Chapter Thirty-Eight
Whitney
Today has been a shit day. I couldn’t get into my favorite sandals because my feet have swollen so much and even though it’s damn December, it’s still hot in Alabama. The shirt I wanted to wear didn’t cover my stomach, and I have the worst craving I’ve ever had for sweet tea.
I haven’t even had a sweet tea since I found out I was pregnant, but today, my mouth waters as I think about drinking one.
Checking the clock on my SUV, I see I have thirty minutes before I have to meet my next appointment.
If I swing into the Sonic drive-thru, I should still make it in plenty of time.
As I pull into their parking lot, I go around the building to take my place in line, instead of blocking traffic by pulling sideways into the drive-thru.
That’s a pet peeve of mine, and I always make sure not to do it.
I text the bride I’m meeting, letting her know I’ll be there in a few minutes, and then watch as an older gentleman in a Range Rover pulls into the drive, blocking traffic just like I chose not to do. He gives me a wave, motioning for me to let him in line in front of me.
Oh hell no. I put my finger up and shake it ‘no’ at him.
“No sir, you will not be getting in line in front of me, because you didn’t follow proper protocol,” I say to myself. “Plus I want this sweet tea like I want a kiss from my man, and there’s no way you’re going to delay it for me.”
As the cars move up, I go to move up and he honks at me. I honk right back, giving him a wave and a pretty smile. I roll down the window. “Sorry, but I’m pregnant, and I need this sweet tea way more than whatever it is you think you need.”
I roll the window up as he flips me off and guns his SUV, driving around the building. I let out the breath I’m holding, glad I stood up for myself. The last few weeks have been stressful and I’ll be damned if I let someone walk all over me.
Ordering my drink, I wait in line, seeing the man is at least four cars behind me.
If he had followed what everyone else did, he would have been directly behind me and not just now placing his own order.
When they bring me out my white Styrofoam cup, I grip it with both hands and drink it down.
Nothing in the world has ever tasted as good as that sugary drink.
Fifteen minutes later, I know I’ve done a bad thing when I feel Stella practicing her gymnastics routine in my stomach. Laughing, I reach over and grab my cell phone, taking a video for Ryan.
When I send it to him, I do it with a huge smile on my face.
“Do you think this will work?” Ryan asks as he holds up a shower curtain to me.
We accidentally broke the one in the bathroom the other night, and while we’re getting a few other things, I reminded him we need a new one. I wrinkle my nose as he holds up a lavender one.
“I liked the gray one a lot better,” I admit, putting my hand on my stomach as I feel Stella kick. Since my sweet tea this afternoon, she’s been crazy.
“I can go grab that one, I know you’ve had a rough day.”
He’s such an amazing man. “Please do, I don’t like the purple and it won’t go with anything else in there.”
“Be right back,” he kisses me on the cheek as I look for a lane to start checking out.
When I find one that doesn’t have very many people in it, I go to the end of the cart and start putting our stuff on the conveyor belt.
There’s a throat clearing in front of me, and I look up to face someone I haven’t seen in a very long time.
Who would have thought I’d see my ex-husband in the checkout lane at Target?
“Whitney,” Stephen nods towards me.
Manners and politeness that have been instilled in me since I was a little girl wins out as I nod back at him. “Stephen.”
We’re quiet as we look at one another, neither one of us sure what to say.
“I see you’re doing well, finally saved up enough money to get that in vitro,” he indicates my stomach.
For a second I think about minimizing my life to him, but then I realize that’s what I did the entire time we were married. Why should I hide my feelings to make someone who didn’t give a shit about me feel better? “Actually, I’m very happy. Happier than I’ve ever been in my life.”
He gives me a bemused grin. “You should be. Spending that much money to make a dream come true? I mean, you’d have to be really crazy to want to make yourself that happy.”
“Got it,” Ryan puts the shower curtain down on the conveyor belt, and I turn to face him. He gazes over my shoulder and I can tell the minute he recognizes Stephen. Turning me around, he steps up behind me, putting his arms around my waist, hands caressing my stomach.
“Stephen thinks I’m crazy for spending all the money I did on the fertility treatments for this baby,” I lean my head back at Ryan, kissing him softly when he dips his head to mine.
A smile spreads across his face. “Right? That bottle of wine you drank and the two beers I drank were so damn expensive.”
I giggle, biting my lip. “They sure were.”
It looks like Stephen’s a little confused, and before I can clarify, I hear Ryan speaking.
“In case you missed it dickhead, all we did was make passionate love. Looks like you were the problem all along, and I managed to do the one thing you couldn’t do.
My swimmers are fucking perfect, as is our daughter.
Her mom though,” he leans down, kissing my neck.
“Most amazing woman I’ve ever met. Thanks for fuckin’ up. ”
Stick that up your pipe and smoke it.
“Since I don’t see a ring on your finger, I have to assume you’ll be a single mom. Such a statistic.”
“Her fingers are swollen. You know that happens when you get knocked up? Or maybe you don’t know. Either way. We’re very happy and we’re very much together,” Ryan continues, grasping our fingers together. “Any more questions?”
He’s speechless, face burning red. He doesn’t say another word to us. He pays for his purchases and walks out like the hounds of hell are nipping at his heels.
I can’t help it, I laugh hysterically as Ryan joins in. It’s one of the best feelings I’ve ever had. Some of that confidence I never thought I would get back – I got it back in spades tonight.