Alma offers to take Liberty for a walk in her stroller with McGee on his leash, while I am on my weekly video call with my girls in Athens. I love that Alma’s puppy calmly walks near Libby’s stroller. On our first few walks in April, it took both of us to handle the stroller and Alma’s ten-month-old, male, mini-chocolate Labradoodle. Among the hundreds of things, she’s taught me this year is how to successfully train her puppy McGee.
Promptly at 7:00 p.m. Salem’s FaceTime rings and Alma slips with our two little ones out the front door. “Long time no see,” She greets in Adrian’s absence. I greet my three friends. We animatedly relive yesterday evening’s wedding and reception. Savannah asks what we think Adrian and Winston are doing right at this moment—we all agree we don’t want to even think about it.
“Speaking of couples doing the nasty, Bethany, I didn’t plan to see you on tonight’s video call. Shouldn’t you be celebrating your first anniversary with Troy right now?” I assumed she’d be on some romantic dinner date with her man spoiling her. The two are very affectionate when in public. Even in high school, I marveled at their constant contact with hands in each other’s pockets, arms around each other, and kissing regardless who might see.
A blush quickly creeps up Bethany’s neck and face. With her fair-complexion it borders between bright pink and red. “We celebrated before breakfast, in the shower, before our afternoon nap, and just before I drove to Salem’s,” she confesses proudly. “I wanted to share last night but didn’t want to rob Adrian of her moment. She’ll be pissed I shared without her here, but I can’t keep the secret another minute.” She bites her lower lip, smiles, then announces, “We are officially trying to get pregnant!”
Although it’s no surprise, we celebrate with our friend. During our junior year of high school, the couple planned to move-in together immediately after graduation, marry, and start a family within a year. Excited to share her news, Bethany fills us in on ovulation calendars, fertility windows, and many other facts that as single women we aren’t interested in.
“Bethany, honey,” ever-sweet Salem interrupts. “The only thing we need to know from you is the three-day window during which we don’t want to visit or even drive by your love shack.” Loud laughter fills the air.
“Oh, laugh now Salem,” Bethany quips. “your day will come. Your wedding is on the calendar sweetie, so little Latham’s won’t be far from that.” More laughter erupts from all four of us.
When we regain our breath, Salem proceeds to inform me Bethany will be her maid-of-honor for the December wedding. Behind Salem, I notice Savannah and Bethany whispering while glancing at me before whispering some more.
“What are you two rudely whispering about?” I interrupt causing Savannah to elbow Bethany.
“Was last night really the first time you’ve seen Hamilton since he was drafted?” Bethany blurts. “I mean except for saying hi to him after his Major League debut at Wrigley Field?”
My three friends stare at me through my laptop screen. “Yes. I said goodbye to him from his mother’s driveway the day he left for Des Moines. Memphis and I spent an hour with him after his first game pitching for the I-Cubs. You were all with me when we attended another I-Cubs game. Then Alma and her family joined me for fifteen minutes after his Wrigley debut. Why?”
“Seriously?” Bethany taunts. “Did you think we were blind last night at Adrian’s reception?” She crosses her arms in front of her chest. I imagine she is also tapping her toe annoyed at me.
Salem jumps in, “Hamilton couldn’t keep his eyes off you the entire night. Something is up—I think you have been holding out on us.”
I play dumb in hopes they will describe what they witnessed and what they believe it meant. I can use all the help I can get on this topic.
“Madison, you know I tend not to weigh in on relationship crap,” Savannah chimes in. “I personally witnessed two incidents that his lips brushed your ear and temple. He’s never done that in public before that I know of. In fact, with all of his high school dating, I’ve never witnessed public displays of affection from him. He didn’t hold their hands, put his arm around them, whisper in their ear, or kiss them in public. He held your hand last night, he placed his hand at the small of your back, he kissed your temple, whispered in your ear, and held you tight against him while the two of you danced.” She shrugs. “It caught me off guard. When these two mentioned it, I knew it wasn’t just my imagination.”
“So, you can see why we might think the two of you have met sometime in the off-season. There was a new chemistry between you that wasn’t your normal best friend interactions.” Bethany urges. “I’ll only ask once and then I’ll let it go. Did the two of you get together this past winter?”
Here I go again. In keeping my pregnancy from Hamilton, I’ve needed to creatively avoid some topics and tell little white lies several times to keep my secret. I didn’t see him this past winter—it’s not a lie, but it is a lie by omission. I did spend the night with him last June before he left for minor league baseball. We haven’t been alone together since his last night in Athens, but I do share a daughter with Hamilton. Here goes another avoidance of the truth that I hope they don’t hate me for in the years to come.
“We did not have a secret rendezvous during the off-season. I must confess I was caught off-guard by his actions last night, too.” I nervously shrug. “I’ve got a tropical storm swirling inside my head. I’m mega confused.” I swirl my index finger in a circle above my head.
“Did he call you today?” Salem asks.
I answer that he probably spent the day trying to catch up with the team on the East Coast while catching up on his sleep for tomorrow’s game where he takes the mound, they attempt to make me feel better by stating they are sure he will call tomorrow.
“What should I do when he calls?” I know they don’t know the major details that led up to last night, but I still need some advice.
Bethany tells me to play it cool and let him explain when he is ready. Salem seems stumped and Savannah says I should demand answers. So, no help from these three. Adrian might be better help, but she would also poke and pry until I cracked revealing our night together last June and that we have a daughter. She’d see right through my lie that I have no idea what might have prompted his actions.
Lucky for me, Bethany states she really must get back to Troy and their baby-making. I’m made to promise I will keep them posted on Hamilton’s explanations when we do finally talk before we end this week’s call.
The weight of the secrets I am keeping from Hamilton, his family, and my friends grows heavier tonight. Part of me wonders if Hamilton is settled enough in his career that revealing we have a daughter might not lead him to leave the Cubs and move back to Athens. But another stronger part of me wants to give him until the end of this season. Not wanting to wallow any longer, I decide to slip on my flip-flops and join Alma, Liberty, and McGee on the rest of their walk.