Page 136 of Feels Like Home

She throws her hands in the air,exasperated.

“You two are so annoying! We deserve to know what’s up, you know? Now that he got over whatever was up his butt for a little while there and you two are back together, you have some explaining to do. Besides, you’re the one who called this little informational meeting. So, fess up. Now,dammit!”

“Geesh, Carly. Marriage has made you rather demanding, youknow?”

“I know!” she says proudly. “Seriously. Are you two okay now? Everything issettled?”

“Yeah. He… freaked out, I guess. Putting it mildly. But, when Aidan got in trouble at school, I think it opened his eyes. We’re movingon.”

“Christine, you know we’re here for you, right?” Tess says, reaching over to hold my hand, always the mother hen. Unless margaritas are involved — then it’s every woman for herself. “And I’m glad to hear that. I hear Mrs. Lyons pulled him by the ear. She’shysterical.”

“She did. I bet she lovedthat.”

“So… I mean, tell us when you’re ready, but I really think you should be ready now,” Lauren laughs. “Want wine? Sometimes it helps, takes the edge off a bit, you know.” She gives me knowinggrin.

“I’mgood.”

“Oh? Why is that? I thought you normally enjoyed a glass or two of wine.” Lauren. What a stinkin’brat.

“Okay, fine! I’m prego, okay?” I see Carly hand Tess some money and grumble that Barrett was right. No one is saying anything, so I continue on. “You know, I’m in a family way. Bun in the oven. With child. Knocked up. Bat in thecave.”

“You have a booger in your nose,too?”

I cover my nose and jerk my head back. “What? Do I have a booger?” Carly looks and shakes herhead.

“I’mconfused.”

“Bat in the cave. It means you have something in yournose.”

“No! Bat in the cave. It means I’mpregnant.”

“No, that’s not what it means atall.”

“Idisagree.”

“Let’s look itup.”

“Lauren! Stop! Who gives a crap! Christine just told us she’s pregnant! With Andy’s baby! Wait.” She turns wide eyes toward me and gasps. “It is Andy’s,right?”

I look at Tess like she’s insane. “Of course, it’s Andy’s! Who else’s would itbe?”

“I don’t know! I didn’t want toassume!”

“Tess.”

Who does she think Iam?

“I realize that you and Andy are together but hey, I’m not here to judge you. It’s the twentiethcentury.”

“Actually, it’s the twenty-first.” Carly just can’t turn off teachermode.

“No shit? How does that makesense?”

“Nuh uh. Tess isright.”

“No, she’s not. Sorry you two, but there are instances in the world where you’rewrong.”

“I disagree with that also. I don’t believe it. That doesn’t even make anysense.”

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