Chapter 38
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Cash
Compartmentalization.
It’s one of my greatest skills. But even after a hot shower and a change of clothes, my guts are still a molten mess of knots. By the time I arrive back at Worcester Medical Center, my mom and dad have shown up, bringing with them every pink balloon in the state. They’re wearing matching ball caps that say Grandma and Grandpa and cooing over Tilly in her bassinet. Meanwhile, I hang back against the wall.
Maybe I’m not bringing the right vibes to the celebration.
Still, I’ve been saying I want to connect with my family more, and Tilly’s giving me my chance. At the very least, I can tell my parents I’m moving when they’re too overjoyed about the baby to get upset.
I’ve already filled my heartbreak quota for today.
Cullen comes over to me, his chest puffed up under his I’m A Girl Dad T-shirt.
“Nice shirt,” I say. “And Tilly’s not screaming anymore, so you’re already winning.”
“My daughter is perfect,” he says with a grin. “And eating like a champ. Lauren’s got this pillow she puts around her, and her nursing bra has a little flap?—”
“Stop.” I throw a hand up. “I’m sure your wife doesn’t need me hearing the details.”
“Breastfeeding is natural,” Lauren announces from her bed. “And you might as well get used to it.”
“Thanks, but I don’t intend to watch my niece … having brunch.”
“I mean when you’re the daddy.” Lauren bounces her brows. “I’m guessing you and Nori won’t be far behind us.”
My dad grunts. “Who’s Nori?”
My mom glances up from her squirming granddaughter. “I missed that, Lauren. What did you say?”
Cullen splays his hands. “Cash has a girlfriend.”
“A gorgeous girlfriend,” Lauren chimes in.
“I do not have a girlfriend.”
“Now, hold on there, brother.” Cullen cocks his head. “Last night, you seemed like a man in love.”
My mother yelps. “Cash is in love?”
“Who’s Nori?” my dad asks again.
I frown at Cullen and Lauren. “Last night, you two were busy having a baby. You’ve got no idea what you’re talking about.”
“We’re referring to before Tilly came.” Lauren folds her arms above her still-swollen belly. “You must’ve watched that video a million times. And the expression on your face …”
“Yep.” Cullen nods. “Pure mushy, gushy love.”
“Hello?” My dad waves. “Who’s Nori?”
“She’s the woman Cash accidentally fell for,” Lauren says. When I glare at her, she scoffs. “What? You didn’t do it on purpose . Show me the lie.”
I drag a hand over my head. “Shouldn’t we be focused on Tilly right now? ”
My mother comes toward me, her eyes sparkling. “You’ve met someone?”
Oh, no.
“This is wonderful news!” She glances at my dad. “See, Eddie? I was right!” She aims her firehose of a grin back at me. “I told your father you just needed a little more time.”
“Four years,” my dad huffs. “Long time.”
“I’ve been busy,” I say.
“We know, and we’re very proud of you, sweetheart,” my mother says. “We can’t imagine how hard things were for you. You know. After everything.”
“Leave the kid alone, Theresa,” my dad groans. “Cash doesn’t need you dredging up the past. Just because Daphne wrecked?—”
“Whoa.” I lift my palms. “No one wrecked anybody.”
“Of course she didn’t, sweetheart.” My mother presses on a smile.
“Seriously.” I glance around the room, taking in the faces of my family, wondering what they’ve been thinking all this time. “I’m not wrecked. In fact—good or bad—I learned a lot from everything that happened.”
“He sure did, Tilly.” Lauren sings this at the bassinet. “Your Uncle Cash learned that Nori is the perfect woman for him. Didn’t he?”
“Wow.” I guffaw. “Are you still high on pregnancy hormones?”
“Nope.” Lauren sends my parents a crooked smile. “You should’ve heard him gushing about her yesterday. He sounded exactly like Cullen did when he met me. Completely smitten. Weren’t you smitten when you met me, Cull?”
My brother nods. “Completely.”
“Turns out Cash and Nori are neighbors,” Lauren adds, digging the ditch even deeper. “He went on and on about meeting her at this restaurant. Then another time her car broke down, and he let her borrow his bike. There was also this whole incident with the pool at their apartment complex. Cash saved her.”
“You saved her?” my mom gasps.
“He did,” Cullen interjects.
“And she has this dream of buying a tea shop now.” Lauren grins at my parents. “It was adorable.”
Great .
“I did not go on and on,” I grumble.
“You did,” Lauren insists.
“Hold on.” My dad tugs at the brim of his ball cap. “You mean to tell me all this happened while you were in labor?”
Lauren cocks her head. “I’m an excellent multitasker. And Cash was kind enough to distract me in between contractions with all his smitten-ness.”
“Complete smitten-ness,” Cullen agrees. Then he rounds on me. “So what happened when you got back to the building? Did you see Nori? Did the video turn out to be a problem?”
“Oh, my.” My mother’s hand flutters to her throat. “What video?”
“Not that kind of video, Mom.” I stuff my hands in my pockets. “It was just a social media thing.”
She waves my comment away. “You all know I only go on Facebook to get messages about mahjong.”
“So.” My dad looks puzzled. “What was the problem?”
“Someone posted a clip of us dancing at a wedding.” My jaw goes tight. “But it’s a long story, and it doesn’t even matter, because nothing’s happening with Nori and me.” I take a beat. “I mean … something did happen.” Completely erasing the past month with Nori doesn’t feel right. “But nothing can come of it. Not anymore.”
Cullen and Lauren and my parents all stare at me, their heads tilted, waiting for an explanation. When I don’t elaborate, Cullen frowns. “Well, this is just dumb, man.” He grunts. “You deserve to be happy. And yesterday, you finally seemed happy. Video or not, you left here kind of … giddy. So, come on, little brother. What gives?”
“Don’t tell us you’re still holding out for Daphne,” my mother frets. “Has she tracked you down?” She turns to my father, whose face looks like he’s smelling rotten eggs. “She got divorced, you know.”
“It’s not Daphne,” I blurt. “It’s me. I accepted a job in California.”
The room goes silent for a breath.
Then Tilly starts to wail.