolerate bullying in or from my group. If one of my friends has sand in her vagina that day, we don’t tolerate attitude. She’s gotta spill where it’s really coming from.”

Celeste high-fived her. “Blunt honesty for the win. Guys play enough head games. We don’t have to do it to each other.”

“And then you find amazing friendships,” I said.

Hannah leaned on me. “Aww. Pregnant Jen is such a softie.”

“There goes the moment…” Beth threw her hands up and reached for the remote. “Let’s finish this movie already.”

I was particular to Sally’s Song. It was such a lovely little piece of melancholy jazz and she sang it so sweetly. Good thing it wasn’t new for me. That nap I proposed snuck right up and took over.

I woke to seeing Arnold and Sinbad fighting over a toy. I looked at my watch.

“Hey, she’s awake!”

And hungry. The dip platter had been pretty much demolished. I used the bathroom, then rummaged in Hannah’s kitchen for munchies. Pretzels.

The front door opened. Mom tapped it as she came in. “Did I miss much?”

Afraid I’d spit pretzel crumbs all over the floor, I shook my head.

“Jennifer, are you raiding your friend’s pantry?”

I swallowed. “They finished off the snack tray.” She shook her head at me.

“Appetite bigger later in the day?”

“Sometimes I’m ravenous.” I tilted the box her way and she grabbed a pretzel.

She looked toward the TV. “Your sister strikes again.”

I chuckled. “They’re laughing, too, so it’s okay. I’m surprised you kept Dad’s movie.”

“I didn’t. She loves it so much I had to buy her a copy.” Her gaze took me in. “Like the PJs.”

Hannah’s pick for me had been teddy bears holding presents over a red background. “They’re really comfy.”

She kissed my hair. “You look adorable.”

“Oh!” I discreetly grabbed my purse and dug for the envelope. “The original is on the fridge, but I made a copy.”

She opened it and bounced on her toes.

My mother. Bouncing.

“My grandchild!” She hugged me, then went back to staring at the ultrasound image. “Hello, Peanut.”

“Peanut?”

“Hush. Thank you, Jenny.” She tucked it in her handbag.

“We saw the doc Thursday. Dylan cried. You’re the first to see that besides us.”

“Aww. Good man.” She stroked my hair behind my ear. “I’m so happy for where you’ve landed, honey. I worried about you last year.”

“Mom…”

“Oh, I know, I know, no waterworks. But I feel it in my gut. Everything is as it should be now.”

Maria came into the kitchen and turned a dial on the oven.

“What’s that for?”

“Pre-heat for lasagna.”

“Ooo.” I turned to Mom. “She makes a great one.”

Mom took the pretzel box away. “Then you better not spoil your appetite.”

We moved to the sofa.

“Hey, Mrs. Wright.” Beth and Hanna made room.

“Grandma okay?” Shelley asked.

“Yup. She was going to nap, then have a little dinner.”

The oven let out a little beep when it was up to temp. Maria grabbed her lasagna out of the fridge and put it in for forty-five minutes. We had maybe twenty minutes left of Shelley’s movie, then White Christmas could go in with Mom here.

“Did you know the little kid in this movie is Anakin in The Phantom Menace?” Beth said.

“Jake Lloyd, yeah. Don’t get me started on how people treated that kid,” I replied. “You don’t bully an actor just because you didn’t like a movie, especially a child.”

Fandoms…I had strong opinions and definite concerns. I was very glad my books enabled my living but weren’t so popular to get a movie option or a rabid fanbase. People were scary, and crazy, and the internet gave them way too many excuses to be assholes.

I loved my readers. But I was also glad my photo wasn’t on my book jackets.

Especially with my personal life getting more complicated.

The credits finally rolled and my friends got up to stretch and stuff.

“I don’t care what people say—the Governator has made some good movies,” my sister proclaimed.

“Of course, dear,” Mom replied. She was glad to leave action movies behind when Dad moved out. Not her thing.

“I like the Predator series,” Celeste said.

“Too gory when you include the Alien stuff,” Shelley replied.

“Since when have you seen Alien?” I asked.

She rolled her eyes. “I’m not a baby. I saw AvP.” Alien vs. Predator. “It’s your fault I like sci-fi.”

“True…” But I was glad she thought some of it was still too scary. “Did you finish SG-1?”

“Nah. Do I have to watch the last two seasons with the cast changes?”

“I did, but I’m a completionist,” Beth said.

Everyone resumed their seats and I’d already put the WC disc in, so I pressed Play.

This was a time when full credits were played at the beginning of the movie to a medley of the score. Celeste yawned. Maybe a few too many cocktails?

Bing Crosby sang White Christmas the first time in the movie in the opening scene. I loved this song in all its variations, whether a stripped-down solo or a sprightly choral piece.

“Irving Berlin was such a genius,” Mom whispered next to me. I nodded.

Ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff.

“Is that Rusty?”

“Hang on…” Hannah hurried to her feet and into the backyard. Mike’s Beagle puppy…was a Beagle. He was talkative, especially when he saw a bunny. “Rusty!”

A rust-brown-patched little Beagle flew into the room through the open patio door and ran straight for Shelley on her floor cushion. With her face at his face level, he tackled her for slobbery kisses. She shrieked, sputtered, and tried to get a hold of him.

Celeste laughed so hard I thought she’d have an asthma attack. She tipped forward in her mirth and almost rolled off the chair.

“Okay, you’re cut off for a while,” Beth said, and grabbed her glass.

Rusty scrambled on the hardwood as soon as Hannah got close, making a break for it again. “Sorry! He only listens to Mike unless I have food.”

Mom got in the dog’s path. “Rusty. Sit.” The puppy whimpered and his butt hit the floor. Mom picked him up. “Where do you want him?”

“How did you do that?” Hannah asked, agape.

“Dogs are pack animals, so if the human is going to be their leader, we have to be the alpha. They sense any fear or lack of confidence. Now, this little boy is full of energy, so he’s learning to listen and not just run. Has he gone to obedience class, yet?”

Hannah took Rusty. “We haven’t had time. Thank you. I’ll be right back.” She carried him outside, closing the door behind her.

Mom washed her hands at the kitchen sink. Shelley had escaped to the guest bath to deal with her face.

“Mom, we never had a dog. How do you know that stuff?”

“I watch The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan.” She returned to the sofa.

Hannah came back inside. “He’s in his run now with lots of chew toys.” Her turn to wash up.

By the time all was calm again, Maria’s lasagna timer was beeping. She put the dish on the stove to cool so we’d be able to cut it without a falling-apart mess. I made that mistake once out of hungry impatience and discovered lasagna is boiling liquid inside when it comes out of the oven.

“Okay, Bing, let’s try this again.” I pressed Play.