The Friends We Keep (Mischief Bay) (11 page)

“Uh-huh. Cami’s getting her learner’s permit.”

Cami was one of Makayla’s friends and a little older than the other girls. As Makayla had just turned fifteen at the beginning of summer, Gabby and Andrew had a few more months until they would be faced with that. Fortunately California had graduated license requirements. Teens had to earn their way into a driver’s license, which meant even if Cami got her permit, there would be no driving her friends around anytime soon.

Makayla finished folding her clothes and pairing her socks. She sat on the bed and picked at the duvet cover. “I’ll be taking geometry for math. Everyone says it’s hard.”

“Geometry is weird,” Gabby said. “From what I could tell, either you get it or you don’t. If you get it, it’s super easy. If you don’t, it’s very challenging. But you’ve always done well in math.”

“Yeah.”

Gabby finished with the twins’ clothes. Even though the next logical step was to pick up the items and take them to where they belonged, her gut said to stay where she was. Until she found out what Makayla wanted.

She had no idea where the conversation was going. Was this about body piercing? A tattoo? Going on a trip with one of her friends and her family? Painting her room purple? There was really no way to tell. She didn’t think she had to worry about Makayla being bullied. She was popular with her friends and didn’t seem to have that many who were mean.

For a second she thought about mentioning Boyd and the kissing. To try to find out how far things had gone. She held back, wanting Makayla to get to whatever was bothering her first.

“When did you know you were in love with my dad?”

Of all the questions, that was not even close to being on the list of those expected.

“About two months after we started dating,” she said. “He was a really great guy. Kind and funny and smart.” She smiled. “He cared about you a lot and that was important to me.”

Makayla finally looked at her. “Why? I thought second wives hated the kids from the first family.”

“Not at all. I liked how your dad was with you. I knew he was the sort of man who would put family first.” The answer was automatic, while Gabby processed the
“I thought second wives hated the kids from the first family.”
Was that the problem? Did Makayla really think Gabby hated her?

Sure they didn’t always get along, but hate was so strong. Gabby felt herself flushing as she wondered if she’d been more bitchy than she realized. Had she made the teen feel unwelcome?

“Some of my friends have stepmoms who are really mean,” the girl said, turning her attention back to the duvet cover.

“I’m sure it happens.” Did she fall in the mean category?

“You were planning on having the twins, right? They weren’t an accident.”

“I was trying to get pregnant,” Gabby said. “I didn’t think there would be twins.”

“That would be hard.” Makayla looked at her, then away. “Um, a friend of mine thinks she’s pregnant and doesn’t know how to be sure. I, ah, said I’d ask you.”

Gabby was incredibly grateful she was sitting down because if she were standing, she would have collapsed. Now all she had to worry about was screaming. Or swearing. Something she hadn’t done out loud since the twins were born. This time “sugar” was not going to cut it.

Pregnant?
Pregnant?
She flashed back on the kiss. They hadn’t seemed like they were that intimate, she thought frantically. If anything, she would have said they were awkward together. Maybe there really was a friend.

“How far along is she?” Gabby asked.

“A few months. Maybe two or three.”

Makayla’s voice shrank with each word until there was barely any sound. By the end of the sentence, the world shattered and Gabby knew there was no friend. Makayla was pregnant. Now what? What were they supposed to do? Was being pregnant better or worse than being on drugs? Better or worse than stealing or being a bad person or...

Gabby stood. “Can you please stay with the twins? I have to go to the drugstore.”

“Um, sure.”

Gabby started for the door, then turned back. “Start drinking water. Lots and lots of water.”

Chapter Ten

The pregnancy test sticks were lined up on a paper towel in the master bath. Each one of them showed the same result. Whether it was a plus or lines or the word
yes
, the answer was clear. Makayla was pregnant.

They stood as far apart from each other as the small room allowed. Gabby was by the counter, the teen was by the tub. Silence filled the space, pressing in on them.

“I’m sorry,” the teen whispered. “I’m sorry.”

