Chapter Twelve
WE’RE EACH GIVEN several pieces of cardstock and a marker to record our answers. Ren and I find a couple of vacant folding chairs and take our seats.
“Okay,” Michelle says. “I’m going to ask some trivia questions about the expectant parents to see how well you know them. Whoever gets the most answers right wins a prize. Jerry will be keeping track.”
Her husband waves his pencil and scoring paper in the air, faking excitement at his task.
Michelle ignores her husband’s mockery. “First question: Who will be more nervous when labor starts? Sawyer or Quinn?”
That’s easy. Definitely Sawyer.
As everyone reveals their answers, they’re all saying QUINN. Ren nudges me, so I hold up my answer. Mine says SAWYER.
“Hold up your answer, Sawyer and Quinn,” Michelle tells them.
Quinn has a stack of answer cards on her lap, and she holds one up.
It says SAWYER. “When he drove me to the hospital when I was in labor with Josie and Jordyn, he took so many wrong turns, I thought we’d never get there.
We were lost in Newport—the town he grew up in—for twenty minutes.
I worried I was going to give birth in the car. ”
The crowd laughs, and a few men tease Sawyer. He laughs right along with them. “I’m sure it’ll be no different this time around.”
Michelle says, “Bree is the only one who got that one right. Next question: Who is more likely to get up in the night with the baby?”
Several couples reveal their answers. They all say QUINN, as though it’s laughably obvious.
I know differently. Sawyer always used to get up in the night, change Josie and Jordyn’s diapers, and bring them to Quinn for nursing. Hey, there’s a reason why Quinn adores him so much.
I hold up my card. It says SAWYER.
Quinn holds up their answer. The card says SAWYER. “He spoils me.”
Sawyer and Quinn sneak a quick kiss. I don’t avert my eyes. I take it all in and allow myself to feel happy for them.
I glance at Ren, and he nods at me, like he’s saying, “You’re doing great.”
“Next question,” Michelle goes on. “Who will ask for pain medication during labor first?”
A few “Aw, c’mons” wander around the room. Along with “That one’s easy.” The general consensus is once again Quinn. After all, she’s the one who will be experiencing the pain of labor.
Everyone looks at me, including Ren, awaiting my answer. I hold up my card. “Sorry, guys. That would be Sawyer. Are you kidding? He can’t bear to see Quinn in pain.”
Quinn holds up her card. It says SAWYER. “It’s true. He channeled his inner Shirley MacLaine from Terms of Endearment with the nurses last time and demanded they give me pain medicine immediately. He was out of control.”
The room fills with loud laughter. Sawyer just shakes his head, taking it all in stride. He’s a good sport.
Michelle moves on. “Next question: What is Mom’s favorite food, and what is Dad’s favorite food?”
Guesses abound as couples hold up their answers. CHICKEN ALFREDO AND TACOS, YOGURT AND STEAK, PICKLES AND ICE CREAM AND A BURGER. No one is even close.
“You know this one?” Ren asks me.
“Easy-peasy.”
“Glad you’re here?”
“Yeah, I am.” I love being the one who knows all the answers.
It makes me feel close to Quinn, like I want to announce to everyone that I’m her best friend, and I know her better than anyone.
While I know Sawyer too, I would’ve known these answers regardless of my fleeting relationship with him, so it doesn’t feel weird.
All eyes are on me again. I hold up my card. It says QUINN: Chocolate. SAWYER: Philly cheesesteak.
Quinn sends me a grin, and I know I’m right again. She holds up her answer card. It says Mom: chocolate. Dad: Philly cheesesteak.
“Nice job, Bree. You’re four for four,” Michelle announces. “Next question: Does Sawyer have a pet name for Quinn?”
The first couple holds up their card. HONEY.
The second couple guesses SUGAR.
More answers pour in. SWEETIE, BABE, DOLL, GORGEOUS, SUNSHINE, LOVE.
Everyone looks at me. I hold up my card. MY FAVE.
Quinn holds up her card, beaming. It says YOU’RE MY FAVE.
