30. Made of Dishonor
Eva
“They’re out there,” Davey confirmed, meeting me in the hall outside the bride’s suite. “But you got this. And you look gorgeous.”
I gave him a quick kiss and tried to worry about my parents. Ellie wanted to uninvite them to spare me, but I’d not taken up her offer.
“Thanks. It’s going to be awkward as hell, but it was unfair to tell them not to come.”
“Sure, but… I don’t think your parents are the type to raise a dramatic fuss. I simply gave them a little hello. They responded in kind and left it there.”
“It probably knocked them over dead that you were here, David.”
“Yeah, well, I love you. So, I’m here. Do you need anything? Water? Anything?”
“I’m good,” I agreed, touching my stomach. The flutters strengthened. I stopped to appreciate them.
“What? Is something wrong?” Davey panicked.
“No,” I laughed. “The babies are kicking. I’ve been feeling it more, but… it’s not a bad thing.”
Davey put a hand on my stomach.
“You’re not gonna feel them, Davey. Someday soon. I promise.”
“Eva, come on. We’ve got to take pictures,” Callie called.
“Coming,” I said.
Davey gave me a longer kiss. “You’ll be great. Have fun.”
I followed Jace, who waited down the hall.
“They want bridal party pictures before we go down.”
“The groom is secured?” I asked.
“His people have been notified,” Jace confirmed. “I just texted his brother.”
“Great.”
“So, you and the billionaire?” Jace snickered. “You never talk about him.”
“It’s awkward.”
“Doesn’t look awkward. Girl, he was drooling.”
I snickered. “I don’t get it. I am sweating like a pig. I hope the photographer can edit out pit stains.”
“Relax. You look like some glowy pregnant lady. It’s kind of amazing. You’re growing motherfucking humans in there,” they said. “It’s wild.”
“It’s weird,” I admitted. “I hate how much I love it when they kick me.”
“Aww, you should. It’s special. I won’t fault you. Now, if I was pregnant, I’d be freaking the fuck out, but it suits you. And homeboy laps it up. Don’t complain. It doesn’t look like it’s slowed you all down.”
“It’s for the best. The thing about this stage of pregnancy is I am constantly horny. I swear to God.”
We stopped in front of the garden in the courtyard. Ellie tried to straighten Jane’s dress.
“I got it,” I said.
“No, stop!” Jace called me out. “I got it.”
“Folks, I’m not broken. I can fix a dress!”
“Babes, if you squat right now, you’re not coming back up,” Ellie giggled. “Calm down. It’s fine.”
“I have been useless all day!” I whined as she beckoned me closer.
“You’re not. You are the best moral support available.” Ellie gave me a hug and a kiss. “How could I do this without you?”
“How could I not be here?” I sniffled, fighting tears.
“Tissue!” Callie called.
“Got it,” Jace pulled one out of their jacket.
“Ladies, let’s get together,” the photographer insisted.
“Folks or y’all. We’re not all ladies. I’m a Maid of Dishonor,” I corrected him with some self-deprecation.
Jace shot me a look of solidarity.
“Come here and shut up,” Ellie said. “You’re adorable. Show it off. You’re beautiful.”
She was right. I was happy and safe. Brooke couldn’t call me whore.
I didn’t have to fear my mother’s judgement or the press’s eagle-eyed awareness that I was carrying David’s child.
His mother insisted we do some sort of formal announcement via the publicist. I was wary but the Tribune already knew everything our workforce did.
Why they withheld the news I didn’t know.
Maybe it was out of respect for David Sr’s widow?
No one knew. I was done being mortified.
I couldn’t exactly hide it any longer. Davey didn’t want to.
What more could we lose? The world hadn’t ended.
Davey
“Can you tell Eva we didn’t mean to miss her?” Bert asked.
He rushed over after the ceremony. I worried this was about to be a fight at the worst time.
The newlyweds took pictures while we drank in celebration of their nuptials.
The wedding was sweet and relaxed. It was perfect.
The weather was a little warm, but nothing too bad for Labor Day.
I didn’t want Bert and Mary to ruin everything.
“Excuse me?” I asked, confused.
“We meant to tell her we loved her—and not say anything about Brooke. We don’t want trouble. We are trying to figure it out, okay? I cannot see my baby up there looking so pretty and not say anything. But Brooke is in labor.”
“Oh,” I said. “So, you just want me to tell her that?”
“Yeah. We need to pick Miles up, so we’re rushing to the hospital right now. You don’t have to tell her all that. We’re not trying to play favorites here. Just… we need to figure out a way to protect Eva and I don’t think Mary is ready to admit all of this is futile yet.”
I nodded. “Okay. I will do my best. I hope it all goes well.”
He patted my arm. “Thanks, son.”
Son. I couldn’t help but feel bad. Eva was still rightfully angry with her parents.
Discussions ended in tears—as did everything these days.
They had no idea Carter was dying and that she cried anytime Mona sent an update.
Eva was simultaneously happy about the babies thriving and grieving the loss of her beloved dog.
Eva appeared forty minutes later, looking exhausted. Cocktail hour was all about standing, but I knew she needed a break. We escaped outside to the ceremony space to sit. I grabbed her a pop.
“Thanks,” Eva said. “God, I’m so tired.”
“I hope you’re not too tired for a dance later,” I said. “I plan to take you out.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah. It might surprise you to know I actually like to dance.”
“Really?”
“I was in show choir in high school.”
She snickered.
“What?”
“That is the nerdiest thing ever.”
“Uh, join show choir and touch a boob. That was our motto.”
She giggled. “Good to know you like to dance. I don’t. I will because Ellie does.”
“It’s a wedding. Dance with me,” I said.
“I will. Promise. That is if my parents don’t ruin it all.”
“They left,” I said. “And wanted you to know they loved you and were working on it all. You should probably let the bride know, too.”
“She’ll understand.”
“I think they meant well, but Brooke is in labor, and they had to pick up Miles. They didn’t want to hurt you or play favorites.”
Eva looked at her hands.
“I love you, Eva. I know they do, too. We don’t have to talk about it right now. You don’t have to feel any one way. I just—”
“You’re the messenger. I will tell Ellie they send their best. She’ll like to hear that,” Eva interrupted.
“How has it been so far?” I changed the subject.
“Honestly, fun. I am trying to sit as much as I can. My back is killing me. My feet are swollen.”
“I’ll give you tons of back and foot rubs. Promise,” I said.
“I will accept your offer. A dance for rubs? I can manage it.” Eva grinned.
“Eva, they’re doing the grand entrance,” Jace approached. “You okay?”
“I’m good. Just taking a break,” she held her hand out. “Help.”
Jace pulled Eva back to her feet and led her into the hall to receive the new couple. They paraded in with Jane. The kid was over-the-moon happy to have a stepdad.
“She’s elated,” I said as we settled into our dinner seats.
“She’s so excited. She loves Mike.”
Jane flitted back between her mother’s seat and that of another man across the room.
“That’s her dad,” Eva read my mind. “They coparent well. It wasn’t always so chill, but it’s good. He and Mike even talk. It’s not bad.”
“There’s hope,” I said. “Coparenting can work.”
It was a deflection—one for her benefit.
She squeezed my knee. “I really want it to work, okay? You gotta give me time, but I want to raise these babies together, alright? Like really, really together.”
It hit me in the feels. “Really?”
“Yeah. I think we should plan to live together—for good. I don’t see my feelings changing. We’re a good team, okay? I hope we can be a family—even if we’re a little unconventional.”
“I can manage that,” I agreed.