Me, too.
Not that Gabby could say that. She couldn’t say much of anything. Right this second, it was hard to catch her breath. Her chest was tight, her legs shaking. Makayla was pregnant. That changed everything. What were they going to do? Worse, she was faced with the dilemma of when to tell Andrew. The how would come later. Unless...

“Do you want to tell your dad or should I?”

“Could you?”

No! I couldn’t.
Only she was the adult. She was the one who had to stay calm and sensible and understanding. She had to be the rock when on the inside she simply wanted to scream. Take the high ground, as her mother had once advised her. Only Marie would never have imagined this moment. No one could.

“After the twins are in bed,” she whispered, trying to figure out what she was going to say. “I’ll tell him and then we’ll come talk to you.”

Makayla’s eyes were huge and filled with tears. Her lips trembled. “I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

“I know.”

Gabby wanted to grab her girls and run. She wanted not to have to worry about this. Not deal with it. Not have their lives forever altered. But if she was this scared of the future, what must her stepdaughter be feeling? She was only fifteen.

“We’ll figure it out,” she said with false cheer. “You’ll see.”

“You think?”

“Of course.” Gabby walked over to her and hugged her. “It’s going to be okay.”

Makayla surprised her by hanging on tight. By hugging back as if she would never let go. The girl started to cry. Harsh, choking sobs that shook her body and left her gasping. Gabby stayed close and prayed that she wasn’t lying. That everything really was going to be all right. But in her heart, she knew it wasn’t.

* * *

“We have to talk.”

Andrew looked more amused than worried as he stretched out on their bed. “I got that from the way you pulled me into the bedroom.” He patted the space next to him. “Come on. You can tell me what’s going on while I feel you up.”

“This is serious.”

His smile faded and he sat up. “You have my attention, Gabby. What is it? The girls seemed fine at dinner. Makayla was a little quiet. Did you two have a fight?”

She twisted her hands together. Sitting wasn’t an option. She had to stand or better yet, pace. Only, she wanted to be looking at him as she told him. She wanted to know what he was thinking. If he blamed her. Because she was worried about that. Being blamed.

“Gabby?”

“Makayla’s pregnant. We did three different pregnancy tests. They were all positive.”

Andrew went completely still. For a second, she wasn’t sure if he was even breathing. Then he swore—angry words directed at no one but upsetting all the same.

He rose until he was standing in front of her.

“You’re sure?”

She nodded.

“Boyd?”

“I don’t know. Honestly, there hasn’t been time. I went and got the tests and she took them. By then the twins were done with their movie and I had to start dinner.”

She was shaking. Everything hurt. Nothing felt right. She was braced for him to start yelling at her, to tell her what she’d done wrong. Even though Andrew never did that.

Was it her own guilt? If she’d tried harder with the teen. If they were closer.

Andrew charged out of the room. Gabby hurried after him. He opened Makayla’s door without knocking. She sat on her bed, her back against the pillows, her knees drawn up to her chest. She’d been crying and wiped her face when they entered.

“Is it Boyd?” Andrew asked.

Makayla nodded.

He turned around and walked out.

Gabby stared after him. What?

“Daddy, no!”

But Andrew didn’t listen to his daughter’s plea. He disappeared and a few seconds later, Gabby heard the slam of his office door, which was a whole lot better than the garage door opening. At least he wasn’t going to confront the teenage father-to-be right now.

She stood in the center of the room, not sure what to do. Makayla began to cry again. Gabby sucked in a breath, then went over to the bed and sat down. Makayla threw herself at Gabby, wrapping her arms around her waist and burying her head in her lap.

“It’s going to be okay,” Gabby said automatically, stroking the girl’s back. Like this, broken and hurt, Makayla seemed younger. Smaller.

“It’s not. He hates me.”

“He’s known for fifteen seconds. Maybe he gets some time to figure out how to deal with the information.”

“You didn’t reject me when you found out.”

