Chapter 24
TWENTY-FOUR
KENNEDY
Ileft Daylen’s house with us on shaky ground. I needed to get away from him. At least he promised to keep things under wraps until we have a more concise plan. That guy would happily walk into his next practice wearing a #GirlDad shirt, and we don’t even know if we’re having a girl.
My mind is a clusterfuck, and I need a level-headed person to talk to. I texted Fallon asking if I could come by her house. She said Harper was home but I was welcome.
I pull into her driveway. She lives in a McMansion not too far from Daylen.
I guess she did well in her divorce settlement.
I’m confident a physical therapist's salary can’t quite make a house like this happen.
It’s very in keeping with the area, with a stone facade and black window frames.
The white vertical siding on one section of the house looks new and is a nice touch.
There are two large bay windows, and I smile as I see Harper’s face pressed to one of them.
I guess Fallon told her I was coming by.
I walk to the door, but before my finger reaches the doorbell, the door swings open with a grinning Harper standing there. I hope my kid is as happy as she is. I certainly wasn’t when I was her age, being raised by nannies because my parents couldn’t be bothered.
Holding my hand in the air for a high-five, I say, “What’s up, little genius? Any fun words for me today?”
She jumps in the air to smack my hand. “Yep. Petard.”
“Umm, what’s that?” I ask, having never heard the word before.
“A small bomb,” she answers. “I’m not exactly sure how I’m going to incorporate that into my daily life, but I’m going to try.”
I think a petard was just detonated in my life. Look at me. I used it in a sentence.
“I’m sure you’ll think of something,” I offer. “Can you say, I’m the petard?” I make a bomb-exploding motion with my hands.
She giggles. “No, silly.”
I shrug. “I tried. Is your mom around?”
She nods. “Yep. She just got out of the shower. She said for me to bring you to the kitchen if you arrived before she was done and offer you some water because you should always offer guests a drink when they arrive.”
I suddenly feel the need to write all these parenting tips down. That’s a smart one. Teaching your kid how to be a good host.
We walk through the house, which is nicely decorated with elegant yet warm and homey touches. “Your house is awesome, Harper.”
She nods. “My grandma helped Mommy decorate it when we moved here. I was a little girl. I barely remember.”
“Does your dad live nearby?”
“Yep. He and Bails are super close. I felt the babies kick in her belly yesterday. It was freaky,” she exclaims with excitement.
I look down at my stomach. That will be me soon. Hopefully not too soon.
As I sit on a stool in the kitchen and Harper excitedly fetches me a glass of water, I hear Fallon yell from upstairs. “Harper, is Kennedy here yet?”
Harper yells back, “Yes, Mommy. She’s eating all your rum raisin ice cream.” She smiles with mischief.
“Don’t lie to me, Harper Montgomery,” Fallon scolds.
Harper places her little hands on her hips. “Santa, The Tooth Fairy, and The Easter Bunny. ’Nuff said, Mommy.”
A laugh bubbles from my throat. This kid is a riot.
Fallon walks into the kitchen with wet hair, small shorts, and an equally small T-shirt. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her wearing so little. She’s got a great body. She must get hit on all the time.
She glares disapprovingly at Harper. “Stop spending time with Aunt Kam. Her attitude is rubbing off on you.”
Harper smiles. “She taught me a new phrase yesterday. Beef Walk.”
I start laughing, knowing what it means, but Fallon obviously doesn’t. “What’s that?” she asks.
Harper giggles. “Going away from people to fart so they don’t hear or smell it. She said if she has milk chocolate, she has to Beef Walk every time.”
Fallon sighs. “God help me, Aunt Kam is going to be the death of me. Harper, why don’t you go do your homework so Kennedy and I can talk?”
“Already done,” she proudly announces.
“Then please go and read for a bit.”
“Okay, Mommy.” She turns to me. “Don’t leave without saying goodbye.”
“I won’t,” I assure her.
Harper exits the kitchen. It sounds like she walks upstairs. I look at Fallon. “It’s cool that she’s willing to read. I would never have agreed to that at her age. I would have gone right to the television.”
Fallon nods. “Me too. She’s only allowed a certain amount of time in front of the television on a school day. She’d rather use it up later for The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills tonight. It’s our embarrassing guilty pleasure.”
I let out a laugh. “I get it. Those bitches are nuts, but I can’t look away either. Their crazy drama is like crack.”
“Agreed.”
