Chapter 25
Chapter
Twenty-Five
Hunter
Thirty-six weeks pregnant
“ Y ou know, I don’t mean to sound ungrateful Duncan rented this beautiful space for our baby shower today. But asking a woman this pregnant to drive more than five miles in city traffic should be examined by the Geneva code.”
I meet the alarmed eyes of our ride share driver in the rearview mirror. I shoot him what I hope is a reassuring smile, hoping he bites his tongue about how we’ve only actually traveled a little over two miles. Traffic is awful. Taking the Metro may have been faster, but is not Michelle’s current favorite mode of transportation.
“Just another block or so babe, and then we’ll find a bathroom.”
She looks over at me, horrified. “Please never tell Duncan I said that. I’m really excited about today. It’s uncomfortable having a head of romaine lettuce sitting on my bladder.”
“It’ll be our secret. Let this experience solidify if you ever mention anything you’d like to do or anywhere you’d like to go in front of Duncan, he’ll do everything in his power to make it happen.” Duncan rented out the tearoom at The Willard for our baby shower after Michelle mentioned in passing she always wanted to do an afternoon tea. I squeeze her hand.
“Well, next time, I’ll shoot a little higher and say Paris or something.” She squeezes my hand and dazzles me with her smile. Michelle’s pretty uncomfortable all the time now, but I can’t help staring at her whenever I have the chance. She’s glowing and gorgeous, more and more every day.
“Here we are,” our driver says. I jump out and run around the car to open Michelle’s door and help her maneuver her way to standing.
“Thanks, man,” I say, and give a higher than usual tip for the trouble of worrying an accident would occur in his back seat any moment.
We walk into the lobby of The Willard and Michelle stops dead, taking in the ornate carvings on the ceiling and marble columns. I spot a discreetly placed sign directing us to the restroom.
“We better head this way, babe.” I put pressure on her back and point us in the direction of the ladies’ room.
“Yes, right. Wow, it’s so beautiful in here. It made me forget how badly I have to pee. Would be a shame to get kicked out for soiling the floor before I can enjoy the spread, wouldn’t it?” She picks up the pace and disappears behind a thick oak door.
I wait for her, checking on a few emails and tagging a few things for my assistant to deal with at the end of the weekend. After the scare at the emergency room, Duncan insisted on giving me more funds so I could hire an assistant, as well as made me promise I’d quit picking up jobs in kitchens. I insisted he take an additional five percent of the company but am doing a much better job of balancing all of my priorities, with Michelle at the forefront.
My phone buzzes with a text from Charlotte, letting me know the room is ready for us whenever we arrive. Michelle appears at my side a moment later.
“All right, let’s get this over with,” she says, something between a smile and a grimace on her face. I hold out my elbow and she tucks her hand in as we start walking to the elevator.
“Remember, say the word, and we’re out of here,” I say, pushing the button for the Mezzanine level where the tearoom is located.
“No, I’m really touched the girls and Margaret want to do this for me, especially on Thanksgiving weekend. You’d think with being on TV for as long as I have, I wouldn’t mind the spotlight, but there I have more of a purpose than as an incubator.” She rests her free hand on her stomach.
“Hey.” I pull gently on her arm, bringing us to a stop and turning to face her. “You know I hate hearing you talk like that. You are so much more than these forty weeks of your life. What’s really going on?”
She huffs out a breath. “I think I’m struggling knowing my mom won’t be here. I put off telling her about you and Cumulus for so long because I didn’t need her negativity, but then too much time passed. Though, I’m not sure why I’m worried about her feelings when she didn’t bother calling on Thanksgiving. A tornado of emotions in here.” She taps at her head.
I pull her into me, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Well, pull me into your funnel cloud. I never want you to face gale force winds alone.” We stand there for a minute before her shoulders start shaking and I hear her giggling.
“What?” I ask, pulling back to look at her face. Her laughter is contagious.
“You are being really cute and sweet. I’m being mean.”
I raise an eyebrow. “What, because gale force winds aren’t as strong as the wind speeds with a tornado?”
She nods, her eyes shining. “Did you do that on purpose?”
I shrug. “A gentleman doesn’t weather talk and tell. Ready to greet your adoring public? ”
Michelle nods and reaches up on her tiptoes to place a peck on my mouth. “With you, I’m ready for anything.”
We reach the tearoom, which Duncan alluded he traded many favors to book for us this weekend, and find it already full of people mulling around.
“She’s here!” Laurel shrieks, moving toward us at a pace I’m sure is outside decorum for this space on a normal day. Everyone’s attention is pulled toward the door, and people filter to greet us.
Dad, Margaret, and my siblings are all here, plus Charlotte and Jax. Caitlin waves from where she’s rearranging the presents on a table from across the room. Some of Michelle’s colleagues have settled at one of the tables decorated in a sage green, with dusty rose accents, digging into a tower of finger sandwiches. A few other people I don’t recognize are milling around, but my eyes snag on the woman with bright red hair standing talking to our neighbor from across the hall. The color is striking and so familiar.
