Page 9 of Sin Wagon
“No, Claudia, I’m pregnant. In October I’ll be seven months. Congratulations, you’re going to be a grandma!” I smile at her and she looks as pale as Casper and ready to puke herself now.
“Who’s the father? Some delinquent?” she sneers.
“A guy I met a few months ago. We had a night of passion and the morning-after-pill didn’t work. Here we are.” I shrug and I see her tense at my words. I’m not going to admit to her that I forgot to get and take the pill. I just accused her of marrying for money she will no doubt throw that right back at me and say I trapped a man.
“What does he think about this? Is he at least taking care of you?”
“He doesn’t know. Can’t find him, don’t know his last name. So it’s just me, Little Boba, and Uncle Derek.” I look at Derek and he smiles, nodding at me.
“That’s just great, Delilah. A single mother! Really?! You know how hard it was for me to raise you and you go do the same thing? You don’t even know the father. I raised you better than this. What has gotten into you?” she chastises me.
I just stare at her, not giving her tantrum an answer. I’m twenty-one years old and a college graduate, so it’s not like I’m hard up to care for myself or a kid. Clueless? Yeah, but nothing I can’t learn.
Deciding to be more of an asshole because it’s Claudia I give her an answer I know will set her off.
“Claudia, I’m pregnant. Obviously, a dick has gotten into me, and cum, well, and now an embryo.”
“I have to go. I need time to process this news. You’ve ruined the day after my engagement. I expect to see you at the wedding. I’ll send you the details.”
“I don’t give a shit about your engagement. I’ll be at the wedding, looking like a whale, but there to celebrate you marrying some dude you barely know.” I hang up on her, but not before I see her cheeks redden as she again looks off-screen nervously.
True to her word,the next week I get a lengthy email with every detail of the upcoming nuptials. I’m to arrive three days beforethe wedding at the Hilton on Marco Island, Florida. I can go to the dress shop here and pick out a dress and video chat her to give her approval as long as the dress comes in black since it’s slimming. Thursday night we have the rehearsal dinner and Friday morning we have in-suite mani/pedis, makeup, and hair. Then at four PM is the ceremony and reception to follow.
She’s even gone as far as to book my flight there and back, get me a rental car, and include an extra ticket if I, and I quote, ‘find the baby’s father, or I guess you can bring Derek’. I fight to hold back a deep belly laugh at her fucking audacity.
It crosses my mind to hire some ragamuffin off the street to come with and play the part of the baby’s donor. Just to piss her off. But it’s her wedding and I’m not that low. Even if it is Claudia.
She’s been like this my whole life. I was never skinny enough, popular enough, or had enough boys calling after me. Never mind being valedictorian, getting high honor awards and scholarships out of the ass. She only worried about me being prom queen or having a new guy taking me out every Friday night.
I’m used to her bullshit, so it’s just another day for me, but I swear if she tries her scrutiny and judgment on Little Boba, I will never speak to her again. If I can live my whole life without a father and turn out just fine, then Little Boba can live without a grandma. I plan on being enough for this baby, filling any role I need to so he or she knows they’re loved beyond measure.
The love might just start after we’re done with this puking all the time, though.
Chapter 6
WELLS
Jonas is getting married in five months and you would think we’re flying over the pond to meet the Pope the way my parents are preparing. This woman is coming to family dinner tonight and they want it to be extra special since she and Jonas have some important news to tell us.
I swear if they tell us they’re calling it off after everything our mom has done so far, I will strangle my brother with his own testicles. Apparently, Drew is tagging along as well, so it could potentially be something about the merger. They're due to arrive any minute now, so we'll find out soon.
“Wells, baby, can you help me carry this all out to the dining room?” my mother calls from the kitchen, balancing two dishes in her hands.
“Yeah, Mom.” I hurry to grab the dishes from her, setting them on the table. One is holding the prettiest prime rib I think I’ve ever seen, and the other is a green bean casserole of some sort.
“Behind you, Wells,” she calls as she returns to the table, this time with a bowl of mashed potatoes and a boat of gravy. “That should do it, minus the wine, and I have strawberry rhubarb cobbler for dessert.”
“You overdid it, Mom. We could have just ordered in Italian or something. Hired a chef.”
“Nonsense. You know I always enjoy cooking and feeding my future daughter-in-law and her father is a special treat.” She smiles, patting my cheek.
The doorbell rings and her smile grows as she turns to head toward the door. “Roy! They’re here.”
I follow behind and lean against the entryway to the dining room, wondering why in the world Jonas rang the bell. My mom opens the door to reveal only Claudia and Drew, her father.
“Drew, Claudia. I’m so glad you could both make it. Where is Jonas?” I ask, looking around for my brother.
“Wells,” my mom warns. “Don’t be rude.”
