Page 114 of Three Pucks and a Baby

“Shh,” I hissed as my gaze spun around the room. “Someone will hear you.”

An impish look twinkled in Bennett’s eyes. “I’m pretty sure your grandmother won’t. Your dad introduced me twice, and she’s still calling me Beckett.”

I giggled. “Yes, she’s practically deaf even with hearing aids.”

Dad motioned Bennett over to him. “Gotta go. I’m being summoned.

“I’ll catch you with you later.”

When I turned around, I ran right into Josie. “I came to top you off.” When she saw my full glass, she frowned. “Did you already do a refill?”

Dammit. Why hadn’t I thought to empty my glass in the bathroom sink or toilet so I wouldn’t be conspicuous? “Uh, no. I’ve just been catching up with everyone.”

Josie’s blue eyes narrowed suspiciously on me. “You always multitask drinking and talking.”

I shifted on my feet under the intensity of her stare. “I know. I just did a little pregaming with Bennett back at the house, so I don’t want to overdo it.” With a nervous laugh, I replied, “Nana would kill me if I was plastered and face-planted into the stuffing.”

As Josie continued eyeing me, Mom thankfully came to the rescue. “Okay, everyone, it’s time to eat!”

Once Mom herded us into the dining room, we took our seats. Thankfully, Mom sat Bennett across from me, so he wouldn’t totally be at the mercy of my relatives for conversation.

After we said grace, Dad always liked to give a little toast. Rising out of his chair, he held up his goblet. “Once again, we gather together to celebrate the joyous holiday of our savior’s birth. How blessed we are that we can come together and show our love for one another. I’m grateful that we all have a measure of happiness and health. Merry Christmas.”

All the adults thrust their goblets up. “Merry Christmas,” echoed around the dining room.

As the others started to dig in, Mom grabbed my arm. “Is something wrong with your wine, Vivian?”

“No, it’s fine. Seriously delicious,” I lied.

Mom’s hand fretted with the pearls around her neck. “But you didn’t take a sip for Dad’s toast.”

Shifting nervously in my chair, I replied “I didn’t realize I had to.”

Dad winked. “It’s okay, Viv. It wasn’t one of my better ones.”

I gave him a reassuring smile before shoving the rolls at Mom. “These look delicious.”

With a shriek, Mom dropped the basket of rolls. “Oh my God, Vivian. You’re pregnant, aren’t you?”

The buzzing conversation in the room was immediately silenced by Mom’s declaration. Every pair of eyes shifted to me except for Bennett’s. Across from me, he stared at me with wide eyes as his face paled.

Considering my mother was always one for decorum, especially on the holidays, I could not believe she had just made that declaration. It would’ve been one thing in front of our immediate family, but my aunts and uncles? My cousins who I saw once or twice a year.

Fuck me.

I suppose the only explanation was the idea of her only daughter being pregnant must’ve overwrought her to the extent that she lost all good sense.

Since I knew there wasn’t any way of getting out of this, I grabbed my wine and stood up. “I’d like to add an addendum to Dad’s toast.” Raising my glass with one hand, I brought my hand to my abdomen with the other, “To the next Whitlock grandchild.”

My toast was met with continued shocked silence. With a grin, Bennett grabbed his glass and rose to his feet. “To Vivian’sbaby.”

Dad’s brows furrowed. “Wait, isn’t it your baby?”

As my eyes pleaded with him to go with it, Bennett nodded. “Yes, it’s mine.”

That statement was enough to break the stony silence. Everyone started talking at once. With tears glistening in her eyes, Mom popped out of her chair to hug me. “Oh Vivian, I’m so happy for you, my darling.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

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