Chapter 16
Mia
‘Oh my goodness.’ My mom claps her hands. ‘This is wonderful!’
‘What are you so excited about?’ my dad says. ‘We don’t even know the kid. For all we know, he’s some deadbeat.’
‘I can assure you,’ Jason says with a smile. ‘I’m not a deadbeat. I’m a high school science teacher and baseball coach.’
‘See Dad?’ I say. ‘That’s something you and Jason have in common. You love baseball!’
He grumbles something under his breath.
‘When’s the wedding?’ my mom asks, her eyes bouncing between Jason and me. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her this excited. I’m hoping her excitement about the engagement will overtake any disappointment she’ll feel when she finds out I’m pregnant.
‘We don’t know yet,’ I say. ‘We haven’t picked a date.’
‘Let me see the ring.’ My mom looks at my hand.
‘We don’t have it yet. It’s at the jeweler’s being sized.’
‘I bet it’s beautiful,’ my mom gushes.
The waitress comes by with our drinks. ‘Hey, Jason.’ She smiles at him. ‘How was Nick’s wedding last night?’
‘It was good.’ He picks up his menu and looks through it.
‘I bet it was pretty at the orchard with all the trees in bloom.’
‘What orchard?’ my mom asks. ‘Is it that one in town? The one everyone talks about?’
‘Yeah,’ the waitress says. ‘Kanfield Orchard. Jason’s parents own it. His brother got married there last night.’
‘Perhaps you two should get married there too,’ my mom says to Jason and me. ‘Oh, Walter, we have to go see it today!’
‘What do you mean?’ the waitress says. ‘Jason’s not—’
‘We should order,’ Jason says, interrupting her. ‘I’d suggest the pancakes, but the omelets are good too.’
Mom smiles at the waitress and points to Jason and me. ‘They just told us that they’re engaged! We’re beyond the moon happy about it, aren’t we Walter?’
He grunts and picks up his coffee.
‘What are you talking about?’ The waitress laughs. ‘Jason’s not engaged.’
Jason clears his throat. ‘Actually, I am.’ He gives me a look like this plan is already turning into a disaster. But it’s just the waitress. She’s not going to tell anyone.
‘You’re engaged?’ the waitress says to Jason. ‘I didn’t even know you were dating anyone.’
‘Hi.’ I turn to the waitress. ‘I’m Mia. Jason’s fiancé.’
She gives me a confused look. ‘I don’t get it. I’ve never seen you before. And just a few weeks ago Jason was going out with—’
‘A friend,’ Jason says. ‘I was out with a friend.’ He puts his arm around me. ‘You haven’t seen Mia because she lives in Madison. I usually go there to see her instead of having her come here.’
‘Oh.’ The waitress eyes him like she doesn’t believe him. ‘Well, congratulations!’
‘Are we gonna order?’ my dad says as he looks at the menu. ‘I’ve gotta eat. Gotta take my pill.’
‘Yes, dear, we know you have to eat,’ my mom says as she scans the menu. ‘I’ll go with Jason’s suggestion and get the pancakes.’
‘I will too,’ I say.
‘I want eggs and bacon,’ my dad says, setting his menu down.
‘And for you, Jason?’ the waitress asks.
‘I’ll have the usual.’
She nods and takes off for the kitchen.
My mom grabs my hand and gives it a squeeze. ‘I’m so happy for you, honey. I just wish you’d told us about Jason sooner. Where did you two meet?’
I glance at Jason as I try to come up with a story.
‘The orchard,’ he blurts out. ‘Mia was there last fall with her friend.’
‘Nora,’ I say. ‘Mom, you remember Nora. You met her last summer.’
‘Yes, the professor with the big hair and big glasses.’
‘Yeah, that’s her. Anyway, we went to the orchard to pick apples and Jason was there.’
‘I was driving the tractor,’ he says. ‘Taking people to the fields.’
‘You can drive a tractor?’ my dad asks, sounding slightly impressed. He used to be an engineer, but he grew up on a farm in Vermont. He talks about it all the time. Sometimes I think he would’ve been happier being a farmer than an engineer.
‘I’ve been driving it since I was a teenager,’ Jason says. ‘My brothers and I always had to pitch in at the orchard in the fall. We still do.’
‘That orchard is quite well known,’ my mom says. ‘Even our friends back in Boston had heard of it. They saw it mentioned in some of the travel magazines.’
Jason nods. ‘Yeah, we get a lot of media coverage, especially in the fall.’
‘Your parents are still running it?’ my dad asks.
‘They help out, but Nick, my older brother, took it over last summer.’
‘We’ll have to meet your parents while we’re here,’ my mom says. ‘Maybe today!’
Jason gives me that look again, the one that says this is getting out of control.
‘They aren’t feeling well,’ I say to my mom. ‘Jason talked to them this morning and it sounds like they might have the flu.’
My mom frowns. ‘Oh, that’s a shame. Perhaps they’d be up for a phone call.’
‘You ever been to Boston?’ my dad asks Jason.
‘No, I never have.’
‘Hope you’ve saved up some money. Houses there are going through the roof.’
‘Walter, don’t be so negative,’ my mom says. ‘I’m sure they’ll find something that’s more reasonably priced.’