I notice her pickleball racquet on the counter and motion toward it. “Do you play?”
She shrugs. “I recently started. I’m not very good just yet. It’s hard at my age to find ways to be competitive. I’m liking it a lot though. I think I’m already addicted.”
“We should play sometime,” I offer. “I’m pretty good. I play with my dad now and then. In fact, I’m playing with him and my brother tomorrow.”
She grins widely. “That’s wonderful. Happy to hear it.”
I’m honestly not sure why she cares so much. Weird.
She stares at me. “I’m guessing this is a big conversation.” I nod. “Would you like some hot chocolate? I have lots of marshmallows,” she excitedly offers.
“Sure. That would be nice.” I narrow my eyes. “How did you know that I like extra marshmallows in my hot chocolate?”
As she begins making it, she shrugs as she says, “Doesn’t everyone?”
“I suppose.”
It was one of the few positive young childhood memories I have of my dad. He’d always sneak extra marshmallows into my hot chocolate when my mom wasn’t looking. It kind of became a running joke between us until I was slightly older and stopped drinking it as often.
Minutes later, she’s handing me a warm mug with a few too many marshmallows. I take my first sip as we sit at her kitchen table. It’s soothing. It’s like she knows just what I need. It’s that maternal instinct I fear I’ll never have.
My eyes meet hers. “I confirmed it. I’m pregnant.”
She nods in understanding. “How do you feel about it?”
“I’m not sure,” I answer honestly. “The father is over the moon. He’s so fucking happy. I can’t get over how damn excited he is about it.”
She smiles. “That’s good news, isn’t it? Anyone I know?”
“Obviously it stays between you and me for now, but it’s Daylen Humblecut.”
Her eyebrows practically shoot into her hairline. “The football player?”
I nod. “Yes.”
“I didn’t know you two were dating. You’re kind of an unlikely pair.
He’s so…goofy. At least on TV and in the handful of times I met him when I was married to Tanner.
We lived in New York City when we were married, so we didn’t see Tanner’s Philly clients as much as he does now.
I can’t believe you’ve been able to keep your relationship with Daylen out of the press. You’re both so popular in this town.”
“We’re not really dating. It’s…complicated.” I then go on to tell her everything. Everything. It feels so good to finally unload it all on someone. A small amount of the weight I’ve been carrying on my shoulders is lifted. The therapist in Maine was right about that.
Fallon sits there with shock written all over her pretty face. “Holy shit,” she breathes. “That’s intense. And crazy. You’re married to him?”
“I am.”
“Does anyone else know?”
I shake my head. “Just Tanner. He tried to help us get the quickie annulment, which sort of backfired on us.”
“Right. Makes sense. How do you feel about Daylen?”
I exhale a long breath. “He’s a great guy.
I hated him at first, but I don’t feel that way now.
Not at all. He’s different from any other man I’ve spent time with.
It’s hard to articulate.” I take another sip of my hot chocolate.
“He makes me feel…safe. I trust him, and no matter what happens with us, I know he’ll be a loving, attentive father. ”
She gives me a small smile. “Well, that’s important, sweetie. More important than you could possibly imagine.”
I nod. “I know it is, but we’re not in love. We’re not even together. I can admit the physical chemistry is strong, very strong. But we were thrust into this situation. We’ve never even gone on a real date.”
“You spend two or three days a week with him playing ball. You don’t have to go out for a meal for it to be considered a real date. I’m sure you know a lot about him at this point, more than plenty of others who get married, trust me. Some of my friends married men they barely knew.”
I twist my lips. “Fair point.” I take another sip. “He had it in his head that we would be moving in together and living the happily ever after life. I had to put the brakes on things. I won’t just be with him because of the baby. The baby should have nothing to do with us as a couple.”
“I understand that, but don’t close the door on things working out between you two.
They could. It’s obvious you have real feelings for him.
” She shakes her head and lets out a small laugh.
“Man, this is the most chronologically fucked up relationship ever. First comes hate, then comes marriage, then comes sex, then comes dating, then comes friendship, then comes baby. Maybe the next thing will be love?” she adds hopefully.
I can’t hide my smile. “Yep, fucked up. That’s me and my life in a nutshell.”
“You’re not fucked up, Kennedy. You have some demons, as does everyone. You don’t think I was fucked up after my marriage ended? Let me promise you, I was. I am. It’s been seven years, and I still don’t have my shit together most days.”
“You? You’re perfect.”