“Your father hasn’t rejected you, but he does need to process all this. He loves you and we’ll get through this as a family.” Was she saying the right thing? Was there a right thing?

She sat there while the girl cried. After a few minutes, the tears quieted and the teen sat up.

Gabby touched her cheek. “You’re a mess. Still way too beautiful, but a mess.”

Makayla didn’t smile. “What am I going to do?”

“Wash your face, brush your teeth and get into bed. The rest of it can wait. You’re not having the baby tomorrow. I’ll talk to your dad tonight and we’ll come up with a plan.”

Makayla nodded and climbed off the bed. She walked to the bathroom, then turned back to Gabby.

“Can you stay until I fall asleep?”

An unexpected request. “Of course.”

“Do you hate me?”

“No.”

“You’re sure?”

“I’m not happy, if that’s what you’re asking. But I’m going to guess you’re not happy, either. We’ll deal. Nobody hates you.”

Makayla nodded. For a second Gabby was afraid she was going to ask the next logical question.
Do you love me?
Of course she would say yes, but she wasn’t sure it was the truth. Loving Makayla wasn’t easy. The teen pushed her buttons. And right now, well, it wasn’t anything she wanted to talk about. But Makayla didn’t ask, so there was no need to lie.

Less than ten minutes later, Makayla was in bed. Gabby pulled up the chair from her desk and sat close. The only light came from the half-open door and the hallway beyond.

She’d thought Andrew might return to say something, but he hadn’t. While Makayla had been in the bathroom, Gabby had crept into the twins’ room and pulled out a couple of books. Now she opened the first one.

“You’re not going to read to me,” her stepdaughter said. “I’m too old.”

“It will help you fall asleep.”

Gabby opened the first book. It was a chapter book by Jane O’Connor in the Fancy Nancy series. “Nancy Clancy, Super Sleuth,” she began. “Chapter One.”

It took a while, but eventually Makayla fell asleep. Gabby put the chair back, then walked out into the hall. She left the door open a little and the overhead light on. In case the teen woke up. Then she made her way downstairs.

She was tired. No, bone-weary. In a few short hours, everything had changed. She didn’t know how this was going to end, but it wasn’t going to be good. She could feel it.

She walked into Andrew’s office. He sat behind his desk, staring at the wall. When he saw her, he rose and crossed to her. After taking her hands in his, he looked into her eyes.

“I’m sorry. I was wrong. About Boyd and the kissing. I should have listened to you.”

She nearly melted with relief. “I had no idea they were so involved. This is a mess. It’s been awful, trying to act normal, waiting to tell you.”

“You had to. We couldn’t discuss this with the twins around.” He pulled her close. “I hate that sniveling little shit for doing this to her, but that’s beside the point. We have to figure this out. Talk about a giant fuckup.”

Despite everything, she giggled. “That’s one way to put it.”

He looked at her. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “No pun intended.”

“Too bad.”

He put his arm around her and led her to the sofa under the window. “What do you think we should do?”

“Talk to her and find out when this all happened. Talk to his parents. Present a united front.”

He nodded. “That makes sense. I also have to make things right with Makayla in the morning. I need to remember I’m upset with the situation, but she’s still my daughter.” He squeezed her hand. “I’m so lucky to have you, Gabby. We’ll figure this out and go forward together.”

Exactly what she wanted to hear, she thought, as she smiled at him. As long as they were united, they would get through this.

* * *

“I know why they didn’t want that one,” Rob said as he stared at the murky purplish-brownish color on the side of the paint can. “It had to have been a mistake.”

“I hope so.” Hayley pointed to another can on the shelf in the back of the hardware store. “What about these?”

“Yellow? Not my favorite. You know, we
could
just buy the color we want. It’s paint. We can probably afford it.”

Hayley shook her head. “Come on. Think of this as a challenge. Or a scavenger hunt. We’ll use the money for something else.”

She had a feeling he was thinking window coverings or carpeting while she was thinking Switzerland, but they were having such a good time this morning. There was no reason to mention that.