Jason clears his throat, like he’s signaling me to tell them we haven’t decided we’re living in Boston. But why tell them that? It would just upset them, and it’s not like any of this is real. When our fake engagement ends, I’ll go to Boston and Jason will stay here.
Two women race up to Jason, a younger woman with blonde hair and an older lady with dark hair.
‘Is it true?’ the blonde woman asks. ‘Are you really getting married?’
‘Um, yeah.’ Jason sits up straighter, giving me that look again.
‘When did this happen?’ the older woman asks.
‘Recently,’ I answer. ‘We haven’t told many people yet.’
The older woman laughs. ‘You don’t have to. In a town this size, everyone will know by the end of the day. And you’re the lucky lady, I assume?’
‘I am. Mia Daniels.’
The waitress comes back with our food. ‘Can you believe it?’ she says to the two women who remain next to Jason. ‘Another Kanfield boy, taken.’
‘There’s none left,’ the blonde woman says. ‘I heard Sawyer’s going to propose to Gina soon. Brody will be after that.’
‘Can we eat without all this chatter going on?’ my dad says.
‘Oh, sorry,’ the waitress says with a laugh. She leaves, along with the other two women.
‘Who were they?’ I ask Jason.
‘Sorry, I should’ve introduced you. They’re teachers at the high school.’
‘Mia loved teaching,’ my mom says to Jason as she pours syrup on her pancakes. ‘I think she’s going to miss it in her new job.’
‘You got a job?’ Jason asks me.
‘No. She means when I get one. But Mom, I’ll still be working with students, just in a different way.’
‘This food isn’t too bad,’ my dad mutters, stuffing a piece of bacon in his mouth.
‘It’s wonderful,’ my mom says. ‘These are the best pancakes I’ve ever had.’
‘We eat well in Haydon Falls,’ Jason jokes.
‘Hey, I didn’t know you’d be here,’ I hear someone say.
I look back and see Brody and Sawyer walking up to our table. Oh, no. This isn’t good. This is bad. Very, very bad.
‘Hey,’ Jason says to his brothers. ‘We’re having breakfast. I’ll talk to you guys later.’
‘Are you two Jason’s brothers?’ my mom asks. ‘Because you sure look like him.’
‘I like to think I’m better looking,’ Sawyer kids. ‘But yeah, that’s us. I’m Sawyer and this idiot is Brody.’ He points to him.
‘Are Gina and Kate with you?’ I ask.
‘No, they wanted to sleep in,’ Brody says. ‘We wanted to eat and neither of us has food at our place.’
‘We’re Mia’s parents,’ my mom says to them. ‘Mia and Jason just told us their news. It was certainly a surprise, but we’re beyond thrilled!’
‘Our parents are too,’ Sawyer says. ‘This will be their first grandchild.’
I freeze, my fork held over my plate. My parents weren’t supposed to know about the baby yet. I was going to let the engagement news sink in before I told them.
‘Grandchild?’ my mom says, sounding confused.
I feel Jason staring at me. He’s waiting for me to say something, but I can’t come up with any words.
‘You didn’t know?’ Sawyer says. ‘Shit.’
Brody shoves him. ‘Now who’s the idiot?’
Sawyer turns to Brody. ‘How was I supposed to know what she’s talking about? She said they told them the news.’
‘I was referring to their engagement,’ my mom says. ‘Mia, are you having a baby?’
I slowly lift my eyes to hers. ‘Yes.’
‘Wait—you guys are engaged?’ Brody says. ‘When did that happen?’
‘It doesn’t matter,’ Jason says. ‘Would you guys get out of here?’
My dad points to Jason. ‘I knew you were trouble! Getting my daughter pregnant before you’ve even married her?’ He huffs. ‘It’s a disgrace!’
‘Oh, Walter, calm down.’ My mom pats his hand. ‘You know these things happen. It’s not like back in our day.’ She gives me a weak smile, which tells me she feels the same way as my dad but is trying to be okay with it. ‘It’s wonderful news. I assume you’ll get married before the baby arrives?’
‘Um, I don’t know,’ I say, glancing at Jason. ‘We still have a lot to talk about.’
‘Do Mom and Dad know?’ Sawyer asks Jason.
‘Would you get out of here?’ Jason says. ‘We’re trying to have breakfast.’
Brody laughs. ‘If they don’t know, they’re about to find out.’
Jason turns back and sees his parents talking to the girl at the hostess stand. ‘What are they doing here? Did you know they were coming?’
‘We weren’t sure,’ Sawyer says. ‘They said they might.’
Martha squeals so loud we can hear it at the table.
‘Mom knows,’ Brody says, laughing.
‘Great,’ Jason mutters, sinking back in his chair.
I lean over to him. ‘I’m so sorry.’
‘Those are your parents?’ my mom asks. ‘I thought they had the flu.’
‘The flu?’ Sawyer says. ‘Who told you that?’
‘Mom!’ Brody says, waving her over. ‘He’s over here.’
‘I’m going to kill you,’ Jason says under his breath.
Martha and Carl make their way to our table.
‘I just heard the news!’ Martha says to Jason and me. ‘It’s wonderful! I’m just so surprised.’
‘It does seem a little soon,’ Carl says, ‘being that you two haven’t known each other long.’