Page 101 of Unveiled Wounds

I was trying to figure out something further to say, but Kelly pointed at my hands, chuckling. “If you want to throw carrots at me, I prefer them with a dip.”

Grace shot me a look like I was losing it, and maybe I was. My brain hadn’t caught up with my body, and while I didn’t have the words to say, I had been standing there, waving carrots around. I scrunched up my nose as I quickly threw them on the nearest tray.

“I…uh…do you want to meet Pumpkin?”Way to go, Meredith. Use your kid to make amends.

“Yes, please.” Kelly clapped her hands excitedly as Grace shifted towards my aunt. She was trying to give us space but was still watching to make sure I behaved. I didn’t want to offend Kelly, but Grace had no way of knowing that.

I led Kelly to the bouncer, sitting on a blanket next to the Pack ’n Play. “Hi, Pumpkin,” I said, picking her up and holding her to my shoulder. “I have someone very important I want you to meet. Promise me you won’t dirty your diaper while she’s holding you. That’s rude.”

Kissing her forehead, I introduced the two of them. “Pumpkin, this is Kelly. Kelly, this is Madalyn, but we call her Pumpkin.” Kelly held her hands out, and I placed the baby in her arms.Kelly was a safe person. I’d been too naïve to notice before. I wouldn’t make that mistake again.

“Hi, Pumpkin,” Kelly cooed. “Where did you get Madalyn from? It fits her.”

“After my mother,” I filled in, wondering if my voice would always hiccup when I brought it up.

“May she never know what it’s like to lose you,” Kelly whispered. “I lost my mother to cancer a few years ago.”

Impulsively, I hugged her as best I could with Pumpkin in the middle. Any lingering animosity between us fell away at the shared experience. We wouldn’t be best friends, but I no longer worried I’d made a mortal enemy.

“If you need a babysitter, I can give you my phone number. I don’t mind, and we already have a system.”

“I might take you up on that.” It was the closest I would come to apologizing, but Kelly nodded her head. She understood, and we were good.

***

Plastering a smile on my face, I walked out the back door. Grace had kicked me out of the kitchen.

“They want to meet you, and they can’t if you’re hiding in here. Go,” she had laughed, flicking her wrists at me to shoo.

I should have taken her advice, but my eyes instantly found Grizz holding Pumpkin the minute I had stepped out into the yard. My feet changed course, and I headed straight for them. Wrapping my arms around his waist from behind, I laid my cheek against the center of his back, the skull patch scratching my skin.

“Should we tell her we’re taken, Pumpkin?” he asked the baby, ignoring me. I slid my hand underneath his t-shirt, resting mypalm along his abs. “I have a wife, and if she catches you touching me like that...” He trailed off.

“It’s a good thing you’re mine.” His body vibrated against my ear at the words.

His phone rang, cutting off anything else I was going to tease. It was easier if I reached into his pocket for him, but I took my sweet time, palming his ass through the denim. It was only fair, but the prospect at the front gate was calling, and I quickly hit accept. Holding it up to Grizz’s ear, I waited silently.

“Okay,” Grizz said, standing straight up as the phone went dead in my hand.

I wanted to ask what was going on as I shoved the phone back into his pocket. However, this was a family party, and I didn’t want someone to question why I didn’t know my place. If it was a big deal, I could always ask Grizz later in private.

“Your gift is here.” He smirked as he circled to face me.

“What did you do? It’s bad enough there’s a gift table for Pumpkin.” I had tried to tell Grace no, but she’d told me the club wouldn’t listen, anyway.

“If we’re not invited, we can head home.”

Charlie. I knew her voice instantly, and when I spun around, my best friends were standing in front of me.

“Surprise!” they sang, holding more pink gift bags.

I threw both arms out, wrapping one around each of them.

“What are you doing here? I didn’t tell you about today.” I hadn’t invited them because I hadn’t known how today was going to go. If I crashed and burned, I didn’t want them to witness my demise.

“I’m so going to beat your ass for that,” Charlie laughed as she tightened her arm around me. There were two gift bags hanging from her wrist, and they poked us in the side each time one of us moved.

“You’ve never been in a fight,” I laughed with her. Charlie had always been the friend who stood up for the rest of us. If she wanted to beat my ass, I knew she’d figure it out.

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