“Fuck.” Michelle breathes as she stands next to me looking in the same direction. “Ready for anything but that.”
“Is that ...” I ask as the woman in question turns around and I see Michelle’s nose and eyes present on a woman in her late fifties.
“Yup, that’s my mom,” Michelle says through her teeth. A glance her way shows a forced smile as she waves in her mom’s direction. The two women start making their way to us and sweat starts to form in my armpits. Fuck, how do I not know Michelle’s mom’s name? Is her last name Lewis? I think Michelle said she’d been married at least once? Or maybe just an engagement?
Michelle squeezes my arm before stepping forward. Fuck, I should be supporting her right now, not the other way around. I step next to her, my hand on her back to assure her we’ve got this together.
“Mom, hi!” Michelle says, holding her arms out for a hug her mother limply returns. Her mom’s eyes flash to mine, and in that instant, I know she’s pissed.
“I found your mom knocking on your door a little while ago,” Nancy, the woman from 2B, says to us. “I told her I was on my way here, if she wanted to take the Metro with me since she’d gotten the time wrong.”
“Well, thanks so much for rescuing her, Nancy,” Michelle says, her voice one I recognize from when she’s calling for sunny skies, knowing there’s the smallest chance an isolated thunderstorm could break out and turn the whole day to hell. “Mom, I’d like you to meet Hunter. Hunter, this is my mom, Diana Lewis.”
Diana. Same last name. I commit it to memory now. “It’s so nice to meet you, Ms. Lewis,” I say, reaching out for a hug, only to be rebuffed with a handshake. All right then.
“I moved recently and am having trouble with my mail forwarding. Michelle told me the time, but I must have written it down wrong. I’m so grateful you were there, so I didn’t miss this special occasion in my daughter’s life.” Diana’s voice is laced with something so poisonous it almost sounds sweet.
Nancy must only pick up on the honey as she beams at us, still under the impression she’s provided a great service. “Well, I’m off to grab a clothespin. Make sure you get one Diana—but don’t say baby!”
“I think I’ll find I’m biting my tongue all over the place today,” Diana says, her eyes skating over me. Her expression displays she’s not impressed with what she sees.
“So, you moved?” Michelle says as Nancy walks away, her tone conversational, with a side of optimism.
“Of course not. I assumed you didn’t want your guests to know you’re the type of person who doesn’t invite your own mother to your baby shower. A shower for a baby you didn’t bother to tell me existed.”
Michelle looks like she took a punch to the stomach, her face falling. I watch as she curls in on herself, unsure what role I should play in stopping it. “Sorry, Mom. I meant to tell you, but I know you have your own brand of advice about relationships. I thought it might be easier if Hunter and I navigated things on our own for a while.”
“Ah, yes. Hunter. You’re certainly a colorful one, aren’t you?” Her eyes fall to where my sleeves are visible under my rolled-up cuffs. “But I can see what you see in him, Michelle.” Diana gestures all around. “Seems like he comes with a lot of perks and benefits.”
“Oh, well Hunter’s brother reserved this—” I wince as a mean smile crosses Diana’s face.
“Oh, Hunter’s brother reserved the space. So his family could be involved as you navigated things ”—her eyes flick to Michelle’s stomach with disdain—“between the two of you. With a brother like that I understand why you wanted to get knocked up. But you know very well a baby doesn’t guarantee a man will stay. We’re living proof.”
I’ve had enough. I step closer to tuck Michelle under my shoulder. “Hey?—”
Clinking of metal on china rings through the room, cutting me off. Charlotte stands at the front, teacup and fork in hand, waiting for everyone to turn her way.
“Thank you everyone for coming out today to shower Michelle and Hunter ahead of the arrival of their little one. The tea is fully steeped and the sandwiches are waiting, so grab a seat and let’s dig in. Guests of honor, you’re up here!” Charlotte indicates to a sweetheart table up near the present table.
“Look, Mom. I don’t want to do this with you right now. You’re welcome to stay, but please, if you’re going to be mad, be mad at me. Don’t take it out on anyone else.”
Diana ponders for a second, then her face transforms into something pleasant and friendly. “Guess I better go get a clothespin then. The bar downstairs doesn’t open for another couple of hours, anyway. Might as well drink some fancy ass tea.” She walks away, taking a seat next to Nancy. Whatever she says, Nancy must respond with the word “baby” as Diana wags her finger and takes the clothespin from the other woman’s collar.
“Are you sure you’re okay with her staying?” I say, as we move slowly to our table. “This place must have staff who knows how to get someone out without making a scene.”
Michelle shakes her head, taking a few deep breaths. “No. I said earlier I felt weird she wasn’t here, right? I spoke it into existence, and now I have to deal with it. Let’s go eat some tiny sandwiches, cookies, and open some hopefully adorable ass clothes.”
She smiles up at me, and only months of reading every emotion in her face betrays how close she is to falling apart. But I decide not to argue, instead helping Michelle scoot her chair in closer to the table. The whole time my eyes are on Diana, determined to watch her like a hawk.