2. Zoe
2
Zoe
“Home is people. Not a place.” – Robin Hobb, Fool's Fate
Welcome to Loverly Cave Town where love is the answer to any question.
Population three thousand one hundred and four.
I fell in love with this quirky, little town the moment we hit the town limits, and got a glimpse of it from up the hill as the car rode down the curvy roads.
Loverly Cave was nestled in a valley between tall, bulging, lush green mountains protecting it from one side and a vast, powerful, and that kind of cold ocean that was giving me the chills from all those miles away was washing up the shores of the other side. The famous cave—which looked more like an arch—for which the town was named was standing proud and tall, keeping watch of all its residents.
It was rumored that if two people tied the knot under the cave their union would last a lifetime and then some, and I wish I was still the kind of person who believed in superstitions. This seemed awfully romantic.
And something I’d love to do before Justin happened in my life. Now all I wanted was to just get through the next seven months. But still, I could appreciate the beauty and love around me, wrapping me into a warm, fuzzy cocoon.
As we drove into the town the colorful buildings—and I literally mean every color known to mankind—greeted me. Ivy crawling up the sides of some lined every cobbled street. Silly-named stores and cafes like: Sip of Love coffee shop, Love & Peace bar, Fifi’s Goods, Tough Love gym, B&B (Bagels and Balance) Cafe, Peace-out Diner and more were scattered all over.
There were also three “therapy” cars driving around, offering their help free of charge. Those were: Love Car, Peace Car and Hug Car and they alone made me smile, not to mention all of the happy locals strolling around the town, smiling, laughing and waving at us like we are good friends.
After living for so long in a busy city amongst cutthroat professionals this type of behavior seemed almost foreign. And that moment was the first time I had asked myself if I wanted to raise my child in a big city surrounded by doom and gloom.
And for the first time I wasn’t sure anymore. But it would be crazy to add a move across the country when my life is already insane as it was, so I pushed that thought out my head and just enjoyed the day looking around, smiling, waving back until we arrived at the beach in front of three cottages.
One was blue, the other one yellow and the one I was being led to was the cutest bright pink cottage in the middle of them. This one—surprisingly—was Joy’s residence that she along with two of her sisters—Hope and Grace who got the other two – were conned into buying by their mom and her best friend but recently and very much surprisingly Joy’s life took a wild turn, one that brought a sexy Viking into it and what left me even more stunned was the fact that she actually moved in with the guy into his tiny house of all places.
What type of magic he wielded over her is a mystery to me but since she no longer uses this cottage she offered me. To keep. Like forever.
Well, she offered me the bare walls of a one-bedroom cottage from the seventies with an unfinished loft, puke-yellow kitchen and camping gear, but still I broke down in tears once again. Apparently, crying was the horrible side effect of my pregnancy.
As if all the vomit, breast pain and back ache wasn’t bad enough. No, Zoe had to be extra sensitive and having her friend show her kindness can drop her over the edge.
“Jesus Christ, what is it with females surrounding me and their never-ending Niagara Falls?” Joy mutters under her breath and placing her hands around my shoulders, shoves me down into a forest green camping chair.
“W-why? I-is there a-a camping c-chair inside the house?” I manage to get out through the sobs that still haven’t ceased.
I hate crying. But I would like some credit for keeping it together since the freaking airport. Because let me tell you, seeing your grumpy boss slash best and only friend waiting for you at the airport, standing there with her arms crossed across her chest, her foot tapping away and her face in a mask full of concern and worry was very cry worthy for me! She even promised not to start the mile long questioner until after I was settled even though she kept watching me with her narrowed eyes as if seeing all the secrets I was harboring anyway.
And then there was meeting Grace—Joy’s youngest sister—who came out to pick me up as well was strike number two against those tear ducts because no one else ever showed me so much kindness except my dad. She ran up to me, with a wide smile on her face, wrapping me in a bone-crushing hug even though we’ve never met before. And then the keep-the-cottage-if-you-want comment.
Yeah, that broke me. Just like that. She offered me her house just like that.
“There is a camping chair because miss ‘I-am-not-staying-in-this-town’ aka your boss Joy here refuses to get real furniture,” Grace answers and smirks at her older sister.
There Levine women were blessed with superior genetics and wit. I haven’t met Hope yet, their middle sister, but I could imagine she looked just as beautiful as these two. While I was contemplating suing every pregnancy website and book that has lied to me and told me the weight gain will be noticeable during third trimester, yet I keep growing more and more each day.
I don’t even have any pants to wear anymore. Andddd here comes a fresh wave of absolutely ridiculous tears.
Over pants.
“Okay!” Joy snaps and grips me by my shoulders bending over until her face is leveled with mine. “I’ve patiently endured these tears for a few days now, you’re welcome and I’ll take my thanks in the form of coffee and chocolate. But this stops now and what I mean is you are going to talk. Right this second.”
What do I do? That’s right, spill more tears that earn me a groan from Joy.
“I’m p-pregnant,” I manage to stutter out and the room grows silent. Yeah, that seems to be the standard reaction to my news.
