Page 117 of Unexpected Redemption

“Word to the wise,” Sammy says from behind a Cheshire grin. “Never tell Sue anything you need to keep from my brother. Somehow, he always knows when she’s got a secret.”

“It isn’t my fault, Sammy,” Sue contends, her blue eyes sparkling with playful indignation. “He saw the receipt for the pregnancy test and thought it was mine. And we weren’t even trying at that point.For feck’s sake, it was a few days before the wedding.”

Teasing her sister-in-law, Sammy quips, “You should have taken it for the team, Sue. My brother knew before Sawyer did.”

Sue flings her thumb at her giant husband. “He wouldn’t have believed me. He has ways of getting my secrets.”

Val chimes in through snort-laughs. “Yeah, yeah, we know. The pickle tickle.”

“Wait. What?” I ask, my voice drowned out by the laughter in the room.

Sue’s cheeks redden, but she keeps focused on making her point. “You know I can’t lie. Have you seen me try?”

Sammy’s enormous belly jiggles with her laughter. “So many wonderful times. Two thumbs up. Solid gold entertainment.”

“Oh, feck off,” Sue hisses with absolutely no venom in her tone, then turns her pretty eyes on me. “Anyhow, I’m sorry for telling your secret to Leo. However, I can’t explain how they know.” She sticks out her pinky and index finger, simultaneouslypointing at Sawyer and Sammy. “That’s not on me. And neither are they.” She tips her chin toward Kri, Val, and Shep.

Giggling, I wave her off. “Don’t worry, honey. I accidentally told Tomer about you being pregnant too. So I guess we’re even.”

Her features melt, the relief visibly relaxing her. “Even is good. Balanced.”

“We’re happy for you and Tomer,” Sawyer offers, raising his coffee cup in my direction.“A few years ago, I wouldn’t have thought him ready to be a father, but he’s become a new man over the last several months. I suppose we have you to thank for that.”

A few sassy retorts melt on my tongue, but I keep them there, offering him a half grin instead.

I take a gulp of the fertility water, and my ability to filter my thoughts must float along the cold stream down my throat. “Actually, he always would have made a great father. I might have brought him out of his shell, but he’s a damn good man on the inside. Always has been. Truth be told, it’s too bad you guys didn’t see it all this time. But that’s on you. Your loss.”

For a few seconds, all I hear is the raucous pounding of my heart. As I look around the room, everyone’s eyes have fallen to the floor. Forks and knives have frozen in place.

Oopsie poopsie.

Might have released a smidge too much honesty.I barely know these people, and here I am, reading them the riot act.

“Awk-ward,” Val singsongs, finally breaking the tension.

“Sorry,” I begin to apologize, falling back on my raising. “Nope. Check that. I ain’t really sorry. If it pisses y’all off, then tough titties said the kitty when the milk went dry. Y’all have been shitty to him for years. And if you ask me, which I know you didn’t, you should be begging for his forgiveness.” My head bobs emphatically, adding punctuation to my dressing down.

And just like that, the tension in the room spikes to hazardous levels.

Man alive. These hormones must be messing with me, making me act contrary.There’s sticking up for someone, and then there’s being a bitch. Not sure where I am on the spectrum.

“Awk-ward-er,” Valerie chirps after several seconds of torturous silence.

This time, the response is less jovial.

Their gazes burn into me from all sides. Steadfast, I keep my eyes on my ziti, taking a bite to prove I’m unrattled.

Although, I’m rattled as the chains on theGhost of Christmas Past.

As you’d expect, Sawyer is the first one to speak. “Lettie, our relationship with Tomer isn’t that simple. I don’t think your judgment is entirely fair. It’s?—”

I cut him off with another of my patented overreactions. “Oh, you want fair? That’s where they judge pigs and pies.”

A couple of tight laughs escape. Sue and Val, by the sound of it.

“Kri, I’m sorry, but I no longer want to be like you when I grow up,” Valerie whispers loud enough for everyone to hear. “I’m gonna be like Lettie.”

“You already are, kid,” Shep says, rubbing the top of her head, which draws an annoyed huff from her.

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