Sawyer tells her, “You’re my fave,” and they kiss again, nuzzling their faces together.
Ren whispers, “Man, you weren’t kidding.”
“You were warned.”
“But not prepared.”
He makes me smile. I’m smiling for several reasons, though.
I feel like my relationship is being renewed with Quinn with each passing question.
I know her, and she knows me. We belong together.
But I don’t belong with Sawyer. I can see it so clearly now.
I remember his aquatic stories boring the life out of me. We weren’t a match. In any way.
“Next question: How did Sawyer and Quinn meet?”
Someone hollers, “Just ask Bree,” and everyone guffaws loudly. No one bothers with their answer cards.
“I have the advantage here,” I say. “I introduced them. It was on Sawyer’s boat during a whale-watching charter.” I notice Quinn biting her lip, watching me carefully. “I knew they were perfect for each other right then. Nothing has changed.”
Sawyer grabs the answer card and tosses it over his shoulder while the crowd laughs at his antics.
“C’mon, everyone. Bree’s creaming you. She’s six for six. Next question: What do Sawyer and Quinn plan on naming their baby boy?”
“Jaxon,” I holler before anyone has time to write on their cards. When all eyes are on me, I explain. “At least that’s the name Quinn has wanted to name a son, if she ever had one, since ninth grade. So that’s a guess.”
Quinn doesn’t wait for anyone else to guess. She holds up the card with the name JAXON written on it in big, bold letters and lets out a little squeal.
I couldn’t be happier. I know we won’t be best friends anymore, but I’m happy with whatever I can get. As for Sawyer, he’s acting like I’m not even here. Again, compared to anger, I’ll take indifference any day of the week. I’m actually relieved.
Ren claps along with everyone else at my winning streak. “Nice job, Bree.”
Michelle moves on. “Next question: What has Quinn been craving during her pregnancy?”
My heart drops. I go from happiness to despair in two seconds flat. I don’t know the answer because I haven’t been spending time with Quinn lately. With Josie and Jordyn, she craved kale, of all things. I doubt it’s the same this time around.
Each couple chooses an answer. CRACKERS, BURGERS, SPINACH, STRAWBERRIES, COOKIES, OLIVES. It’s a free-for-all of guesses.
When I notice people are waiting for me to chime in, I shrug. “Sorry, I don’t know that one.”
Quinn lowers her eyes and holds up her card. STRAWBERRIES.
A lady I don’t know jumps up and down, clapping. “I knew it. She’s always snacking on them when she’s waiting for the girls to come out of the classroom at the preschool.”
“Nice job, Marie,” Michelle says. “What’s the score, Jerry?”
“It’s Bree seven and Marie one.”
“You’re still winning the gold,” Ren jokes so that only I can hear. “By a landslide.”
I force a smile and hope it doesn’t look fake. I notice Sawyer is massaging Quinn’s shoulder in a comforting manner.
I turn to Ren, and he winks at me.
Winks.
No comforting back rub for me. My eyebrows furrow as I dwell on that thought for a moment. But it passes quickly.
Michelle shouts above the din. “Next question: How did Quinn tell Sawyer they were expecting?”
“Hey,” Sawyer says. “She was just as surprised as me, let me tell you.”
“Maybe we should tell you how it happens so you can prepare for the future,” one of the men hollers as the other men laugh raucously.
“I’ve got it down, thanks,” Sawyer jokes back, exchanging fist-bumps with several of the men.
Whose idea was it to have men at a baby shower? This should be the girl zone. No men allowed.
WROTE HIM A NOTE one lady holds up her card high in the air, ignoring the men.
That’s a really good guess. I even know what drawer she would’ve put the note in.
But I don’t know the answer to this one.
Quinn would’ve done something clever, just like she did with the twins.
She left sets of pink and blue booties in obvious places all over the house until Sawyer noticed them.
Of course, they didn’t know they were having twin girls at that point.
Many more answers are thrown around the room.
SHE LEFT THE PREGNANCY TEST WHERE HE WOULD FIND IT.
SURPRISED HIM WITH THE PICTURE OF THE ULTRASOUND.
