Four #2
And they all make me feel… small.
It’s why sometimes even the hour drive to Columbus isn’t long enough.
I feign a smile and shake off the discomfort lodged in my chest. “What’s up? To what do I owe this family ambush?”
Mom rolls her eyes, the same shade of blue as my own. “We just missed our daughter, that’s all.”
I shoot my mother a dubious glance.
For a lawyer, she sucks at lying.
“Uh-huh. What is this, an intervention or something? I’m only watching trashy reality shows like twice a week now, I swear.”
My family snickers as my sister takes the phone from my mom.
Her beautiful face fills the screen and another pang of jealousy lances through my body.
While I know I’m conventionally attractive, Charlotte is stunning.
Her stark blonde bob is so chic and tasteful that it has me considering cutting off my own hair almost everyday.
Unlike my eyes that I inherited from Mom, Charlotte has Dad’s light gray eyes.
They remind me of a thunderstorm, they’re wild and a little mysterious at the same time.
Charlotte’s soft features make her look approachable, but there’s an air of confidence about her that will make you think twice before arguing with her.
She’s self-assured. My sister always carries herself with elegance, she’s patient and willing to listen to anyone who needs a friend. Since we were kids, she knew she wanted to be a doctor like our dad, and I’ve always been envious of the way that she’s so sure of everything she does.
Basically, she’s fucking perfect and I’ve got nothing on her.
“Can you stop pacing? I’m getting dizzy,” I tell Charlotte. My current view is of her forehead and the ceiling of my parents’ living room. The brown ceiling fan is moving in and out of view as my sister trots around the room, having a side conversation with her husband.
“Oops! Sorry, Stace.” The phone moves one more time as she takes a seat on my parents’ leather sectional. “I’m just a little excited so I can’t sit still,” she squeals.
My eyebrows furrow. “What’s going on?”
My sister stares at me with bright eyes, her white teeth on full display as Mom, Dad, and Atticus lean back into the frame. “Well,” she starts, “Atticus and I have some really great news.”
My teeth clench and my face heats up.
She’s about to do it. She’s about to say it, I just know it.
“What’s that?” I squeak while Mae eyes me in my peripheral vision.
My sister rolls her lips before my whole family shouts, “We’re pregnant!”
Sure shit. She said it.
Every chance I’ve ever had to redeem myself as even a close second in my parents’ eyes has flown directly out of my second story window.
She’s done it all. She has the academic merit. The impressive career. The doting husband. She has the baby .
And what do I have? A collegiate cheerleading career that will be over in less than a year, no direction in life, mediocre grades, no boyfriend, and a vibrator in my nightstand that’s on the fritz.
I muster up the appropriate amount of enthusiasm as Mae stares at me in shock. “That’s amazing.” I’m nodding so much. Why am I nodding so much? I’ve never nodded this much. “I’m so excited for you guys!”
“Oh, Stace, you’re going to be an aunt! Can you even believe it?”
I sure am. I’ll be Aunt Stacy, the cautionary tale. The old maid, the weird older lady at Thanksgiving who peaked in college and constantly talks about her “glory days.”
I can see it now. Many, many cats. An organized planner chucked full of musical theater nights with Mae and her family because of course she’ll get married. The same holidays where I get to hear about Charlotte’s accomplishments over turkey, coffee, and gifts.
Stacy, your sister won a Nobel Prize in Medicine. She’s also about to grace us with our third grandbaby. Isn’t that wonderful? She’s the best. Definitely our favorite child. How have you chosen to disappoint us this Christmas season, you washed-up, unlovable ghoul?
Oh. Dear. God.
“I can’t believe it,” I tell her. I really, truly can’t.
“We’re going to dinner next weekend to celebrate with Atticus’s family,” Mom butts in. “I know you’re gearing up for classes but we’d love for you to come.”
My throat dries as my stomach sinks to my fuzzy pink rug.
I know I’m being selfish. My sister’s having a baby. I should be excited.
But I can’t shake the gut-wrenching feeling of being second best in my parents’ eyes.
I need something. Anything to get me through this dinner and, frankly, this pregnancy.
“Of course I’ll be there,” I finally say, working down a swallow. “I’ll be there and I’ll bring my boyfriend, if that’s okay.”
I swear, all four of their jaws drop. Mae’s head whips in my direction and I know immediately that I’ve screwed myself.
After a few seconds of stunned silence, Dad asks, “Boyfriend?”
I’ve never brought a boy home, okay?
“Yeah.” I clear my throat. “It’s recent.”
So recent he doesn’t even exist yet.
It takes my family another ten seconds to recover before my mother finally speaks. “Well. Great! We’re so excited to meet him. Bella Vino’s on Friday. Seven o’clock.”
“Yay!” I say with far too much enthusiasm. “See you then.” I hang up, toss my phone on the couch, and drop my head into my hands before anyone can respond.
I can feel Mae’s eyes boring into the side of my face and it’s painfully quiet until she finally says, “Boyfriend, huh? Are they handing those out for free somewhere?”