Grace yelps quietly and slaps the palm of her hand across her mouth but Joy just stares at me without moving. Not one muscle on her face betraying what she’s really feeling.
“Are you sure?” Joy’s voice carries that deadly kind of calmness in it. It’s that kind of calm voice that lets you know there is anything but calmness behind it. But despite the goosebumps, something warms up inside my now very cold chest at her fierce protectiveness of me. Her hands are still on my shoulders but now she’s gripping me way stronger. I am not sure for whose sake but I’m grateful she’s keeping me from falling over.
“According to the science you and I love so much, yes, I am sure,” I answer her, and pull out the paper from my bag. The one with the blood work results. Joy takes the paper from my hands and all I see are her big brown eyes moving rapidly over the numbers and words on there.
“How am I supposed to do this Joy?”
“Fucking bastard!” She curses and folds the paper with extra force and leans over me again. “Okay, so I understand this whole ‘woe is me’ thing but that shit stops here and now. There is no more woe is me. There is no woe, period. From now on I need you to channel your inner ‘I am a cold heart bitch’ thing, mhkay? Because the Zoe I know? She can take on anything. She’s got this. You are a rock star Zoe Holsted! This child is lucky to have a mom like you and not have that sperm donor in his or her life, you hear me? And you are not alone! You have me and the rest of the Levine clan at your side as well.” I nod despite my insides still shaking with fear for the baby’s future but that’s the Dr. Levine effect for you. Her tone alone leaves no room for argument, and I swear I feel myself relax. Like she just set my world back on the right track that I couldn’t find by myself.
“Hell, I guess your baby even has an uncle now,” she adds, running her tongue over her teeth. “But the jury is still out on whether it’s a good or a bad thing. God knows, Jacob is nothing but bad influence.”
“Which Jacob? Your sexy Viking fake fiancé?” Yeah, there’s a whole lot more to her moving into the tiny house story.
Grace snickers. “Trust me there’s nothing fake about that,” she says, and Joy cuts her a look.
“Yeah. That one.”
“Um, why is your Jacob my baby’s uncle all of a sudden?”
“Didn’t I tell you? This duck-loving hippie is apparently Justin’s brother,” she clicks her tongue while I choke on mine.
“What?” I shriek.
“Mm-hmm. But that’s beside the point right now.”
Sure it is! But Joy doesn’t elaborate anymore.
“Now tell me did you see the doctor yet? How far along are you? Prenatals?” She started throwing questions at me and I was just nodding, shaking my head, or giving quick answers that I am ten weeks along and have been feeling like crap.
“Okay,” Joy claps her hands and reaches for her phone. “Jacob,” she says after a few seconds of rolling her eyes at the phone, “Cut the crap for one minute,” she pinches the bridge of her nose, “Don’t you dare get another ducky shirt or I swear I will serve it as breakfast for you tomorrow morning and no, I don’t care about the new bet you have going on with Alec, but speaking of him, grab my sister’s weirdo of a boyfriend and come to Fifi’s store.” I presume Jacob is asking why because Joy answers, “We need to get a fucking bed with the best mattress and chairs. Real. Comfortable. And food. Lots of food. So, we need Alec’s truck and your muscles.”
Joy hangs up and looks at Grace. “Luke better show up in the next five minutes at the store as well,” she says to her and Grace nods.
“Way ahead of you sister. He’s already on his way. So are mom, dad, and the rest of the Fantastic Four. They are so excited,” she claps her hands together looking like I just gave her an early birthday gift.
I have no idea what’s going on and who all of these people are – Fantastic Four? – but without any more questions, ten minutes later, what seems like half of Loverly Cave are walking around Fifi’s Goods with us, carrying blankets, plates, glasses, pillows and whole bunch of stuff to the register while asking me if I like this or that.
“Joy,” I hiss and pull on her arm. “What the hell is going on?”
“Nothing. Just making sure you are comfortable while you are here.”
“I am here for a week. I can manage with an air mattress and camping chairs.” I fold my arms across my chest because she is being ridiculous right now.
“That will be a big, fat no. Now stop pouting and choose a comforter.” She proceeds to lift up the one with cats in sunglasses all over it and the one with freaking rainbows with silly eyes on them.
My eyebrow quirks up all on its own, “You are serious right now?”
“As a heart attack,” she deadpans and thrusts two colorful monstrosities at me. “Which one would make you feel happier?”
“Neither.” I don’t particularly care for happy at the moment.
“Cats it is then,” she shoves the other one back and an hour later the inside of the pink cottage is unrecognizable.
By the end of my first day in Loverly Cave, I have met more people than I could remember, was told by a cute but slightly scary grandma in a neon pink Addidas suit that by tomorrow I will have a whole list of best baby names complied for me and was branded as another daughter by Jennifer and Rick Levine—Joy’s parents.
I was overwhelmed. That’s what I was. I’ve never had this before and when I went to call my dad at night and told him about it all he said, “Looks like I won’t be moving to Chicago after all. Remind me the name of this town?”
I don’t know what he meant by that because I definitely wasn’t staying here. I wasn’t moving.
Right?