Chapter 50
***Ada***
“I think our work here is done.” Mom clapped her hands as she sat across from me at the dining room table. She’d been staring at me since I sat down and I’d been waiting anxiously for what she was going to say.
Joe rubbed the back of my neck from where he sat next to me. “What’s that?”
Dad held a piece of bacon out and I watched as Kitten nearly took off his fingers.
“We did what we came to do. As much as we’ve loved being here and have had so much fun, there’s a party we want to attend a few hours south of here.
It’s not until next week but the build up is a lot like Burning Man.
Have you ever been to Burning Man? Lots of people having a really great time, if you know what I mean. ”
“No! I don’t know what you mean.” I frowned. “What do you mean? Since when do you attend week-long parties?”
“Since we think we’re getting closer to having grandbabies and we’re feeling like relaxing.” Mom raised her eyebrows. “Are you still on birth control?”
I tensed. “Mom!”
Joe’s fingers never stopped rubbing my neck. He was the most relaxed I’d ever seen him as he shook his head at my parents. “You don’t have to leave. We’re more than happy to have you stay for however long you want or need.”
I coughed. “I mean, you probably don’t want them in your business all the time.”
“I don’t know... It’s been nice having you guys here.
” He leaned over and pressed a kiss to the side of my head before he seemed to catch himself.
He shot a glance over at Kendall but she was lost in her phone.
He gently squeezed my neck and smiled at me.
“Our house is open to your family for as long as you want.”
Jud ran his eyes over me from the seat next to my mom. He smiled before turning to her. “The three of us didn’t have much in the way of parental figures. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t appreciate having you two here and that I wasn’t going to miss seeing you around.”
Mom’s eyes filled with tears and she leaned over to pull Jud into a hug. “Oh, Judson. We love you boys. We love your entire family. We’ll be back. For sure. And I’m just saying, if you knock our daughter up, we’ll be back all the time.”
“Mom!”
“Ada’s getting knocked up?” Kendall looked from her dad to me and then from my stomach back to her dad. “Cool.”
“When are you planning on leaving? Let us make you a big dinner before you go.” Collin laughed at the look I gave him. “Okay. Let us have David make you a big dinner before you go.”
Mom let go of Jud to scoop up Milo from where he stood between her and Dad with his arms up for her. “No, no. If we draw this out, we’ll never leave. We’re going to head out before lunch. We’ll be back in a week, though. Promise.”
“I just hope we still have all our parts by then.” Dad wagged his eyebrows. “This party is going to be something else. Patricia Hope? You remember her, Ada? Her son asked you to prom senior year? She’s bringing mushrooms.”
I shook my head hard and fast. “No. No way. You two are not going to some random party to do drugs with Patty Hope!”
“Did you go with him to prom?” Jud shrugged when I shot him a look that said he was missing the point. “What? I’m just curious. I would’ve been the one taking you to prom if you hadn’t played so hard to get.”
Dad snorted. “I’d hardly call what she’s done playing hard to get.”
“I want to leave this family and never look back.” I groaned at the ceiling.
“Same.” Kendall stood up from the table and grinned. “Beck’s coming to pick me up with her moms. Is it okay if I go to their house, Dad?”
“Sure. We’ve got an event in the city tomorrow that we all need to be at, though, so I want you back tonight.” Joe’s hand tightened on my neck once more before he sighed and stood up. “I have to go make some calls about that event, speaking of. Stop by my office before you guys leave.”
Collin groaned and stood up. “I need to get in touch with Carlos and see what he’s planning on saying tomorrow.”
Mom and Dad both stood up and hugged Collin and Joe. “We’ll say goodbye now so we don’t interrupt your work anymore than we already have. Especially if you’re talking about the Carlos I think you’re talking about.”
Joe looked surprised. “Yeah?”
Mom hugged him one more time and nodded. “Carlos Cortez. He’s a beauty. I have a friend group back home that has been campaigning for him. Everyone knows you’re backing him. It’s big news.”
I raised my eyebrows and looked at Dad. “Are you as lost as I am?”
Joe ruffled Kendall’s hair as he passed by her. “Have fun, Kenny. I love you.”
Dad leaned over his plate after Joe and Collin slipped away. “Carlos Cortez is running for senate. He’s a big player and if he wins, it could mean big things for the Carrington business.”
Jud laughed. “Because we obviously need more.”
Mom wagged her finger at him. “Don’t be so sarcastic, mister. Carlos is amazing. Besides that, though, the other guy is almost a hundred and probably doesn’t know what e-mail is. This wouldn’t just be good for your family.”
Kendall yawned. “I’m leaving. I don’t want to talk about politics. Did you know that this summer camp I’m in is putting on a play about the government? Boring.”
Mom looked like she wanted to argue but I cut her off. “Have fun, Kenny. Call me if you need us to pick you up.”
Alex looked up from his game. “Don’t get knocked up.”
Avery snorted. “She can’t. She’s a lesbian, idiot.”
I found myself wagging my finger at the boys just like my mom had at Jud and shuddered. “First of all, that’s not a new thing we’re saying to people. Second of all, don’t call your brother an idiot. Third of all, lesbians can get knocked up, too.”
“This is why we need Carlos Cortez. If he was making changes, the boys would know all about lesbian sex and reproduction.” Mom laughed as Kendall groaned and hurried away. “Kids today get embarrassed over nothing.”
I looked across at Jud and our eyes locked. I wanted to escape with him more than anything right then.