“If we don’t find anything we like, we’re picking a color.”

“Agreed.”

They continued to study the shelves of discounted paint cans.

“Hey, look at this one.” He held up a can with a brush of sage green on the side. “It’s kind of nice.”

She walked over and studied the color. It was just the right shade of green. Not too yellow and not too dark.

“I like it a lot. How many cans are there?”

“Three. Which should be enough. We’ll need to do a coat of primer because the walls haven’t been painted in so long but we can get that tinted.” He glanced at her. “They tint for free, so don’t freak.”

“I don’t freak.”

“About money? Yeah, you do. So we’re sold on the sage?”

“We are.” She smiled at him. “You’re so handy.”

“Just one of my many charms. Come on. Let’s go get the primer.”

When the paint had been loaded into their cart, they made their way to the garden section. The morning was warm and sunny, even with the awning overhead. Plants were laid out in rows—some on tables with the larger ones on the ground, grouped by type—shade, flowering, annuals, perennials. Now that their front yard had been cleaned up, it was in obvious need of fresh plants. But there were too many choices.

Hayley looked around at all the offerings, then back at Rob. “I don’t know anything about plants. You?”

“Same.”

“We could ask someone.”

“You’re assuming we know the questions.”

“Oh, right.” She pointed to the roses. “I know what they are. I think they’re a lot of work.”

“Then not for us.”

She sighed. “I’m clueless.”

“But pretty and that counts, right?”

She pretended to slug him in the arm. “Very funny. So maybe we should go home with what we have and walk the yard. Figure out what’s dead, what just needs watering and come up with a plan. Then we can go online and learn a few basics before coming back.”

“An excellent idea.” He kissed her lightly. “Not so clueless after all.”

They made their way through the Saturday afternoon crowd and got in line to pay for their purchases. After loading everything in the car, they drove home and carried the cans and paint supplies into the house.

They’d already emptied the master of everything but their bed and the dresser. They would take the curtains down in the morning, just before they started painting. Hayley picked up a roll of blue tape.

“I’ll start with the baseboards if you want to do the windows,” she said.

Rob took the tape from her and dropped it onto the floor. “Or we could do something else,” he whispered right before he kissed her.

The feel of his mouth on hers was nice, but surprising. When his arms came around her, she knew exactly what he wanted.

“I don’t know if I’m ovulating,” she admitted. She hadn’t taken her temperature in weeks. There hadn’t been any point. Between her body recovering from the miscarriage and the way the last batch of hormones had messed her up, she had no idea where she was in her cycle.

“That’s okay,” he said, kissing along her jaw before moving to her neck.

But what about Switzerland? A question she thought but didn’t vocalize. Because nothing could happen before then. She had to let her body recover before the treatments began.

“But I...”

Understanding dawned just as Rob straightened. His brows drew together in annoyance.

“Not everything has to be about getting pregnant,” he told her. “We’re married. We used to do this just for fun.”

Guilt burned hot and bright in her belly. Not only because she wasn’t telling him her plans but because he was right. There had been a time when they’d wanted to make love all the time for no reason other than it felt good to be with each other. Their first year of marriage, they’d made love every day, sometimes more. They’d laughed and touched, smug in the knowledge that they would be in love forever.

He stepped away.

“Rob, wait.”

He looked at her for a long time. “Is it ever not about getting pregnant?”

“Of course.” The words were automatic. “It’s just...”

“That’s what I thought. I’ll be in the garage.”

She let him go. She could have called him back, could have gone to him and kissed him. Could have held him. Changing his mind wouldn’t be that difficult. Instead she sank onto the floor and sat cross-legged on the carpet.

She hurt all over. Not just the usual cramping, but everywhere. Her arms and legs were too heavy. She wasn’t sleeping well. Wanting a baby wasn’t a crime, she told herself as she rested her head in her hands. She wasn’t a bad person. Rob had to understand that.

The problem was, she was pretty sure he did understand. But the journey had gone on too long, and understanding wasn’t going to be enough anymore.