GAVE HIM A BABY RATTLE.
TOLD HIM SHE WAS NOW EATING FOR TWO.
Quinn and Sawyer simply smile. Quinn doesn’t look my way this time. No one does. Everyone knows I don’t know the answer to this one.
Michelle takes over again. “Sawyer, why don’t you tell us how you found out in your own words?”
He tilts his head back and laughs. “Hate to admit this, but I was a little slow on the uptake. Came home from work one day and said hello to Josie and Jordyn. I didn’t even notice anything at that point.
Then my girls said, ‘Daddy, do you like our new shirts?’ Both of their shirts said BIG SISTER on them.
It still took several moments to sink in and for me to understand what that meant. ”
More laughter rings out around the room. Quinn holds up her answer card. PUT BIG SISTER SHIRTS ON JOSIE AND JORDYN. “I sort of thought my man was going to pass out for a while there.” Quinn rubs his cheek lovingly.
Sawyer runs his hands through her long blond hair. It’s just something he does, without even thinking about it, a constant sign of affection.
Again, I turn my face to study Ren. He’s smiling along with everyone else. He has a great smile, one that makes me a little weak at the knees. “That’s cute,” he says to me casually.
But he doesn’t touch me. Not a quick pat on the back or a casual arm around my shoulder or a sweet cupping of my cheek.
Nothing.
“Okay, last question.” Michelle looks just as relieved as I am that this is about to be over.
It’s so obvious that I’m not a part of Quinn’s life anymore. Had I been, I would’ve known about her craving for strawberries. I would’ve known about the Big Sister shirts. She would’ve told me about her plans, asked if I thought it was a good idea.
“What is the exact due date of the baby?”
Everyone groans.
One of the men says, “Does Sawyer even know that one?”
“I do,” Sawyer says. “No doghouse for me.”
Quinn leans over and gives him an Eskimo kiss. Their foreheads meet as they whisper sweet nothings.
“The cuteness factor is over the top,” Ren mumbles.
“Told you.”
“Didn’t believe you.”
People guess a bunch of dates, then Michelle asks Sawyer to reveal the due date.
He grins widely. “February fourteenth.”
A collective “Awwww” wanders around the room.
All I can think is figures. When else would Sawyer and Quinn’s baby be due but on the day of love.
Quinn holds up the answer card with FEbrUARY FOURTEENTH and a bunch of hearts scribbled on it.
Sawyer and Quinn smile at each other, their hands clasped together tightly. I love how affectionate they are with each other. I always have.
It hits me then. Like a brick landing on my head.
I’m sitting next to Ren in a crowd of people. Our shoulders occasionally bump, our arms touch, our fingers brush against each other’s.
But he doesn’t reach out and hold my hand. In fact, he’s never held my hand. Not once, unless he’s helping me get up out of a chair or bandaging my hands after cooking lessons. I love my hand in his, but those moments don’t count.
Actually, he doesn’t touch me. Like, ever.
Why didn’t I realize this sooner? Am I so obsessed with myself and my pain that I’ve been a little blind?
Are we really only friends? Nothing more. And no potential for more?
Then why is he spending so much time with me? What does he want?
I’m so confused. I mean, I told him I didn’t want to date for a year. I told him I only wanted to be friends. Is he simply honoring my wishes?
What’s going on?
Friends often comfort one another through a slight squeeze of a hand, an arm around a shoulder, or a few pats on the back. But Ren does none of those things.
Why not?
Now that I’m ready, now that I’ve developed feelings for Ren, am I about to face major heartbreak? Again?
What am I doing here? I can’t do this.
Michelle asks Jerry for the score. “Bree seven, Marie one, Sawyer two.”
Michelle hands me a gift bag. “Congratulations, Bree.”
The attention is on me again. I’m not sure I can fake even a small smile because my thoughts are reeling. Watching Sawyer and Quinn’s affection is making me realize that my relationship with Ren is lacking. Big time.
“Thank you,” I say quietly, holding the gift bag at my side. I’m not going to open it in front of everyone.