Page 32 of Seven Minutes In Heaven
“Mom.” Jake redirected the conversation before Carmen’s sturdy gaze could bore a hole in Claire’s skull. “Claire and I came here to tell you something.”
She took one look at them and let out a laugh of utter disbelief. “When you said something had happened between you and your future stepmother, Jacob,” she began, “I thought maybe you had offended her fragile ass. Now I see. The way you two sit together, that lilt to your voice… don’t tell me. You’re in love.”
Jake straightened his back and glanced at Claire. She wanted a cigarette, and she hadn’t smoked since she was an edgy teenager trying to look cool.
“Something like that,” Jake admitted.
“How predictable. I always warned you that your father marrying a young actress was trouble. He probably knew you fancied her already and moved before you could cement any happiness.” Carmen sputtered out another laugh. “I can’t believe it, but you are your father’s son, I suppose. I could only counteract so much of that.”
Carmen shot Claire another intense look. Under the weight of that gaze, Claire shivered as if every layer of her skin had been peeled away and analyzed.She’s seeing me for who I really am. She wants to know my motives. Oh my God, what if she knows already? How much can she tell about me from one look? Does she know…
“I’m pregnant,” Claire blurted.
Jake groaned. No, this wasnothow he had rehearsed telling his mother the news, and Claire didn’t care. He would never understand what it was like having an older woman stare at her like that, as if there wasn’t a single secret Claire could hide.She’s better at this than my mother!
Carmen remained nonplussed. “Of course you are,” she said, after having a sip of her coffee. “I could tell when you walked in here. I just didn’t know whose it was until now.”
“It’s mine,” Jake said.
“So she says.”
“It really is his,” Claire answered. “I’ve never… been… with Arthur.”
“Nowthat’ssurprising. How did you swing that engagement, then? Let me guess. He bought that you were a virgin waiting for your wedding night?”
“I never said I was a virgin.”
“Good. Because he isn’t that big of an idiot, even if he got off on the idea.” Carmen sighed. “Do you know who was a virgin when she got married? Yes, yes, it was me.”
Jake took the coffee away from his mother. “We need your advice.”
“About what? Your father? Oh, darlings, you’ve really gotten yourself into a mess.”
“I don’t want to marry Arthur.” Claire almost didn’t realize that Jake’s hand was in hers. “I don’t love him, and I know he doesn’t give a crap about me. Not really. I thought I was okay with being a trophy wife, but now that I’ve got this baby on the way…”
“What are you so afraid of by telling my ex-husband to take a fucking hike?”
Claire shuddered. “I’m an actress. He could blacklist me.”
“How’s your career, sweetie?”
Cheeks red, Claire shot Carmen her own heated look.I think you’re amazing, Carmen Carter, but I’m not about to let you totally control this conversation.“Why do you think I agreed to marry him? Solely for his money? He’s a big producer. He has connections.”
“Don’t I know it.” Carmen sighed. “Who else knows about this?”
“Just my doctor.”
“Not even your own family?”
“No. I haven’t toldanybodybut Jake.”
“I see.” Carmen studied her son’s reaction before looking back at Claire. “Itislove?”
Claire almost choked on her spit. “I… I don’t know…”
“If you two are in love, then you know there’s only one answer. If you weren’t in love, I could give you all kinds of advice, some of it you might not like. This?” She gestured to the held hands and how the young couple leaned in toward one another. “Just get married before Arthur finds out he’s been duped like he deserves.”
Claire sat back in her seat, hand faltering in Jake’s.Marry Jake instead?She had considered it more than once, but it was so farfetched, sostupidthat…
“What do you have to say about becoming a grandmother?” Jake asked his mother. “You’ve barely reacted to that.”
“I’m only surprised that you haven’t shotgun married some other girl yet.” Carmen then addressed Claire. “If you haven’t noticed, my son is a terrible romantic. You’re either in for the love of your life, or the nightmare of your twenties.”
That made Claire’s eye widened, before she remembered what therealnightmare was. That was why they were here, invoking Carmen’s advice on the matter.
Well, she had given it, and now Claire had to decide how much she felt for Jake was real, and how much was her fears manifesting in new and more frightening ways.
